All posts by admin

Harrison honored by Clean-Air Group

Harrison Industries continues to lead the ecological charge, achieving a noteworthy 12 years of Climate Registered™ Gold status for its ongoing efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

The Climate Registry is a nonprofit organization that operates greenhouse gas reporting programs globally and monitors emissions; using an independent review process, the registry assists companies in measuring, reporting and verifying the carbon in their systems in order to manage and reduce it. Carbon greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for trapping heat the Earth’s atmosphere and causing climate change.

In a recent letter, Climate Registry officials thanked Harrison for opening its corporate books to again complete the registry’s emissions inventory report and congratulated the Ventura-based trash and recycling hauler for its 12th consecutive year of top-level recognition on the elite registry.

“We thank you for your exceptional climate leadership,” the registry’s Ryan Cassutt, manager of verification and registry services, wrote in the Oct. 22 letter. “Harrison Industries will receive a Climate Registered Gold physical certificate and will enjoy enhanced eligibility for a Climate Leadership Award.”

Earlier this year, The Climate Registry rewarded Harrison for surpassing net zero in emissions by a remarkable 21 times.

“As you can imagine, any company just trying to get to net zero is hard,” said Bill Camarillo, CEO of Harrison partner Agromin, “but the Harrisons have been able to average, over 10 years, 21 times greater than net zero, which is a tremendous accomplishment.”

“The numbers are remarkable but not unexpected,” said Nan Drake, Harrison’s director of governmental affairs and public relations. “Harrison has a well tracked history of avoided emissions – including a fleet of trucks that run entirely on clean fuel – and of following all the protocol. At Harrison, we see this as our greatest responsibility and our foremost success as a trash/recycle company.”

In 2019, Harrison was honored to be the only waste hauler to ever be distinguished with The Climate Registry’s Member of the Month commendation.

Throughout its nearly 90-year history – since long before global warming became a sweeping social issue – Harrison has strived to reuse waste material and avert it from the landfill, where methane gas emissions have caused the atmospheric warming that’s led to climate change.

In 1990, at the dawn of the recycling movement, Harrison launched its Gold Coast Recycling facility. Using state-of-the-art equipment – which has been updated several times over the decades, including in 2019 – Gold Coast has remained consistently at the top of national environmental performance rankings.

Among the company’s proudest achievements has been its annual high ranking on the prestigious Climate Registry, which has been governed by U.S. states and Canadian provinces and territories since its design and creation in 2007.

Since joining the registry in 2008, Harrison has remained far ahead of the clean-air curve every year, proactively and voluntarily reporting the company’s greenhouse gas emissions annually through The Climate Registry.

Details on these avoided emissions from recycling, composting and averted landfill use are available in the full report from The Climate Registry, at www.theclimateregistry.org.

Ventura Rotary volunteers, Interact Youth, Boys & Girls Club staff and teen volunteers.

Holiday event for families

A holiday event for families was held at the Arise Ventura church building located at 831 N. Olive on Saturday, Dec.18.  Pre-registered families picked out a toy for each child, a gently used coat, receive a new pair of shoes for each kid, a lunch, a visit with Santa and a pair of custom made earrings for mom. From 1:00-3:00 pm, there were toys and coats for walk up families with lunch.

This event included Arise Ventura ,Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura ,Rotary of Ventura ,Rotary of Ventura – Coats for Kids ,CHP and Kicks for Kids.

Patti Birmingham, CEO Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura stated “We served over 300 kids at the event. Each child or teen was provided with a gently used coat, a visit and photo with Santa & Mrs. Clause, a plush toy & candy cane from Santa, Moms and some teen girls got to choose a pair of home-made holiday earrings, pick out some Christmas wrapping and or bows, given a Christmas story book and was able to choose a couple of toys for each child (including teens). Two CHP vehicles and officers were onsite in the afternoon for photos and interaction with the kids. Kicks for Kids also made soft tacos for everyone and families were given a food box, provided by Food Share on the way out.”

