Category Archives: City News

“Tip-A- Cop” Fundraiser benefiting Special Olympics of Ventura County

The Ventura Police Department (VPD) will again be sponsoring the Special Olympics “Tip-A- Cop” event on Tuesday, June 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at Romano’s Macaroni Grill located at 4880 Telephone Rd. in Ventura (805) 477-9925.

Tip-A- Cop is a law enforcement fundraising event in which law enforcement officers assist with waiting tables at a local restaurant and collect “tip” donations for Special Olympics. More than a dozen restaurants and eight law enforcement agencies team up throughout the year in support of Tip-A- Cop with the goal being to collect as many donations as possible for Special Olympics of Ventura County.

For over twenty years VPD has been involved in the Tip-A- Cop program. This will be the third year Romano’s Macaroni Grill will be collaborating with VPD to host this event. We encourage the public, and members of the media, to come and support the event by dining out and meeting local Special Olympics Athletes and Ventura Police Officers as they act as “celebrity servers,” while assisting Romano’s Macaroni Grill servers throughout the evening. While tips to restaurant servers are encouraged, envelopes will be provided to dining patrons so officers can accept tax-deductible donations. Officers will also be accompanied by Ventura County Special Olympics Athletes who help to serve food and sell t-shirts. Athletes are anxious to show off their medals and share their Special Olympics experiences.

“Last year we had a great event and a good time. We raised over $3,000 in tip donations for the Ventura County Special Olympics,” stated Officer Bernadette Compean who helps organize the Special Olympics Torch Run and Tip-A- Cop events for the VPD. “We look forward to another successful year and to our continued partnership with Special Olympics. We are also excited about our continued partnership with Romano’s Macaroni Grill.”

For over twenty years, Ventura County law enforcement agencies have been raising tens of thousands of dollars annually allowing Special Olympics Ventura County to offer year round sports training and competition to over 700 individuals with intellectual disabilities, ages eight years and up, free of charge, in seventeen sports at over forty training sites throughout Ventura County.

For more information on this event, and Special Olympics of Ventura County, contact Ashley Bautista at 805-339- 4317/[email protected] or Special Olympics Regional Director Peggi Preston at 805-

650-7717/[email protected].

Vol. 9, No. 18 – June 8 – June 21, 2016 – City classes

City of Ventura Imagination classes check out hundreds more on web-site

Call  658-4726 or 654-7552 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net

All held at Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston St. unless otherwise noted

Fairytales in the Park  free performances for Families
6/11    Saturday        4pm
Fairytales in the Park is celebrating its 22nd season! Join us at Barranca Vista Park for a production of Snow White.  Performances are the 2nd Saturday of every month. Bring a blanket, picnic and low lawn chairs.

The Aerial Studio Summer Camp  6-16 years
6/13-6/17       M-F     9 am-3 pm     $325   #6675
6/27-7/1          M-F     9 am-3 pm     $325   #5796
Explore all the Cirque arts–trapeze, silks, hammock, dance, acrobatics and more–at our training center and work towards a themed showcase for the last day of camp. Camp held at The Aerial Studio, 4476 Dupont Ct, Ste B.

Best of Broadway Musical Mini Theatre Camp: “Annie”  7-10 years
6/13-6/17       M-F     9 am-3 pm     $180   #5848
Rehearse songs, scenes and choreography from “Annie.” Learn theatre basics, choreography and how to present a musical theatre mini-production. No experience necessary. Family performance on final day at 2 pm. Instructor Laura Covault. This City of Ventura camp is held at Bible Fellowship Church, 6950 E Ralston St, Room 102.

Star Wars Jedi Training “The Force Awakens”  5-12 years
6/13-6/17       M-F     1-4 pm                        $120+$35 materials fee                  #5835
Hone your lightsaber skills as you and other Padawans learn techniques and moves from a Jedi Master. Then, put your training to the ultimate test as you do battle against the dark side.

Rock & Roll High Music Camps  12-15 years/grades 6-8
6/20-6/24       M-F     9 am-3 pm     $299+$25 materials fee                  #5801
Form your own rock band, write a song, make a CD, do a photo shoot and music video, with a performance for the parents on Friday. All experience levels welcome. At Arroyo Verde Park Center.

Sewing by Hand  9-12 years
6/15-7/20       Wednesdays 4:15-6 pm      $60     #6617
Learn hand-sewing skills to make dolls, folk pictures, purses and more. Instructor Judee Hauer.

