Category Archives: City News

Water likely to increase to $300

by Venturans for Responsible and Efficient Government (VREG)

In the next 12 months, Ventura Water will ask the City Council to increase water rates for 30 wastewater projects and 28 water projects by 2024. These costly projects will benefit some property owners. Other projects will help the community at large.

As of June 30, 2018, Ventura Water accumulated $115,000,000 to use for those projects from 2012-2018. Still, they need $449,586,000 more before 2024.

These new rate increases will come on top of the increases imposed over the last six years. In 2012, Ventura Water wanted to increase rates to replace aging pipelines and facilities, building projects to improve water quality and constructing new groundwater wells.

In 2012 the average homeowner and family of 4, received a bi-monthly bill of $145.72. That same family is paying $209.67 today. This is a 43% increase over the 2012 rates.

So how can Ventura Water impose such large fees against its citizens without the traditional right to vote on such matters? The answer lies in how Ventura implements Proposition 218. Approved by the voters in 1996, Proposition 218 allows Ventura to raise money in one of three ways. General taxes. Those taxes used for general governmental purposes, Special Taxes. A Special Tax requires a 2/3 (66.67%) majority vote or Special Assessments, Fees and Charges. Fees or charges means an assessment imposed as an incident of owning property which receives a unique benefit.

Ventura wants to use Special Assessments, Fees and Charges to impose higher water rates. This is where Ventura water turns a non-vote into a yes vote.

Ventura Water sends a water bill. Somewhere in the body of that bill, it tells you why the rate increase is necessary. To dispute the rate increase, you must download a protest form, complete and mail it or take it to City Hall by a specific date. If 51% of the ratepayers have not voted ‘NO,’ that is the end of the matter. There are 32,000 ratepayers. Sixteen thousand one must vote NO to defeat an increase.

The procedure followed by Ventura is consistent with Prop 218 language, but a California Supreme Court challenge goes further.

The California Supreme Court in Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency v. Verjil (2006)39 Cal.4th 205, at page 205, interpreted Prop 218’s language to mean a city “may raise other fees or impose new fees without prior voter approval.” The Court’s decision was specific.

However, that decision by the Supreme Court only involved the issue of water delivery through a pipeline and whether voters could use an initiative process to require prior voter approval for the costs of that delivery. It did not involve a question of whether fees imposed to deal with a $500 million projects together with environmental costs, expert studies, attorneys fees and a plethora of expenses arising out of a Consent Decree decided by a City Council in 2012, and in which the voters had no voice.

What if the costs are not exclusively operational costs? What if the expenditures benefit the entire community, not just ratepayers? Does Proposition 218 apply in those circumstances? Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency v. Verjil does not address when the costs other than operational costs.

If the City is considering rate increase of this magnitude without prior voter approval, they should be mindful of the language in Prop 218. It provides that “in any legal action contesting the validity of an assessment, the burden is on the agency (Ventura Water) to demonstrate that the …properties in question receive a special benefit over the benefits conferred on the public at large…” This needs to go before the voters for approval.

New City Council Members seated for the first time as three members depart

The new face of the City Council. Photo by Richard Lieberman

by Richard Lieberman

At the last most recent city council meeting, a large crowd gathered to honor three outgoing members whose service spanned nearly seventy years. Attendees also saw Ventura history in the making as the new council members were seated. Never before in Ventura history has the council been composed of such a diverse group.

Outgoing members Jim Monahan and Mike Tracy and Mayor Neal Andrews presided over the council for the last time as elected officials.

The evening was the first-time council members representing Ventura districts were seated. Members Sofia Rubalcava representing District one, Eric Nasarenko in District four, Jim Friedman in District five and Lorrie Brown in District 6.

Lorrie Brown is the first African American to join the council and Rubalcava the first Mexican-American to join in recent years. This is also the first time a majority of the board is female.

After taking their places, the board’s first act was to unanimously choose Matt LaVere to be Mayor. The second vote was to choose Rubalcava as Deputy Mayor. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ventura are picked by the council rather than a public vote.