Steve Ross, Pastor of Arise Ventura Church and his family with the Clauses,

“In addition to providing some much-needed relief to West End families, it was an incredible example of what can be done when non-profits pull together and pool resources. There was such a feeling of warmth and comradery. Between Ventura Rotary, BG Club and Arise Ventura, we had about 50 volunteers throughout the day.”

“As we pooled our resources and partners together, the Boys & Girls Club brought Rotary of Ventura, Interact (the High School arm of the Rotary Program), Coats for Kids (Rotary Ventura Program), SoCalGas (who provided a $5,000 grant for Coats for Kids), and Kicks for Kids (a program that provides new sneakers and education programs to underprivileged youth).  Arise Ventura had connections with CHP Chips for Kids, City Kids and Spark of Love who all provided toys for the event and Food Share provided food boxes.  Members of the Arise Ventura church also provided coats and some gift cards for families.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura will be opening a Teen Center on the West End in January.  The new center will be located in a building owned by Arise Ventura Church at 831 N. Olive Street and will provide critical mentoring, homework and job readiness, life skill and social wellness programming to middle school and high schoolers on the West End.  

Vol. 15, No. 07 – Dec 29,2021 – Jan 11, 2022 – Mailbox

Sheldon;

I would like to give a shout out to Standard Industries, a recycling center in Saticoy where I have frequented many times to drop off recyclables. As a volunteer for Canine Adoption and Rescue League in Santa Paula, I have started a recycling fundraiser and use the proceeds to do repairs to the kennel and add money to our winterizing fund to get dog heaters to the kennels.  Therefore, I am a frequent customer at this facility and on average go there with my recyclables three times a week.

Every time I am there all the employees are very courteous to all the customers and myself. This includes the employees who bring over the wagons with bins in the parking lot and assist you in unloading your car, the employees who weigh your recyclables, the fork lift operator who is always on the look out for customers coming and going in the parking lot and the cashiers.

Standard Industries has also donated money to CARL in the past as we are a non profit, no kill and all breed dog rescue. It is always a pleasure to interact with the employees and I can now tell you they are my friends as well.  By the way, in the six years I have been taking my recyclables to this facility, I see the same smiling faces so I know the employees are treated well. It is nice to see a company such as this in our community.

Marsha Moreland

Oooooops:

From last issue events:
The Poinsettia Pavilion proudly presents a musical evening of dancing to the Ralph Mathis band (brother of the late Johnny Mathis) from 7pm – 9:30pm. $10 at the door and refreshments will be served. The Poinsettia Pavilion is located at 3451 Foothill Rd. in Ventura. For more information call 805-648-1143 or visit www.poinsettiapavilion.org.

Johnny Mathis is alive and well. Born September 30, 1935 (age 86 years).
Thanks to Ivor Davis for pointing this out.

Nothing is really lost. It’s just where it doesn’t belong.
~ Suzanne Mueller

Winter Wonderland at Ventura Harbor Village

Photos by Patricia Schallert.

On Saturday, December 11, a Winter Wonderland & Holiday Marketplace was held in the Ventura Harbor Village. Visitors wandered through a festive village of Faux snowfall, live reindeer from the North Pole, visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus, kids scavenger hunts, entertainment by carolers, and music from a toy soldier band and the Studio C Band.

Obtaining construction permits and developmental approvals made easier

Streamlining the development review process has been a priority of the City Council for several years. 

The Ventura City Council made the process of obtaining construction permits and developmental approvals easier at the city council meeting held on Dec.6. The council voted 7-0 to approve a streamlining ordinance during the meeting.

The changes are expected to cut down to about a year for approvals instead of the several years it has been taking. In some cases over 10-years.

Changes included in the streamlining process include.

The community development director will be given the authority to route a project to a different decision maker than is ordinarily required. This is on a case-by-case project.

When a project requires multiple hearings in front of various committees, the community development director will “identify a single final action body,” essentially determining which committee will make the final decision. An appeal can still be filed and heard by the city council.

In response to our request Peter Gilli, AICP Community Development Director told the Breeze.

“Streamlining the development review process has been a priority of the City Council for several years.  A consultant report (referred to as the Matrix Report), endorsed by the City Council in 2019, included recommendations calling for staff to propose ordinance amendments to simplify the hearing process, reconsider whether to retain DRC/HPC or reduce their scope, and to shift more application types to staff hearings or administrative actions.”  

