Category Archives: Featured News

Additional information meetings set in Ventura for CalRecycle debris removal services

Two additional informational meetings have been scheduled in Ventura for residents in the city of Ventura and the unincorporated areas of the county affected by the Thomas Fire who are seeking debris removal services from CalRecycle for severely damaged or destroyed property. The information to be presented in these meetings is identical, so residents can attend the most convenient meeting for them.

The meetings will be held:

Saturday, January 13, at 11:00 a.m.
Ventura Baptist Church
5415 Ralston Street, Ventura.

Tuesday, January 16, at 6:00 p.m.
Ventura Baptist Church
5415 Ralston Street, Ventura.

At the meetings, residents will hear information from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) about the second phase of the debris removal. After the presentation, representatives from CalRecycle and CalOES will be available for breakout sessions with residents to answer individual questions. Spanish translators and sign language interpreters will be available at both meetings.

CalRecycle teams are already out in neighborhoods visiting residents who have signed up for the program and submitted their Right-of-Entry forms. The actual removal of debris from those properties will begin very soon. And, CalRecycle will continue to add debris removal teams as the number of program participants increases.

There is no cost to the property owner for this phase of the work, however residents will need to provide right-of-entry (ROE) forms, insurance information and other important paperwork to allow the clean up their property. It is strongly suggested that residents sign up for this service as soon as possible and submit the proper paperwork to facilitate the safe removal of the debris and ash by CalRecycle.

The final deadline to submit the paperwork is January 22, 2018. Copies of the ROE and other forms are available at www.venturacountyrecovers.org and the informational meetings. CalRecycle has opened an Operations Center at 290 Maple Court, Suite 120 in Ventura. Forms and information will be available there as well as the Hall of Administration at the County Government Center and Ventura City Hall.

Seminar on Local Investment in Energy Generation Jan. 11

The Ventura County Climate Hub invites the public to a panel discussion about localizing sources of energy for our region. Topics will include the progress for cities joining Los Angeles Community Choice Energy, the challenge from the CPUC that may delay participation, So Cal Edison’s plans for a 4th power line into our region, and the status of a grant application by Ventura County to fund accelerated residential energy efficiency. The implications of the upcoming So Cal Edison Request for Proposals for regional energy generation and storage will be explored, along with the feasibility and funding of an independent analysis of the power grid for the Moorpark-Goleta region.

Ventura County Climate Hub is a grassroots, non-partisan local affiliate of 350.org with 26 local partner organizations and hundreds of people engaged in the full spectrum of ways to reverse climate change.  Partner organizations like CFROG and World Business Academy report on their actions and campaigns.

Thursday, January 11,  6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Unitarian-Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston St,  rear parking lot to Fellowship Hall.

Ventura County residential and commercial taxpayers can do more to develop renewable energy projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create local jobs and stimulate our economy. The California Public Utilities Commission is proposing to seriously delay the development of those opportunities. We will discuss in particular the CAISO analysis of the 4th power line proposed by SoCal Edison and the need for an independent analysis that explores the potential to localize generation in the Moorpark-Goleta region of the grid. We will learn more about the potential for 100% localized Distributed Energy Generation with solar and other sources from rooftops, parking lots and battery storage. A limiting factor for localization of the regional grid is the willingness of commercial property owners to support and participate in projects. The potential for more generous feed-in tariffs under Los Angeles Community Choice Energy is of great importance in motivating property owners to invest

Informational meetings regarding fire debris removal Jan. 4 and Jan. 6

Informational meetings have been set for residents affected by the Thomas Fire who are seeking debris removal services from CalRecycle for severely damaged/ or destroyed property.  Two meetings will be held in Ventura. Meetings will also be held in Ojai and Santa Paula. Fire victims are invited to attend whichever meeting is the most convenient as the information presented will be identical at each meeting.

The first meeting in Ventura will be held on Thursday, January 4 at 6pm, and the second Ventura meeting will be held on Saturday, January 6, at 11am. The meetings will take place at Ventura Baptist Church, 5415 Ralston Street, Ventura. Times, dates and locations for the other meetings will be released as soon as possible.

