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Ventura’s Water security requires investment now

Susan Rungren Ventura Water General Manager.

by Susan Rungren

Did you know Ventura is one of the largest cities in Southern California to rely solely on local water supplies? Rainfall feeds the Ventura River, Lake Casitas, and local groundwater basins to meet all the water needs of our community.

Water is at the core of our identity and the future of its security is in jeopardy. Although our community’s conservation efforts have reduced water use by 20 percent, Ventura’s rain-dependent water supplies remain vulnerable to future droughts.

Additionally, results of ongoing litigation will likely limit or reduce the amount of water the City can withdraw from the Ventura River, which currently accounts for roughly 20 percent of Ventura’s water supply.

Groundwater—which supplies more than half of Ventura’s water— is expected to continue to decline due to recent regulations.

To maintain essential services and protect our water resources, Ventura must continually invest in our water and wastewater systems. Investments will allow us to improve water quality, replace old pipelines and aging infrastructure, meet regulatory requirements, and secure water supply for the future.

The City has a two-pronged approach to address our critical water supply challenges: recycle the water we already have, and access additional water supplies through the State Water Project.

The VenturaWaterPure Project will help us keep the water we already have. Currently, 8 to 9 million gallons of treated wastewater from the Ventura’s Water Reclamation Facility is discharged into the Santa Clara River Estuary each day. This is water that could be better used for our community.

This initiative will divert treated wastewater to an advanced purification facility where it will be purified to drinking water standards and injected into local groundwater basins. This approach will provide a new, drought-resistant water supply, offering up to an additional 3,600 acre-feet of water per year, representing approximately 23 percent of the City’s existing supply.

VenturaWaterPure will use an advanced water purification process to produce safe, high-quality drinking water. This purification technology is currently used throughout California, in other states, and internationally. VenturaWaterPure will address Ventura’s water needs by provide a reliable, sustainable water supply.

The City currently holds an entitlement from the State Water Project but cannot currently take direct delivery due to a lack of infrastructure to deliver that water. The State Water Interconnection Project will enable Ventura to access the water we have had rights to since the 1970s. A new 7-mile pipeline will allow Ventura to tap into its State Water entitlement, addressing anticipated cutbacks in existing local supply sources. Additionally, the pipeline will enable deliveries between regional agencies during emergencies.

These critical investments, while costly, will offer lasting water security for our community. Currently, the City is undergoing a Water and Wastewater Rate Study to ensure sufficient revenue is available to operate and maintain our existing systems and to invest in these forward-looking projects. Rates must be continually reviewed and adjusted to repair and replace aging infrastructure, meet regulatory needs, improve water quality, and secure water supply.

In Ventura, water and wastewater rates have remained low compared to neighboring communities. It has been nearly three years since Ventura Water has increased rates. Results of the recent rate study has shown that an annual rate increase of 7 percent for water service and 6 percent for wastewater service is needed over the next five years. For the average homeowner, this adjustment will amount to an average annual increase of $7.76 to a monthly bill, for the next five years.

Rate increases are rarely convenient, but now is the time for us to invest in our water and wastewater systems. Deferring project costs, improvements, and upgrades comes at a high price. Safe, clean, and affordable water is vital to life, the local economy, and our community. We hope that our ratepayers, businesses, and policymakers will continue to partner with us to ensure a sustainable and resilient future for our community.

More information on the Water and Wastewater Study is available online at www.VenturaWaterRates.net.

KPPQ-LP 104.1 CAPS Radio Rockin’ and Rollin’ in Year 4

CAPS radio personalities informing Ventura.

KPPQ-LP, the vibrant radio division of CAPS Media launched in 2017 has grown steadily in a few short years to become one of the most engaging and go-to sites in Ventura. The station broadcasts 2/47 everyday at 104.1 FM, and streams worldwide on capsmedia.org and myTuner. Week in and week out KPPQ-LP member/producers create innovative and engaging programming in their homes, delivering a wide variety of programs to KPPQ-LP for distribution.

KPPQ-LP local producers include Nadine Piche, Kathleen Good, Craig Rosen and El Camino High School students. The DJs feature interviews and stories with local organizations on topics that include the Ventura County Library system, STEM programs at local schools, local artists, the Bike Hub, Surfrider and youth poets. Music disc jockeys Pam Baumgardner, Mark Levitt, Kevin Wallace, Doc Ventura and Shaun Kinsey produce engaging music shows featuring a broad range of musical genres.

