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Vol. 10, No. 2 – October 26 – November 8, 2016 – Mailbox

A Beach Community

Sinking are surfers that move over the tide but rise with faith on their boards to throw them beachside….the seagulls squawk to see a wave challenging their flight off a swell to explore schools of fish where children behave….Ventura’s a beach sandy to a pier like a picture held together by stained glass and a wooden square..

Jeffers

Is this what replaced the RAP?

Council often asks citizens, “Where have you been for the past months or years” and “why is this just now coming up”   I ask this question of this new process and first test case under it .

If we are going to have good Design Review or Planning Commission folks, aren’t we micro managing to have council second guess them and staff after their many meetings with and investment by developers

This also begs the issue Neal Andrews raised and City Attorney  Greg Diaz affirmed about councilmembers fine legal  line on expressing personal opinion / support or opposition on projects?

I think we all agree that something is broken in this process.  We have been trying to fix it for many years.  I hope we all agree that Uncertainty is the  worst thing of all for anyone considering new development in our City.

Is it time to reconsider this New Call Up Rule?

Mike L Merewether-Ventura

Residential Allocation Program (RAP)

On April 13, 2015, the City Council voted to create a residential allocation program (RAP)to accomplish three goals:

  • Provide the City Council authority and discretion over the housing types, pace of growth, and quality of residential development
  • Thoughtful allocation of limited City resources and services, such as water, land, sewer, and transportation, to ensure that high priority residential projects are developed in appropriate areas
  • Ensure a range of housing types that accommodate all income levels, from executive estates to affordable housing units

     

City Council

Several months ago, the Pierpont Community Council (PCC)passed a resolution wherein a request was made by the Pierpont Community Council to the City to effect a temporary moratorium on the issuance of new permits for Short-Term Rentals.  We wish to thank the Council for recognizing our resolution and bringing it forward for consideration this evening.  The majority of Short-Term Rentals occur in Pierpont and, therefore, impact our membership.

To be clear, the Pierpont Community Council has not taken a position either way on the existence of the practice itself, as there are Pierpont property owners on both sides of the issue.  We have, however, concluded that there should be a “time-out” on the issuance of new permits so that the City can further review 1) its legality, 2) the code itself, and 3) code enforcement measures that are in place.  We strongly urge that you rule in favor of a temporary moratorium.

Thank you,

Dan Scully, President PCC

Breeze: Because two City Council  members were recused from this decision and one was not present it was not possible for the City Council to vote on placing a moratorium but they instructed staff to prepare further information for their consideration. City officials plan to hold two community meetings to get input on the rentals and then have a group of stakeholders meet various times after that. The group will return with recommendations to the council in four to six months.

Those who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
 ~ Voltaire

Turning Point Counseling comes to Ventura

Turning Point Counseling, headquartered in Orange County, has opened one of its 24 satellite offices in Ventura.  Pastor Jim Duran and The River Community Church has partnered with Turning Point Counseling to provide space for local resident, Barbara Suggs, M.A., MFT Intern, who provides services to the community in both Spanish and English under the supervision of Turning Point Counseling personnel.

While working at The Kingdom Center (now the City Center) on the start-up team and as mentor coordinator, she felt the need to return to school and pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology through Azusa Pacific University.  Early this year she became affiliated with Turning Point Counseling, having the desire to work both within the churches and the community at large.

Barbara works with individuals, couples, and families, to bring hope and healing to the hurting, especially in the areas of relationships, communication, anxiety and depression, grief and loss. She has office hours available at The River Church office, 859 E. Santa Clara, afternoons and evenings by appointment. She can be reached at 800-998-6329, Ext. 321 and leaving a message. Your call will be returned within one business day. An affordable sliding scale fee is available.

This is not the well- known local Turning Point Foundation of Ventura.

Braille Institute provides support for people with low vision

Low vision support group members doing chair yoga led by Mina Izadsepas.
Low vision support group members doing chair yoga led by Mina Izadsepas.

by Phil Chandler, Owner of Right at Home of Ventura County, Home Care Agency

Many individuals with serious chronic illnesses find that meeting and discussing their illness at support groups provides comfort and tips in dealing with the disease. The Breeze will be highlighting local support groups for several different conditions in the coming weeks.

