Category Archives: City News

City of Ventura completes new sewer interconnect project, marking continued progress toward commercial development project

The City of Ventura recently finished a significant step in completing the needed infrastructure for a high priority project known as Focus Area One which includes the Ventura Auto Center and Olivas Park, a future development project. The Olivas Park Drive Sewer Interconnect project includes installation of a new sewer pipeline that will bypass the decommissioned Montalvo wastewater plant and redirect sewage into the city’s system. Focus Area One is slated to become a regional retail destination and is one of the Ventura City Council’s top priorities of economic development.

The more than 100-acre Focus Area One project will significantly improve the area’s transportation network with the extension of Olivas Park Drive to connect to Johnson Drive.  Additionally, construction of an earthen levee will protect the project site from the adjacent Santa Clara River and allow for new construction. Connecting Olivas Park Drive to Auto Center Drive and Johnson Drive greatly improves access from the 101 freeway to the Ventura Auto Center which generates approximately $3.76M annually to the General Fund. The road and levee are in design now and the project is anticipated to begin construction by early 2017.

“The physical improvements will provide access to currently vacant land for economic growth in this area,” said City Manager Mark Watkins. “We are making important progress.”

The Montalvo Community Services District’s (MCSD) wastewater plant is being decommissioned and will eventually be demolished.  Originally built in 1954, it provided sewage treatment for Montalvo properties north of Hwy 101 that will now become Ventura Water customers. Approximately 200,000 gallons a day from the former MCSD will be treated at the city’s reclamation facility generating significant environmental benefits to the estuary and ocean.

Ventura Police Department gang update

By Ashley Bautista, Civic Engagement VPD

Gang related crimes and arrests increased in 2015. The two detectives assigned to gang activity, Corporal Marchetti and Officer Pusen, recently reported to the Ventura City Council on this activity. There were 32 violent gang crimes and 607 gang related arrests in 2015, an increase from previous years. In 2014 there were 13 violent gang crimes and 493 gang related arrests and in 2013 there were 17 violent gang crimes and 469 gang related arrests.

Ventura has ten documented gangs and 1,100 documented gang members. Gangs are essentially a group of “two or more” people who form an allegiance for a common purpose and engage in on-going criminal activity. Usually, the gang has a name, claims a particular territory or neighborhood and directs its criminal activity and intimidation towards rival gangs and the general population in the form of robberies, violent assaults, narcotics sales and property crimes.

In the 1990s, a seven member gang unit was formed to address gang activity. The unit focused on proactive policing strategies, which included more officers patrolling and strengthening community relationships within the known gang territory, youth gang intervention along with officers conducting regular parole and probation searches to known gang offenders. The presence of the gang unit directly impacted the amount of gang activity. The seven member gang unit was disbanded in 2011 because of budget cuts that eliminated fifteen sworn officer positions. Five gang unit members were assigned to patrol to provide a need in patrol staffing and two were assigned to Major Crimes investigations to re-actively investigate violent gang crimes.  Proactive work was an important factor in the seven member gang unit. By focusing full time on gangs, the unit’s members got to know individual gang members, where they lived, who they spent time with, and their probation terms. With the detailed knowledge, gang unit officers could quickly give other officers ideas about potential suspects during major gang investigations.

Preventing youth from becoming victimized by gangs or influenced to associate with gangs is key to reducing gang activity. The Ventura Police Community Foundation helps support prevention efforts through funding of after school programs and youth activities that serve over 500 local children per year. The two designated gang detectives are limited in their ability to focus on prevention efforts because much of their time is spent on investigations, but residents can be proactive in assisting with gang prevention.

Residents should report graffiti to the City graffiti hotline at 805-654-7805 or by email at [email protected]. Rapid removal tells vandals that people care about their place of business and neighborhood and that their work has little chance of being seen. The gang’s power grows through the use of fear and intimidation. A neighborhood that is united and dedicated in a spirit of cooperation toward stopping crime and violence will greatly hamper gang efforts. We encourage residents to use tools like Nextdoor.com, our virtual neighborhood watch program, to get to know their neighbors. We also encourage residents to report suspicious activity to our non-emergency number at 805-650-8010 or 911 in an emergency.

Our hope is that in 2016 we will see an increase in the resources available to tackle this increase in gang activity and increase the amount of Officers assigned to the Gang Unit.