“Council adopted a temporary Emergency Streamlining Ordinance (ESO) in May 2020.  In February 2021, City Council set a goal to adopt streamlining by the end of 2021.  In April 2021, Council extended ESO for another year to allow the “permanent” streamlining ordinance to be prepared. “

“The proposed ordinance places aspects of the temporary ESO into the Municipal Code. The Planning Commission reviewed the streamlining changes at hearings on 11/3 and 11/17, and recommended approval of the streamlining changes on a 5-2 vote with a short list of recommended changes. “ 

“It is unfortunate that some in the community make statements such as what you were sent.  Here’s a high-level overview of the streamlining proposal:” 

  • DRC and HPC are retained.  
  • Any project over 5 units will continue to go to DRC, as they have in the past.  Every housing project over 5 units will continue to have at least two public hearings, as they have in the past. 
  • Any project that affects a historic resource will continue to go to HPC, as they have in the past.
  • Projects with Major Variances or Exceptions will continue to go to PC, as they have in the past (a housing project over 5 units with an Exception goes to DRC and then PC).
  • Before ESO, façade changes (changes to the exterior of a building that does not involve additional building area) were split between administrative action and DRC review, depending on location.  Streamlining will make all façade changes administrative. 
  • Before ESO, use permits were split between staff hearings and PC depending on the type of use permit.  Streamlining will make all use permits go to staff hearings (these are still public hearings, with public notification, public comment and the ability to appeal)

 

“Staff finds that housing projects are what the community has the most input on.  Streamlining will keep those projects going to multiple hearings as they would have in the past.  By shifting the rest of use permits to staff hearings and the rest of the façade changes to administrative actions, we not only simplify the process (Matrix) but also fulfill shifting application types to staff hearings and administrative actions (Matrix).”

As is typical in many jurisdictions, there are generally two pathways that a project may take: discretionary or ministerial. 

Ministerial projects are generally smaller in scope, and must meet certain criteria, but generally have less review than discretionary projects. Typical examples of ministerial projects include putting in a backyard gazebo, interior building improvements, room additions, fences or even obtaining a marriage license. 

If a ministerial project meets the requirements of the municipal code and the required fees have been paid, the permit will be granted. Furthermore, the city has very little discretion on whether it can say yes or no; oversight is limited to the various requirements that are already laid out in the code. 

The ministerial phase still involves building, encroachment and grading permits, but in this phase these do not require public notification and hearings. Ventura issues thousands of ministerial permits every year. 

With discretionary projects, the city has discretion about whether or not to approve the project. The project, such as a residential home build or a multi-unit development, must still meet state and local code requirements, but various studies — traffic impact, environmental review, etc. —  are included in the review phase. Discretionary projects require public notifications and hearings and include an appeal process in which parties opposing decisions on the project can seek an alternative. “

According to a January 2021 report produced by Ventura City Manager Alex McIntyre and Gilli, about 100 discretionary projects are approved each year. Most are minor projects, but a few attract public interest. 

Both ministerial and discretionary projects require a sign-off from various agencies including public works, fire and Ventura Water, and the city attorney’s office weighs in when legal support is needed. 

“Most simply, the problem with this phase is the difficulty in getting through it. This is not to say that the process should be easy. But when describing past experiences with this phase, developers were pleading simply to be able to get through the process to a hearing, where a decision could be made,” stated the city’s 2021 staff report. 

The report cited “internal” factors that are “completely within the city’s control” that lead to the reported struggle developers have with the process.

As previously reported by the Ventura County Reporter, Gilli said (“State law puts city into a corner,” Kimberly Rivers, Apr. 28, 2021) that the current process for reviewing development proposals includes a web of various committees, which are restricted in what they can review and act on. This means a developer must present a project to several committees, none of which have the final thumbs up or down on the entire project, but rather only commenting on and approving a piece of a project. 

This can create an onerous appeal process, both for the project developer and for members of the public that object to the project. An appeal could be filed regarding one committee’s decision, only to have the project sail through another committee. 