During the meetings, residents will hear information from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) about the second phase of the debris removal. After the presentation, representatives from CalRecycle and CalOES will be available for breakout sessions with residents to answer individual questions.

Participation in the Phase II clean-up process has been approved by both the Ventura City Council and the County Board of Supervisors. During Phase II, teams from CalRecycle will remove the remaining debris (including building foundations) from properties with destroyed residential structures.

 There is no cost to the property owner for this phase of the work, however residents will need to provide right-of-entry (ROE) forms, insurance information and other important paperwork to allow the clean up their property.

 It is strongly suggested that residents sign up for this service as soon as possible and submit the property paperwork to facilitate the safe removal of the debris and ash by CalRecycle. The final deadline to submit the paperwork is January 22, 2018. Copies of the ROE and other forms are available at www.venturacountyrecovers.org and the informational meetings. CalRecycle anticipates opening an Operations Center at 290 Maple Court, Suite 120 in Ventura on Tuesday, January 9. Forms and information will be available there as well as the Hall of Administration at the County Government Center and Ventura City Hall.

Top stories of 2017

by Rebecca Wicks

Looking back through 2017, the year was marked by news events common to others. There were new developments, openings, closings, fresh faces making their entrance onto our City’s scene, and recognized faces bowing out. All were eclipsed by the biggest headline of the year – the Thomas Fire. Follows are some of the top stories from the pages of the Ventura Breeze in 2017:

1. The Thomas Fire. While occurring at the tail end of the year, the fire that raged through Ventura the night of Dec. 4th, has had undoubtedly the largest impact on Venturans in 2017. In addition to the more than 500 families that lost their homes, hundreds more remain displaced and unable to move back into their homes as they sit uninhabitable. Many of the homes that still stand are riddled with fire and smoke damage, and in need of repainting, extensive cleaning and removal and replacement of insulation.

The lasting effects of the fire will inevitably stretch into 2018 and beyond as the City works to rebuild. Even those who have experienced no physical loss will be affected as there will continue to be public time and money spent on how the City recovers physically and economically. Questions loom around everything from rebuilding ordinances to protecting against mudslides this winter.

2. Faces Exit and Enter. In March, the Ventura Unified School District voted to fire Superintendent Michael Babb who held the job for only 20 months. Babb was previously superintendent of the Mesa Union School District and was principal of E.P. Foster Elementary School for five years. In July, the Board announced the hiring of David C. Creswell, as the new school superintendent with a salary of $222,000 per year. Creswell previously served as associate superintendent of the Fontana Unified School District and assistant superintendent of the Cucamonga School District.

Also in July, City Manager Mark Watkins announced his retirement effective December 28, 2017. Dan Paranick was named interim city manager. The year’s City Council election featured 10 candidates for three seats, which included incumbents Christy Weir and Cheryl Heitmann. Council member Carl Morehouse did not seek re-election. Both incumbents held their seats and a new face to the council, Matt LeVere was added to the group.

3. The Museum of Ventura County. In January, the Museum re-opened its doors after having been closed for four months for renovations. The celebration was not long-lived as the Museum continued to struggle financially. In July, the City Council voted to give the museum $125,000 dependent on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approving additional funding and set other conditions. The Council specified funding could last up to five years, assuming the museum meets specific benchmarks and the City has the money. The Museum was charged with showing how it will one day support itself, start assessing a collection of 181,000 documents and artifacts, begin the process of developing an $8 million endowment and look at ways to turn its programs and offerings to be more appealing to all age groups who will visit often.

4. Pot Regulations and the City of Ventura. On January 1, 2018 marijuana became legal to consume and cultivate for Californians over age 21. Like other cities, Ventura is working to determine how it will regulate everything from marijuana store fronts and delivery services to cultivation, taxes, zoning and other related issues. The City held a series of community meetings to offer Venturans input on how it should approach the pending legalization. Since then, the City approved some medical marijuana deliveries from other cities. Currently, a moratorium still stands prohibiting all commercial activity related to marijuana in order to have more time to decide how, or if to regulate it.

