West Cliff Focus Group

With a career rooted in climate adaptation planning since 2008, Ross has held positions as climate action staff for the City of Santa Cruz. Currently, he is a researcher at Moss Landing Marine Labs, specializing in coastal ecosystems planning and monitoring. His contributions to the West Cliff Plan and the Santa Cruz City Beaches report underscore his commitment to enhancing our community.

Beyond his work, Ross enjoys the Santa Cruz lifestyle to the fullest. Whether hitting the trails on his mountain bike, catching the wind while sailing, or enjoying the diverse culinary experiences at Santa Cruz's restaurants, Ross is an active and engaged community member.

Ross's love for Santa Cruz shines through his appreciation for the people and the remarkable access to open spaces in Santa Cruz.

Julianna is dedicated to strategically supporting West Cliff's longevity and understanding the community's evolving needs, gaining insights directly from community members and stakeholders. With a Master's in Public Administration, Julianna is a project manager for the Climate and Energy team at CivicWell, focusing on climate adaptation and resiliency statewide.

As a West Side native, West Cliff holds a special place in Julianna's heart. She's committed to preserving its unique value for the community. On weekends, she enjoys the outdoors, live music, and great food, immersing herself in Santa Cruz's rich culture.

Julianna cherishes the proximity of Santa Cruz to the Pacific, the redwoods, and the vibrant Santa Cruz community. She looks forward to participating in the Focus Group to serve the community and connect on such an important topic.

Nathan's anticipation for the 50-Year Visioning Process centers on delving into the history of West Cliff and exploring ways to inspire the public to envision a new future before nature mandates change. As the Director of Public Works, he's motivated by this vision work's profound impact on our community and is committed to driving it forward.

With a 15-year career as a public servant, Nathan has a proven track record of delivering numerous Public Works infrastructure projects in our community.

Nathan's love for the community he grew up in is unwavering. Working with fellow community members and contributing to the betterment of Santa Cruz is at the heart of Nathan's work. Beyond his professional commitments, Nathan enjoys the simple pleasures of Santa Cruz living, whether it's soaking in the natural beauty by riding bikes, hitting the beach or simply unwinding with family and friends over good food.

Nathan is excited to continue to work with the community toward a prosperous and resilient future for West Cliff.

Donna Meyers is a coastal resource management expert with a strong passion for environmental preservation. With over two decades of experience, her work focuses on sustaining ecological systems in the Monterey Bay area, particularly in the face of sea-level rise and extreme wave events.

Donna's background includes serving as a City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Water Commissioner, City Council member, and Mayor, offering valuable insights into coastal community dynamics and long-term strategies. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a coastal ecosystems focus and a Master's degree in Environmental Policy and Urban Planning.

Despite her recent move to the Monterey Peninsula, Donna remains closely connected to Santa Cruz. She enjoys the coastal access and active lifestyle, embracing surfing, nature exploration, and hiking. Her unwavering dedication to preserving the environment and making Santa Cruz greener aligns with the community's values.

Donna is excited to bring a 50-year perspective to preparing Santa Cruz for challenges like sea-level rise while preserving the City's unique essence.

Darren Pound is a hospitality professional with over 34 years of experience. He is the General Manager of the Dream Inn Santa Cruz, the City's only beachfront hotel.

Darren's dedication extends beyond the hospitality industry; he's a committed advocate for protecting Santa Cruz's natural beauty and enhancing the experiences of both residents and visitors. Darren enjoys spending time with his family, sport fishing, golfing, and grilling.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Darren actively contributes to the community's well-being. He's a Past Board President for Visit Santa Cruz County and is actively involved in numerous community initiatives and partnerships including serving on the Board of the Dominican Hospital Foundation, emphasizing his commitment to the City's future.

Tony Elliot, the Parks & Recreation Director for the City of Santa Cruz, is deeply committed to ensuring the future of recreation on West Cliff remains safe, accessible, and vibrant for all users.

Beyond his role, Tony contributes to the community as a member of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council and the Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve Local Stewardship Council. He also attends Santa Cruz Bible Church and volunteers as a Little League baseball coach. Tony's love for Santa Cruz extends to its parks, open spaces, trails, the Wharf, and, of course, access to the ocean. In a City brimming with recreational options, he enjoys activities like mountain biking, surfing, paddleboarding, hiking, savoring the local cuisine, and enjoying live music venues.

Tony looks forward to bringing his perspective of Santa Cruz and its recreational future to the Focus Group and working with the community to envision West Cliff's future.

With over three decades of dedication to environmental sustainability, ocean protection, and climate change policy in Santa Cruz, Ron Goodman brings this expertise to the 50-year visioning process. With a marine ecology and computer engineering background, Ron has participated in many community initiatives, notably co-founding Bike Santa Cruz.

Ron enjoys outdoor activities in his leisure time, such as running, hiking, wetland restoration, and ocean exploration. Currently chairing the City's Transportation & Public Works Commission, Ron is passionate about working with the community on important issues. His role as an environmental science lead judge for the County Science Fair and as a math teacher showcases his dedication to education and community engagement.

