Category Archives: City News

Yolanda helped to respond to the rebuilding after the Thomas Fire

Chief Building Official to receive prestigious recognition.

Yolanda Bundy, Chief Building Official City of Ventura has been selected by the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California as the Safer City Building Official of the Year because of her dedication to supporting a safer community and leadership within the building official community.

In selecting Bundy they stated “You have exhibited strong support for advancing structural engineering, and this is especially true during 2018 as you helped respond to the rebuilding after the Thomas Fire. Moreover, your involvement of SEOASC and structural engineers in your work has strengthened the outcomes of your efforts.”

She is head of the Ventura Building and Safety Division, the office that issues building permits for construction projects in Ventura, such as new housing developments, commercial structures, small residential remodeling projects, or the installation of solar panels on a commercial or residential structure.

She was appointed as the City’s Chief Building Official in October, 2014 and has worked at the City of Ventura since February, 2008.

She will be presented her award at the Safer Cities Gala to be held on June 5th at the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown LA along with other honorees from the public and private sector as part of their Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards celebration.

The Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) is one of the oldest structural engineering association in the world and is one of four regional structural engineering associations of the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC). The individual members are civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers regularly engaged in the practice of structural engineering. SEAOSC also draws membership from related fields involved in design and construction, contractors, architects, and representatives from industry and government.

Free community cleanup, recycling and document shredding

City of Ventura residents have an opportunity to discard and recycle unwanted items free of charge and shred paper documents (up to 4 banker size boxes) on Saturday, May 4, 9am-12pm, at 765 S. Seaward Avenue as part of the City of Ventura Community Cleanup and Recycling Event.

The event is conveniently located at the corner of Seaward Avenue and Alessandro Avenue; residents can access the collection site via Alessandro. Items accepted include metal, wood, yard waste, furniture, appliances, computers and other electronics. Household hazardous waste such as motor oil, batteries and paint will not be accepted at this event.

“The City holds Community Cleanup events four times a year in partnership with E. J. Harrison & Sons,” said Joe Yahner, Environmental Services Manager. “This allows residents to maintain their property free of debris and clutter by disposing of bulky waste and other items that aren’t normally accepted with the weekly trash pick-up. Well-kept properties keep our city safe and enhance our neighborhoods.”

This event is for city of Ventura residents; please bring photo ID with proof of residency (current utility bill, or driver’s license with your current address).

Residents who want to dispose of hazardous waste such as paint, solvents, motor oil, etc. can call (805) 652-4525 to set up an appointment for the next household hazardous waste collection event held on the third Saturday of each month. For more information or to register for the next hazardous waste collection event online visit the City of Ventura website at https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/323/Hazardous-Waste-Toxics-Reduction.

Jim Friedman’s new perspective on serving the Ventura people

“I like seeing results and I like to make people happy whenever possible.“

by Maryssa Rillo

Jim Friedman served as a member of the Ventura City Council from 1995-2002. He also served as mayor in 1998 and 1999. Now, 15 years later, Friedman is back and was reelected in 2018 to represent District 5.

According to Friedman, money is a bigger issue today than it was the first time he served. The break he had from serving on the Ventura City Council gave him the opportunity to gain a new perspective of the city and see what was going on from the outside in. Friedman said that with this new perspective he has been given the “opportunity to hit the ground coming.” I spoke with Friedman about his reelection and how he plans to execute the goals he has in place to serve the Ventura people.

Q: What are your major goals while serving District 5?

A: I ran on enhancing our basic core services which is: public safety (police and fire), fixing our streets, sidewalks and trimming our trees and/or replacing them. I spoke to hundreds of people, so I feel like I have a pretty good pulse at what the community, at least in District 5 want and they want what I was running on: enhanced essential core services.

My other goal is to help streamline our economic development process. Whether that means new businesses coming into town or businesses wanting to expand. I think there are way too many bureaucracies in our city and the city is at times too involved. There are simpler ways of doing things that the council can initiate if there is a will of the council to do that.

Q: Why do you think it is an important issue to help businesses in Ventura?

A: My biggest concern is that Ventura is becoming a retirement community that ultimately will not be able to afford itself. There are many young people who are born and raised here that will not be able to live here because there aren’t houses in a price range for them to afford.

How do you solve this issue? It’s simple, more money. We won’t be able to tax and fee ourselves into prosperity. The way I see it, it’s only going to come from economic development. That’s why I hope we have at least four members of the city council that believe that way, so we can start doing things to make it easier for people who are trying to do business in our city. We will all ultimately benefit from this through the increased revenues that we will get from them.

Q: How do you plan on making it easier for new businesses and current businesses wanting to expand in Ventura?