 

Employee excellence in the City of Ventura

By Gail Field

Ventura City Manager Mark Watkins recently announced exciting milestones for City employees, including awards and new additions to staff.

Awards were bestowed on two city employees who are role models for public service and who exemplify the City’s commitment to excellence. The award winners, announced on February 11, are Keith Fowler as Employee of the Year and Kevin Cook as Supervisor of the Year.

As Public Works Supervisor, Keith Fowler manages citywide renovation and federally funded projects. In his role as Pier Maintenance project manager, his expertise was evident. The result was a successful completion of the project, which still allowed visitors to walk the pier during the pile driving and maintenance activities. Watkins acknowledged Keith as a great City ambassador who is proud to be living and working in Ventura. Companies often try their best to reward their employees as a way of acknowledging their accomplishments. Research has shown that this increases employee morale, reducing company turnover rates, and improves a company’s turnover prediction.

Kevin Cook was recognized as Supervisor of the Year. Kevin is the Enterprise Systems Development Supervisor and ensures that city staff receive excellent IT customer service. His expertise and skills provide solutions that enhance staff use of technology. Kevin is a respected member of his team and an invaluable City of Ventura employee.

Watkins thanked these excellent employees. “We are blessed in the City of Ventura to have a dedicated group of employees who bring a positive spirit and a professional attitude to work with them every day. I am proud of all of our city employees and especially proud to congratulate Keith Fowler as our Employee of the Year and Kevin Cook as our Supervisor of the Year.”

Watkins gave special mention to those nominated.

Supervisor of the Year nominees: Thomas Hoffman, Luis Manzano, Stacey Zarazua, and Kenny Welch.

Employee of the Year nominees: Dori Boyer, Tim Dunn, Edward Rodriguez, Steven DeFratus, Laura Robinson, Jose Dirzo, Kristie Frederickson, and Debra Martinez.

In other staff news, the City of Ventura Environmental Sustainability Division welcomes Lars Davenport as the new Environmental Specialist. Lars will work on Green Business Certifications and a variety of sustainable programs and initiatives with many employees using pre-employment assessments similar to those from Berke to find the best candidate for their company it will be interesting to see how he fits to the job. A graduate of the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UCSB, Lars previously worked as an Environmental Specialist for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

“Sustainability has always been a part of my life,” said Davenport, “having been immersed in science and environmental awareness. I love everything to do with the outdoors, nature and preserving our natural habitat.”

Ventura City Manager Watkins also announced the appointment of Elizabeth Foushee as the City’s Director of Human Resources. Ms. Foushee brings more than 30 years of human resource management experience to the City of Ventura. Most recently, she was with the City of Simi Valley for the past 20 years, where she managed the Human Resource function. Ms. Foushee holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cal Lutheran University and a Master of Public Policy and Administration from Cal Lutheran University.

“Elizabeth has a broad and diverse technical background in the profession,” said Watkins. “As a leader, she believes in fostering teamwork, employee development, and providing excellent service to the community. We are excited to have Elizabeth join our team and fill this important leadership position. She looks forward to working with our employees and with the community.”

City of Ventura Spring Creative Camps

City of Ventura Spring Creative Camps

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

Minecraft Camps with LEGO®  5-12 years
3/28-4/1           M-F      9 am-12 pm     Pre-Engineering           5-7 years          $190    #5616
3/28-4/1           M-F      1-4 pm             Engineering FUN         8-12 years        $190    #5615
Whether you are new to Minecraft and LEGO® or a seasoned veteran, you’ll be hooked on the endless creative possibilities. With the guidance of an experienced Play-Well instructor, students explore real-world concepts in physics, engineering and architecture while building their favorite Minecraft objects . Camps held at Bible fellowship Church, 6950 Ralston St Room 206.

Mad Science Secret Agent Camp  6-11 years
3/28-4/1           M-F      9 am-12 pm     Half day: $220+$35 materials fee          #5468
3/28-4/1           M-F      9 am-3 pm       Full day: $370+$40 materials fee           #5469
Become a Mad Science secret spy and take a fascinating journey into the world of detection, forensics, and classified information. Learn coded language to send secret messages to other agents. Investigate a mock crime scene and sift through clues to crack the case. Take home a cool detective kit, spyglasses, and more! Held at the Barranca Vista Center, 7050 E Ralston St.

