Friends, councilmembers and city staff joined Jim to celebrate his new street.

Former Ventura Mayor and City Councilman Jim Monahan may no longer serve on the City Council, but his legacy will now live on forever.

A newly named street, James Monahan Way is at Poli Street and the City Hall parking lot as well as the gateway to the Ventura Botanical Gardens.

Monahan was honored with this street designation at his retirement council meeting in December. In his unprecedented run, Monahan served on the City Council from 1977 to 2018. He stepped down in December, having chosen to not seek reelection.

The street designation caps a year of honors for Monahan, who also recently accepted the 2018 Citizen of the Year Award from the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.

Among the countless ways that Monahan has touched the community is in his enthusiastic leadership and as founder of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. American flags fly everywhere on patriotic holidays because of his work to organize volunteers to hang them. He’s also known citywide for his work advocating for the people of Ventura Avenue, where his father started American Welding in 1928 and where he still maintains an office.

An early advocate for a Veterans Home in Ventura County, Monahan got to see that happen, and he continues to serve on the Gold Coast Veterans Home Foundation. He has retired from elected office but certainly not from community service.

Ventura is learning important lessons from the Thomas Fire.

The City of Ventura has released its after action review of the Thomas Fire that analyzes the City’s immediate response and initial recovery operations for the unprecedented disaster. The goal of the 23-page report is to evaluate what was done, examine lessons learned, and identify areas for future implementation, many of which have already been underway over the past year. The review is available online at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/thomasfire.

The emergency management company, Terra Firma Enterprises, created the review with participation from the City of Ventura department directors and emergency operations center (EOC) staff.  Several after action review sessions were held to analyze the City’s actions during the fire and post-fire recovery.

The largest fire recorded in California at the time, the Thomas Fire required an enormous response from the City, the region, and beyond. Fighting the fire necessitated a vast effort, including one of the largest deployment of firefighters in state history—more than 8,500. In Ventura, firefighters and public safety personnel initiated extensive evacuation procedures and an immediate aggressive attack on the fire. Due to the swift and well-coordinated response, the City of Ventura experienced no loss of life as a direct result of the fire.

The after action review highlights a number of the City’s strengths in performance related to the fire such as the instant action by first responders to evacuate the hillsides to save lives, early implementation of communication and outreach efforts, and prioritization of critical City services.

Ventura and the entire State of California are learning important lessons from recent wildfires, including the Thomas Fire. The City is using these lessons to increase its disaster resiliency. For example, as part of this effort, the City is moving forward with a request to create a permanent Emergency Manager. The new position will coordinate ongoing efforts, maintain compliance and provide day-to-day tactical emergency management. Although no urban water system is designed to operate under or protect against a massive, unstoppable wildfire, further investments also include obtaining and positioning additional generators to ensure that all water facilities have sufficient backup power during a prolonged, citywide power shutoff, and programs that increase water supply reliability to respond to natural and man-made hazards. Since the Thomas Fire, Ventura has also added supplemental fire resources, which includes an additional roaming fire engine that provides 40 hours a week more of service to the City.

“We continue to share our heartfelt sympathy for those who were impacted by the fire,” said Fire Chief David Endaya. “We are committed to learning from this disaster and preparing for the future. This includes requests for new positions, like an Emergency Manager, that can further support and help lead our disaster response efforts. Wildfires are an unfortunate, but likely reality in California.  The most resilient cities are those that listen, learn, and adapt – Ventura will do just that.”

After action reviews are critical in helping communities examine and learn from disasters like the Thomas Fire. Through this experience Ventura is driving forward with new actions, measures, and programs to better prepare for the years to come.

Lambert will start in Oxnard on February 4^th.

by Richard Lieberman

Jeff Lambert , Community Development Manager for the past ten years is leaving Ventura to take a similar post with the City of Oxnard. As Community Development Director Lambert has managed current and future advanced planning for the city. His responsibilities for the City of Ventura included running Building and Safety, Code Enforcement, planning and economic development.

Ventura’s acting assistant city manager announced recently that Lambert was “on leave” from his city post. Later in press releases from both Ventura and Oxnard, it was announced that Lambert will be taking a new position with the City of Oxnard.

As community development director for Ventura Lambert has been instrumental in partnering with Community Memorial Hospital for its new in-patient facility and parking structure, homeless shelter policy, downtown development, and recovery and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the Thomas Fire.