A: Businesses don’t know what the city’s expectations are of them. It seems like a never ending cycle and I know for a fact Ventura has gained a reputation of a city you want to stay away from because they’ll drive you crazy with these additional requirements, opposed from having a system set up where you know what you need to do from the very beginning and that can be changed. That will be the will of the council saying ‘city manager we need this streamlined. We have to change our reputation in the regent. We need to be known as being business friendly opposed to at times being very difficult to deal with.’

Q: What are your plans on executing your goal of enhanced public safety?

A: As far as I am concerned the number one priority is public safety. If you don’t feel safe in your community then you don’t have quality of life in your community. The only way we can deal with that is prioritizing the budget so that there are resources available to keep the community safe. We won’t be able to generate any real income by raising fees. That’s why I think economic development is going to be the absolute key to getting just about anything done in our city that we want to get done.

Q: What do you enjoy most about serving Ventura City?

A: To be in a position to really be able to make a difference to the community. Whether that be a resident in District 5 or a resident/business owner anywhere throughout the city.

My task is to help solve a problem for a constituent or a resident and I really enjoy doing that. I like seeing results and I like to make people happy whenever possible.

Note: The Breeze also asked new council members Sofia Rubalcava and Lorrie Brown to also have and article in the Breeze but have not heard back from them. Hopefully we will.

VPD helping children battling cancer

Ventura Police officers and K-9’s brought smiles to the young children.

The Ventura Police Department partnered with the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and community members for an Easter Basket Drive for children battling cancer. More than 150 baskets were donated! 

Baskets were delivered to children and their siblings at the Ventura County Medical Center and also delivered to the homes of very sick children in Ventura. 

“This is the first year we have asked for community support of this effort. It was so incredible to have so much generosity from Ventura residents and businesses. Our goal was 40 baskets and we exceeded that number! The remaining baskets have been delivered to children at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles,” said Ventura Police Community Outreach Specialist Ashley Bautista. “These children are fighting for their lives and these baskets have brought them joy during such a trying time. I am so grateful that our community partnered with the police department to make these sweet kids feel so special.”

The Ventura Police Department collects toys throughout the year to keep the toy box filled for children being treated at the Ventura County Medical Center. Community members can call Ashley Bautista at 805-339-4317 or email [email protected] for more information. 

A sustainable solution to preserve our water supply

by Mayor Matt LaVere

Before we can begin to address our water supply issues in the Ventura River watershed, we must first recognize the problem, and realize we need to work together to solve it. Accordingly, I am pleased to report that the watershed’s water leaders have agreed to come together to collaborate on developing a new sustainable approach to managing the watershed for the future.

The key to creating a lasting and viable solution to protect the Ventura River watershed is collaboration between all its diverse water users. We all understand the obstacles facing the watershed, and we’re all at the table and ready to roll up our sleeves to establish a plan that secures our water supply. To that end, the parties to the litigation initiated by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper against the City of Ventura and the State Water Resources Control Board have started the settlement process by agreeing to a mediation meeting beginning in April where we will exchange ideas, raise tough questions and work together to find common ground.

Many of the region’s diverse water users are in agreement that a locally-driven, physical solution achieved through a collective process is the ideal path forward. The City’s objective, during this mediation and beyond, is to establish an adaptive and lasting framework that clearly recognizes the needs and rights of each water user, makes the most of the watershed’s resources and shares the responsibility of preserving finite water supplies amongst all users. The City’s desired outcome will not have any “winners” or “losers,” but rather a shared commitment by all to protect the watershed. Collaboration is vital to this effort because, as you may know, the City of Ventura is just one of more than 100 users that pump and divert water from the watershed.

Mediation provides the opportunity to create a proactive resolution that provides procedures and protections to ensure all of the parties are part of the decision-making. The court process also provides a standardized process for all parties to provide the information necessary to assess everyone’s future water use and needs. That’s why it’s the most efficient and effective approach to preserving our water supply.

The varied interests in the watershed and the current lack of collaboration and accountability have made it difficult to assess availability in our water system and effectively manage our limited water resources for the future. We are eager to leave these challenges in the past and charge forward with a strategy that considers all of the watershed’s users and looks at the entire interconnected water system holistically.

The dialogue that will establish this framework for the future has already begun. Solving the obstacles facing our region’s water resources – including the impacts of climate change, prolonged periods of drought and increased users – will take an investment of time and work, but I’m confident we can address them through a collective effort. The next steps of this effort includes the first mediation next month, further, regular mediation sessions between all of the watershed’s parties, careful analysis, technical and legal research to inform all of our proposed solutions and, ultimately, a fair and lasting settlement approved by the court to protect the Ventura River watershed.

The City remains committed to positive momentum and ensuring that these critical challenges are resolved in a fair and proactive method that safeguards our water supplies now and moving forward.