5. New Tree Planted at Two Trees. In April, and in honor of Earth Day, a new sapling was planted to replace the eastern-most tree of the duo known locally as “Two Trees.” The previous eastern-most tree had died. The remaining tree is thought to be one of 13 original trees, which resided on the hillside. A number of stories abound as to how the iconic Two Trees came to be just the pair. The tree is a Blue Gum tree, which in their native Australia can live 400-500 years, but here in California are expected to live only 100-200 years. The new tree was donated by Baron Bros. Nursery, and planted by the Rancho San Buenaventura Conservation Trust, which protects the hillsides along with Richard Atmore who has worked the land owned by Lloyd Properties since 1979.

6. Ventura Prioritizes Auto Center Area for Development. In July the City Council approved a General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan amendment, and Sign Agreement within the Auto Center Specific Plan that made the surrounding area significantly more conducive to economic investment. The amendments pave the way to increased economic vitality by improving accessibility, visibility, and circulation in the Ventura Auto Center. Called Focus Area One, the auto center currently employs more than 1,000 workers and is the City’s top revenue generator.

7. Kaiser Opens Its Doors. With a quiet launch Kaiser opened its 57,000-square-foot outpatient complex alongside Highway 101. Marked by unique design, the burgundy building’s façade incorporates a number diagonal stripes of white light. The organization’s website states the building features both an innovative design and patient-centric approach. The site offers optometry, orthopedics, obstetrics-gynecology, cancer infusion, gastroenterology, podiatry, laboratory services and other care.

And, then there is …

8. The Good. The Ventura Harbor Continues to Improve. The Harbor Village beautification project entered its third phase in 2017 with new seating, new planter areas with palm trees, and artwork, including a map of the Channel Islands inlaid as decorative paving. Additional improvements are planned. In addition, two new hotels were approved for development in the area including The Harbor Cove Inn and the Adventure Lodge.

March for Justice a Success. Thousands gathered in downtown Ventura in January for the March for Justice, a protest organized to coincide with the Women’s March on Washington and hundreds of similar marches around the world.

Kellogg Park Construction. Starting as a community driven project to increase park area on the Westside of Ventura, the City and its partners were able to secure $3.5 of the $4.5 of the funds needed to construct the park through grants and donations. The first phase of the 2.41 acre park features community gathering spaces, an amphitheater, playground area, and outdoor exercise equipment.

9. The Bad. Retired Judge Kills Girlfriend and Himself. Former Ventura County Superior Court Judge Herbert Curtis III, 69 shot and killed his girlfriend Patricia Payne, 54 in a domestic dispute. He subsequently killed himself after officials arrived at his home.

Scamp Passes. Publisher Sheldon Brown’s beloved pet Scamp passed this April(just shy of 15). Dubbed Professor Scamp, Ph.D. (pretty happy dog), he was the inspiration for the Breeze’s Pet Pages and Scamp Club, which are focused on celebrating pets in our City as well as finding homes for animals in need.

10. The Bizarre. Celebrating the Life of an Irish Pig. In March, the locally-famous inflatable pig met his end fittingly, on the street in the 2017 County of Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Known as Pig o’ My Heart and Shamhock, the giant green pig appeared in the parade for 26 years, and was remembered in November in a mass community wake complete with public mourners, pall bearers, bagpipes and of course, libations. A new pig is on its way.

West Ventura Winter Warming Shelter now open

Wonderful volunteers from Ventura County Environmental Health Division are Hannah Edmondson, PHN , Eva Reeder, PHN Manager for Public Health TB and CD departments, Judith Ahara, LVN, Luisandra Salazar, MOA III, Sandra Gipson, Clerical Supervisor I and Beatriz Castillo CHW. Photos by Michael Gordon

The 2017-2018 West Ventura Winter Warming Shelter opened on Thursday December 21 at the Ventura National Guard Armory located at 1270 Arundell Ave. The Winter Warming Shelter provides a safe place to sleep, a hot meal, and shower facilities for homeless persons seeking refuge during the winter months. Homeless persons can enter the Armory at 6:00p.m. every evening and may remain in the Armory up until 6:00a.m.