Ron's approach to problem-solving looks to explore a spectrum of potential answers, recognizing that multiple avenues can achieve collective objectives. Ron's method involves a curious mindset and a never-ending thirst for knowledge that he is looking forward to bringing to the Focus Group and looking at the future of West Cliff.

Hilary Bryant, Donor Services Director at the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, is passionate about preserving the West Cliff Recreation Area. With a history of serving as a Santa Cruz City Councilmember and as Mayor in 2013, she is committed to environmental stewardship. Hilary is a proud graduate of UC Santa Cruz, where she earned her BA in Biology.

In this visioning work, she is eager to explore strategic approaches for the entire coastal resource, considering transportation, neighborhood impacts, and recreational access. Hilary believes protecting the coast is a shared responsibility crucial for environmental preservation and community well-being.

Hilary's engagement in the community extends to her leadership positions within multiple organizations. She co-chairs the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Board and chairs the Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve Local Stewardship Council. Hilary's involvement also includes roles on the Santa Cruz Works Board, Cruz Foam Advisory Board, and Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary.

Her love for Santa Cruz shines through her appreciation for its diverse offerings, from the ocean and surf to trails, arts, culture, and vibrant downtown life. She enjoys surfing, sailing, biking, running, gardening, spending time with family and friends, and cheering on the Santa Cruz Warriors!

Sabrina Lopez brings a wealth of expertise and a strong commitment to shaping Santa Cruz's future with inclusivity and environmental justice at the forefront.

With a background in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from UC Santa Cruz, Sabrina has a unique perspective that's amplified by her professional experience with the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, where she's been involved in critical initiatives like COVID response and Substance Use Prevention.

Sabrina is committed to equity and the inclusion of often marginalized voices in the planning process. As a Latine woman and Santa Cruz renter, she's deeply motivated to ensure that everyone is considered when preparing for the impacts of climate change.

Sabrina's dedication extends to her active engagement in local politics and leadership roles in environmental advocacy groups. She's a Coastal Climate Resilience Fellow with UC Santa Cruz, focused on advancing environmental justice-centered climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. Living in Santa Cruz allows Sabrina to foster a strong connection to the natural environment. She spends her free time outdoors, sharing moments with loved ones through walks, hikes, and waterfront relaxation. Her passion for the arts shines through as she enjoys ceramics and dance classes at local studios.

Jonah Chizinsky, the City Youth Community Liaison, is deeply connected to Santa Cruz. As a local surfer and lifeguard, he's passionate about preserving the City's unique coastal charm.

Jonah, a senior at Santa Cruz High School, is dedicated to improving the well-being of the City's youth community and works diligently with Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson.

His favorite part of living in Santa Cruz is the daily opportunity to surf at the Lane. When he's not catching waves, Jonah enjoys training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, biking along West Cliff, playing piano, and making pottery.

Gretchen “Gia” Bach is a West Cliff Dr. homeowner, real estate business owner, longtime surfer, and ocean conservationist. She received her bachelor’s degree in “Psychology of the Built Environment” from UCSC and has called Santa Cruz home for almost four decades. She is passionate about sustainable development and community-based planning and has a LEED Green Associate Certification from the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Gia's background includes serving as a Santa Cruz City Schools Teacher for 15 years and helping develop the Santa Cruz Scholastic Surfing Association. She served as a coach for both the Branciforte Middle School and Santa Cruz High Surf Teams. She is currently on the board of the Santa Cruz Educational Foundation. It is clear to her that her three daughters, all avid surfers, were raised by the ocean, the coast, teachers, coaches, and the community as much as by her.

She believes that a strong identity and a clear sense of place are critical to a thriving community and that West Cliff Dr. is at the heart of who we are and must be cared for as such. She is honored to be a part of the West Cliff focus group and does not doubt that Santa Cruz will rise to the challenges that we are facing now and will be facing over the next 50 years.

Abi Mustapha is excited to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share a passion for shaping a brighter future for this cherished community. Having called Santa Cruz home for the past decade, Abi is driven by curiosity to explore and understand the diverse perspectives that make up the community.

Abi's academic foundation in political science focusing on sustainability equips her with a deep understanding of the dynamics that shape our beloved Santa Cruz. This knowledge, coupled with a passion for social justice, has led Abi to co-found the Santa Cruz Equity Collab. In her role as an artist in residence at Housing Matters, Abi harnesses the power of art to empower individuals experiencing homelessness, using public art as a means to raise awareness and catalyze the community toward envisioning a future without homelessness. Abi's artistic endeavors include illustration, 2D paintings, murals, graphic art, installations, and various experiments.

When not engaged in community initiatives, Abi takes time to enjoy the natural beauty of Santa Cruz through hiking, group meditation, or enjoying the scenic views of West Cliff.

As a member of the West Cliff focus group, Abi wants to inspire positive change and inclusivity along West Cliff and throughout Santa Cruz.