Category Archives: City News

Mission San Buenaventura to commemorate canonization of St. Junipero Serra

St. Junipero Serra proudly sits in front of city hall.

Pope Francis’ recent canonization of St. Junipero Serra, founder of Mission San Buenaventura (1782), will be celebrated November 21 at the historic Main Street church in downtown Ventura.

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles will preside at a bilingual Mass, to be preceded by a 6:00 p.m. candlelight procession, starting at the site of the former Chumash Hutash Festival and San Miguel Chapel, at Thompson and Palm Streets in Ventura. The procession will conclude at Mission San Buenaventura, 211 E. Main St., at which point the Mass will begin.

A reception will be held in the Mission Garden following the Mass. General parking will be available at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (Harbor Boulevard at Figueroa Street) with shuttle transportation provided to the procession site. Additional parking is available at the Museum of Ventura County lot and the lot behind the Knights of Columbus Hall off Santa Clara Street.

Ventura City Mayor shared the history of Ventura at the Ventura Townehouse

Mayor touched on issues about land, beach, homelessness and traffic.

Cheryl Heitmann, Ventura City Mayor, was the guest speaker at the Ventura Townehouse (VTH) on Thursday, October 22. Almost one-hundred were in attendance.

Mayor Heitmann shared the history of Ventura and spoke of many projects she is working on around the city. Mayor Heitmann expressed the need for reclaimed water that is currently being tested at our local Ventura Water Pure Demonstration Facility. The Mayor said they have bus tours free to the public to visit the water plant.

She touched on issues about land, beach, homelessness and traffic concerns. The Mayor also shared how very important seniors and their concerns are since 27% of Ventura’s population are seniors and that number is growing rapidly.

She brought special attention to the city’s 150th Anniversary Celebration including projects like A Million Acts of Kindness, Partner Programs, Story Time Events at the Library, Poster Contest, Ventura Legacy Videos by

The Ventura Townehouse was a sponsor of the Kick-Off Event Sunday, held on November 8 at the Museum of Ventura County and also the 150th Anniversary Celebration to be held on Saturday, April 2.

Ventura Townehouse is also doing their part in sponsoring the 150th tile mural to be created by artist Michael Kelly. The mural will be installed on the wall in front of the Mission School. VTH will have their name placed permanently on the wall as one of the sponsors.

Ventura Townehouse residents are participating in the Million Acts of Kindness the Mayor has put up on her website at www.venturakindness.com to reach the million acts of kindness by April 2nd in time for the 150th Ventura City Anniversary.

The Ventura Townehouse’s intergenerational partnership run by Anne Howorth, VTH Activities Director, include the Pacific High School Students and VTH residents are committed to get as many acts of kindness posted on the website as possible. VTH plans to create a “Kindness Tree” to display all of the acts of kindness once they are all collected.

If you have witnessed any acts of kindness let Samantha or Anne at the Ventura Townehouse know at 642.3263 or email at [email protected]. Leave a phone number, act of kindness and a photo if possible. “Let’s share 1 million acts of kindness to celebrate Ventura’s 150th birthday!” Samantha Crisp, Director of Marketing.

Ventura Breeze’s own Cindy Summers recipient of the “One Million Acts of Kindness” award

The Ventura Breeze’s own Cindy Summers was one of the two initial recipients of the “One Million Acts of Kindness” award presented by the City of San Buenaventura. It was presented to her at the Nov. 2 City Council meeting by Mayor Heitmann. The award reads “In recognition of your heroic efforts on July 8, 2015, helping a woman and her grandchild to safety when the RV parked next to their home caught fire and you also alerted the residents of the upstairs apartment. Thank you for your act of kindness and bravery!”

We are very proud of her. The other first recipient was Ventura’s Carmel Whitman.

Ventura Auto Center Dealers honored for $25,000 contribution to City of Ventura’s 150th anniversary celebration

At the Ventura City Council meeting held on Nov.2, Mayor Cheryl Heitmann accepted a generous check for $25,000 from Jeff Sukay representing the Ventura Auto Center Dealers. The event kicked-off the City of Ventura’s 150th anniversary celebration. The dealers are the “Champion Sponsor”.

