2012 Past Meetings
May 15, 2012 – Planning and Feedback from Neighborhood Leaders
April 17, 2012 – Annual Judges Forum
Court room procedures, sentencing, judges’ parameters and who are all those people in the court room…. What if you have to be a witness. Become familiar with the court room. It’s good to be an observer in court cases.
Speakers were the Honorable Judges Ariadne Symons and Paul Marigonda. We set up the community room as a court room. It was a great opportunity to have a conversation and really try to understand how they serve the Court System. Near the end of the meeting after questions both Judges brought a story of – “How would you sentence this person?” This is a popular interaction of information.
Items that were discussed:
California Code of Judicial Ethics – Link to pdf overview
The book that Judge Symons brought was about 3 inches thick!
Canon 1. A judge shall uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
Canon 2. A judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge’s activities.
Canon 3. A judge shall perform the duties of judicial office impartially and diligently.
Canon 4. A judge shall so conduct the judge’s quasi-judicial and extrajudicial activities as to minimize the risk of conflict with judicial obligations.
Canon 5. A judge or judicial candidate shall refrain from inappropriate political activity.
Canon 6. Compliance with the code of judicial ethics.
Questions that were submitted previously to the meeting and were discussed:
Why does it take so long, in Santa Cruz, for a case to be heard and adjudicated?
How does our number of prosecutions compare with other counties in California?
Is our crime rate high for a community our size?
Can the court calendar, for the upcoming week, be posted online for the public?
Can the court put online the outcome of each case?
Is there anyway the major “players” in the court can have microphones clipped to their clothing? It is very difficult to hear a lot of the time. Especially when lawyers have their backs to the court.
How can every citizen help you do your job?
How come in sentencing when fines need to be paid – there are months before the first payment is ever made? How come it doesn’t start the next month?
How has the the role and work of judges changed in consideration of the Public Safety Realignment program where nonviolent offenders are not sent to state prison?
Judge Marigonda – AB109 topic brought up discussed where we stand in Santa Cruz, how this has affected sentencing and who can fall under this sentencing
Do they have any suggestions on how community members can be more involved and aware of cases? Have they had any experience with court watch programs? We did not get to the Court Watch subject
Felony Court Process Mapped Out
Misdemeanor Court Process Mapped Out
March 20, 2012 – Landlords, Tenants and Neighbor Relations
If you are a landlord, renter or neighbor this meeting is for you! How to build good Landlord/Tenant & Neighbor Relationships
Panel members:
1. Detective Wendy Bynes: Santa Cruz Police Department wbynes@nullcityofsantacruz.com Detective Bynes will discuss law enforcement roles pertaining to landlord / tenant disputes, how incidents are dealt with, what might trigger a call what the protocol is when responding to a nuisance noise call. Having neighbors sign noise ticket vs just having the police give a warning.
2. Douglas L. Zuidema: Director, Student Judicial Affairs & ADA Compliance Resolution Officer 1156 High Street, University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA 95064 831-459-4447/1738 dzuidema@nullucsc.edu sja@nullucsc.edu, Student Judicial Affairs Home Page: http://www2.ucsc.edu/judicial/ On-line reporting form: https://www.sa.ucsc.edu/judicial/report.cfm http://www2.ucsc.edu/judicial/
As the Director of Student Judicial Affairs, Doug is the primary university contact for Santa Cruz neighbors who are having concerns with UCSC student conduct. Specifically, in the areas of party houses, major criminal activity, or as a resource to problem solve other issues neighbors may be experiencing as it relates to UCSC students. Doug will talk about how the university gets involved in helping to solve these problems.
Misc other info: It is important to realize there are limits to what the university can address under our Code of Student Conduct. For example, we must be able to identify an individual as a UCSC student by name before an incident can even be reviewed for possible conduct or other actions as may be appropriate. In addition, matters such as compliance with lease agreements, non-payment of rent, etc are civil matters that Student Judicial Affairs cannot address.
Also, as a member of the campus CARE Team, you may contact the CARE Hotline at (831) 459-3456 to report a student you are concerned about and may be in distress. Additional online resources for students in distress can be found at: campuslife.ucsc.edu/see-say-do
3. Caleb Baskin: Managing Partner Baskin Grant Law Firm www.baskingrant.com
Caleb Baskin will speak to informal and formal legal methods of addressing disputes between neighbors and student rentals,including letter writing and documentation, small claims court and general litigation.
