Scotts Valley Residents Come Out Against County Redistricting Plans

Nearly two-dozen Scotts Valley leaders and residents spoke before the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to voice their concerns about the city possibly being split into two under a new supervisorial boundaries redistricting plan.

Under the California Election Code and the U.S. Voting Rights Act, the board must look at adjusting supervisorial districts every 10 years to ensure that each district is nearly equal in population. The county has a population of 262,382, which, when divided among the five districts, would be approximately 52,476 represented by each supervisor.

Over four months, a task force comprised of a representative from each district worked on a plan. The task force submitted two county-wide plans to be considered; however, each plan divides the city of Scotts Valley along Highway 17 into two separate supervisorial districts, much to the dismay of many Scotts Valley residents.

“What we are concerned with most of all is splitting our community up, and it’s not so much about Scotts Valley the city limits, but it’s about community,” Scotts Valley Mayor Dene Bustichi said.

A number of Scotts Valley residents urged the board to take another look at the plans and come up with a different solution that does not split the city into two districts, and the same word echoed out of everyone’s mouth—community.

“We have one community, one voice,” said Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sharolynn Ullestad. “Highway 17 runs through our community but does not divide our community.”

When considering redistricting plans, the Election Code gives the board four factors to consider: topography; geography; cohesiveness, contiguity, integrity and compactness of territory; and community of interests. Many in attendance felt that some of these factors were overlooked.

“I don’t see any of those four items being met by splitting Scotts Valley in half,” said Derek Tim, Granite Creek Estates Homeowners Association president. “Scotts Valley’s topography suggests it should be held together. Geographically, it’s a valley, so it should be held together.”

Councilman Jim Reed also said one important factor was being ignored.

“To split our city in half and to take half of our town and to put it in a different district, that is the ultimate splitting of a community of interest.”

Supervisor Mark Stone who represents District Five, which encompasses all of Scotts Valley, said the points were well taken and that he would consider all he heard before making a decision.

Right now, Scotts Valley is the only city in the county that is not represented by more than one supervisor—and having more than one is something Supervisor Ellen Pirie said could be considered an advantage.

“It can be a lot better to have two people up here caring about your issues than one,” she said.

The board will hold a public hearing on the matter on Sept. 13.