As mentioned last month, members of our Measure R Tax Oversight Committee began working on developing the funding plan and priorities for our Measure R Tax revenues. I am pleased to report that at 6 p.m. Tuesday, the City Council will be considering its recommendations on the first group of projects and programs for this very important funding source.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the vast number of volunteers, community members, and staff that help make National Night Out such a great success. It was great to see and talk to many of our community as they engaged with each other and our police and fire departments. Furthermore, kudos to everyone that helped make our annual Wine Walk and world famous Watsonville Strawberry Festival such a great success.

As we finish the summer there are a lot of exciting events still coming. Join us for Fire in the Sky and Airport Open House on Sept. 2 at our Watsonville Municipal Airport. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. This event will include first aviation assets, a skydive exhibition, food vendors, live music, a kids zone and a first-of-its-kind drone light show.

Our library continues to have many exciting activities such as Family Movie Nights at 5:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month through December; Pajama Storytime on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.; and Bilingual Toddler Storytime which features fun songs, rhymes and books that foster early literacy which takes place in-person at the Freedom Branch, Meeting Room on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m., and at the Main Library, Storytime Room at 10:30 a.m.

Please join me in congratulating and thanking Battalion Fire Chief Kirt Vojvoda who retired after 33 years of service to the community of Watsonville. We wish him well in his retirement.

Continue to engage in our General Plan 2050 update and provide your input as we plan the future of our community. I urge you to go to our Watsonville General Plan 2050 website (www.watsonville.gov) where you will find all the most updated information and an opportunity to provide your input in real time.

This is a collaborative process — meaning your input, your feedback and your vision are essential to the success of this general plan update. We look forward to working alongside you, our Watsonville community, to propel our city into a new era. Along with updating our general plan, we are also in the final phases of updating our Airport Master Plan, which will set the course of our airport for years to come.

As these two planning efforts come before the City Council for direction and/approval please attend our meetings and provide your invaluable input.

Finally, I would like to congratulate all our students as they go back to school. Whether starting kindergarten, middle school, high school, or college please know that you have the entire community behind you and wish you the very best and much success.

Until next time, Watsonville.

Eduardo Montesino is the mayor of Watsonville.