KPPQ-LP CAPS Radio is also a great place to find information about the emergency services available in our community. During the current pandemic, every Friday and Saturday morning at 11, KPPQ-LP broadcasts recaps of Ventura County’s weekly VC Recovers COVID-19 updates.

KPPQ is the place to share your love of music or passion about the people and features of Ventura County. Everyone interested in learning more about KPPQ-LP including how to become a DJ, can contact Elilzabeth Rodeno, KPPQ-LP managing director and creative force at [email protected]. Elizabeth will set up a time for online training in order to get your voice on the air on KPPQ-LP Ventura. And, if you have an important event to announce or want the community to learn about your organization send a note to Elilzabeth Rodeno for distribution on KPPQ-LP .

KPPQ-LP FM 104.1 is Ventura’s publics radio station. It belongs to you. We are here to get your voice and your story out to the community. KPPQ-LP may be small in stature, but the reach is powerful: KPPQ reaches nearly 100,000 people right here in Ventura.

The entire CAPS team congrates Ventura City Council member Erik Nasarenko for his recent appointment to be the new District Attorney for Ventura County, selected by the Ventura County Supevisiors to be the new District Attorney for Ventura County. At CAPS we have had the pleasure of working with Erik for the past 7 years as Deputy Mayor (2013-15), Mayor (2015-17) and most recently as District 4 representative. We all greatly appreciate his collaborations with us and his dedication and strong leadership for our community.

Erik’s departure creates an open position on the city council for District 4, (which is roughly east of Victoria and north of the 126 freeway).

The council is in the process of reviewing applications for candidates to represent District 4 and is on schedule to appoint a new council member by February 25th. Everyone at CAPS look forward to working with the new representative along with her or his colleagues on council: Mayor Sofia Rubalcava (District 1), Deputy Mayor Joe Schroeder (District 7), Lorrie Brown (District 6), Jim Friedman (District 5), Doug Halter (District 2), and Mike Johnson (District 3).

Due to the COVID-19 emergency the CAPS Media Center is closed to Members and the public until further notice. CAPS Member/Producers can submit programming via the online portal at capsmedia.org for broadcast and streaming on CAPS public access television Channel 6 and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1FM.

All of us at CAPS Media hope everyone is Staying Safe and Healthy during these challenging times.

Cypress Place Senior Living partners with Vons Pharmacy to administer COVID vaccines

Lily Duarte, Director of Wellness for Cypress receives a dose of the vaccine from Vi Nguyn, Pharmacy Manager.

by Richard Lieberman

Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura has partnered with Vons Pharmacy to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents and staff at the senior living center. The vaccine clinic took place at the center on January 26, 2021. In compliance with state regulation the center was able to offer its residents, who must be seventy-five or older in compliance with state regulations for “first tier” group. As part of the U.S Government’s Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term care communities will have access to the vaccine over the next several weeks in the first phase of distribution.

Director of Wellness at the center Lily Duarte, after receiving the vaccine said, “It felt like the beginning of a new road.” Duarte a fourteen-year veteran at the center. “This has been an amazing experience, it has been a long time coming,” added Duarte. “We are happy to be on the forefront of protecting our residents and staff members and bring our community back to a sense of normalcy.”

Gina Salman and Chai Nguien Manager and Pharmacist at Vons’s.

Executive Director, Gina Salman was thrilled at being able to offer to long term residents the first round of vaccinations. “Today represents hope for my staff and residents. We had planned this for weeks and giving the vaccinations and finishing it is a representation of hope and, we have talked about a reflection of gratitude, this experience has been difficult, but it really made us think about what we are grateful for and how much we really have. The Director and staff members and residents have voiced feelings of happiness and relief. Staff and residents have been extremely patient which I am grateful for.”

“Thank goodness we have been so incredibly fortunate and appreciative of the support we have gotten from the Vons’s pharmacy; they support our flu clinic every year and they have pulled through for us and we are eternally grateful.” Said Gina Salman.

Chai Nguien is a pharmacist for Vons and helps in coordinating vaccine events and she works closely with the department of health of Ventura County in setting up these types of events. “We currently have the Moderna vaccine, sometimes we even have extra doses” she said. “I think we are all doing our best right now and I think we are doing a good job, this is new for everybody from the county, state and federal level.” She added.

