Human Services Commission

The Human Services Commission is a volunteer advisory board which meets six times a year to ensure the highest quality and maximum effectiveness of human services provided for the benefit of the citizens of Santa Cruz County. Meetings are open to the public. The Commission consists of ten members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

The duties of the Commission (as defined in Chapter 2.60 of the Santa Cruz County Code) are to:

  • Guide long-term planning regarding meeting the socio-economic needs of low-income, disabled, disadvantaged and at-risk people in the county;
  • Advise the county board of supervisors on policies and priorities that affect the socio-economic needs of low-income, disabled, disadvantaged and at-risk people;
  • Provide advice and counsel to the Director and Senior Management of the Human Services Department on best practices in the operation of the department’s programs;
  • Provide a forum for citizens affected by county human services programs and policies;
  • Advise the Board of Supervisors on funding decisions affecting the socio-economic needs of low-income, disabled and disadvantaged people, including county allocation of resources to county programs and community programs funding;
  • Integrate efforts and initiatives affecting the socio-economic needs of the poor which cross departmental, divisional and interest-group lines;
  • Advise the board of supervisors on legislative matters concerning the county human services programs. (Ord. 4106 § 2 (part), 1991)

2023 Meeting Schedule

Human Services Commission meetings are held bimonthly on the third Wednesday of the month, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, at the United Way’s Capitola Conference room, located at 4450 Capitola Rd #106, Capitola, CA, unless otherwise noted below. 

The 2023 Commission Meeting schedule is as follows:

  • January 18, 2023, 8:30 am – 10:30 am, *This is a Virtual Public Meeting – Click Here to Join*
  • March 15, 2023, 8:30 am – 10:30 am, 4450 Capitola Rd #106, Capitola CA
  • May 17, 2023, CANCELLED due to lack of quorum
  • July 19, 2023, CANCELLED due to lack of quorum
  • September 20, 2023, 8:30 am – 10:30 am, 4450 Capitola Rd #106, Capitola CA 
  • November 15, 2023, 8:30 am – 10:30 am, 4450 Capitola Rd #106, Capitola CA

All Commission meetings, beginning with March 15, 2023, will be held in a hybrid in-person/virtual format so that members of the public wishing to attend virtually may do so. To attend virtually as a guest, you may Click here to join the meeting, or you may email Commission staff at Adam.Spickler@santacruzcountyca.gov to be sent a link electronically.

Commission Bylaws

Human Services Commission Bylaws, approved as of 2/25/2003 (PDF, 194 KB)

2023 Agendas

CLICK HERE FOR PRIOR YEAR AGENDAS

2023 Minutes

CLICK HERE FOR PRIOR YEAR MINUTES

Advisory Commission Members

Lisa Smith (First District)

Emily Hanson (First District)

Danny Keith, Vice-Chair (Second District)

Stephen Gray (Second District)

VACANT (Third District)

Betsy Clark, Chair (Third District)

Charles M. ‘Stoney’ Brook (Fourth District)

Karina Moreno (Fourth District)

Jennifer Anderson-Ochoa (Fifth District)

Denise Hitzeman (Fifth District)

 

Board of Supervisors Meetings

2023 Calendar of Meetings (PDF 153 KB)

Upcoming Meetings and Agendas

Prior Meetings and Agendas

Video Recordings of Prior Meetings