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Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
The County’s need for Outreach to raise awareness of passenger vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals is not being addressed by staff in significant ways.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should assign an office to own the task of proactive Outreach related to the CAAP. This assignment can either be County-only or in coordination with other agencies and local counties. (For example, working with MBARD or putting flyers into residents’ utility bills.) Completion date: January 31, 2026. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7)
R3
When the County spends money or staff time on any climate efforts addressing the state-mandated CAAP, the Board of Supervisors should ensure these actions are publicized to inspire and inform the taxpaying citizens. Completion date: of any significant expenditure. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F7)
F2
Responsibility for the County’s Outreach efforts isn’t clearly defined. Even interested citizens have trouble finding updates.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should assign an office to own the task of proactive Outreach related to the CAAP. This assignment can either be County-only or in coordination with other agencies and local counties. (For example, working with MBARD or putting flyers into residents’ utility bills.) Completion date: January 31, 2026. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7)
R3
When the County spends money or staff time on any climate efforts addressing the state-mandated CAAP, the Board of Supervisors should ensure these actions are publicized to inspire and inform the taxpaying citizens. Completion date: of any significant expenditure. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F7)
F3
The County Staff and the Commission on the Environment (COE) charged with reporting to superiors (i.e., Board of Supervisors) don’t stay current in publicly publishing their actions regarding the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP).
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should assign an office to own the task of proactive Outreach related to the CAAP. This assignment can either be County-only or in coordination with other agencies and local counties. (For example, working with MBARD or putting flyers into residents’ utility bills.) Completion date: January 31, 2026. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7)
R2
The Board of Supervisors should require OR3 to update all public-facing websites every quarter and post on their social media to reflect the CAAP actions being taken within the County offices. Completion date: October 1, 2025, and ongoing. (F3, F4, F5, F7)
R3
When the County spends money or staff time on any climate efforts addressing the state-mandated CAAP, the Board of Supervisors should ensure these actions are publicized to inspire and inform the taxpaying citizens. Completion date: of any significant expenditure. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F7)
F4
Staff charged with instigating/tracking/coordinating efforts required by the CAAP do not consider public Outreach part of their task.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should assign an office to own the task of proactive Outreach related to the CAAP. This assignment can either be County-only or in coordination with other agencies and local counties. (For example, working with MBARD or putting flyers into residents’ utility bills.) Completion date: January 31, 2026. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7)
R2
The Board of Supervisors should require OR3 to update all public-facing websites every quarter and post on their social media to reflect the CAAP actions being taken within the County offices. Completion date: October 1, 2025, and ongoing. (F3, F4, F5, F7)
R3
When the County spends money or staff time on any climate efforts addressing the state-mandated CAAP, the Board of Supervisors should ensure these actions are publicized to inspire and inform the taxpaying citizens. Completion date: of any significant expenditure. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F7)
F5
Money was spent to create progress trackers on the CAAP Storymap Website, but no one is updating the progress.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should assign an office to own the task of proactive Outreach related to the CAAP. This assignment can either be County-only or in coordination with other agencies and local counties. (For example, working with MBARD or putting flyers into residents’ utility bills.) Completion date: January 31, 2026. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7)
R2
The Board of Supervisors should require OR3 to update all public-facing websites every quarter and post on their social media to reflect the CAAP actions being taken within the County offices. Completion date: October 1, 2025, and ongoing. (F3, F4, F5, F7)
R3
When the County spends money or staff time on any climate efforts addressing the state-mandated CAAP, the Board of Supervisors should ensure these actions are publicized to inspire and inform the taxpaying citizens. Completion date: of any significant expenditure. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F7)
F6
Money has been spent to create another interactive website (Resilient Santa Cruz) for the interested citizen, but that website is not being publicized, and the modest participation goals have not been met.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should assign an office to own the task of proactive Outreach related to the CAAP. This assignment can either be County-only or in coordination with other agencies and local counties. (For example, working with MBARD or putting flyers into residents’ utility bills.) Completion date: January 31, 2026. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7)
F7
County web pages and social media specifically created for reporting to the public have been allowed to languish and are not populated with recent news items on CAAP goal progress.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should assign an office to own the task of proactive Outreach related to the CAAP. This assignment can either be County-only or in coordination with other agencies and local counties. (For example, working with MBARD or putting flyers into residents’ utility bills.) Completion date: January 31, 2026. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7)
R2
The Board of Supervisors should require OR3 to update all public-facing websites every quarter and post on their social media to reflect the CAAP actions being taken within the County offices. Completion date: October 1, 2025, and ongoing. (F3, F4, F5, F7)
R3
When the County spends money or staff time on any climate efforts addressing the state-mandated CAAP, the Board of Supervisors should ensure these actions are publicized to inspire and inform the taxpaying citizens. Completion date: of any significant expenditure. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F7)
Conclusions 1
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CL1“Everybody knows” drunk driving is dangerous, yet we still mount campaigns to raise awareness. “Everybody knows” that wood houses burn down in fires, yet fire departments still develop websites about fire-wise landscaping. And “everybody knows” that gasoline-fueled cars emit pollutants. Unfortunately, to date, the County has no public campaign to directly address this largest pollutant source in the county. Passenger vehicle use is the largest single polluter shown in the CAAP. The goal given by the State of California to the County covers all emissions. Yet the Jury was told that Outreach was not the County’s job.[3] [5] As currently assigned, the responsibility for achieving CAAP goals rests with the County OR3. Climate Action Demands Outreach published June 2, 2025 Page 8 of 14 The County has admitted that it cannot meet its state-mandated climate emission reduction goals without the cooperation of the community at large. Since climate change represents an existential threat to all citizens, the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury urges the County to reprioritize climate Outreach.