Role
The Fish and Wildlife Advisory Commission (FWAC) advises the Board of Supervisors on any matters pertaining to fish and wildlife in the county, including natural habitat, wildlife and general environment. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, consistent with the policies and regulations of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). These recommendations concern expenditures from the County Fish and Game Propagation Fund, created by Fish and Game Code Sections 13003(b) and 13100 for the propagation and conservation of fish and wildlife in the county. The FWAC is managed in accordance with the following:
Note: This Commission is not part of CDFW. If you would like to contact a CDFW representative, please call the Bay and Delta Region office at 707-428-2002. If you would like to report poaching or pollution of waterways, please call the CALTIP hotline at 888-334-2258.
Commission Structure
The Commission consists of ten County residents, with each Supervisor appointing two commissioners. The County staff person assigned to the Commission is Sean Abbey. If you wish to communicate with someone on the commission, please send an email to FWAC@santacruzcountyca.gov.
There is currently a vacant commissioner seat. If you are interested in serving on the FWAC, please click here to apply. More information about County Commissions can be found here: Commissions, Committees & Advisory Bodies.
Current Commissioners - as of February 25, 2025
| INCUMBENT/APPOINTEE (District): |
APPOINTMENT DATE: |
TERM EXPIRATION DATE: |
| Sam Adelson (1) |
June 28, 2022 |
April 1, 2025 |
| Chris Berry (1) |
April 13, 2021 |
April 1, 2025 |
| VACANT |
|
|
| David Somerton (2) |
June 11, 2019 |
April 1, 2025 |
| Susan Elizabeth Alter (3) |
October 20, 2020 |
April 1, 2027 |
| Jon Jankovitz (3), Chair |
January 12, 2021 |
April 1, 2027 |
| Brooke Sampson (4) |
August 8, 2023 |
April 1, 2027 |
| Daniela Suarez (4) |
August 8, 2023 |
April 1, 2027 |
| Jenni Gomez (5) |
October 22, 2019 |
April 1, 2025 |
| Jen Michelsen (5), Vice-Chair |
April 16, 2019 |
April 1, 2025 |
Regular Meeting Information
Location and time: The Commission meets in the Solarium Conference Room, at 1060 Emeline Avenue. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and members of the public are encouraged to join remotely via Teams.
Agendas: Agendas are publically posted at least 72 hours in advance of meetings and are distributed to all interested parties. Persons wishing to comment on an item should review the Commissions Public Comment Policy
2025 Commission Meetings
Past Meeting Information can be found here: Agendas and Minutes from Previous Meetings
Biennial Reports:
Every two years, the Commission submits a biennial report to the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Officer. This report highlights the activities, accomplishments and future goals of the Commission.