Category Archives: City News

Ventura city council candidates’ forum to be held

Hosted by the Ventura Social Services Task Force and Homes For All

Ventura City Council Candidates are invited to a forum to express their views about affordable housing and homelessness. As noted by a recent City of Ventura survey, the incidence of homelessness has become a top concern for the residents of Ventura. The candidate forum will feature an array of questions regarding housing affordability, services for the unhoused, zoning, Housing Element implementation and much more. Jeffery Lambert will be the moderator for the evening.

Church of the Foothills- 6279 Foothill Road, Ventura 6:30-9PM, Wednesday September 28. City Council Candidates for Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6

Ventura City Fire mourns the loss of Firefighter-Paramedic Matthew Clapsaddle

Firefighter Clapsaddle was an active-duty member of the department since 1994.

It is with deep sadness and regret that the Ventura City Fire Chief announces the loss of Firefighter-Paramedic Matthew Clapsaddle.

At about 7:00 a.m. on August 20, Firefighter Clapsaddle passed away from a sudden, critical medical emergency while off-duty.

“It is truly heartbreaking when we lose a teammate and friend. Matt was a positive and dedicated leader who brought so much joy and energy to our fire family,” shared Fire Chief David Endaya. “These are difficult days with more to come. We hold Matt’s family in our hearts and will continue to lift them up as they navigate this unexpected path.”

Firefighter Clapsaddle was an active-duty member of the department since 1994. In addition to his role as a firefighter and paramedic, he had been integrally involved in the department’s Ocean Rescue Team, Urban Search and Rescue Team, and ladder truck company at Fire Station 5. Clapsaddle is survived by his wife, Jennifer and son, Tanner.

The community and public safety agencies are invited to join the Ventura Fire Department in paying tribute to Firefighter-Paramedic Matthew Clapsaddle.

Amemorial service will be hosted at Calvary Community Church on Friday, September 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The church is located at 5495 Via Rocas in Westlake Village.

Starting at 8:30 a.m., firefighting apparatus will arrive at Calvary Community Church and be staged along La Tienda Road and Via Rocas surrounding the church. Uniformed personnel are requested to be seated inside the church by 9:00 a.m.

Memorial service attendees should plan to arrive early as parking and space are limited. Motorists in the area are asked to be mindful of the presence of emergency vehicles and drive cautiously.

For donation information, visit the Ventura Fire Foundation at www.VenturaFireFoundation.org.

Safety concerns pushes back one school’s re-opening

A structural inspection deemed the century-old school property unsafe.

by Mira Reverente

The first day of school at Ventura County Christian School (VCCS) was pushed back by a week after its lease was terminated by its landlord, the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD).

Almost 200 students in the K-12 private school headed back to their classrooms last Monday, August 29, amidst an air of uncertainty and unpredictability. Parents congregated outside while doing their morning drop-off, mostly seeking answers and clarity amidst the ongoing discord between the school and the school district.

A structural inspection by architectural firm 19six had deemed the century-old school property along MacMillan Avenue unsafe.

VUSD board president Sabrena Rodriguez said, “The results were that it would not provide safety in the event of a natural disaster.”

The private school’s principal Perry Geue pushed to re-open classes last Monday, August 29, claiming the district misinterpreted the findings of the inspection report. In a recent interview, Geue said, “School has started and we have no place to go.”

Geue also said that they do not agree that their school is unsafe and feels that “other intentions are at play.”

Lease negotiations have been ongoing for months now between VUSD and VCCS first over the rent negotiations followed by a lease clause saying the school would agree not to discriminate in hiring based on religion.

Geue said they could potentially be forced to hire teachers who “don’t hold to a Christian worldview.”

Ron Bamieh, a lawyer for the school, claims the clause was an “overt act of prejudice against the Christian school.” But Rodriguez disagrees, saying the lease language is standard in all district leases and also covers race, gender, sexual orientation, among other categories.

In a letter to district officials, Bamieh said the district refused to strike the religion component from the clause. The district pointed out that the same clause could be found in the school’s last lease, but Bamieh claims he was not aware of the clause’s inclusion in the previous lease.

