Santa Cruz City Council Unveils Ambitious 50-Year Vision for The Future of West Cliff

Thursday, April 11, 2024

The Santa Cruz City Council has taken a significant stride towards shaping the future of West Cliff by unanimously approving a comprehensive 50-year Community Vision. Crafted over a ten-month period with extensive community involvement, including meetings, surveys, and research, this vision represents the collective aspirations for West Cliff over the next half-century. It will serve as a guiding light for decision-making, directing our planning efforts and future policies to enhance West Cliff’s resilience against climate change while ensuring accessibility for all.

During the April 9 City Council meeting, several key actions were undertaken:

1. Adoption of 50-year Community Vision for West Cliff: The City Council unanimously endorsed the 50-year Community Vision for West Cliff. Additionally, the Council tasked staff with collaborating with a City Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee to establish a 50-year Vision Implementation Committee and a Climate and Resilience Advisory Body not specific to West Cliff.
2. Implementation Priorities: Staff will present implementation priorities for the next decade to the City Council by the end of 2024.
3. Biannual Updates: After the initial update by the end of 2024, staff will provide biannual updates on the progress of implementing the roadmap and coordinating cross-agency activities related to the 50-year Community Vision, ensuring transparency and community accountability.

Alongside these actions, the City Council received updates on ongoing Public Works infrastructure projects aimed at restoring areas of West Cliff damaged during winter storms. Additionally, as a proactive measure, the City will conduct a geologic hazard analysis and preliminary engineering study at Lighthouse Point to mitigate future erosion.

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