City Council Briefs

by Richard Lieberman

During a regularly scheduled meeting of the Ventura City Council recommendations and voting, along with special presentations and announcements were conducted including the Mayor for a Moment program enabling students from local schools to sit in the Mayor’s chair and present an essay to the council and public.

This month Joey Baccerra from Junipero Serra Elementary School was honored as Mayor of the Moment by the City Council. Joey took the Mayor’s seat and read an essay he penned. An avid sportsman Joey was lauded by teachers and administrators for his excellent academic achievements and his sportsmanlike attitude in everything he has accomplished.

Another special presentation followed A Census Presentation “The Road to the 2020 Census” given by Jesse Gonzalez, Partnership Specialist, U.S. Census Bureau, Los Angeles Regional Census Center. He discussed the importance of the census in the allocation of Federal funding for cities and how important the results will be for the City of Ventura.

The meeting then moved on to consent items:

Item 8B: Lease agreement- the City of San Buenaventura and Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless by Air Touch Cellular, to operate a cellular site at 350 Summit Road, Ventura, Ca. (Grant Park)

Recommendation:

Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the lease agreement

Designate the City Manager to act as the agent for the city to sign all related documents and subsequent amendments thereto to implement this agreement.

Authorize Finance and Technology to appropriate funds to the proper projects, accounts, and funds for reimbursement of expenses incurred by the city as a result of this lease agreement.

Passed by the Council

Item 8H: Sewer line replacement –Seaside wastewater Force Main Authorize the Mayor to execute a professional services agreement with Fippen Engineering, Inc. to provide construction management services, in the amount not to exceed $135,390

Passed by the Council

Item 8I: Sewer line Replacement – Seaside Wastewater Force Main- Authorization to Execute Professional services Agreement with Padre Associates, Ic. For Environmental Consulting Services.

Recommendation:

Approve and authorize the mayor to execute a professional services agreement with Padre Associates in an amount not to exceed $135,390

Passed by the council

Item 8E: Amend Special Event Indemnification and Insurance Requirements

Recommendation:

Amend the insurance requirements for special events based on the three-tiered structure and eliminate the requirement for vendor insurance for most Special Events.

Direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to amend the municipal code

Passed by the council

Item 8F: Bus Stop Use Agreement with FlixBus

Recommendation:

a. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Bus Stop Use Agreement with FlixBus

b. Authorize the City Manager to delegate the signing authority for a future year contract

to Public Works Director.

Passed by City Council

Item 8C Consideration of 2019 Amgen Tour of California Cycling Race Contract with AEG and Agreement with Ventura Visitors Bureau and Agreement with Convention Bureau for Hotel and Team Meal Requirements

Approve the proposed Amgen Tour of California Cycling Race Contract

Authorize the interim Community Development Director to Execute an agreement with Ventura Visitors and Convention Burea for $82, 519 for Hotel and team meal requirements from funds already allocated by council

Passed by the Council.

12B: Museum of Ventura County Funding for Fiscal Year 2019-2020

Recommendation:

Provide direction regarding funding with the Museum of Ventura County to support general operations through June 30, 2020

Authorize the City Manager to execute a Funding and Services Agreement not to exceed $250,000.

Passed by council with one opposing vote by Councilman Jim Friedman.

7th Annual Water: Take 1 Film Festival honors local “Difference Makers”

Ventura Water announced the 2019 honorees at the 7th Annual Water: Take 1 Film Festival, a free community event held March 21 at the Buenaventura Banquet Center, in celebration of World Water Day. Ventura High School’s environmental club and Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Garden program were presented with the Community Partnership Award. Local environmental advocates, Ron and Barbara Barrett received the Community Member Award, and CLEAN International was awarded the National Organization Award. All honorees received a $500 award for their inspirational conservation efforts and commitment to elevating the value of water.

City of Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere kicked-off the film screenings of water-themed short films profiling each honoree’s inspiring story. The films can be viewed at www.watertake1.com.

The Water: Take 1 Film Festival, recognizes individuals, non-profits and organizations with exemplary efforts in water conservation, resource management, and sustainability by producing short films in honor of their commitment to making a difference.  The event is proudly sponsored by Carollo Engineers, Nossaman LLP, Hopkins Groundwater Consultants, and Kennedy Jenks Consultants.

“This year’s honorees exemplify the critical efforts of community members that inspire change through forward thinking water conscious actions and initiatives,” said Ventura Water Interim General Manager Susan Rungren.

Event sponsors Hopkins Groundwater Consultants, and Kennedy Jenks Consultants recognized Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Garden program for partnering with Ventura High School students to replace over 1,000 square feet of lawn with a new water wise garden. The new landscape was designed to save water, prevent stormwater pollution, and serve as a demonstration garden for the public.