“Our job, our duty, is to the city as a whole,” said LaVere after becoming mayor. “What is best for Ventura always has to be our mantra; and I think if we set that example, future councils will follow us” he added. “The council looks different, thinks differently and has members from different backgrounds, and that diversity and collective experience will be the board’s biggest strength.”

Commenting on long term member Jim Monahan LaVere stated “The night Monahan was sworn in for the Ventura City Council in 1977, I was nothing but a sparkle in my mom’s eye.” LaVere, a Ventura native grew up hearing Monahan’s name in his household. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think the two would serve together. Council members spoke of Monahan’s willingness to provide tours of the Westside, where he was raised, and his eagerness to provide historical references.

Mike Tracy never got a tour of the Westside neighborhood but said, “he appreciated Monahan’s support in 2009 when he first ran.” “He told me all the secrets” even though they were running against each other.

Members thanked Tracy for his straightforward and candid style and his humor. “You have kept us laughing while you have kept us thinking.” Said council member Christy Weir.

“Neal is a guiding force when it came to his focus on those less fortunate, including people who were homeless or had mental illness.” Andrews also brought valuable expertise to organizational management.”

Council member Cheryl Heitmann shared memories of the time they served on the county’s advisory board for mental health and thanked him for bringing the Scottish Seaside Highlands games to the city.

Retiring member Neal Andrews said disagreeing was good in that it could lead to a better outcome. He urged the council to work together and to remember they served the people of Ventura.

Monahan said, “the years went by in a flash.” He added that he was sorry for everyone that lost their homes in the Thomas Fire and hoped to see them rebuilt. “It won’t be whole until we get everyone back in their homes again.”

Mike Tracy urged the new council to empower city staff. “Tell them what we want done and then hold them accountable and then get out of the way. Get to know the staff but don’t meddle.”

Nasarenko said serving another term a “privilege” and said he looks forward to working collaboratively on behalf of all residents.

Brown said she planned to focus on the refinement of the city’s general plan, which helps guide growth in the city, and helps spur development off Johnson Drive. “I plan to serve the people of Ventura with the intent to highlight issues ignored in the past on the east side but not them exclusively.”

Returning council member Friedman, who served on the council from 1995 to 2003, said it was like Yogi Berra who once said : “It’s Déjà vu all over again” He said he got a good sense of the pulse of the community from visiting 2500 homes in the district. “I look forward to working with my colleagues collegiately and cooperatively to get some good things done here.”

Rubalcava spoke in Spanish and English. She encouraged people to bring their passions and interests and get involved. “This doesn’t work without you,” she said” There’s seven people up here who are making decisions but we need your input, we need your vision and we also need your work.”

Nearly 73 percent of registered voters casted a ballot on this last election up from 26 percent in 2013. The top vote getter in the election was Brown, who received 3,533 votes. Rubalcava received 1,767 votes.

A new and vibrant time has come to the council. Here at the Breeze we wish our new council members the best of luck in their new positions and congratulations to Ventura voters whom we believe have chosen wisely.

Members emails: They would love to hear from you.

Our newly-installed City Council has made history in many ways

City Council Members Christy Weir, Lorrie Brown, Sofia Rubalcava and Cheryl Heitmann have made history. Photo by Richard Lieberman

by City Council Member Christy Weir

I am proud to serve on the Ventura City Council, which has been an example of productivity over politics, the common good over personal interests. We have had differing political views, but have worked together with civility and respect. I am grateful for our past councilmembers’ positive attitudes and professionalism. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with outgoing councilmembers Jim Monahan, Neal Andrews and Mike Tracy.

Our newly-installed City Council has made history in many ways. First Latina, first African-American, first female majority, first district representation. Congratulations to Councilmembers Lorrie Brown, Sofia Rubalcava, Jim Friedman and Erik Nasarenko!

Fifteen years ago, there were no women serving on our City Council. I first ran for office in 2003, and was the only woman running out of 12 candidates. I served as the only woman for 8 years. I am very happy now that our Council, for the first time in our 152-year history, more fully reflects our diverse population.

