The fifth annual Owl Festival, a free family event, was held on Sunday, April 23, at the historic Olivas Adobe . Baby owls were seen in their nest.The Ojai Raptor Society brought live owls and hawks for visitors to see and learn about. Olivas Adobe Historic Interpreters, who present the Owl Festival, presented costumed docent-led tours during the event, as they do every weekend, between 11 am and 3 pm.
by Venturans for Efficient & Responsible Government
The 505 Poli building adjacent to City Hall exemplifies why the City of Ventura should not be in the property rental business.
When public money is used to buy rental income property, citizens have a right to expect the city will manage the investment wisely, and that includes when it comes to selling rental property. The City Council makes the decisions, and they rely on the City Manager and city personnel for sound, knowledgeable advice on how to acquire and operate such property.
Here’s the rub. Ventura city personnel have demonstrated that they do not have the knowledge or experience needed to assist the City Council in making decisions in such matters.
505 Poli Confirms That Ventura Is Bad At The Property Rental Business
Appraised for $3.55 million in Sept. 2005, the City of Ventura acquired it in November 2006 for $4.03 million. To fund the purchase $1.23 million in General Funds were used together with another $2.8 million from the Workers Compensation Fund. The use of the Workers Comp funds should have been a warning to the City Council. Later, the interim City Manager, Johnnie Johnson, exposed that budget manipulation.
Then there is the building itself and the adjacent crime laboratory. Both are asbestos-filled, old Ferro-cement structures. The removal of asbestos and hazardous material remediation in the crime lab alone was estimated to cost $500,000-$700,000. The list of deficiencies abounded-seismic conditions, old air conditioning systems, old electrical systems and a 60-year-old elevator that hinders tenant usage.
In 2006, City staff advised the City Council that the city would get a return from the investment in 6.3 to 8.8 years. History proved them wrong. By our simple accounting, the City of Ventura has spent or is obligated to pay an additional $4.6 to $5.0 million with no net rental income to justify the investment over the last 12 years.
Spending More Money Won’t Fix What’s Bad About Ventura’s Property Rental
The latest proposal put forward by the Public Works Department recommends the city sink another $2 million for tenant improvements for just the 4th and 5th floors.
City staff suggested in the report that if the City Council spends the money, 505 Poli will rent for $3 a square foot because of its downtown location. There was no rental comparison survey to support the plan. There was no vacancy survey included. The report also ignored the fact that vacancy is running at 25% citywide on commercial property. Perhaps the city should find out how to value a commercial property and sell it to private companies so that they can at least benefit from the buildings. The entire argument assumes that if “we build it, they will come.” The recommendation also suggests our city would receive a monthly income of $53,413 after the improvements at 100% occupancy. Great promise, but it lacked facts and is unrealistic.
Recommendations
The City Council should follow up on how much taxpayers have spent to acquire, improve and maintain 505 Poli. The total amount may surprise some of them.
The City Council should hold the city staff to a higher level of thoroughness and professionalism before recommending spending taxpayer money.
City government should get out of the property rental income business and find a qualified, reputable real estate company to lease and manage all city-owned rental property.
August 25, at the Four Points by Sheraton, Ventura.
This year’s Focus on the Masters Gala will honor longtime FOTM patrons John and Cherie Brant. Cherie is an accomplished writer, known for her informative books on the history of Ventura County. Cherie began volunteering for FOTM in 2003 serving as the FOTM Board Secretary. Her volunteer efforts continued for over fifteen years devoting her time and talent to special events, editing, and Board responsibilities. John recently retired from his career as a wealth management professional. Many know his creative side: photographer, juggler and unicyclist. They are deeply committed to our community, sharing their time, talents and resources, always ready to pitch in and lend a hand. They know that dedicated volunteers enable our community to thrive. Gala attendees will have the opportunity to win an original painting by Gail Pidduck while enjoying wonderful music, food, wine and a live and silent auction.
Help FOTM make this Gala the most successful yet! Meet new friends and have a great time while raising money for arts education while volunteering. Email [email protected] to let her know your area of interest.
Sponsorship opportunities, tribute gifts and an opportunity drawing for an original Gail Pidduck are available at www.FocusOnTheMasters.com.
653-2501- [email protected]: www.FocusOnTheMasters.com
Residents of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties whose homes or rentals were destroyed or severely damaged by the Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris Flow may be eligible for up to $3,000 in assistance thanks to a disaster assistance program established by the affected region’s three Realtor associations.
Beginning immediately, homeowners and renters left homeless by the debris flow and wildfire may apply for reimbursement of one month’s mortgage or rent payment or $3,000 – whichever is less – from the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors, the Ojai Valley Board of Realtors, or the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors.