Friends Arts & Nature Hikes: Trolley to Harbor  18 years-adult|
6/15    Wednesday   10:45 am-4:30 pm    $40+$20 materials fee                    #6632
Make new friends as we hike to beautiful destinations and sketch on location followed by lunch (not included in price). Bring camera, water bottle, materials fee and pocket money for lunch. Meet at Fairgrounds Amtrak Platform on Harbor Blvd. Facilitator Alison Mytych. To register call

6/18    Saturday        12-2 pm          $20     #6411
Baby boomers and their children explore issues of grand/parental “capacity” under the law and elder abuse, and strategies to handle illness and senility with Attorney Jeff Coyner.

Local emergency medical services practitioners celebrated with special breakfast

Fire Chief David Endaya serving up breakfast for National EMS Week.
Fire Chief David Endaya serving up breakfast for National EMS Week.

In celebration of EMS Week (May15-21) the Ventura City Fire department thanked their on-duty fire personnel with a special breakfast on May 18. Breakfast  including custom-made pancakes and omelets  prepared and served by Fire Chief David Endaya, the Fire Management team, and members of the Fire Prevention division.

National EMS Week honors and recognizes the important work of emergency medical services practitioners and rescue personnel. In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to show public appreciation for the critical role of specially trained personnel who, on a daily basis, respond to medical emergencies including heart attack, difficulty breathing, falls or accidents, drowning , cardiac arrest, stroke, drug over dose or acute illness. EMS workers perform pre-hospital emergency medical care, providing basic and advanced medical care at the scene of an emergency and on route to a hospital.

Every Ventura City Fire engine and truck company is staffed with at least one advanced life support (ALS) paramedic able to provide vital emergency medical services.

Fire Chief David Endaya said “Our fire department members are dedicated to providing Ventura’s residents critical emergency medical services as well as fire suppression and protection, urban search and rescue, hazardous materials response and ocean rescue.”

The breakfast was held in the parking lot at the Ventura City Fire Headquarters, 1425 Dowell Drive.

Where does the City of Ventura receive its water?

The Ventura River is our best source of quality water.

by Shana Epstein – Ventura Water General Manager.

As a mission City, the Ventura River was accessed by an aqueduct led by the efforts of the Catholic Church and the native inhabitants of our region.  From the beginning the Ventura River has been a critical water resource for our community to thrive.  To this day, it is the best quality water out of the three resources the City depends on.

The next resource tapped by the City was groundwater and in drought this resource is extremely precious to us.  The City extracts from three different groundwater basins and in normal years it is a third of our supply.  During this multi-year drought, groundwater is approximately 60% of our supply.

The third supply is Lake Casitas, which the City has an agreement with Casitas Municipal Water District for an annual supply that is primarily used within the Casitas service boundary within the City’s water service area. This annual supply  is approximately  5,000 Acre Feet (1 Acre Foot equals 326,000 gallons).

The hopes of El Nino solving all of our water woes this year did not occur.  It did happen for many other communities in Southern California, but not for Ventura.  Lake Casitas at this rate could be dry in several years with no substantial rainfall.  Restrictions have not been lifted on one of the groundwater basins the City depends on and the Ventura River has limited supplies.  Therefore, we must still conserve so that we may have a reliable supply for indoor residential use and the City’s businesses, which continue to support the economics of our community.

The City will continue to ask our customers to be excellent stewards of water and applauds the outstanding conservation efforts taken to date and those in the planning stages.  In fact, the community recently pledged to save water during the National Mayor’s Challenge and the City won the challenge   In 2015, Ventura’s customers saved about 19% when compared to 2013.  Incentive programs will be relaunched this July.  Residential customers will be able to haul recycled water from the City’s reclamation facility and customers who are looking for additional ways to conserve can ask for a free water audit.

All of these efforts in the long run are hard to keep up; therefore, Ventura Water continues to strategize for the development of new water.  The City just completed the operation of the VenturaWaterPure Potable Reuse Demonstration Facility.  The City has the potential of a new supply through advanced treatment processes of recycled water.  In addition, the City continues to build new wells to improve redundancy in our groundwater operations, to pursue  State Water options and explore other water supply options such as seawater desalination.  Ventura is fortunate to have many alternatives as it does for its water future.

To learn more please visit us at www.venturawater.net or call  667- 6500.

Classes offered by Ventura

City of Ventura Imagination classes check out hundreds more on web-site

Call  658-4726 or 654-7552 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net

Classes/Events held the Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston Street in Ventura unless otherwise noted

Afternoon Delight Ballroom  50 years+
5/26-6/30       Thursday       1-2 pm            $69 per person                     #6463
Avoid nighttime driving and join us, couples or singles, to learn three new ballroom dance styles every six weeks. Instructor Patricia Monico. Classes held at House of Dance, 3007 Bunsen Ave, Suite E

Intro to Aikido for Youth  7-16 years
5/29-6/19       Sunday                      11 am-12 pm $40     #6384
Students focus on conditioning and basic aikido techniques in a cooperative environment to help gain focus and awareness. Instructor Dennis Belt. Classes held at Aikido Dojo Training Center, 2406 E Main St.

