The past year has been a busy one in policy development, supporting community institutions, sustainable community development, and new recreational opportunities. At my urging, the Board took steps to continue to rein in plastic pollution and protect mobile home residents from closure of their parks. We celebrated five years of the East Cliff Family Health Center, the 150th birthday of Mountain Elementary and the grand opening of the Loma Prieta Community Center/Gymnasium. The Board unanimously supported the development envisioned in the Sustainable Santa Cruz County Plan by approving a new affordable housing and health center development on Capitola Road and the Pleasure Point Plaza that conformed to the Pleasure Point Commercial Corridors design guidelines developed by the community. We also inaugurated a new set of Family Movie Nights in Live Oak to join the program started last year in Soquel.
The new year will see progress on the creekside path that is part of the Heart of Soquel Park and the opening of Chanticleer Park with Leo's Haven, the first all-inclusive playground in our county. The final designs for the Library Annex and the Chanticleer Bike and Pedestrian Bridge will come out. Fire safety will get stronger through the expected consolidation of the Central Fire District with Aptos/La Selva and a joint effort with CalFire to model shaded fuel breaks at the Loma Prieta School District.
On a personal note, our oldest daughter, Rose, continues doing emergency management work and our youngest daughter, Ana, is in her fourth year studying architecture at Northeastern University. Rose recently helped develop updated guidance for FEMA to better respond to communities after disasters and Ana served as co-editor of an architectural journal, Prologue, while she was studying in Spain. Teresa and I continue to be so proud of both of them.
So thank you for our work together in 2019. I am honored to represent you on the Board of Supervisors and I will continue to work with you to accomplish our shared goals.
Happy Holidays from the Leopolds!