We now have elections by district, but we cannot govern by district. We all serve on the City Council together, and are responsible to every citizen in Ventura. Where a person lives is only part of his or her community experience. For instance, I currently live in Midtown, but I raised my family in Montalvo. My son’s family lives in the college area and I attended Ventura College. Many of my friends live in East Ventura. I shop, work and eat downtown and on the westside. I enjoy time at the harbor and the beach. As public servants, it is our duty to care about our own neighborhoods and every square mile of this beautiful city. I look forward to working with our new City Councilmembers and our community partners as we make decisions to benefit all of our residents.

Give us your input: City of Ventura updating its general plan

The City of Ventura would like to hear from all residents, businesses and property owners to gather feedback about what our community should look like in the future. The public’s ideas and opinions will be used to update the City’s most important planning tool, the General Plan.

Workshop Meeting Schedule

Wednesday, January 9, 2019, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Westside Community Council, Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Montalvo Community Council, Lighthouse Foursquare Church, 6200 Montalvo Dr.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Pierpont Bay Community Council, Ventura County Credit Union, 2575 Vista Del Mar Dr, #100

For future public input opportunities visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/ventura2050. Schedule a speaker to talk with your organization, business, stakeholder group or agency by calling Jared Rosengren at (805) 658-4737 or [email protected].

The City’s General Plan Update process includes multiple stages, which consist of initial civic engagement, preparation of technical reports, analysis and review of draft General Plan and Housing Element and Environmental Impact Report (EIR). It will take approximately 3-4 years to complete with an anticipated formal adoption of the General Plan in 2022.

Apply now for City Council advisory board, commission and committee volunteer positions

Residents of Ventura are encouraged to apply for volunteer City Council Advisory Board, Commission or Committee positions that advise the City Council on issues related to development, arts, transportation and other specialized areas. The recruitment process is now open, and applications will be accepted through Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

Qualified applicants will undergo interviews with the City Council Appointments Recommendation Committee and the recommended appointees will be considered by the City Council. Volunteers must be willing to serve two to four-year terms; some positions require special qualifications.

Applications are being accepted for vacancies on the following Council Advisory Groups:

Downtown Parking Advisory Committee, 1 position (open until filled)
Investment Committee, 2 positions
Library Advisory Commission, 1 position
Public Art Commission, 2 positions
Ventura Port District Board, 1 position

Citizens interested in applying for a board, commission or committee can download the application online at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/935/Recruitments or may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Room 204. Applications may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], by fax to the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 641-1046, by mail to the City Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 99, Ventura, CA 93002, or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall. The application deadline is 5:30 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

For more information call the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 658-4787.

Candlelight Tours of Historic Olivas Adobe

Docent Mary Thompson will give you a tour of the Adobe.

The City of Ventura Holiday Candlelight Tours of the Historic Olivas Adobe will be held on Sunday, December 9. Attendees of all ages, looking to get into the holiday spirit, will enjoy this event while learning about life in the late 1800s. Located at 4200 Olivas Park Drive –the first tour begins at 5:30 pm. Tours are conducted in groups, which will be offered every twelve minutes. This popular event, with limited space available, requires reservations by calling (805) 658-4726.

Experience what life was like long ago at this expansive adobe home and courtyard built between 1847-49 by Don Raymundo Olivas. Visitors will take a step back in time at this California Historical Landmark as the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters, a non-profit volunteer group, will perform scenes in period costumes. Refreshments will be served, live musical entertainment will be provided and the Olivas Adobe Gift Shop will be open for those wishing to find unique holiday gifts.

The Olivas Adobe hosts private and public events year-round. The Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters make the history of the Olivas Adobe come to life by celebrating its Chumash, Old West, Rancho, and Latino heritage. For more information visit the Olivas Adobe website at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/olivasadobe.

The Mayor’s Arts Awards recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the arts

Ventura takes great pride in supporting our local arts community.

On Nov.8 the Mayor’s Arts Awards were held at the Museum of Ventura County before an enthusiastic audience of several hundred. The Mayor’s Arts Awards is a collaboration of the City Manager’s Office and Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships Department. It recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the arts in 2018.The selection committee was Peter Graves, Georgeanna Lees and Jen Livia.

