Santa Cruz’s stipend program is a step forward for representation and equity

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The Santa Cruz City Council has approved a landmark stipend program that will offer payment to citizens who serve on advisory bodies. 

We – as three members of the council – believe this was a long time in coming and signals a shift, as it will make it feasible for more people to participate in local government.

Starting in January, advisory body members will receive a $75 stipend for each public meeting they attend. Currently, we have 75 members serving on 12 of the city’s 16 advisory bodies. The four other advisory bodies – the zoning administrator, the clean river, beaches and ocean fund citizens oversight committee and two county commissions – consist of council members or staff positions. This move is designed to showcase the importance of the work and reduce the financial barriers for historically underrepresented groups, including renters. 

While some might view this as a small policy change, the implications for civic participation are vast and deeply meaningful. The initiative would cost the city close to $50,000 if all citizens who serve choose to take the money and about $12,000 if only 25% of participants opted in. 

Board members’ time commitment to this work can vary, ranging from just a few hours annually to several hours each month. Meeting frequencies also differ, from once a year to twice per month or more. Those hours add up and can become onerous for those facing financial hardship, particularly if the work is uncompensated. 

For years, participation in City of Santa Cruz advisory bodies — boards, commissions and committees that guide policy — has been disproportionately dominated by those with the financial flexibility, time and privilege to serve. Many community members, particularly those balancing multiple jobs, raising families or facing economic hardships, simply haven’t had the bandwidth to engage. 

The result? Critical perspectives, particularly from marginalized groups, have been missing in the discussions shaping our city’s future. 

The approval of this stipend program is, at its core, a recognition of that reality. It acknowledges that while civic duty is a noble pursuit, it cannot always be an uncompensated one. 

For many residents, the financial cost of participating — whether through lost wages or the inability to afford child care during meetings — has been a barrier to contributing their voices to local governance.

This work stems from the city’s Health in All Policies committee, and this initiative not only tackles economic inequities but also responds directly to findings from the 2022 “A City Like Me: Santa Cruz” report, which emphasized the lack of representation from key demographic groups. By offering a stipend, Santa Cruz is making a conscious effort to create space for these voices, ensuring that decisions on housing, climate policy, public safety and more reflect the experiences of all its residents. 

The county has adopted a similar policy starting Jan. 1 and has seen a 42% opt-in rate. The county has $100,000 budgeted for this program next year. 

But let’s be clear: This isn’t just about money. It’s about fostering a deeper sense of belonging and ownership in our city’s future. 

When residents see themselves represented in decision-making spaces, they are more likely to engage, participate and trust in the outcomes of those decisions. The stipend is a tool, but the real goal is empowerment — empowering people from all walks of life to have a hand in shaping their community.

What might be overlooked is the value that advisory body members bring to their roles — value that stems not just from their professional expertise, but also from their lived experiences within the community. Advisory body members serve on a wide range of city committees, from the Children’s Fund Oversight Committee, which helps ensure equitable access to resources for youth, to the Transportation and Public Works Commission, which plays a crucial role in shaping the infrastructure that keeps our city moving.

All advisory body members bring unique perspectives shaped by their personal and professional lives, whether it’s a parent advocating for child-friendly public spaces or a renter contributing to discussions about affordable housing policy. 

We need your voice in your city government. 

To us, the initiative shows that Santa Cruz values the input of all residents, not just those who already have the means to participate. This kind of structural change is necessary if we are to build a city where everyone, regardless of income, race or background, can have a say in the policies that affect them.

The work of equity and representation is never done. But with initiatives like this, we’re moving in the right direction. You can sign up to serve here.

Sonja Brunner has been a city councilmember since 2020 and served as mayor in 2022. Brunner is a community organizer and an at-large commissioner and a tenant commissioner with the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County. She is a single mom, a Cabrillo College graduate in liberal studies and has lived in Santa Cruz for more than 30 years. 

Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson is a co-founder of Impact Launch and has 20 years of experience in facilitating leadership initiatives and grant-writing for nonprofits and public agencies in Santa Cruz County, particularly in health and human services. She has helped secure more than $70 million in grants. She has served on the Santa Cruz City Council since 2020. She led efforts on the sugar-sweetened beverage initiative, Measure Z, which passed in the November election.   

Martine Watkins is the local government and business affairs senior manager at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and has experience in policy development and community engagement. She has served on the council since 2016 and served as mayor in 2019, when the position rotated among councilmembers. She has a master’s degree in public policy from the Panetta Institute. She is the first biracial Black woman on the council and she contributed to the campaign for Measure Z, the sugar-sweetened beverage tax that passed in November.