Santa Cruz City Government

Santa Cruz City Government The City of Santa Cruz is a full-service city located on the beautiful coast of California. Santa Cruz has numerous art galleries and a thriving music scene.

The City of Santa Cruz is located in one of the most beautiful areas of California, on the sunny, northern side of the Monterey Bay, 75 miles south of San Francisco and 30 miles south of San Jose. Situated between magnificent redwood-forested mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Santa Cruz is one of California's most popular seaside resorts, with twenty-nine miles of beaches and the historic Beach Boa

rdwalk seaside amusement park. The mild Mediterranean climate invites all to enjoy the numerous forest and mountain trails, spectacular ocean vistas, and rich and varied marine life. Recreational facilities in the Santa Cruz area include: seventeen state parks and beaches, five golf courses, and a small craft harbor. A wide variety of outstanding cultural and special events is offered year-round. Santa Cruz is home to a world renown teaching and research institution - the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) - and is also a center for businesses, large and small, to innovate and succeed. Santa Cruz is a charter city with a seven-member City Council that is elected at large. The City maintains a workforce of over 700 employees who maintain a full range of services, to include: Police, Fire, Water, Planning, Economic Development, Redevelopment, Parks and Recreation, Wastewater, Sewer and Refuse and Recycling collection. In addition, the City provides beach and lifeguard services, open space management, and administers the City/County Public Library System.

06/04/2026

🌊 HAZARDOUS BEACH CONDITIONS EXPECTED FRIDAY–SATURDAY 🌊

Heading to the coast this weekend? Keep safety at the top of your mind. An incoming long-period southwest (SW) swell will bring heightened dangers to our coastline.

What: Increased risk of dangerous sneaker waves and strong rip currents.

Where: All Pacific Coast beaches across the Bay Area and Central Coast, with the highest risk found at southwest-facing beaches.

When: From 3:00 AM Friday through 9:00 AM Saturday.

Impacts & Safety Tips:
Sneaker waves can pull unsuspecting beachgoers into the cold, turbulent Pacific Ocean without warning. If you are visiting the coast, stay well back from the water, stay off coastal rocks and jetties, and NEVER turn your back on the ocean.

Stay safe and stay informed! Check weather.gov/sanfrancisco for updates.

06/02/2026

🚧 Murray Street Bridge Full Closure Confirmed for June 10 🚧

The next full closure of the Murray Street Bridge will begin on Wednesday, June 10, and continue through September.

The bridge will be closed to vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians while crews begin the next major phase of the project on the south side of the bridge, including pile driving and foundation work.

Detours will be in place:
đźš— Vehicles: Seabright Ave., Soquel Ave., and 7th Ave.
🚲 Bicycles: Arana Gulch and Broadway via Seabright Ave. and 7th Ave.
🚶 Pedestrians: Around the north harbor via Eaton St., 7th Ave., and Brommer St.

This is the last extended full closure of the project. Two shorter closures are planned in 2027 before project completion in January 2028.

Learn more at santacruzca.gov/msb

05/20/2026

The City of Santa Cruz is hiring year-round Aquatic Instructors at Harvey West Pool! Help teach swim lessons, support aquatic programs, keep our community safe, and spend your workdays poolside.

We’re looking for energetic, responsible team players who are passionate about water safety and working with the community.
Learn more at santacruzca.gov/jobs

Downtown Library & Affordable Housing Project Construction Update Please plan ahead for upcoming large concrete pours at...
05/20/2026

Downtown Library & Affordable Housing Project Construction Update
Please plan ahead for upcoming large concrete pours at the project site on:
- Wednesday, May 20
- Monday, June 1
Work has been authorized for an early start and is expected to take place from approximately 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. both days.
Expect intermittent closures on Lincoln and Cathcart Streets between Cedar Street and Pacific Avenue during active pours and crane operations. Contractors will work to keep streets open whenever possible outside of active construction activity.

Please follow all posted signage and directions from flaggers for your safety.

Businesses are OPEN during construction! We encourage the community to continue supporting Downtown businesses!

🅿️ Nearby parking is available in the Soquel Garage and Lots 3, 7, and 9.

Learn more about the project at santacruzca.gov/downtownlibraryproject

Help Keep Santa Cruz Clean!Unauthorized graffiti, stickers, flyers, and postings on public infrastructure, including uti...
05/15/2026

Help Keep Santa Cruz Clean!
Unauthorized graffiti, stickers, flyers, and postings on public infrastructure, including utility boxes, poles, and signs, create damage, generate waste, and require significant resources to remove and repair.

Every week, City teams spend time cleaning and restoring public spaces. Removing adhesives, paint, paper, and damaged materials creates unnecessary environmental waste and impacts our shared public spaces.

We encourage community expression and engagement, but ask everyone to use approved methods and designated locations when sharing information.

See unauthorized postings, graffiti, or damage to public property? Help us respond quickly through the City of Santa Cruz Community Request for Service Portal: submit a request for service and report the issue directly to City staff. https://cosc-crsp.mendixcloud.com/p/Home

05/14/2026

Community members are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., marking the installation of a new SaveStation and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at Lighthouse Point, one of Santa Cruz's most beloved and heavily-visited locations along West Cliff. The new station will provide immediate access to an AED, dramatically improving emergency cardiac response capability at this popular public destination.

A new non-profit initiative, Six Minutes to Live: Santa Cruz, helped to coordinate the AED and SaveStation donations. The Santa Cruz Fire Department has partnered with this initiative, co-founded by Santa Cruz resident Hilary Gates.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone. Every second counts when SCA occurs and starting CPR immediately with using an AED can increase survival rates by 40-70%.

“Installing a SaveStation at Lighthouse Point is about protecting the people who make Santa Cruz so special — the surfers, the families, the visitors who come here every day. We want everyone to know that help is available if they need it,” said City of Santa Cruz Fire Department Fire Chief Rob Oatey.

In an emergency, bystanders and first responders will now have access to this critical equipment before professional medical services arrive.

The SaveStation Tower was donated by Deb Henning from Action First Aid and the AED was donated by Jeremy Gruber from RescueOne.

Event Details
What: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony — SaveStation & AED Installation
When: Monday, May 18, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz, California
Who: Community members, elected officials, public safety personnel, and members of the press are welcome to attend.

The City of Santa Cruz is beginning the process of updating its City Charter, the foundational document that outlines ho...
04/30/2026

The City of Santa Cruz is beginning the process of updating its City Charter, the foundational document that outlines how the City is governed.

The proposed amendments focus on modernizing the Charter, improving clarity, and aligning with current state law. Updates include gender-neutral language, clearer election and meeting procedures, and removal of outdated or conflicting provisions.

A public hearing will be held on May 26, 2026. Community members are encouraged to review the proposed changes and participate in the process ahead of the November 2026 ballot.

Public hearing: May 26, 2026

Comments can be submitted to City Clerk, Bonnie Bush, by noon on May 25 at [email protected]
đź”— Learn more: santacruzca.gov/November2026

Address

809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, CA
95060

Telephone

+18314205010

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Santa Cruz City Government posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Santa Cruz City Government:

Shortcuts

Share

Category