Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority seeks committee members

Volunteers oversee use of parcel tax, urban grant program.

Having the authority

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority has openings on its Citizens’ Advisory and Expenditure Plan Oversight committees (CAC and EPOC, respectively).

The seven-member EPOC provides direct public oversight of the authority’s use of its $24 annual parcel tax, permanently renewed by voters in November 2020. This tax generates approximately $8 million per year.

The 15-member CAC participates in reviewing and recommending applications for the authority’s annual urban grant program that has distributed nearly $15 million in grants and funded 950 community programs to support nature in urban areas. Last year, the authority awarded nearly $2 million to 19 local organizations.

Members of both committees are volunteers who reside within the authority’s working area. There are three positions open on EPOC, whose members meet quarterly and serve three-year terms. CAC members serve two-year terms; there are two positions open.

For more information and to apply for either committee, visit https://www.openspaceauthority.org/public-information/committees.

Neighborhood Notes

ALMADEN>>Almaden Lake Park is the site of the ninth annual Fourth of July Fireworks Festival hosted by the Almaden Valley Women’s Club, Rotary Club of Almaden-Willow Glen and the office of District 10 Councilmember Arjun Batra.

The festival starts at 3 p.m.; fireworks begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. In between, there’s live music, with entertainment between band sets by ComedySportz. Families can play giant Jenga and Connect 4 in the fun zone, and folks can try their hand at ax throwing. A halftime show at 5:30 p.m. will feature awards for the most patriotic costumes.

For more information, visit https://sjd10.com/4th-of-july.