The Santa Cruz City Council passed the Climate Adaptation Plan last month, based on research about the city’s vulnerability to climate change and how to mitigate future climate change disasters.

The City Council Chambers served as a forum open to all locals updating them on the integrated water plan. The benefits and risks of a desalinization plant in Santa Cruz were widely examined.

Growing concerns for the environmental impact of rapidly-accumulated rubbish have prompted a new Santa Cruz City Council policy. On Oct. 11, the city council prohibited the city of Santa Cruz purchasing single-use bottled water for city offices in a 6-0 vote.

September 27, 2011 is no longer just an ordinary day in the city of Santa Cruz. It is now proclaimed in honor of UC Santa Cruz’s mascot Sammy the Slug.

For the next three months, Mayor Coonerty will host a monthly meeting aimed to educate Santa Cruzans about the way local government works and help dispel myths surrounding City Council, budgetary issues, and the relationship of the city and the university.

Water levels in local streams have proven to be a threat to endangered fish species; the city has proposed a plan to provide an optimal habitat, but it also includes the installation of a controversial desalination plant.

Faced with a study that highlights local vendors’ failure to abide by California law regarding the tobacco age requirement, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has voted to enact an annually renewed tobacco retail license. The program will fund education and enforcement programming targeted to reduce youth access to tobacco.

The Library Joint Powers Board will vote on a new model proposal for Santa Cruz County libraries. The proposal will keep all 10 libraries open and extend hours, but it will also reduce staff. Some community members support the compromise, while others still hold reservations.

As redevelopment agencies across the state of California get the ax, local city council members voted to sell bonds to JP Morgan in a last effort to protect funds for local projects. Under Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget, the tax revenue meant for redevelopment agencies would be redirected to the state.

Further establishing itself as a hotbed of environmental forwardness, the city takes on a new role as overseers of a Green Business Measurement Tool and Tracker, meant to monitor the effectiveness of green business practices as well create a network of certified green businesses.