Santa Cruz City Government

10/14/2026

⚠️ Water Service Advisory — Portola Drive Area

A localized Do Not Drink advisory is in effect for specific addresses near Portola Drive and 26th Avenue, including addresses on Samuel Street.

📢 Affected addresses received notices directly. It DOES NOT apply to the entire Santa Cruz water system.

If your address is affected, please continue following the instructions in your notice, even if water service has resumed, until the Water Department lifts the advisory.

10/13/2026

🚌 What would your day look like if driving wasn’t an option?
 
That’s the question behind Week Without Driving, a nationwide effort to better understand the experiences of people who rely on public transit, walking, biking and other ways to get around.
 
Last week, Mayor Fred Keeley joined local transportation leaders for a ride on Santa Cruz METRO to experience public transportation firsthand. Today, City Council recognized Week Without Driving with an official proclamation.
 
For many people, not driving isn’t a choice. Week Without Driving encourages us to see transportation from a different perspective and recognize the importance of safe, reliable and accessible ways for everyone to get around. 🚶‍♀️🚲🚌

10/09/2026

A Coastal Flood Advisory will go into effect at 9 AM Friday and run through 3 PM Tuesday for bayshore locations along the San Pablo Bay, San Francisco Bay, and Monterey Bay. Minor coastal flooding is expected during the highest high tide.

10/05/2026

📢 Updates are currently being made to the new utility billing system’s online self-registration process. Customers are not yet able to create their new online accounts. Please check back for updates on when self-registration will be available. Payments can be made today over the phone at 831-420-5220 or in person at 212 Locust St, Ste D, Santa Cruz.

10/02/2026

Want an amazing Race The Flame race shirt?! Sign up this weekend (Before Oct 4) to guarantee one with your registration!

If you had to escape a wildfire in Santa Cruz, how long would it take you to run or walk to reach safety? Would you know which way to go? Here’s your chance to test yourself and gain knowledge about wildfires and their impact on our community.

This 2.2-mile race will begin at the UCSC campus at the East Field and follow a route down Coolidge Drive, ending at the Bay Tree Campus Bookstore and High Street.

Sign up today: www.santacruzca.gov/RaceTheFlame

10/01/2026

SCMU customers: Our transition to a new billing system and online customer portal is underway.

Here’s what you need to know:

💳 Existing credit card autopay and ACH payments scheduled on or after Sept. 30 have been canceled and will need to be updated in the new portal.

💻 The MyCity online payment portal is temporarily unavailable for SCMU utility payments.

📅 Our new Utility Customer Portal launches Oct. 5.

Once the new portal is live, customers who use autopay will need to register and set up automatic payments again.

We appreciate your patience as we make this important transition and prepare the new portal.

Learn more and get ready at santacruzca.gov/portal

10/01/2026

We partnered with Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, Animal Control Officer Ivy, and the amazing pup Eden to share a few simple ways to prepare your pets for an emergency. 🚨

🐾 Practice evacuating with your pet so that if an emergency strikes, you’re both more familiar with what to do.

🐾 Practice crating your pets so they’re comfortable and less likely to resist when the carrier comes out. Here, we used high-value treats and positive reinforcement to make the experience stress-free.

Sweet Eden is still available for adoption! ❤️ Visit Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter for more information.

09/29/2026

⚠️ Reminder: Upcoming City Payment Service Interruption

The City will temporarily pause several payment services beginning at the end of the day Wednesday, Sept. 30, as we transition to a new payment system.

Payment services will resume at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5.

During this time, payments will be unavailable through:

• Planning Counter
• Public Works Administration Counter
• Public Works Parking Counter
• Santa Cruz Police Department
• Santa Cruz Municipal Utilities
• MyCityofSantaCruz online payment portal

If you need to make a payment during this period, please complete your transaction before the temporary closure or wait until services resume Monday morning.

Other City services will continue to operate unless otherwise noted.

Thank you for your patience as we make this transition!

09/28/2026

“Prohousing designation” sounds like it must come with a whole new set of housing requirements, right?

It doesn’t.

Santa Cruz already has a Prohousing designation, and we’re applying to renew it. So, before the rumor mill gets ahead of us, here’s what that actually means:

❌ It does NOT increase the number of homes Santa Cruz is required to plan for. That number is determined separately through the state’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process.
❌ It does NOT approve housing projects. Individual projects still go through the review process required under state and local law.
❌ It does NOT eliminate public participation.
❌ It does NOT change the City’s zoning or development standards.

So, what DOES it do?
✅ It recognizes housing policies and programs Santa Cruz already has authorized or has in place.
✅ It makes the City more competitive for state grants — and some funding opportunities are available specifically to Prohousing communities.

And we’re talking about real money. Prohousing status can strengthen applications for funding for affordable housing, transportation, infrastructure, and programs that help keep people housed. For example, Prohousing status provided additional points for the grant program that awarded Santa Cruz $33.5 million for the Downtown Library and Affordable Housing Project!

In other words: renewing the designation doesn’t give Santa Cruz a new housing mandate. It helps us compete for funding for work we’re already doing.
🔗 Get the details and review the City’s renewal application: www.santacruzca.gov/prohousing

09/28/2026

Virtual Community Meeting: 1214 Soquel Avenue

The community is invited to a virtual meeting on Tuesday, September 29, from 6–8 p.m. to learn more about the proposed project at 1214 Soquel Avenue and provide feedback.

The meeting will be hosted by the project applicant and will include information about the proposed project and an opportunity for community input.

📅 Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 6–8 p.m.
🔗 Join via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87871059570
Webinar ID: 878 7105 9570
Call in: (669) 444-9171
Project Numbers: CP26-0103 and CP26-0104

Can’t attend? The meeting will be recorded and posted on the project webpage afterward. For more information, visit https://www.santacruzca.gov/Government/City-Departments/Community-Development/Current-Planning/Significant-Projects-Planning/Projects/Soquel-Avenue-1214-CP26-0104

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