The three local associations joined together and received a total of $650,000 from state and national Realtor housing assistance funds – enough to assist more than 200 families, said Matt Capritto, President of the Ventura County association.
Victims can download application forms at www.vcrealtors.com/community-info/thomas-fire.html, www.sbaor.org/membercenter/realtor-disaster-relief-program/ or www.ojaivalleymls.com. Applicants will need to complete an application, provide a copy of their mortgage statement or rental agreement, which both must include contact information for the lender or landlord, and proof of damage to their primary residence. Each of the three AORs will assess applications and hope to disburse all the funds within three months.
None of the funds will go to administration costs – all will be disbursed to victims, said Ojai Valley association president Sharon MaHarry.
Realtors in both counties have been helping victims since the Thomas Fire broke out on Dec. 4. The associations quickly established a public online rental portal which became the top websites to find temporary housing. And in addition, associations and individual Realtors started clothes drives so disaster victims, who lost everything, could get the necessities such as clothes and shoes.
The Realtors’ Relief Foundation, an arm of the National Association of Realtors, contributed $500,000 to the fund. The California Association of Realtors’ Housing Affordability Fund contributed the remaining $150,000.
The theme of this year’s ISD is “Protect & Enjoy”.
Every day, the Surfrider Foundation and the volunteer activist network, work hard to protect our coasts. This year on, International Surfing Day (ISD), we pause to celebrate and enjoy the beaches we all love. While we band together to enjoy the stoke of surfing, we also aim to raise awareness of threats to our precious coastline.
The theme of this year’s ISD is “Protect & Enjoy” on June 16th from 10am-2pm prarticipate at Surfers’ Point Cove for a very special event!
A Walk on Water (AWOW) will be demonstrating Surf Therapy from 10-12. AWOW works closely with their local communities to help those most in need experience the calming and therapeutic effects of the electrifying, living ocean.
From 10-12, Ohana Surf Camp will be giving beginner surf lessons. Ohana’s Surf Camp mission is to inspire the next generation to become stewards of the ocean.
On shore activities, snacks and drinks will be provided throughout the event.
Discounts on wetsuit and surfboard rentals from Seaward Surf and Sport and Rip Curl will be given when you mention ISD!
As if that wasn’t enough! From 2pm on, join in at Leashless Brewing at 585 E. Thompson for 25% off their craft beer, live music and a raffle fundraiser for your local, beloved Surfrider VC chapter!
MNEMONIC International Photography Exhibition opens June 9th with an opening reception 7 – 10pm.
A photographer’s ability to capture the instances most people do not see can document historical events, change popular perspectives or simply preserve a beautiful image. The photographers selected for MNEMONIC combine vivid lived experience with aesthetic purposefulness, allowing viewers to share in unexpected moments of transcendence.
Working from personal experience, sometimes with subjects overlooked or considered rogue, MNEMONIC is an exhibition comprised of 40 photographers from around the world. The works featured are the examinations of their individual obsessions, juggling the immediacy of expression with technical perfection.
H Gallery 1793 East Main Street 805 626 8876 www.DabArt.me
Nationally recognized singer Vivian Mason will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2018, to deliver a special musical performance. Mason will be accompanied by pianist Jimmy Calire.
Mason is a versatile entertainer who has performed at clubs, concerts, festivals, and in film and television. She has toured across the country from San Francisco to New York.
Ojai local Erin McKeever will visit the Ojai Library at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, to host a screening of the documentary film Crazywise. During a quarter-century documenting indigenous cultures, human-rights photographer and filmmaker Phil Borges saw how these cultures often identify “psychotic” symptoms as an indicator of a person’s gifts or shamanic potential. Through interviews with renowned mental health professionals including Gabor Mate, MD, Dan Siegel, MD, Robert Whitaker, and Roshi Joan Halifax, PhD, the documentary Crazywise explores the growing severity of the mental health crisis in America dominated by biomedical psychiatry.
She can be reached by email at [email protected], or by calling (310) 463-5089.
Kathryn Padgett will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, to deliver a talk “Carved Paper: The Art of the Japanese Stencil.” Ms. Padgett comes to us via the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Community Speakers Program. Japanese paper stencils, or katagami, are the pattern-bearing tools used in a resist-dyeing textile process.
Ojai Library’s Ukulele Club will resume meeting on Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. for a weekly workshop and jam session.
The Ukulele Club is about sharing the fun, simplicity, and musicality that the ukulele offers, and learning and practicing with other players. Feel free to bring a copy of a song or tune that you like; the club collects these in a book of songs used during meetings.