Also based on the report’s findings, the Ventura County Schools Self-Funding Authority, a multi-district cooperative that provides property insurance for the district, has also declared that the school building would not be covered in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake.

VCCS moved into the former Washington School building almost two decades after the public school closed in 1983 amid structural concerns. An inspection in 2001 found the ground sufficiently stable and the school began leasing the building. It also poured in about $3.5 million for various repairs and improvements.

In 2003, Thousand Oaks engineering firm Vinci & Associates declared the building structurally sound.

But the school and its lawyers say the district misinterpreted the report, citing the findings of its own commissioned report by Vinci & Associates.

According to the Vinci report, “While further study of the building is prudent, nothing on-site or in the recommendations by the (19six report) warrants vacating the facility at this time.”

Furthermore, the report said, “The items noted as recommendations either can be easily addressed and rectified, or require further study and review.”

While Rodriguez contends the lease is no longer in effect as of August 19, Bamieh said the district could not terminate the lease under the terms of the agreement. The district had already validated the new lease by cashing the school’s deposit and two rent payments.

“If they think they have a good case, let’s bring it to court, litigate it.” said Bamieh, during a news conference on the first day of school.

Amidst the crowd gathered at the school’s entrance, their board president Dustin Lyons said she and her fellow parents had “zero concern” with the building’s integrity and “feels like we’re standing on solid ground.”

Water General Manager’s Message

It’s Back-to-School time here in Ventura and we all have a thing or two to learn. I learned that the citizens of Ventura know how valuable of a resource their water is. You took the conservation message to action, and we reported a record drop in water demand in July; 1,195 acre-feet. That’s 34 acre-feet less than June and an overall 28.58% reduction in water usage since we started tracking in 2013! Great job Ventura, and let’s keep it up!

We have spent the summer reaching out to all of you and offering tools and suggestions to reduce our water usage. Thank you for your suggestions and we will look to implement them.

Right now, there is state legislation that is being proposed to set a legal limit on indoor water consumption. The practices we adopt today will have us better prepared for any future limits. Ventura Water will continue to look towards sustaining our water sources and securing additional sources for the future. We are committed to ensure Ventura has a reliable water supply for generations to come.

As the summer ends, staff is focusing on funding opportunities and project design development. The VenturaWaterPure program was recently awarded over $14 million in federal grant monies by the Bureau of Reclamation, to add to the $4.2 million we had already received. This grant will help to make your rate dollars do more to achieve a new water supply and protect the unique environment of the Santa Clara River Estuary. Design and permitting for our projects are moving along and progress is happening.

There are some really great things taking place and you should be proud to be a part of it. Thank you, Ventura!

Respectfully,

Gina Dorrington

The Ventura Police Department unveils cold cases homicide details online

With over 25 cold cases including homicide, missing persons, and unidentified deceased individuals stemming from 1970 to 2018, the Ventura Police Department has released a webpage with the basics of each case hoping the public can assist in filling information gaps. The webpage can be found at www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/ColdCases.

“We have a commitment to the victims of these crimes; their families have waited a long time for answers and by sharing information, this brings a little hope,” said Major Crimes Detective Sergeant Bill Dolan. “Every tip that is shared, no matter how small, has the potential of being the missing piece of information.”

The webpage provides short summaries of unsolved cases that occurred within the Ventura Police Department’s jurisdiction. The webpage will be updated routinely with other cold case information as more details become available.

The Ventura Police Department has created this webpage with the hope new information will be received to further the investigations into these cases and bring closure to families and loved ones. The webpage also serves as a tribute to those who have lost their lives but have not been forgotten.

The Ventura Police Department remains steadfast in bringing justice to the victims and their families, no matter how much time has passed.

Any new information can be provided via email at [email protected]. You can also make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. If your information leads to an arrest you could receive up to $1000.

Upcoming General Plan community workshops

The General Plan is a high-level guiding document that sets the vision for the City.