The Mayor also read a proclamation honoring The Ventura Auto Center Dealers for their $25,000 contribution. “We want to acknowledge the ‘historically supportive’ contributions given by The Ventura Auto Dealers over many years to our residents,” said Mayor Cheryl Heitmann in accepting the check.

How to prepare your wood deck for a heavy winter season

Everyone wants their decking looking the best. This is why they use composite deck sealer to keep it looking good throughout the year. However, not many people tend to think about the safety of their decking. This is why the City of Ventura’s Building and Safety division is offering a free one hour deck construction guide and repair workshop to residents, including homeowners and contractors, Monday, Nov. 16 from 9am-10am at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Community Meeting Room.

Community members are encouraged to attend this workshop to learn more about safe deck connections and railings to help prevent damage from heavy rains or earthquakes. Nearly 15% of all deck related injuries are from structural failure, 60% of structural failures are due to the deck connection to the house, and 33% of all structural failures are from deck railings. This shows how important it is to keep up with deck maintenance. Take a look at Austin Fence & Deck – Repair & Replacement if you’re needing to make your decking safer.

At this workshop, residents will learn about changes to the Prescriptive Residential Deck Construction Guidelines and repairs, and how to identify the minimum requirements for wood decks including wood members and fasteners.

For more information contact the City of Ventura’s building and Safety Division at 654-7869, or visit www.cityofventura.net/cd/buildsafe.

Dear Interested Parties of the LaViera Pre-screen

The LaViera Pre-screen has been confirmed for the November 30th City Council meeting at 5:00 p.m. The City Council protocols are different from those of the Planning Commission, so it is important that you understand these as we move toward this hearing. Staff will be releasing an “Advance Administrative Report” on November 16th; this report will include all correspondence received through November 12, 2015, by 5:00 p.m. All correspondence received from November 12th (after 5:00 p.m.), through Monday, November 30th, by 12:00 noon will be uploaded to the City’s website as a supplemental attachment to the report.

If mailing or hand delivering correspondence, please provide 11 copies as follows:

Mail:
City Council
City of Ventura
PO Box 99
Ventura, CA 93002-0099

Hand Delivered:
City of Ventura
City Council Office
501 Poli Street, Room 205
Ventura, CA 93001

If you prefer to email you comments, please do so at: [email protected]

Please note the City Council’s Protocols excerpt below related to submitting your written comments sufficiently in advance:

Section VI. Addressing the Council. 4.c. Presentations Submitted in Writing – Persons who anticipate oral presentations exceeding three (3) minutes are encouraged to submit comments in writing at the earliest possible time for distribution to the Council and other interested parties. Comments should be submitted sufficiently in advance of the scheduled meeting date to insure distribution to the Council prior to the meeting. Written submissions delivered to the Council prior to the meeting, or later than five (5) days before a Council meeting shall not be sufficient to exhaust administrative remedies and may be disregarded by the City Council.

Based on the above protocols, we encourage you to submit your comments no later than five (5) days before the Council meeting (Wednesday, November 25, 2015).

Thank you.

Jeffrey Lambert, AICP
Community Development Director

Ventura City Fire crews respond to injury traffic collision with fire at Telephone Rd and Victoria Ave.

On Nov.5, at 5:30am Ventura City Fire crews responded to a reported injury traffic collision with fire at Telephone Rd and Victoria Ave. The first engine company to arrive found that a mid-sized delivery van and a semi-tractor/trailer had collided, resulting in rupture of the saddle tanks on the semi and diesel fuel spilling onto the roadway. Fire in the engine compartment of the delivery van was suppressed by the driver of the semi, using a dry-chemical extinguisher, prior to arrival of emergency personnel. Fire and Streets personnel used absorbent materials to contain the spilling diesel fuel before it could enter the storm sewer. The absorbed fuel was eventually collected and disposed of following removal of the two vehicles. No injuries related to the accident were reported.