Ojai Library’s Prime Writers’ group will meet on Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. for a weekly writing workshop. The Prime Writers’ group is a place for aspiring young authors and poets ages 8-18 to meet other writers, to share their writing with each other, and to provide constructive feedback on one another’s works. The group is not a class but rather a place for young writers to explore the creative writing process.
The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. Hours of service are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
The Ojai Photography Club will feature fine-art photographer Felice Willat as the presenter for June. The event, “Lifescapes,” is free and open to the public and will be held June 19 at 7 p.m. in Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 W. Santa Ana Road. For more information on Willat, go to http://www.felicewillatphotography.com/
Monthly free presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. The general public is always welcome to attend.
The club, which is devoted to education, inspiration, and camaraderie, meets on the third Tuesday of each month, February – November. More information is available at www.ojaiphotoclub.com.
The Buenaventura Art Association is in the process of moving into to their new home in the Bell Arts Factory located at 432 N. Main(formerly Vita Art Center). A special member’s art exhibit was held there, official opening still waits some construction.
Each summer, Ventura Unified School District provides a nutrition program. This program provides lunch at no charge to children 1-18 years of age. Summer Nutrition is not based on income qualification. It is available for all community children regardless of their school year qualification for free and reduced price meals. Lunch will be served June 18th through August 3rd.
Ventura Unified School District is committed to providing nutritious foods during the summer months so that students may return to school healthy, energized and ready to learn!
Participating sites include the following:
Lunch served: 10:45am – 12:00pm
Lunch served: 10:30am – 12:00pm
Lunch served: 11:00amm – 1:00pm
Lunch served: 11:30am – 1:00pm
Lunch served: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
• “If you want a real friend that you can trust in Washington, get a dog.” ~ Harry Truman
• SPAN Thrift Store is providing $10 spays and neuters for low income cat and dog friends. In the SPAN Thrift Store parking lot 110 N. Olive St. (behind Vons on Main) Friday, June 8th.
Please call to schedule an appointment 584-3823.
• New deputy first dog
By Victoria Usher
Governor Jerry Brown recently made an adorable and exciting announcement that a one-month-old female border collie puppy by the name of Cali will be serving as the state’s “Deputy First Dog” from now on. Little Cali will take on many new job responsibilities soon and one of the most important job responsibilities she will have will be assisting one of Governor Jerry Brown’s dogs named Colusa, a border collie-corgi mix who is known as the state’s “First Dog” in herding all of the state Capitol’s staff and also helping out in a variety of ways around the Colusa County family ranch. Colusa has been a constant Capitol presence and has the absolute cutest Twitter account in the world to prove it. Cali will begin her new job by helping Colusa with any and all of the important duties that must be taken care of around the family ranch.
• Life wouldn’t be the same without our best friends. So there is now National Best Friends Day. They’re the friends that can be counted on to be there at a moment’s notice. The ones who love, laugh, support, and cherish – in both good and bad times.
Friends can be celebrated on any day of the year, but what better day than Best Friends Day? The day is largely unofficial, with no clear clue as to its origins, but that doesn’t stop the millions who mark the day each year from enjoying their best friends.
Celebrations can be as low key or as flamboyant as desired. A picnic in the park, a get together over coffee, or a nice meal in a favorite restaurant ( that allows dogs) are popular ways to celebrate a close friendship. Should distance keep best friends apart, it’s enough to pick up the phone to wish that special person a very happy Best Friends Day.
June 8, a day to honor that one special person you call your “best friend”. This day is a time to show them how much you appreciate them, how special and important they are to you and how you cherish their friendship. Celebrate National Best Friends Day by letting your best friends know how much they mean to you!
•How to handle a territorial dog By Ashley Bennett
Spay or neuter your dog
If you have not already done so, having your dog spayed or neutered can reduce incidences of territorial marking. It can also extend your dog’s life, improve other aspects of their health, and reduce the number of unwanted dogs. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered can and do still engage in marking behaviors from time to time, depending on other factors. According to a report from the Humane Society, spaying or neutering your pet may help reduce likelihood that they will mark their territory, but it does not completely stop it.
Allow your dog to get acquainted with unfamiliar faces
Sometimes your dog may start marking things around the house because someone new has been introduced into the household, whether it is a new roommate, pet, or even a frequent visitor. Chances are that the dog feels like this person or animal has entered their realm and it is marking to show them that they still have ownership over the territory. People are usually annoyed by this behavior, but other animals know what it means if a dog has marked their territory. The only way to resolve this issue is to allow your dog to get a true introduction to the new person or pet and allow them to spend some time to bond with them. Keep the new person or animal out of the dog’s area until the two have become more acquainted.