Kathryn Dippong Lawson Arts, Education & Historic Sites Supervisor, Community Partnerships opened the evening by welcoming the standing room crowd who enjoyed delicious finger food and drinks on the patio.

The Awards presenters were Paul Lindhard ,Donna Granata,Todd Collart,Bill Kearney,Heidi House,Marlyss Munguia Auster,and David C. Creswell.

Matt LaVere, Deputy Mayor opened the evening. “On behalf of the City of Ventura and the City Council, I would like to thank you for attending the 14th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. This is our opportunity to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of seven distinguished artists, patrons, educators, and

leaders. Ventura takes great pride in supporting our local arts community. Arts and culture help to promote the unique identity of our city. These seven incredibly gifted individuals are diverse in the gifts and talents that they provide to our community daily and have made indelible contributions to our city.

I would also like to extend my thanks to this year’s Awards Selection Committee members.”

This year’s Art Award winners are:

Elena Brokaw Arts Leader. She has served as a leader in the arts in Ventura for over 25 years. She began her career working in the City of Ventura’s Cultural Affairs Division in 1993. She created Ventura ArtWalk and Java Jump. She served as the founding director of the Ventura Chamber Music Festival, co-authored Ventura’s Cultural Plan, Creating California’s New Art City, worked to secure $1 million in grant funding to seismically to retrofit the historic Olivas Adobe, worked on the Working Artists Ventura mixed-use housing development and now serves as the Executive Director of the Museum of Ventura County.

Broc Ellinger Emerging Artist. Broc is an artist from Ventura. Broc focuses his creativity on the medium of photography. His recent endeavors into photojournalism and portrait work have established him as a prolific and diverse photographer. He received the 2016 Ventura County Star Favorite Local Artist award, the 2017 Ventura County Fair Professional Division Best of Show, and 2017 1st place California Professional Firefighters Contest.

Jasmine Duncan Student Artist. Jasmine is a stand-out scholar, athlete, and artist. Jasmine first began dancing when she was four years old. She has developed her dance skills at the Ventura County Ballet Company, Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and received special tutelage from the San Francisco Ballet. In addition to her ballet, she is a talented artist who was nominated for Featured Artist of the 1st Annual VUSD Student Art Show. As a scholar she is on the Distinguished Principals honor roll and is enrolled in Advanced Placement Courses.

Stefoni Rossiter Arts Educator. Stefoni pursued a career in theater in her twenties and then embarked on her life’s calling, being a teacher. She taught first at the preschool level, then elementary in Ventura Unified School District’s (VUSD) open classroom then as Ventura High School’s drama teacher.

Kelly Stevens Creative Entrepreneur. Kelly is the owner of superbuzzy, Inc. Kelly has contributed to the community in many ways over the years. Her most recent contribution was to coordinate the collection of donated materials and quilts from around the world for the Thomas Fire Quilt Project – a project which has, at last count, donated over 1,000 quilts to families who lost their homes in the fire and subsequent mudslides.

John White Artist in the Community. John is a painter, sculptor, and performance artist who has been exhibiting for over 40 years. John’s work is included in numerous museum collections, including Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum in New York, La Foret Museum in Tokyo, and many others. He is the recipient of three National Endowment for the Arts grants and was recognized as the 2018 Artist of Distinction at the Ventura ArtWalk.

Patti Channer Arts Patron. Patti is an elegant example of community art patronage. She has long supported the arts in Ventura including Focus on the Masters, Ventura County Arts Council, Ventura ArtWalk, Ventura Botanical Gardens and the Ventura Film Society. When Patti takes hold of an idea, or cause she can single-handedly take it from concept to reality in record time.

How the Ventura City Council works

There are 7 members of the Ventura City Council. Each member must be a registered voter in the City. In the past they were elected at-large. Starting with the 2018 Election, four Councilmembers were elected by Districts with the remaining three Councilmembers to be elected by Districts in 2020. Until a City Councilmember is elected by Districts, they remain “at-large”.