Representatives from Nossaman LLP presented the Community Organization Award to Ron and Barbara Barrett for their leadership in protecting local watersheds and inspiring youth to care for the environment. For more than 30 years, the couple has volunteered as site leaders for the Ormond Beach annual Coastal Cleanup Day.

CLEAN International, whose mission is the eradication of waterborne illness and an end to the daily walk for water worldwide, was presented the National Foundation Award by Carollo Engineers. The Ventura-based non-profit organization advocates for clean, sustainable, and convenient water and sanitation around the world.

City of Ventura 2018 Employee and Supervisor of the Year announced

On February 19, the City of Ventura held an awards ceremony at City Hall to recognize fifteen employees nominated for the 2018 Employee and Supervisor of the Year. These awards recognize city employees who are role models for public service and exemplify the city’s commitment to excellence.

The eleven nominees for Employee of the Year were:

  • Lauren Armistead – Ventura Water
  • Ashley Bautista – Police Department
  • Cheryl Bucklin – Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships
  • Silvia Medrano – Public Works
  • Donald Nielsen – Community Development
  • Eric Padilla – Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships
  • Daniel Ramos – Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships
  • Elizabeth Richardson – Community Development
  • Jared Rosengren – Community Development
  • Vince Tovey – Community Development
  • Jo Gerke-Yutuc – Finance & Technology

The four nominees for Supervisor of the Year

  • Yesania Anderson – Finance & Technology
  • Greg Morley – Finance & Technology
  • Kenny Welch– Police Department
  • John Willis– Ventura Water

Cheryl Bucklin, Recreation and Community Partnerships Coordinator, was selected as the 2018 Employee of the Year.

`John Willis, Wastewater Plant Supervisor, was selected as the 2018 Supervisor of the Year.

City Manager Alexander McIntyre said, “The City of Ventura has a history of the workforce acknowledging and recognizing their exceptional peers. It’s an honor and a pleasure to work with this caliber of employees!”

Ventura Aquatic Center Lifeguard tryouts

If you would like to serve as a Ventura Aquatic Center Lifeguard, now is your chance!

Five reasons to apply now to be a lifeguard at the Ventura Aquatic Center:

1. No need to decide what to wear to work. Your wardrobe is a bathing suit with a uniform shirt and shorts.

2. Killer workout every day- swim between your shifts.

3. Work outdoors in Ventura. Yes, please!

4. Co-workers, you may not know any of them when you start, but by the end of it all, they will be your best friends.

5. Ability to save a life…mic dropped!

If you are over the age of 16 and would like to serve as a Ventura Aquatic Center Lifeguard, now is your chance! No certifications are necessary to try out, just a good attitude and strong swimming skills. Several tryout dates are available.

  • Fri., March 15: 3:30-4:30 pm and 6-7 pm
  • Sat., March 16: 2:30-3:30 pm
  • Thurs., March 21: 5:30-6:30 pm

Show up to the tryout that is most convenient for you, no need to RSVP. No additional tryout dates will be added. For further questions, please contact the Ventura Aquatic Center at 805-654-7511.

Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship Award

On August 7, 2018 a ceremony was held at Ivy Lawn in honor of Sergeant Dowell’s life.

The Ventura Police Officers’ Association (VPOA) is accepting applications for the 16th annual Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships will be presented in to honor Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell, who was shot and killed on August 7, 1978. Sergeant Dowell is the only officer in Ventura’s history to die in the line of duty.

At the time of his death, Sergeant Dowell, 32, was a nine-year veteran of the Ventura Police Department. He is remembered as a dedicated police officer, devoted husband, and loving father to his two young children.The City of San Buenaventura named Dowell Drive, the location of police headquarters, in Sergeant Dowell’s honor in 1979.

In selecting scholarship recipients, the VPOA will consider academic achievement, school and community service, and financial needs. Applications must contain all required information and be returned no later than April 12, 2019. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Scholarship Awards:

  • 1st Place $5,000.00
  • 2nd Place $3,500.00
  • 3rd Place $2,000.00
  • Honorable Mention(s) $500.00

Applicants must:

  • Be entering his/her freshman through senior year in college;
  • Plan a course of study related to the field of public service;
  • Ventura resident or have graduated from a high school in Ventura within the past three years, or a Ventura Police Department employee or employee’s child.
  • Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better (based on a 4.0 system);
  • Maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better if selected as a recipient;
  • Submit a resume of school and community activities, including a copy of transcripts through the most recent semester;
  • Submit a typed essay of 1000 words or less on “Service, what it means to me”;
  • Submit a letter of recommendation from a public servant.

For additional information please contact Ofc. Mike Hibdon at 805-339-4443 or [email protected]. Applications are available at the front desk of the Ventura Police Department on Dowell Dr.