As we age, many of us will experience vision loss. In fact, the National Federation for the Blind estimates that 5.5 million seniors in the United States are blind or visually impaired. There are many causes of vision loss with age, including Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, and Diabetic Retinopathy.  There are medications that can slow the progression of vision loss due to these diseases, but it cannot be reversed.

Fortunately, we have resources right here in Ventura County to help people adapt their lifestyles to low vision. The Braille Institute has a regional office in Santa Barbara that sponsors several low vision support groups throughout Ventura County. Locally, a group meets at the Ventura Townehouse at 4900 Telegraph Rd from 10AM to 11AM on the first Tuesday of the month. There are also numerous other support groups throughout the county.

The topics for each support group are selected by its members – there may be a presentation on tips for navigating your house and using appliances, using an ipad, or an overview of the changes in Medicare. One support group had a presentation by UCSB students who were working on devices to help people with low vision.  Other times, they may discuss coping with the emotional impact of vision loss.

In Camarillo, the Lions Club sponsors a bus to take people to the center in Santa Barbara, where they teach independent living skills. There are also academic courses taught by volunteers, many of whom are professors from UCSB. A diverse curriculum is offered – including ceramics, computer skills, languages, and disaster planning to name a few.

Brenda Birdwell, the Braille Institute’s Field Service Manager serving Ventura County, said “The mission of the Braille Institute is to empower people with low vision to lead fulfilling lives”. There are a wide variety of services that the Institute provides. The Institute can send a consultant to your home to do an in-home assessment. With each visit they try to help the participant master one major objective, from navigating the kitchen to using the phone. There is training available on orientation (where you are relative objects around you) to use of a white cane. An extensive library of talking books are available as well.

For more information on these support groups and services for those with low vision, call Brenda Birdwell at 682-6222 ext 8304, or see http://brailleinstitute.org/santabarbara.

Vol. 10, No. 2 – October 26 – November 8, 2016 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

10-12 10:10am, received a report of a disabled fishing vessel at the Harbor entrance.  Officers responded and assisted a commercial fishing vessel by towing them to the boatyard for repairs.      
10-14 8:00am, received a report of an oil spill near the Harbor entrance from a vessel entering the Harbor.  Officers responded and observed what appeared to be a patch of engine exhaust soot, no oil was discovered.

10:14pm, received a report of a fuel spill at VIM from vessel assist dispatcher.  Officers responded and found a vessel with red-dye diesel in the bilge but nothing in the water.  Absorbent pads were given to the boat owner and he will take the vessel to the boat yard in the morning to locate the source of the leak.

11:03pm, officers conducted hoop net activity observations.  Three different vessels were warned for various violations of the Harbor ordinance and state fishing and equipment laws.              
10/15 1:07pm, received a report of a water rescue, capsized vessel with 3 persons in the water near Marina Park from a photographer on the beach.  Officers responded with a patrol boat and rescue water craft to the call.  When they arrived on scene, State Parks, Ventura fire and AMR ambulance were also on scene assisting two of the victims on the beach.  The vessel was capsized and the owner was on the boat.                  
10-16  9:54am, due to the thick fog bank that rolled in, officers were patrolling and advising boaters without radar about the large surf and their inability to see in the dangerous conditions.

3:25pm, received complaints of a purse seiner tender in violation of speed and wake laws in the mid area of the harbor.  Officers responded and issued verbal warnings for the violation at the harbor entrance.                 
10-19 12:55pm, while conducting enforcement contacts of two PWC’s at the launch ramp, officers determined that one of the group was overdue.  They responded by vehicle and found the missing person and PWC on the beach near McGrath state beach.  Arrangements were made to remove the PWC and reunite the three persons.                   
10-20 9:15pm, while on patrol, officers contacted two separate vessels for harbor ordinance violations.  The two were engaged in hoop netting outside the harbor.          
10-21 2:21pm, received a report of a vessel possibly in distress anchored outside of Emma Wood campground.  Officers responded and contacted the owner who was on board, but no distress was observed or reported.