Billy Clower Hip Hop Spring Break Dance Camp  5-8 years
3/28-4/1           M-F      10 am-12 pm $120    #5692
Calling all boys and girls for high-energy hip hop dance fun! Dancers develop musicality, creativity, listening skills and coordination. Please bring a refillable water bottle and snack daily. Students should wear comfortable clothes they can dance in and athletic shoes clean of debris. Performance for parents on the last day. Instructor Kate Kozacek. At Billy Clower Dance Studio, 75 MacMillan Avenue.

Billy Clower Hip Hop Spring Break Dance Camp  8-13 years
3/28-4/1           M-F      3-6 pm $120   #5672
Students will learn the basics of handling their own body weight while tumbling and break dancing; enhance their memory retention while learning choreography. Please bring a refillable water bottle and snack daily. Students should wear comfortable clothes they can dance in and athletic shoes clean of debris. Performance for parents on the last day. Instructor Chinita Miranda. At Billy Clower Dance Studio, 75 MacMillan Avenue.

 

Ventura schools held mock city council meetings

To help celebrate Ventura’s 150th anniversary students from Lincoln Elementary and De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts schools held mock city council meetings on March 11 at city hall. It was nice to have young city council members with fresh ideas. They were able to make 2 major decisions in less than an hour (maybe because they had to be in bed before midnight).

The Community Academy is scheduled to begin March 22

Learn how the VPD caught these bad guys.   

The Ventura Police Department’s Community Academy is coming! Have you ever wanted to know the who, what, when, where, why and how of police operations? Not the ‘TV’ version, but the actual facts? Here’s your chance. The Community Academy will take you on a ride-along with a patrol officer, show you what a SWAT team does, let you experience a simulated firearms training course, give you a look at issues officers face in our community and much, much more.

The Community Academy is scheduled to begin March 22 and will be held on 9 consecutive Tuesday nights from 6:00– 9:00 p.m. with a final class and graduation on May 17. Each night features a new topic, with speakers, demonstrations, and discussions. They will answer your questions and give you an in-depth behind the scenes look at police operations.

Classes will be held at the Ventura Police Department located at 1425 Dowell Dr. (the May 3 class meets in Camarillo at the Criminal Justice Training Center).

Community Academy participants are selected by the Ventura Police Department through an application process. Applications are available from the Department or online at www.cityofventura.net/pd/community-academy.

Potential candidates must meet the following criteria: minimum age of 18 years, live or work in the City of Ventura, no felony convictions and no misdemeanor convictions within two years of application. A background check is required.

The success of any police department depends largely upon the cooperation and support it receives from the citizens it serves. The Community Academy aims to educate residents on the capacity and operations of the department so that we can work together to make Ventura a better place to live, work and play.

For more information, visit the website or contact Civic Engagement Specialist Ashley Bautista at 339-4317.

 

Ventura’s fight to remain graffiti-free

Graffiti seen from trains passing through Ventura. Photo by Daniel Ingram

By Amber Hansen

In today’s world, vandalism is rampant. It’s not uncommon to see graffiti on nearly every block in some cities. While Ventura isn’t covered in garish spray paint, it doesn’t take a detective to find vandalism on both public and private properties in Ventura. Whether the graffiti is an artistic endeavor or gang-affiliated tagging, it’s an eye sore that Ventura residents want removed.

Many Ventura residents are unfamiliar with the process of graffiti removal. There are, in fact, a few ways that vandalism can be reported and removed. The first step is to identify whether the vandalism is on private property or city property. If the graffiti is in a park or similar city properties, it can be reported to the City of Ventura Parks and Recreation Department. The Department will promptly send out a worker to remove the graffiti.

If the graffiti is on private property, it can be reported to the City of Ventura Streets Department. The department will send out a notice to the owner, stating that the graffiti must be removed within 24 hours. If the property owner does not have the means to remove it, the City will work with them to clean it off and paint over it.

Whether the graffiti is on city or private property, it is necessary to provide the building’s address when reporting the vandalism. If the address isn’t visible for any reason, using Google Maps can help identify the exact location.

The Graffiti Hotline reaches both departments, and is the easiest way for Ventura residents to report graffiti. In the past year alone, the City of Ventura has taken 2,000 reports of graffiti.

With this information, Ventura residents can help keep the City of Ventura graffiti free. Please report vandalism to City of Ventura graffiti hotline 654-7805.

