At the outset of the regularly scheduled Scotts Valley City Council meeting June 16 Mayor Derek Timm gave a shout-out to the local LGBTQ+ community with an official “Mayor’s Proclamation” for Pride Month.
“June has become a symbolic month in which lesbians, gay men, bisexual people, transgender, and supporters come together in various celebrations of pride,” he said in the proclamation, adding “many of the residents, students, employees and business owners within the city of Scotts Valley who contribute to the enrichment of our city are a part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community.”
This ceremonial action comes as Scotts Valley remains the only city government in the county not to raise a rainbow flag to celebrate LGBTQ+ groups this month. Mayor Timm said the city would work on developing a flag-raising policy, staff confirmed.
The Pride declaration referenced the “courageous group of citizens” at the Stonewall Inn in New York City in 1969 who “resisted harassment and mistreatment, setting in motion a chain of events that would become known as the Stonewall Uprising,” and gave birth to the modern LGBTQ+ rights movements.
“Advancements have been made with respect to equitable treatment of lesbians, gay men, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning persons throughout the nation, but there continues to be discrimination against people in the LGBTQ community making it important for cities like Scotts Valley to stand up and show support for our residents who are affected,” Timm’s proclamation stated. “NOW THEREFORE, I, Derek Timm, as the Mayor of the City of Scotts Valley do hereby declare the month of June as LGBTQ Pride month in the City of Scotts Valley, and invite everyone to reflect on ways we all can live and work together with a commitment to mutual respect and understanding, as well as celebrate diversity, equity, social justice, and inclusion.”
Tourism district deal moves ahead
Council gave a thumbs-up to the renewal of the Santa Cruz County Tourism Marketing District, as long as it continues to exempt nonprofit lodging providers from having to contribute to Visit Santa Cruz County coffers.
At the previous meeting, City Councilman Randy Johnson had brought the item to the floor to raise questions about why 1440 Multiversity, a wellness center, had been asked to chip in toward destination-boosting outreach, and share the concerns of some community members who feel Scotts Valley is not highlighted in promotional materials as much as other places, like Santa Cruz.
The plan Scotts Valley gave its support to—which will now go on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors for a public hearing June 29—includes a 25% fee hike (currently its $4 per night) for many hotel rooms.
“The new fees take effect when the renewal goes in place, July 1, 2022,” Maggie Ivy told the Press Banner. “The only nonprofit facilities to be addressed are 1440 and the Santa Cruz Hostel. They are currently exempt and will continue to be exempt.”
Rescue plans
Casey Estorga, Scotts Valley’s administrative services director, announced Scotts Valley is in line for $2.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with the first $1.4 million chunk expected to arrive in July.
Estorga explained the city is required to spend money in one of four categories: (1) Public health and economic impacts, (2) pandemic-related wage and salary premiums, (3) to plug revenue-loss holes or (4) to invest in infrastructure.
For Scotts Valley the best place to deploy this cash could be in that first category, or for infrastructure, he said, adding staff needed input from the City Council before proceeding.
City officials have been cautioned to use these one-time funds for one-time uses, he said, adding you can’t defer taxes with the money or support pensions with it.
A new public works facility is an “essential” or “critical” project that would make sense to pay for with the Covid dollars, he recommended.
That would cost around $800,000, according to Estorga.
City Councilwoman Donna Lind said there are serious problems regulating temperature within multiple government offices, including City Hall, something which “needs to be on that list.”
Staff have resorted to layering down jackets and using space heaters just to get their work done. The issue was underscored by the scorching temperatures of the prior week, she said.
“This week makes it abundantly more clear we’re not taking care of our employees,” she said, adding it’s been a problem for decades.
City Manager Tina Friend agreed she wouldn’t mind a bit more A/C.
“It was 86 degrees in here today,” she said. “This is something that we need to address.”
City Councilman Randy Johnson said he feels the city is fortunate to finally be in a place to make that happen.
“Morale cannot be great when you’re working in a place like that,” he said.
City Councilman Jack Dilles said he’d like more road work done.
Mayor Derek Timm said he wouldn’t mind spending a few dollars on better cybersecurity.
“The last thing our city could afford is to be held hostage,” he said. “That’s on my mind.”
Lind said an upgrade would be good.
Although, “It’s hard to hack to floppy disks that we’re using in City Hall,” Timm mused. “That’s the one benefit of being on the ’80s technology.”
Labor deal reached with SVPD
The City Council also approved raises for the Police Bargaining Unit (PBU) and the Police Supervisors Association (PSA). They will go into effect on July 1.
Both are three-year agreements featuring 4% salary increases this year—across the board, 5% next year, and 2% in 2023.
Starting in January, the city will adopt a three-tier medical benefit system, and institute a 3% increase in the amount of money it puts in each year.
This will cost taxpayers an extra $563,000 over the course of the three-year agreements, staff reported.