What developers are asking for, and what Gilli said the city is working to achieve, is a process that ensures plenty of public input opportunities, a thorough review of the project, but also a clear approval and/or appeal process, which, as is the goal, would shorten the time a project is in review. 

The report continued, “Since the City’s future tax base relies on private investment in property, addressing these internal factors in the development review process has been a City Council priority.”

Ventura Police hold Coffee with a Cop and Holiday Toy Drive

Ventura Police Chief Darin Schindler talks with residents at “Coffee with a Cop Day” at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Ventura.

by Richard Lieberman

Recently community members were invited to attend “Coffee with a Cop” a chance for residents to engage with members of the Ventura Police Department. “Coffee with a Cop” presents an opportunity for the community to engage with local police officers, ask questions and get to know the people who protect the community and patrol Ventura neighborhoods. The event was also a toy drive and residents were asked to donate new unwrapped toys which will support the 12th annual Castro Family Toy Drive. All toys are donated to the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood diseases at the Ventura County Medical Center.

“We typically do this once every other month this is the first time for a year and a half and we are excited to be out here,” said Police Chief Darin Schindler. “We are also doing the Castro Toy Drive which goes to kids receiving cancer treatments at VCMC,” he added. “This is about Community Policing, its about seeing an officer just having a conversation about issues they are having in their neighborhood, could related to crime could be related to homelessness, which is a big one these days, quality of life issues, traffic safety what ever the issue is we will listen and talk and do whatever we can. If it is something that is out of our prevue we will contact the necessary department,” he continued.

Most of the contacts Ventura Police Officers have with the public are during stressful emotion riddled emergencies. Coffee with a Cop gives residents an opportunity to have conversations in a relaxed person to person atmosphere.

“It really brings officers together with residents in a relaxed environment to ask questions and just an easy way to get to know one another,” said Emily Graves, Community Outreach Specialist for the city. Additional events are planned for the holiday season including a toy drive at Walmart. This year, twenty-two local children in need will be partnered with a Ventura Police Officer to shop for gifts for their families this holiday season. On top of shopping together, officers will help wrap gifts and enjoy hot chocolate with the kiddos for fun and festive event.

Light Up Our Landmark Trees

On Friday, December 10, the annual Light Up Our Landmark Trees on Main Street, an 80-year tradition lit up the sky. This year the Mission Trees were veiled in a new lighting concept.

The festivities began at 6pm with ballet and the community choirs singing your favorite Christmas songs in front of Mission Basilica San Buenaventura. At 7pm, Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava, and Pastor Tom Elewaut of the Mission Basilica welcomed Santa Claus. When Santa lit the trees, the magic began with snow and festive music.

The twin trees are national landmarks and designated as Millennium Trees by the State of California and the Federal Government in 2000. Planted circa 1880 there are two stories about the origin of the trees. Regardless of their origan, these trees are a tradition to downtown.

CAN-Trees lined Figueroa Plaza in support of Food Share.

Traveling in style

Using the traveling couch has definitely changed Shaun’s mindset.

by Carol Leish, MA

What is the best way to travel around the city if you have problems with mobility?

Shaun Wahl, who is nine years old, is able to travel in style on both a powered lawn chair at the beach, and on a motorized couch around Ventura, and other places, thanks to his parents’ ingenuity.

“After a stranger recently posted on NextDoor, ‘I have just seen a brown couch traveling down the street here in Ventura,’” according to Shaun’s mom, Jennifer, “we realized the impact that Shaun’s motorized couch has had on people. It’s been exciting to see peoples’ comments and expressions concerning our family traveling around Ventura on the couch. By traveling around on the couch, people don’t see Shaun as a little kid in a wheelchair who has cerebral palsy. Instead, they see him as a cool kid.”

“This has also been a good outreach to others,” according to Shaun’s dad, Frank. “Others are able to sit in a powered wheelchair, or on the motorized couch in order to realize the challenges that others have with issues related to mobility challenges. This makes others more empathetic toward people with challenges.”