Mayor makes case for tax increase to two “juries”

Erik Nasarenko was selected as Mayor by the City Council in December, 2015.

Mayor Erik Nasarenko, who is a deputy district attorney for Ventura County, was right at home making his case before a City Council meeting at his first State of the City address, and at the annual Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City Breakfast held on Thursday, March 10 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach.

The mayor’s  “Invest in Ventura, Now and for a Strong Tomorrow” theme discussed the present and future of Ventura and laid out a case for a one-half sales tax increase in Ventura.

city mayor inset“The State of the City address is the perfect opportunity for the business community to engage with City Hall and hear directly from the Mayor about his priorities and vision for the coming year,” said Stephanie Caldwell, President and CEO for the Chamber.

In his State of the City presentations, Mayor Nasarenko gave credit to each council member for their contributions to Ventura.

He pointed out that an independent auditor gave Ventura a “clean” opinion for the fiscal year that ended June 30, and to balance the budget, the city no longer transfers money from internal accounts to the general fund.

“We are indeed managing our money wisely,” he said. “The city’s main source of income is from sales and property tax collections. But once the state and others get their share, Ventura is left with 13 cents on the dollar from the sales tax and only 16 cents for every dollar in property taxes.”

He stated that Ventura has greatly reduced the number of employees necessary to balance the budget, but said more money is needed for many things including:

Infrastructure – sidewalks, streets, underground utilities – that are in need of major repair.

The need for a new library to replace Wright Library that was closed several years ago.

More police officers are needed to control the 1,000 known gang members from the 100 known gangs in Ventura. Gang intervention officers were reduced from 7 to 2 in our current budget.

The fire department needs more funding to keep all of its stations open, especially Fire Station 4 that requires funds from outside sources to remain open.

Last fall, the City Council voted to spend up to $80,000 on a campaign to get public support for a sales-tax measure. The Council will likely vote in June to officially get it included on the November ballot. Most council members have already expressed their support for the measure.

Ventura’s current sales tax is 7.5 percent. In recent years, Venturan’s have twice rejected a sales tax increase.

In conclusion, Nasarenko said, “Invest in Ventura, join us. We are going to pass this. We’re going to get this on the ballot.”

 

Ventura Police Department’s newest K9 Teams, Officer Keith Therrien and K9 Falco, will be introduced at Ventura Baptist Church Mar. 13

One of Ventura Police Department’s newest K9 Teams, Officer Keith Therrien and K9 Falco, will be introduced at Ventura Baptist Church on March 13 at 9:30 a.m. Falco was purchased from a donation by Ventura Baptist Church. Falco is a two and half year old all black German Shepard from Germany. His full name is Falco Von Pentavita. Falco came to the United States on January 11th and started his training to become a police service dog that same day. Falco graduated the Inglis Police Dog Academy on February 18 and began protecting the citizens of Ventura February 19th.

 

The Ventura Police Department has four K9 teams. All are assigned to the Patrol Unit so that a team is on-duty seven days a week, providing around the clock service to the community. All of our canines are German Shepherds and they live at home with their handler/officer and their families. We use our K9 teams for a variety of public safety assignments. The two most frequent uses are to locate fleeing suspects and to find illegal drugs. Canines can search an entire warehouse, for example, in much less time than a team of officers could perform the same job. Canines can sniff out hidden suspects thereby making them more effective in this situation than their human counterparts. Using K9 teams allows the department to perform a variety of dangerous tasks in a quick and more effective manner.

 

Our department, along with other law enforcement agencies from Santa Barbara and Ventura County, train weekly with Dave Inglis, one of the foremost K9 trainers in the United States. Weekly training sessions focus on tasks such as searching, apprehension, drug detection, obedience, agility and confined searches.

 

The National Police Dog Foundation, founded by Dave and Debbie Inglis, has assisted in the purchase of all of our canines (past and present). Donations made by Ventura Baptist Church were provided to the Foundation for the purchase of Falco. If you are looking to give to your local church may want to consider mobile giving as one way of doing so. The Foundation seeks donations from the community and uses the money to purchase and train police dogs for law enforcement agencies throughout Ventura County. The donation of a trained police dog and handler is a tremendous benefit to our Department and to the community. On average the cost for a canine is $12,000, with an additional $8,000-$10,000 for training and certification, no tax payer dollars are used for the effort. All of the training is provided through the generosity of donations to the Foundation.