Community members are encouraged to take part in the City of Ventura’s next critical phase of its General Plan Update related to land use alternatives. The series of participation opportunities kicks off with an in-person workshop at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30, at the Museum of Ventura County, located at 100 East Main Street. Additionally, the City will host a virtual workshop at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 1.

The General Plan is a high-level guiding document that sets the vision for the City and the goals and policies of how and where the City should grow and change over the next 20-30 years. A part of the General Plan is a land use map that shows the type of uses desired in the City, where they should go, and intensity of those uses. This includes housing, retail, parks, schools, industrial, and many other uses.

This next phase of the General Plan Update process will include a series of maps that will lay out areas where land uses could be adjusted to meet the needs and desires of the community for the next 20 years. These land use alternatives will examine different ways to achieve the outcomes identified in the draft vision statement. The feedback received to date from the visioning work, online surveys, workshops, and events shape the basis for these maps.

“For the last two years, the City’s General Plan team has hosted dozens of workshops and outreach events as well as heard from thousands of residents about their vision for the future of Ventura,” shared Mayor Sofia Rubalcava. “This next phase of the General Plan Update process combines all the shared input and ideas to offer alternative options related to how we use our land.”

Community members will have the opportunity to review the different land use maps for distinct subareas of the City, to ensure specific considerations and input is captured throughout the City, and provide feedback.

Additional participation opportunities that will be coming up include online surveys, neighborhood community council meeting presentations, and in-person and virtual office hours.

For a complete schedule of General Plan workshops, events, and updates, visit www.PlanVentura.com.

Ventura Police and Fire Departments hosting community block party

Ventura residents are invited to join the Ventura Police and Fire Departments for a free, community block party from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2022. This family-friendly event will be hosted at the Police and Fire Headquarters, located at 1425 Dowell Drive in Ventura.

Activities at the public safety event will feature multiple K9 demonstrations, a Jaws of Life vehicle extrication demo, fire extinguisher game, a hands-on CSI experience, a kid’s firefighter challenge course, child fingerprinting, station tours, coloring contests, trivia, and more.

“We are opening our doors and exteriors gates and welcoming our community into our headquarters,” said Police Chief Darin Schindler. “This is an opportunity to engage in relationship building with local police officers, firefighters, dispatchers, and elected officials and have fun learning about crime prevention and fire safety.”

Residents and children will have the opportunity to see patrol cars, motorcycles, fire engines, the SWAT rescue vehicle, a police helicopter, K9s, and various emergency response vehicles. Participants will also learn about a wide variety of safety topics and experience interactive games and demonstrations.

Snacks will be provided. Food trucks will also be on site with meals for purchase.

“Community engagement is more critical than ever,” said Fire Chief David Endaya. “We want to connect with our residents and businesses to continue strengthening local relationships so residents know our team and so we can better communicate fire prevention and safety information.”

To learn more about the public safety block party, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/BlockParty.

This event is funded by the Ventura Police Community Foundation. Learn more about the local nonprofit at www.VenturaPoliceFoundation.org.

Hello Ventura Water Customers!

I am Gina Dorrington, and I am honored to be your new General Manager. I have over 20 years’ experience in the water and wastewater field, with the last seven of those years serving Ventura. I’ve had the opportunity to work within every aspect of the industry and I love the career it has given me. I can tell you that the men and women who serve you at Ventura Water are some of the best. We have such a dedicated and knowledgeable staff that prioritizes our water resources, ensuring that we uphold the community’s health and safety and meet environmental compliance. I am extremely proud to be a part of this team.

I am also thrilled to be part of Ventura’s water future with such exciting projects as the State Water Interconnection Project and VenturaWaterPure Program. The forward thinking here in Ventura is ensuring that we can continue to thrive and grow while sustaining our water resources.

I have been so impressed with how responsible our customers are in their effort to conserve water and participate in discussions about water. The response to the last drought, a 23% reduction in water use, was amazing! And the utilization of recycled water for irrigation has been great. With another drought upon us, we are going to have to continue those efforts to ensure we sustain our water supplies. We are asking for voluntary efforts now, knowing that you met those goals once before, and in the hopes that we don’t have to implement stricter restrictions. We can do this!