Ventura County Environmental Health Division was at the shelter providing TB clearance, flu shots and Hep A vaccinations to the clients. They are required to have a TB clearance within 3 days of shelter opening in order to stay. They provided to them the first few days for their convenience. Many have a difficult time getting in to a medical clinic to be seen.

The Oxnard Housing Department and the City of Ventura Community Development Department, together with the office of the Ventura County CEO, are once again partnering with the non-profit Downtown Ventura Organization (DVO), which acts as the shelter’s fiscal agent. The DVO has retained Advanced Tactical Training Institute to operate, manage, and provide security at the shelter.

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to contribute $120,000 to the shelter this year and the cities of Ventura and Oxnard $100,000 each.

Monetary donations to assist the shelter can be made on the DVO website (downtownventura.org) or by calling 641-1090.

The shelter was originally scheduled to open December 15, 2017. Due to the Thomas Fire, the opening was delayed when the armory facility became a staging center for military personnel days after the fire began.

Council chooses election district map

The 2018 election will be for Districts 1, 4, 5, and 6, and the 2020 election Districts 2, 3, and 7.

by Burris DeBenning

Unanimously, at the December 18 City Council meeting, council members voted 7-0 to adopt an electoral district map for the 2018 and 2020 election cycles, which brings the arduous work to change from an “at large” election process to a district election process almost to a close. All that remains is adoption of the ordinance amending the City’s election codes, which may be done by mid-January. The re-districting project spans nearly four years, begun in 2014, and involved dozens of council meetings, public notices, thousands of hours of community involvement, staff dedication and input from a professional election consultant. From 33 maps initially submitted by individual and community organizers, 19 maps were legally compliant, followed by a further narrowing of the field to four maps that council chose from: 11,16,22,23. These maps can be viewed at: www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10830.

With no debate, council picked Map #11, based on the common council perspective that this map keeps communities of interest and geography together. Member Christy Weir, who raised her family in Montalvo, said that Map #11 does not divide Montalvo like some of the other maps. “We always thought of Montalvo as Victoria Avenue to Ramelli Avenue, not divided by Johnson Drive, which is what happens with Map #22,” Weir commented. Member Mike Tracy, who introduced the motion to adopt Map #11, stated that it was important for Montalvo and Pierpont to be in the same district, given their shared socioeconomic and community needs. “We need a map that reminds people that, even though council members will represent their own districts, they still come together to support the whole city,” said member Cheryl Heitmann. Heitmann also said that some neighborhoods like Pierpont are thought to have only wealthy homeowners, but in fact have a lot of renters like the Montalvo area. Member Matt LaVere endorsed Map #11 because it provides a strong Westside, Saticoy and Montalvo. “Map #11 achieves bringing the far ends of the City into council chambers,” said member and former mayor Erik Nasarenko.

Despite the vote, many members of the public spoke to oppose Map #11 and support Maps #22 and #23 that, in their view, represented the City’s Latino vote and community diversity best. Most opponents spoke in the name of CA– USE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy), which focuses on immigrant rights, wage reform and environmental improvement. A teacher with the Ventura Unified School District called Ventura a “wonky L-shaped city” that requires boundaries recognizing demographic similarities. Others spoke of the need to empower disenfranchised blocks of voters, keep the hillsides separate from the working classes and maintain the unique ethnic characteristics of certain neighborhoods. It was argued that Map #11 neglects the predominantly low income, immigrant and renter populations in Montalvo and Saticoy.

In the final evaluation, valid maps had to meet key requirements of the Federal Voting Rights Act (FVRA) and California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). Mayor Neil Andrews thanked the public and staff for exemplary work on this project. The final reading of the new district ordinance is scheduled for the January 8, 2018 council session.

Neal Andrews elected Ventura mayor

His City Council colleagues voted 7-0 for him to be mayor.

