Tag: Scotts Valley

In view of the “fiscal cliff” lying ahead for the City of Scotts Valley, the city council is keeping its promise of looking for every possible way to improve the city’s fiscal situation.  At last week’s city council meeting, these efforts included a workshop on city fees, aimed at getting closer to cost recovery for some city services, and a discussion about raising the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) or “local hotel room tax” from 10 percent of hotel room charges to 12 percent.  

A former Scotts Valley resident returned to his hometown this week to film a scene for his original musical based on the music of the Beach Boys.

    The summer I was five years old my Aunt Betty outfitted me in ‘berry-picking-clothes’ which consisted of my oldest pair of Buster Brown shoes, a long-sleeved shirt, and a thin rope which had an empty Hills Bros coffee can attached and tied around my waist.  I was now ready for my first berry-picking adventure.

I’d like to share some of my thoughts on making for a very safe summer for everyone.

A couple of months ago I met with local 4-H club members as they started to plan for their upcoming spring project. This year 4-H members from Felton, Scotts Valley and Quail Creek in the Zayante area are putting their minds and enthusiasm to good use to further educate themselves and the community about the importance of beneficial insects to our world. They will share their efforts at the upcoming Felton Library Friends Garden Tour on May 19th. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the new Felton Branch Library and Nature Discovery Park project slated to break ground this summer.

This past week, Scotts Valley Unified School District board approved the hiring of Tracey Neilsen to the new principal of Vine Hill Elementary School. Her position will be effective as of July 1. 

The city of Scotts Valley will soon have its first artificial playing turf for multiple purpose use for student athletes, youth and adults.

In anticipation of upcoming budget hearings, last week members of the Scotts Valley City Council discussed capital improvement priorities for next fiscal year, as well as the next five years, as detailed in the “Five-year Capital Improvement Plan” submitted by Interim Public Works Director Steve Hammack.

Having treated thousands of cases of poison oak in my career, I’d like to share with you what I’ve learned about this miserable affliction.

Despite Santa Cruz County’s reputation as one of the least affordable places to live in the state, if not the country, real alarm has been expressed at recent Scotts Valley City Council meetings about the housing boom the city is facing in the not too distant future.  Public comment at city council meetings has included emotional criticism and strong recommendations of caution- that the small town character of Scotts Valley is directly threatened by actual and proposed housing developments.