4. Debra Wallace: Broker Associate Karon Properties dwallace@nullkaronproperties.com 831.426.6696 x102 DRE#01355665 831.426.6696 x102 DRE#01355665
Debra Wallace is a Broker Associate and Property Manager with Karon Properties in Santa Cruz. Debra has been managing rentals in the City of Santa Cruz for the past 11 years. Many of properties she manages happen to be student households. She will present a property manager’s perspective on the benefits of the Unruly Gathering Ordinance. Additionally, she will discuss other efforts being made toencourage tenants to be respectful of their neighborhood and neighbors.
5. Karen Calcagno, CPCC, PCC, ORSCC: (831) 475-4479 PO Box 1080, Soquel, CA 95073 www.advantagefamilybusinesscenter.com
As a commercial and residential landlord for over 30 years, she will share some of the tips she taught in her “Successful Landlording” class at Cabrillo College. She provides coaching and training so that landlords and tenants are clear about expectations and have a game plan for those times when life doesn’t go as planned.
Karen is the co-founder of the Landlord Club.
Debra Wallace – Property Manager Presentation
Caleb Baskin – Lawyer presentation
February 21, 2012 – Water Overview Meeting
Water Overview Meeting Speakers – February 21, 2012
Bill Kocher, Director S.C. Water Dept.
A brief introduction about usage in our county and how various communities work together (or not); S.C. City history of past and present methods of water capture, retention and usage; projections for future usage and needs. History of all surrounding Water Districts were covered and what their water situations are.
Toby Goddard, Water Conservation Mgr, S.C. Water Dept.
Methods of reduced consumption and conservation that are currently being practiced in the city; methods not in use that merit consideration; information about practices each of us can do and/or consider. Website for desal has been taken down.
Water Conservation Presentation by Toby Goddard
Piret Harmon, Business Mgr., S.C. Water Dept.
Financial picture: the cost of water delivered to your tap; managing operating expenses and developing funding strategies for the capital improvement program including desalination project. Website for desal has been taken down.
Financial Water Picture Presentation by Piret Harmon
Heidi Luckenbach, Desalination Program Coordinator, Soquel Creek Water District 2 Organization
The proposed desalination project as part of proposed supplemental supply component of Integrated Water Plan for city; the agencies involved; the technologies to be used; FAQs hot topic issues.
Desal Program Presentation by Heidi Luckenbach
Gary Griggs, UCSC Distinguished Professor of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Director, Institute of Marine Sciences Coastal Processes & Geologic Hazards
An introduction to Professor Griggs’s background and professional history with regards to work in the Monterey Bay itself and the area, in general, and a discussion about impact of projects on same.
Gary Griggs Notes
ADDITIONAL information (In no particular order):
A Bay-Friendly Lanscaping Guide to Mulch
Save Money, Control Weeds, and Create Healthy Landscapes
Water-conscious gardens
Right to Vote on Desal
“The purpose of this Charter Amendment is to enact a comprehensive policy ensuring that the City of Santa Cruz does not approve, permit, or fund a desalination project without voter approval.”
Desal Alternatives
Exploring alternatives to desalination in Santa Cruz, CA
scwd2 Desalination Program – City of Santa Cruz Website for desal has been taken down.
The City of Santa Cruz Water Department (SCWD) and the Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) have identified desalination as the best option for delivering a flexible and reliable water source. To take advantage of the benefits derived from a cooperative facility, SCWD and SqCWD have joined together to address their different needs and share the costs associated with evaluating the proposed project.
Regional Seawater Desalination Program Website – Website has been has been taken down
The City of Santa Cruz Water Department (SCWD) and Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) have been collaborating to conserve, protect and create reliable water resources. Both have already implemented numerous stringent conservation and curtailment requirements to maximize efficient water use, but the region needs a reliable supplemental water source that will provide needed supply during droughts and protect groundwater aquifers from seawater intrusion.
Water Smart Gardening in Santa Cruz County
City of Santa Cruz REBATES
Compost Bin, HE Clothes Washer, Lawn Removal, Rain Barrel, Toilet
Association of California Water Agencies
https://www.acwa.com/about/