Elections to select Councilmembers are held on the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November of the even numbered years. The newly elected Councilmembers will assume their seat on the City Council in December and serve for a term of four years.

At the same time, the Council is reorganized and one of its members is selected to be Mayor by the members of the Council. The Mayor serves a term of 2 years and is the presiding officer of the Council. The Mayor has been delegated the responsibility to act as the City Council’s ceremonial representative at public events and functions. The Deputy Mayor is also selected in the same manner and serves a 2-year term.

City Councilmembers serve a term of 4 years with the terms being staggered on a 2-year basis with three (3) members being elected at one election and four (4) at the next. The terms commence the day of the first regular meeting in December following the election.

City of Ventura seeks input on short-term vacation rentals

The City of Ventura is seeking community input on the regulation and enforcement of short-term vacation rentals (STVR) in Ventura through an online survey at https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/172/Short-Term-Vacation-Rentals. The input will inform staff recommendations that will be presented to the City Council early next year. The survey is open now through November 27, 2018.

Short-term vacation rentals are residential units that are rented for less than 30 consecutive days. These units are currently allowed in the City with a permit and consistent with existing regulations. The City may consider amendments to the existing regulations and enforcement.

Before taking the survey, community members are encouraged to review the STVR information on the City’s website that includes the Municipal Code, performance standards, how to report violations, and other various materials at https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/172/Short-Term-Vacation-Rentals. Community feedback from previous public meetings is also on the website. For questions please call the Business License Office at (805) 658-4715.

The Ventura City Council directed staff to engage various stakeholders and the community to review and consider possible changes to the short-term vacation rental ordinance and related policies.

City council votes on motorized scooters at last meeting

by Richard Lieberman

The City Council has voted to ban motorized scooters at least temporarily. The council will review it at later date when data from cities that have approved the scooters become readily available. Cities all over the state are making an effort to manage these devices. It is not just in California that people are struggling with the negative knock-on effects of using electric scooters. Scooter accidents happen all of the time in Denver. As a result, legal action has become a very common practice.

Suddenly with little or no warning these devices appear on the streets in the hundreds. Cities are scrambling to get a handle on them since they showed up about a year ago. Cities have tried outright bans, looking at options for strict regulation, letting them operate independently or implementing pilot programs with strict oversight.

In other cities that have had the experience the personal mobilization devices seem to have showed up overnight. Sometimes they are just dropped off by the companies that own them. Riders download an app on their smart phones that gives the location of a close by scooter. The rider then picks it up and rides away. The business model that the city has seen is one where there are no set parking places for the devices and a rider drops the scooter off just about anywhere in the city. There appears to not have been any attempts by the companies to get into Ventura County.

Downtown Ventura, a popular tourist attraction with its seaside promenade, would be a likely target for an e-scooter company according to a staff report which also noted that these devices would be picked up and impounded, according to the proposed ordinance.

“The city does not currently have regulations on the shared mobility devices”, City Attorney Gregory Diaz said. While the city has had informal discussions on the issue, it wasn’t until recently that a company offering the e-scooter model applied for a business permit. By banning their use, the city can effectively stop the companies from beginning to operate without first getting a regulatory license, Diaz said.

Regulatory licenses are typically required of massage parlors, pawn shops, adult businesses or other industries that may have been problematic in the past. Diaz said that city staff would need to research regulations and how the scooters would work in the city, and those are the same people working on the Thomas Fire rebuilding effort and long-delayed public works projects. “This isn’t intended to be a permanent ban. There are other priorities we have at the moment. It may make sense in the future”, Diaz said, just not now.

The e-scooter have worked well in Portland, Oregon, where a healthy system of bike lanes already existed, and the city regulated their prevalence. At least three council members expressed concern about the city’s liability when it comes to mishaps and accidents.

The staff report also mentions “While there are benefits of the shared mobility devices , there are issues associated with them that will require detailed analysis by the city to ensure they do not create immediate nuisance conditions to which the city is just not geared up to deal with at the time the business is established.”

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