It has already been a beautiful summer and we have so many programs to promote conservation and show how to use water wisely. There are a lot of questions on how we should do our part and our staff is here to answer those for you. Thank you for your support and dedication to our water resources.

Respectfully,
Gina Dorrington

Registration open for the 2022 Corporate Games

Registration is open for the City of Ventura’s 2022 Corporate Games. This annual event brings together businesses from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties to compete against each other in various activities and sporting events. All local companies and businesses are welcome to join. Registration ends September 2, 2022.

The Ventura Corporate Games began in 1989 to build camaraderie and team spirit amongst professionals. Competition categories include sports, community service, team spirit, and unity. Divisions and fees are determined by company size.

The 2022 Corporate Games will occur over the course of five weeks in October on weekends or weeknights after regular business hours. This year’s event hosts a diverse line-up of competitive activities, providing opportunities for all players to showcase their strengths. [See below chart]

Additional categories include a sandcastle building contest, sand sculpture contest, team t-shirt design contest, and best community service project.

Full details and registration forms are available at www.VenturaCorporateGames.org. For questions, contact Recreation Supervisor Eric Burton at [email protected] or 805- 658-4738.

Ventura water news

Ventura Water customers will see newly adopted water and wastewater rate adjustments reflected on monthly billing cycles starting on July 1, 2022. The Ventura City Council unanimously approved five-year water and wastewater rate increases on May 17, 2021.

Rate increases will support both daily operation and maintenance of the City’s existing water and wastewater systems, along with approximately 36 planned capital improvement projects, including the long-anticipated State Water Interconnection Project and VenturaWaterPure Program.

“For many years, our local water sources have been impacted by drought, regulatory and legal constraints,” shared Ventura Water General Manager Gina Dorrington. “Now is the time to continue to invest in our aging infrastructure and projects that will help meet regulatory requirements, help secure sustainable water supply for existing and future customers and improve our water quality.”

Over the course of eight public meetings and nearly a year of deliberation, the Water Commission, in partnership with City staff and a third-party financial consultant, underwent an extensive water and wastewater rate study to evaluate the City’s water rate tiers, water shortage rates, wastewater rate structure, and financing options for major projects.

The results of the study showed that an average annual rate increase of seven percent for water service and six percent for wastewater service was needed each year to continue to operate and maintain the systems, repair, and replace aging infrastructure, secure water supply, improve water quality, and meet legal and environmental regulations.

In response to California’s third consecutive year of drought conditions, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted the emergency regulation on May 24, 2022. The emergency regulation places a ban on irrigation of non-functional or decorative grass for commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) sectors. Ventura Water is also required to implement demand reduction actions.

“The City of Ventura remains one of the largest cities in Southern California that relies solely on its own local water supplies,” shared Ventura Water General Manager Gina Dorrington. “Through the years, our community has worked together to make conservation a Ventura way of life through simple action steps that add up to big water savings. We’re asking local residents to join the City in voluntarily helping us reduce water consumption.”

Each year, Ventura Water evaluates the City’s water supply and demand, while considering future needs, challenges, and uncertainties relating to Ventura’s water supply reliability. The annual Comprehensive Water Resources Report (CWRR), assesses the City’s water supply sources including Lake Casitas, Ventura River, and local groundwater basins.

While the results of the annual report indicated that the City is not in a current water shortage event, the City Council approved the expansion of public outreach and education to encourage residents to voluntarily reduce water use by 20 percent in support of statewide emergency regulations.

The City of Ventura is doing its part by turning off irrigation at all non-functional turf at its facilities and reducing watering times at various parks and recreational areas.

At this time, single-family residential properties in the City of Ventura are encouraged to reduce water use by 20 percent. Stricter measures, including implementing water shortage rates and mandatory outdoor watering restrictions, could go into effect if demand reductions are not achieved through voluntary efforts.

For local drought updates, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/DroughtUpdate. To learn more about Ventura Water’s incentives and rebate programs for water efficiency, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/WaterRebatesFor more information, or to see a comparison between old and new rates, please visit www.venturawaterrates.net.