Supervisor Justin Cummings on Oct. 7 cast the lone ‘no’ vote against a proposed rule to allow vehicles to be scrapped as soon as they are towed. Supervisors delayed final adoption on Oct. 21 after a rights group claimed the law was illegal. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo — Santa Cruz Local file)

SANTA CRUZ >> The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved Measure Q spending, proposed limits on kratom sales and issued final approval to new RV impound rules at its meeting Tuesday.

Measure Q spending

Supervisors approved $875,000 of Measure Q money for environmental projects in unincorporated county areas.

The approved spending includes:

•  $720,000 to remove invasive species, including Acacia trees, from the areas surrounding Freedom Lake in Corralitos as well as upstream. It is part of a $3 million long-term project to improve water quality and increase public access. 
• $80,000 towards brush removal along an estimated 52 miles of evacuation routes in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Soquel Hills, including Bear Creek Road, China Grade Road, East Zayante Road, Eureka Canyon Road, Graham Hill Road, Highland Way, Soquel San Jose Road and Upper East Zayante. 
• $75,000 for a hydrologic forecasting model for Corralitos Creek. The model will use data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to create tools and allow county officials to better predict flooding and prepare for heavy storms.

The projects were chosen by county staff because they are ready for construction and have other sources of funding, county staff said. 

Voters approved Measure Q, an $87 annual parcel tax, in November 2025. It raises about $7.5 million annually.

The money approved Tuesday is part of the 20% of Measure Q funds allocated to county-helmed projects. Along with the $875,000, each county supervisor has $100,000 to distribute for projects that benefit their district.

Other allocations for Measure Q revenue includes: 

• 20%, about $1.5 million annually, to the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County and a nonprofit partner for projects on privately owned land.
• 20% of funds to cities within Santa Cruz County, split proportionally by population.
• 40% to county-administered grants to nonprofits or public agencies, including at least $600,000 to San Vicente Redwoods, and at least $600,000 for projects in the Pajaro Valley. 

Kratom ban rejected

Kratom, an herb from Southeast Asia, is an unregulated supplement sold in many gas stations and other shops, both as an herb or a concentrated pill or drink. At higher doses, its active ingredient works similar to opioids. At lower doses, the herb has effects similar to caffeine.

The council rejected a proposal from Supervisor Kim DeSerpa that would have banned the sale of kratom products in areas of the county outside of cities. The board instead voted unanimously for staff to rewrite the proposed law to instead ban certain synthetic or concentrated forms of kratom, but keep more natural or lower-concentration products legal. 

Santa Cruz County Health Office Lisa Hernandez said kratom use presents a health risk locally, as people can become addicted to the herb or become sick from improperly-labeled products. Some people use kratom for chronic pain or to help stop using opiates like fentanyl. 

RV rules

Supervisors pushed off final approval for county rules that would allow immediate destruction of impounded RVs and other vehicles in unincorporated areas of the county outside of cities. The rules have sparked heavy pushback from homeless advocates, who have argued that the policy will push people who live in their vehicles onto the streets. 

Supervisor Monica Martinez said the county has received letters from the American Civil Liberties Union that said the law is illegal. The council voted unanimously to delay final approval until county attorneys can investigate those arguments and advise whether the proposed law is legal. 

Under the proposed rules, sheriff’s deputies would issue illegally-parked vehicles a 10-day notice to move. Vehicles that are illegally parked could also be towed and scrapped without warning if they present “an immediate health and safety risk,” and are judged to be worth less than $200.

Editor’s note: this story has been updated to reflect the correct amount each county supervisor has to distribute for projects that benefit their district. The updated amount is $100,000 to distribute.

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