“We built the first power wheelchair in early 2019,” according to Frank. “In May of 2020, we built the power couch. We thought that we would get a few good laughs about it. Neither my wife or I thought that we’d be taking it around Ventura, or other places. During the week of Christmas in 2020, we took the power couch along Main St. in Ventura, and along the pier. We also took it along the pier in Port Hueneme. We wanted to take it places with a wide sidewalk.

“It’s been amusing to see peoples’ reactions, since they probably don’t know what to think about what they’ve seen. They also honk at us, or they say, “That’s cool.”

Frank said, “We started building mobility devices with old wheelchair parts, since getting a new electric wheelchair would have been too expensive. When a neighbor put a couch out in the front yard to give away, we realized that we could make a power couch that we could all enjoy traveling on at the same time.”

Both Wendy and Frank say that using the traveling couch has definitely changed Shaun’s mindset. They said, “Now he sees what he can do instead of what he can’t do, which is very encouraging! He doesn’t feel angry about his situation. He realizes what fun things he can do with his buddies. This has definitely taken the barrier (mobility issues), away from how others might view him if he was just using a wheelchair.”

“We’ve made 13 powered recliners, along with making powered lawn chairs for use at the beach,” according to Frank. He also said, “If you know of someone who may need a helping hand in modifying/making something to ease mobility issues for someone they know, please contact either Jennifer or me at: [email protected].  ‘Follow Shaun on Facebook at:  ‘Determin-Shaun.

Food Share’s 10th annual CAN-tree Drive

On Dec. 10, millions (it seemed like) food cans looking like holiday trees filled Figueroa Plaza in downtown. The trees are part of Food Share’s 10th annual CAN-tree Drive in order to feed hungry people need this winter. Volunteers from schools, community groups and local businesses were there stacking cans into tree shapes, some as high as 15 feet.

You can still help canned goods can be dropped off at Food Share’s warehouse in Oxnard at 4156 Southbank Road. For information on donating or volunteering, go to foodshare.com or call 805-983-7100

Buena High School releases first album since the pandemic

Sierra Ruiz, Renee Morales, Siobhan Westfall, Destynie Hogue-Villanueva, and Marimar Ilias sing “Hanukkah,” “Breath of Winter,” and “Underneath the Tree.”

On December 9th, students at Buena High School released Volume 5 of their annual Not-So-Silent Night CD album, after having to go on hiatus last year due to the pandemic. Utilizing their on-campus recording studio, the Buena High School Choir has selected various winter-themed songs (secular and holiday-oriented) to record and release for digital download. Over the past 6 years, their previous albums (Volumes 1-4) have been heard in dozens of countries across the world, from Iceland to Indonesia.

Choir director Kevin Downey states, “Students were devastated that they were not able to sing together in real-time during the pandemic. Since we have been back at school, you can really see students’ spirits being lifted as we sing together in harmony and record beautiful music again.”

Because streaming music only provides limited/miniscule compensation for artists, the album is being released as a physical CD and download exclusively, with streaming planned for a later release; therefore, everyone who buys this album is helping to keep the arts alive in our public schools, and to provide meaningful and authentic experiences for our students. Thanks to the charitable support of Yhr Ventura Education Partnership and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the BHS Choir has been able to create and sustain Buena’s recording studio and Not-So-Silent Night albums.

Junior choir student Sierra Ruiz, who also helped design some of the album artwork says, “At first, recording for an actual album was nerve-wracking, but we learned to have fun in the studio. It all brought us together and made us a lot closer.”

While it is difficult for most young artists to get started making music on their own, Buena students are using this special opportunity to create quality work. According to professional audio engineer Devon Hammond, “I’m really loving the album myself because it both has unique versions of classics, as well as plenty of songs I was unfamiliar with. It ends up feeling like listening to the radio during the holidays, but the DJ is playing a bunch of deep cuts. I’ve definitely got a few new holiday faves from working on this.”

Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to support the arts in our local, public schools, and fill your holidays with joy by downloading the Not-So-Silent Night, Volume 5 album. Just search “The Buena High School Choir” on iTunes or Amazon Music. The physical CD is available for sale in the school’s ASB store and library.