Ventura launches its 150th anniversary celebrations on November 8

A special reception, free and open to the public, officially launches the city’s 150th anniversary celebration on Sunday, November 8, from 2 to 4 pm at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 East Main Street.

Attendees are invited to enjoy refreshments and special limited edition 150th anniversary souvenirs as they take part in a rich menu of festive activities: stories by a panel of descendants of historic families (Chaffee, Harrison, Smith-Hobson, and Tumamait), a presentation on our local history and performances courtesy of the Ventura Music Festival.

A video created by (CAPS-TV) Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura will introduce the Ventura Legacy project. Also on display will be simulations of the 1860 census, finalists in the poster contest presented by the Boys and Girls Club, Friends of the Library and the Ventura Unified School District and the museum’s current “Portraits” exhibit featuring local historic photos.

Guests are encouraged to bring copies of family photos from past decades to post on special photo boards which will travel to various events and be on display at the Pacific View Mall. The sesquicentennial finale on April 2 will be a free community fair and picnic in downtown Ventura, followed by a concert in Mission Park by “hometown boys made good,” Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a partnership between the City and the Ventura Education Partnership to benefit arts in our schools.

The City’s 150th anniversary is made possible by the generous donations of the Ventura Auto Center Dealers and Ventura Townehouse; and this inaugural event is supported by EJ Harrison and Sons.

The City of Ventura turns 150 on April 2, 2016. To observe this milestone the city is working with community partners to present a series of special events, programs and activities over five months (150 days) celebrating the amazing span of Ventura history and culture reaching before and after the California State Senate approved “An Act to Incorporate the Town of San Buenaventura” on March 10, 1866 that took effect on April 2 – from the indigenous Chumash to the waves of Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, European, Yankee and today’s international immigrants who have enriched our city over the years.

Ventura Fire Department responds to another fire in Ventura River bottom

Photo by Breezy Gledhill

On Nov.3, at 8:30am Ventura City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported fire in the Ventura River bottom adjacent to the Ventura Fair Grounds. First arriving fire crews discovered a 50’ x 50’ fire burning 20’ tall brush and arundo directly adjacent to a railroad trestle. Train service was halted while crews from both Ventura City Fire and Ventura County Fire extinguished the fire. As crews were finishing operations and exiting the area an additional fire was started 100 yards south of the initial start. Fire crews extinguished the second fire within 30 minutes.

Fire investigation revealed an intentional start in the second location and also a third location where burning material was placed on top of a debris pile. Ventura Police department assisted with a search of the area; however, no suspect was located.

School students clean up Ventura in Trash-A-Thon Nov. 10th

SCHOOL STUDENTS CLEAN UP VENTURA IN TRASH-A-THON
Environmental Fundraiser to be held November 10, 2015

Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education will hold its eighth annual Trash-a-Thon on November 10th. Kindergarten through eighth grade students will collect pledges, and in cooperation with the City of Ventura’s Environmental Services division, work to clean up several litter “hot spots” throughout Ventura, chosen on the basis of need, student accessibility, and safety.

“Volunteer Ventura! is excited to celebrate the 8th anniversary of this unique fundraiser and City partnership. The Ventura Charter School Trash-a-Thon transforms a traditional fundraising concept by raising awareness of our impact on the environment and beautifying it at the same time. It’s a win-win for the School, the City, and the community at large!” said Rosie Ornelas, Volunteer Ventura! Coordinator.

For the event on Nov. 10th, the City will provide gloves, bags, litter sticks, rakes, and shovels. After the clean-up, the students will assemble back at the school campus to assess the amount of litter collected and to celebrate the efforts of everyone involved.

Ventura Charter School is a progressive, K-8 public school that created this unique fundraiser to promote the development of a strong sense of responsibility for protecting, preserving, and restoring the earth for future generations. Ventura Charter School provides an innovative curriculum which encourages students to think critically, collaborate, and to make connections between their classroom learning and the larger world around them.

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are allowed to be more innovative and are held accountable for improved student achievement. For more information, contact: Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education,(805)648-5503 or visit www.venturacharterschool.org

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