In Oxnard Lambert will take over the duties of Ashley Golden, who was promoted to assistant city manager last month. “Lambert is action oriented and is committed to building a strong development team, continuing community engagement, and improving stakeholder partnerships to get things done,” said Oxnard city manager Alex Nguyen. He also added “Jeff’s experience and leadership will help Oxnard become a more business-friendly city. He will jumpstart our planning, building, and permitting processes to make projects easier for builders and homeowners.”

Lambert will take over for Ashley Golden February 4.

“I am so thrilled to join the city of Oxnard team and community stakeholders to continue the City’s forward movement,” Lambert said. “The city’s development and economic objectives can absolutely be achieved,” added Lambert.

David Ward has replaced Jeff Lambert as the Interim Community Development Director

The City of Ventura has announced that David Ward will serve as the Interim Community Development Director effective immediately.  Ward recently served as the City’s Planning Manager and has worked for the City of Ventura for approximately 10 years. He replaces Jeff Lambert who is now in Oxnard (see article).

David told the Breeze “In assuming my interim role, I will continue the department’s current work plan efforts on the Thomas Fire Recovery, developing land use policy and ordinance projects such as the firearm ordinance and updated inclusionary housing ordinance, and expanded code enforcement efforts, as well as my oversight of the busy building permit office and planning permits processing through our 4 City Board/Committees. As Interim Director I am supported significantly by Yolanda Bundy, Chief Building Official and Jonathan Wood, Code Enforcement Manager, and the entire department staff as we work to accomplish our community rebuild and other endeavors for 2019.”

David Ward has been a planner at local public agencies throughout the California Coastal Region for more than 23 years, working for the Counties of Monterey and Santa Barbara, as well as the Cites of Morro Bay, Rancho Palos Verdes and Ventura. Ward holds a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State Northridge and is a member of the American Planning Institute of Certified Planners.

From rural issues and resource protection to form-based codes, redevelopment and community plans, David has actively engaged with community stakeholders, project applicants and decision-makers to implement a local vision and create great places in our neighborhoods and community.

The Community Development Department has four divisions run by the Building & Safety, Planning, Code Enforcement, and Economic Development, with a staff of more than 50 employees run by the Community Development Director.

Customers can choose the level of renewable energy generation and rate option.

XResidents in the city of Ventura and 31 other communities in Southern California will begin to receive electricity service from Clean Power Alliance starting in February 2019. Clean Power Alliance (CPA) is the new locally operated and controlled electricity provider in Southern California. The benefits of CPA include local management and control of energy sources, stable and competitive electricity rates, and clean renewable energy content.

The CPA was formed through a partnership between public agencies throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties and will provide more choices to communities seeking an alternative to the traditional investor-owned utility model. By promoting the use of clean renewable power, the City is supporting the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

As our new electricity provider, CPA will purchase clean power on behalf of its customers and Southern California Edison (SCE) will deliver it. SCE will continue to deliver electricity through its transmission lines, read your electric meter, send monthly bills, and provide other services.

All electricity customers in the city of Ventura will automatically be enrolled in the 100% Green Power option with CPA. State law requires that customers be automatically enrolled in the default rate selected by each city.

This option provides the largest environmental benefit and means that CPA will be buying renewable energy (e.g. wind and solar) to meet the demands of its customers. The 100% Green Power option has a 7-9% cost premium over the 2019 SCE standard rates. CPA customers can also choose the 50% Clean Power, a 0-1% cost savings compared to SCE standard rates, and 36% Lean Power, a 1-2% savings compared to SCE standard rates.

Customers can choose the level of renewable energy generation and rate option, or opt out and remain with SCE, at any time (visit the CPA website at cleanpoweralliance.org for details). To better understand what your bill could look like with different CPA and SCE rate options, use the bill comparison calculator on their website—be sure to have your SCE bill handy so you have your current rate and electricity usage.

Customers currently enrolled in CARE, FERA, Medical Baseline, Level Pay, and Summer Discount Program will automatically be enrolled in the 100% Green Power rate and will continue to receive the same discount. CPA service for non-residential customers is scheduled to begin in May 2019.

To learn more, change your rate option, or opt out of the program, please visit cleanpoweralliance.org or call 888-585-3788.

Note: The Jan. 30 issue of the Breeze will have further details about the program.