Pottery and Ceramic Hand Building  14 years-adult
6/1-7/6 Wednesdays 6-8 pm $105+$10 materials fee   #6423
Create your own ceramic art as you pinch, coil and use slab construction methods, glaze and decorate. Instructor Kim Clarke.

Beginning Skateboarding  3 years-adult
6/4       Saturday        10-11 am       $30     #6407
Bring a skateboard, helmet and kneepads to practice half pipe, pumping back and forth, kick turning and dropping in. Classes limited to 5 skaters. At Serio Skateboard Shop, 989 B E Main St www.sk8serio.com. To register call  658-4726.

Beyond Basic Dog Obedience  14 years-Adult
$70 + $5 Supply Fee
6/4-6/25          Saturdays      9-9:50 am      Dogs under one year          #6415
6/4-6/25          Saturdays      11-11:50 am  Dogs over one year #6416
Covers: Covers: settle, stand, shake, place command, leadership, problem solving, games for your dog. An adult must accompany handlers under 18. Proof of vaccinations required (Rabies/DHPP). No retractable leashes, please. Participation is at the discretion of instructor.

Belly Dance-4-Fitness  18 years-adult
6/6-7/18          Monday          s          6-7 pm                        $65     #6400
Each session includes a warmup, BD workout, choreography and cooldown. Shimmy, twist and tone in this fun cardio class. Dress comfortably in workout attire and optional hip sash. Instructor Anja Christy. No class 7/4.

Lunchtime Card Making  12 years-adult
6/8       Wednesday   12-1:15 pm    $30+ $10 materials fee                   #6628
Create 8 handmade cards with different themes for each session for birthdays and other special events as you learn such techniques as stamping, distressing, dry embossing, watercolor, markers and chalk. No experience necessary. All tools provided. Bring lunch. Classes held at City Hall Atrium, 501 Poli St in Ventura. To register call (805) 658-4726.

 

Expect delays during sewer construction

The City of Ventura and Ventura Water have begun a major sewer line replacement project in the midtown area; from Brent Street and the Five Points intersection, along Main Street to Lemon Grove Avenue at Channel Drive. The project is scheduled to be completed in late fall 2016.

This project will replace aging (more than 50 years old), fractured, undersized infrastructure with new sewer pipes to improve reliability and capacity, and to meet the needs of our residents and business community. In addition to meeting the future needs of our citizens, the sewer replacement is necessary for the hospital expansion in the adjacent Wellness District.

Work will take place between 7am and 4pm, Monday through Friday, and “No Parking” signs will be posted on affected streets during construction. During the day, westbound traffic on Main Street will have one lane open on the north side and two lanes open at night; there will be minimal lane closures eastbound. During the project Lemon Grove Avenue will be closed to traffic for approximately one week. Signs will help alert motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to detours and alternate parking options.

Businesses along Main Street, on Brent Street and in the area will remain open during construction, and customers are encouraged to continue supporting our local business community.

For questions about this project, contact the City of Ventura’s Construction and Survey Manager Loree Pryce, 658-4704, [email protected]. For urgent or after-hours issues, contact Toro Construction, Alex Marquez at 432-0065.

Sewer line replacement project information is available online at www.cityofventura.net/pw/construction.

Ventura wins National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation!

Sanding in front of the grand prize Toyota Prius are Karen Matsuyama of Toyota, Steve Creech of the Wyland Foundation, Rhonda Glasscock of Toyota, Craig Jones of Ventura Water, Ventura Water General Manager Shana Epstein, Scott Donoho of the Toro Company, and Vivian Panou of Earth Friendly Products.

The city of Ventura and its residents have been nationally recognized for pledging to conserve water and cut pollution.

city water insetVentura placed first in the fifth annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, which ran from April 1-30. The contest asked residents to pledge online to conserve water, and Ventura had the highest percentage of pledges for cities with populations between 100,000 and 299,999. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, placed second in Ventura’s population category.

Wyland spokesman Steve Creech presented Ventura Mayor Eric Nasarenko with the first-place plaque during a noontime ceremony on the steps of Ventura City Hall on Thursday May 19.

“I don’t usually like to brag, but ‘Way to go, Ventura!” Nasarenko told an enthusiastic audience that included City Councilman Jim Monahan, Fire Chief David Endaya and many city employees.

Nasarenko congratulated the Ventura residents who pledged at www.mywaterpledge.com, saying their efforts will save over 26 million gallons of water. Venturans also pledged to reduce their use of single-use plastic bottles by 48,931, eliminate 1,172 pounds of hazardous waste from entering watersheds, and cut the amount of waste sent to landfills by 562,475 pounds.