After more than 20 years as an active businessman and community volunteer in Ventura, Neal Andrews was encouraged by many citizens of Ventura to run for City Council. He was elected on his first attempt in 2001.

Now 16-years later he has been selected to be Ventura’s mayor by the City Council.

Before founding Horizon Management Services, Neal worked in a variety of capacities with Blue Cross of California, managing their statewide system of contracting for health services and later heading Behavioral Health Access, the corporate division responsible for mental health services to Blue Cross members. He has also been a hospital administrator, chief executive of a regional joint powers agency, and a university professor.

His professional honors include being twice elected to the International Board of Directors of The Planning Forum, then the leading international professional organization in the discipline of strategic planning and management. In addition, Neal has served on the National Leadership Council for the Institute for Behavioral Health, as a Scholar-Diplomat under the sponsorship of the U. S. State Department, as a Fellow of the National Security Education Seminar and the Inter-University Colloquium on Armed Forces and Society.

He is the author of Foreign Policy and the New American Military and many papers and articles on matters of public policy, business, and health care over the years. He is a popular speaker before regional and national conference audiences including such prestigious organizations as The Conference Board, the California Medical Association, and the National Managed Health Care Congress.

Over the years, Neal has also served as the Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties representative on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Health Care Executives Association, as a Member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts, and as an officer and board member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, among others. He is widely known as an active citizen advocate in water quality and water conservation public policy issues in Ventura.

He is a member of Rotary, Kiwanis, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

Neal received his baccalaureate degree from Duke University and his graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He later completed additional post-graduate work at the Michigan State University School of Public Administration and the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

He had been the longest-serving council member to never hold the post of mayor. His colleagues voted 7-0 for him to be mayor. In December 2015, Andrews was named deputy mayor when Erik Nasarenko became mayor. He succeeded Nasarenko at the conclusion of his two-year term.

Andrews stated when the council decides on a policy, “I will be the spokesperson for that policy, even if I didn’t agree with it.”

Andrews went on “I’ll be immediately focused on hiring a new city manager (Mark Watkins is retiring this month)and devoting my energy to redistricting.” The city is creating district boundaries for the upcoming election.

When elected little did he know that his first concern would be the devastating fires that have over -whelmed Ventura.

Council member Matt LaVere, who was elected in 2016, became deputy mayor on a 7-0 vote.

Erik Nasarenko’s parents and sister were in attendance at the city council meeting . He thanked the crowd and spoke of accomplishments of which he was particularly proud. Including getting a half-cent sales tax approved and moving the city to even year elections.

Workshop on renters’ rights at Ventura County Government Center Dec. 27 at 4pm

On Wednesday, December 27, the County of Ventura, in partnership with the City of Ventura, is hosting an informational workshop to help renters understand their rights. The workshop will provide information covering a wide variety of topics including: tenant rights and responsibilities; landlord rights and responsibilities; unexpected rent increases and price gouging; and affects to lease agreements if a housing unit was destroyed or is uninhabitable due to the Thomas Fire. Whether you are a new tenant or about to move house, it is important to know about your rights as a tenant. Tenants rights should be the same for different states in the US, however, if you aren’t sure, doing some research may be a good idea, so you understand what your rights are as a tenant – for more information see california renters rights.

Several reports of price gouging, sudden eviction of existing tenants, landlord refusal to clean smoke and ash in units not directly damaged by the fire, and imposing illegal restrictions on new rentals have been received. However, it is the landlords responisblity to deal with any damage and repairs to caused by the fire or any types of issues that could affect their tenants, this includes getting in touch with companies like these roofing companies austin, california and others parts of the United States has regulations put in place to protect tenants rights. This workshop will address these and other issues and provide an opportunity to ask questions from experts to help protect our residents from unscrupulous activity.

The workshop will be held Wednesday, December 27, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ventura County Government Center, Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza Assembly Room (LPAR), located at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. The workshop is presented in partnership with the California Rural Legal Assistance, Jewish Family Services, CA– USE, the Housing Rights Center, and Many Mansions.

