I am at the end of my term as mayor and, by the time you read this, I will be a Council member once again. Our new mayor will be Donna Lind who is a more than capable (and wonderful) woman who has dedicated her life to public service as a police officer, council member and now Mayor of Scotts Valley.
Her energy and passion will be fantastic for our city and we, on the council, will do our best to support her in every way.
Looking back at this past year in ScottsValley, there are many great things that have happened and some not so great, but this is the fabric that makes our city so fantastic.
Some of what we accomplished this year is as follows:
Gun shop concerns:
– We met those concerns with new standards for existing dealers.
– We passed a moratorium on new dealers until a stringent use permit process is created.
Tobacco shop concerns:
– We met those concerns with new licensing requirements.
– We passed a new restriction on proximity to schools and children.
– We passed stricter penalties for those dealers who sell to minors.
Other matters of interest:
– We balanced the budget, cut costs, and maintained service.
– Vacant commercial space is filling up throughout the city.
– Small businesses are popping up all over the city and are doing well.
– A new hotel has started construction on Scotts Valley Drive this year and will be opening in 2016.
– Sales tax revenues are up and redevelopment is very active.
– The TownCenter is still alive and well with more property purchased and increased interest from retailers.
– The PerformingArtCenter is off the ground, work has started and next year we should be seeing our first performances at the new Scotts Valley Performing Arts Center.
– The Boys and Girls Club is still moving forward and site work is ongoing at this time.
– The AnnetteMarcumCommunityGarden had its first harvest this year.
Our City Manager, Steve Ando, is moving on after seven years. We wish him all the best and thank him for his years of service to ScottsValley. Very few people work harder than this man or have given of themselves as much as Steve has.
There are so many other things that have happened this year, but space and time preclude me from listing them. It has truly been an honor to serve once again as your Mayor and I have enjoyed it.
This is the third time that I have had this honor and each time I have told myself the same thing: “ScottsValley is a great place; just don’t mess it up, Dene.” I would like to think I have made it a little bit better but that is for all of you to decide.
I wanted to include a letter I received last month from a non-resident who was passing through our city. He said the following:
Mr. Mayor,
My wife and I spent a few days in the San Jose area. It was our first time in San Jose and, without reservation, I can say our last. I won’t bore you with those details. I just wanted to let you know what we noticed as we stopped off in ScottsValley for a cup of coffee.
First thing was that the Shell gas station was bright, easily accessible and oddly enough it was very clean. I say oddly only because I just left the San Jose area. We went from there to another gas station/mini mart just west. Fantastic coffee and yet again it was very clean.
We did a little drive through town looking for a simple bite to eat before we left off for Highway 1. We found Jack-in-the Box open and met a nice young man who wanted to take a trip to where my shirt was purchased, Alaska. I told him he should make sure he makes that happen soon.
We left there and drove through town a bit more just because it was so refreshing after our previous three days in San Jose. You and your fellow Council-members see your town quite often, but from the eyes of a first-timer, I have to say, “job well done.” Your town is clean, well-maintained, occupied by pleasant people and very memorable. In our three days in San Jose, we drove through all the Google & Facebook towns which only disappointed me. I thought the folks in that area were more concerned with the environment. What we observed was basic maintenance and hygiene ignored.
I work in the Public Works maintenance field and have for almost 30 years. A well-functioning city involves the coordination of all departments to make the whole city right. At first glance ScottsValley is working well. I just learned that Fox Shocks is headquartered in ScottsValley. Yet another plus.
Keep up the great work. Please share this with your fellow Council-members as well as city staff as you see fit. Great job making your city so special.
THANKS,
John Campbell
So. Cal Resident
I think the letter sums up what makes ScottsValley so great – it’s the people who live and work here.
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!
Council Member, Dene Bustichi