Overall, 4,100 cities across the U.S. participated, with residents making pledges to reduce their water use at home, around the yard, and in their lives. Residents nationwide pledged to reduce their cumulative water consumption by over 1.9 billion gallons – an amount totaling the equivalent of 2,877 Olympic-sized pools!

The Wyland Foundation, a nonprofit founded by renowned marine life artist Wyland, has helped children and families around the nation to rediscover the importance of healthy oceans and waterways through public art programs, classroom science education and live events. The Mayor’s Challenge also is sponsored by Toyota, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National League of Cities, The Toro Company, Earth

Ventura’s Climate Report Card presented by iMatter Youth

Tatum Becker, El Camino High School (ECHS); Joe Yahner, Environmental Services Supervisor City of Ventura; Zayan Reza, ECHS; Sophie Nguyen ECHS; Ventura City Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann; Summeya Islam,ECHS; Olivia Loorz,ECHS and  Sierra Manske,ECHS.

by Karen Helen Szatkowski

Recently six young women from El Camino High School presented to the Ventura City Council what was a less than congratulatory report card on the city’s efforts to combat climate change. The report card is the result of iMatterYouth and their consultation with some of the most knowledgeable people and organizations on information that is science based and publicly available . The range of such consultation is broad and deep, from local governments for Sustainability USA to Natural Capitalism Solutions. The kid’shave been committed to covering all of the bases.

IMatter is now a national organization and the founder, Alec Loorz, is a young man raised and educated in Ventura: “I worked with a group of about 50 of my fellow middle schoolers to design and install poles along the beach and we met with the City of Ventura to get their cooperation. The poles are still up today, five years later, and have helped the City Council to include sea level rise in their planning. Now there are poles in several other cities as well, and one of the original poles can be seen at the Museum of Natural History in NYC.”

An A-F grading system evaluates Ventura’s action (or inaction) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to levels needed to end the climate crisis. These are their grades.

Zero Emissions: Climate Action Plan: Measures when the city’s Climate Action Plan gets to net zero human emissions  D-

Renewable Energy: Measures when the percent of renewables used to generate a city’s electricity is more than the national average, and the percentage is rising. A+

Waste: Measures when the amount of waste per person is decreasing and the percent of that waste that is recycled or composted is increasing. B-

Carbon Removal: Measures when there is some kind of a program that will result in more carbon being removed from the atmosphere. F

Youth Involvement: A bonus area that rewards a half grade for having youth involved in advising on or setting climate change related policies and plans. None

Ventura’s overall grade is a C- which means a lot needs to be done to bring the city’s efforts on our carbon footprint to a more effective standpoint. The fact that the City Council made time to listen intently to the presentation shows the seriousness they assign to the efforts of the young activists. Many Councilmembers expressed their appreciation for the professional presentation and the kid’s commitment to the wellbeing of Ventura. For more information on IMatter, contact Larry Kraft, Executive Director, [email protected]

A variety of programs to be offered at Center

A happy group celebrating another addition at Westpark Community Center.

On Tuesday, May 3 parents, staff, young boxers, sponsors and city dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the completion and installation of the Westpark Community Center’s  new fitness facility, flooring and equipment.  Ventura Chief of Police Ken Corney was there to show the VPD’s support for the wonderful programs offered there for our youth. As was Ventura resident and business owner Sal Flores  who spends many hours mentoring at-risk kids participating in  the Ventura Boxing Club that he started at Westpark.

The new fitness facility will host a variety of programs such as boxing, exercise fitness, martial arts, step classes and Zumba. Westpark serves 120 youths daily, ages 6-17, and more than 1,100 children annually through free and low-fee, scheduled and drop-in programs for fitness, enrichment and homework.

“It has been a dream and an amazing journey to see all the growth, changes and improvements at Westpark,” says Youth Programs Coordinator Anita Diaz who has been center director for more than a decade and a half.

Aera Energy sponsored the facility’s new flooring. Aera Energy has actively supported the center’s youth academic and physical fitness programs for many years, especially through startup seed money for the Ventura Police Activities League (PAL) that supports programs at the Center.

Ventura City Fire Department responds to kitchen fire in two story home.

On May 13, at approximately 4pm, Ventura City Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from a two story residential home. Upon arrival fire crews found a fire burning in the kitchen on the second floor. The fire was extinguished 10 minutes after arrival of firefighters. A sprinkler system was activated as a result of the fire and contained the fire to the area of origin. The home sustained water damage from the sprinkler activation on both floors of the residence. Three adults were displaced from the home as a result of the fire.

No firefighters were injured as a result of this incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.