For questions, please contact Tracy McAulay, County of Ventura, at 805-662-6792. Additional information about fire recovery efforts can be found at www.VenturaCountyRecovers.org.

Local Assistance Center in Ventura closing Saturday, Dec. 23

After serving for two weeks as a one-stop center for fire recovery information and assistance, the Local Assistance Center that was jointly run by the County and the City of Ventura will close its doors on Saturday, Dec. 23, at 5 p.m. Residents still seeking services are encouraged to visit the Center by Saturday, or may obtain services after Saturday at existing local County and City offices.

The County of Ventura and the City of Ventura opened the Center on Dec. 13 at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura to assist residents from all areas affected by the Thomas Fire. It has been staffed by a wide array of County, City, State and Federal agencies, as well as a number of non-profit organizations.

“The Local Assistance Center, which has helped 1,968 households to date, has served as a great example of how County and City government can work together to aid our residents across jurisdictions,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers.

Residents have used the Local Assistance Center to start their recovery from the fire. Information is available on debris removal, permits, housing, rental assistance, vital records, property assessments, public assistance, crisis intervention and stress management, and even services such as replacing driver’s licenses. Health care resources are available on site to provide assistance, education, and connections to other health services in the community.

 “The assistance center provided a very useful service as the County and the City and our partners responded to the substantial needs of our community and those most directly affected.   While the use of the center has decreased significantly over the last few days, the City will continue to offer a full array of direct services and assistance to folks at City Hall.  Those that still need help can contact us at City Hall or come to City Hall where we have a fire related service counter established”, said Dan Paranick, Assistant Ventura City Manager.

The Local Assistance Center will remain open on Thursday, December 21st and Friday, December 22nd 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, December 23rd, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The County has also opened Recovery Information Center trailers in Ojai and Santa Paula which will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, Dec. 22.  These two locations offer debris removal and permitting information, public assistance and housing/rental assistance, and connections to Health education, resources and counseling.

“We can continue to serve people effectively and efficiently through our regular channels,” said Barry Zimmerman, Director of the County Human Services Agency, which oversees the Center.   Contact information for agencies that have been present at the Local Assistance Center is attached.

To further aid fire victims, Ventura County Recovers (venturacountyrecovers.org) continues to offer a registration feature that allows residents to register their contact information to receive information on specific topics. They can also register the address of their damaged or destroyed property so that officials can proactively provide them with information and official notices related to the rebuilding process.

United Way Thomas Fire Fund

In response to an outpouring of support, United Way of Santa Barbara County is joining forces with United Way of Ventura County with a joint fund to directly support those individuals and families affected by the fire in both Counties—The United Way Thomas Fire Fund.

Local community partners have determined that the United Way organizations, in both counties, are uniquely positioned and qualified to manage the disaster fund, accept contributions, make distributions, promote the fund and provide a report to the community on how the funds were used. After the wildfire is contained, a committee of representatives from community- and faith-based organizations will be convened to assess needs and allocate money from the fund in Ventura. In Santa Barbara County, United Way of Santa Barbara County will coordinate with local partners such as the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Santa Barbara County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (SBC VOAD) to determine the most appropriate SBC VOAD member organizations and individuals to receive funding, based on the direct need of those affected. United Way of Santa Barbara County may also work to address additional support for individual victims if the wildfire emergency expands into more populated areas.

“The financial and emotional costs of the loss of homes and businesses in Ventura County, including Ojai, is immense and difficult to comprehend,” said Eric Harrison, CEO, United Way of Ventura County. “We will do all we can to ensure a solid path to recovery for our residents.”

To date, $2.25 million has been raised.

Both organizations will utilize the Ventura County systems of donating to the Fund that have already been established. One-hundred percent of the donations will support those in communities affected by the wildfires. Donations can be made by texting UWVC to 41444, online at www.unitedwaythomasfirefund.org, www.unitedwaysb.org or www.vcunitedway.org or by calling 485-6288. Checks may be sent to the United Way office at 702 County Square Drive, Suite 100, Ventura, CA 93003. Please write “Thomas Fire Fund” in the memo.