Access to the COVID-19 vaccine adds another preventive measure bolstering the center’s commitment to the safety and well being of residents and employees. Cypress remains open offering its services to seniors who may need their services.

The senior community also continues to provide informative seminars to the public at large, all done virtually due to Covid-19.  The next seminar, titled  “Moving Made Easy – Dealing With Downsizing” will he held on February 18, 2021 at 1:00pm.   

Ventura County Leadership Academy announces new board member

Ventura County Leadership Academy recently announced the addition of Darren Kettle to its board of directors.  “Our board is comprised of a dedicated team of community leaders committed to strengthening our county. We’re excited to have Darren join the board, bringing his knowledge, passion, and expertise to further our mission.” said Brad “Brick” Conners, Ventura County Leadership Academy’s board president.

Darren is the Executive Director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), a position he started in October 2007.  In his service to VCTC, Darren leads a team of transportation professionals focused on improving transportation planning, making data driven decisions to ensure the smart investment of transportation funds on transportation projects, ranging from freeway and highway projects to bicycle and pedestrian projects and bus and rail projects. Darren has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, San Bernardino.

VCLA was founded in 1994 and delivers on its mission of “connecting people and issues to strengthen our county” by developing, educating, and inspiring a diverse group of leaders who aspire to enhance the quality of life in Ventura County.

For more information about Ventura County Leadership Academy please contact Pattie Braga via phone: (805) 797-3985 or email: [email protected]

Providing a treatment facility/continuum of care for those with serious mental illness in Ventura County

Mary Haffner is on the Ventura Behavioral Health Board.

by Carol Leish

The mission statement of the Ventura County Behavior Health Department is: ‘To provide the highest quality prevention, intervention, treatment, and support to persons with mental health issues.’

Mary Haffner, a Ventura resident, who has been on the Ventura Behavioral Health Board since April, 2015, stresses the importance/need for more inpatient beds here in Ventura County. She said, “Right now, as one of the only large California counties with no effective plan to divert seriously mentally ill people away from jails, no assessment and attendant plan for the appropriate number of acute and subacute beds and supportive housing needed, we are implementing in the dark through a system uninformed by data and assessment. What we have is piecemeal and disjointed resulting in fiscally irresponsibility and poor health outcomes.”

In 2005, Ventura County began receiving millions of dollars from Prop. 63 earmarked for people with serious mental illness. According to Haffner, “This money was received for the purpose of implementing programs and erecting facilities to help ensure that so these illnesses would not become more serious and disabling, to help alleviate the cycle of homelessness, incarceration, and hospitalization. For a population of 843,000, one 36 bed public inpatient psychiatric unit, one 16 bed locked Mental Health Rehabilitation Center (MHRC), one 15 bed unlocked MHRC, one 30-day, a 16 bed Crisis Residential treatment center and 45 slots of adult residential treatment housing for people with serious mental illness is woefully deficient and does not represent a long-term, health outcome-based, and fiscally responsible strategy.”

According to Haffner, “People with serious mental illness are often arrested for committing crimes and infractions they would not have committed if they had received treatment for their illness. There is no place for them to go once released either from jail or mental health court. We don’t provide enough or adequate housing. Homelessness and/or reincarceration or re-hospitalization are inevitable without these supports.”

“Effective crisis service, psychiatric beds, inpatient step-downs, best practice treatment, housing and post discharge supports from acute care facilities and jails are all lacking,” according to Haffner. “Ventura County has no effective diversion programs or initiatives aimed as keeping people with serious mental illness out of jail. Ventura County has only 36 public inpatient psychiatric beds and 4 Crisis Support Unit chairs for a population of 845,000. Santa Barbara County, a county with 400,000 fewer residents, just opened 80 beds, which brings their total to 96. Vista del Mar has 55 beds. But Vista del Mar is a private facility who can choose who they admit. A determination regarding, ‘budget neutrality,’ that’s important to the CEO of Ventura County, must include an analysis of the costs of failing to provide these in demand services.”

Providing prompt and effective treatment for people living with these serious illnesses is important. Haffner said, ‘Budgets cannot by accurate if we do not also factor in the costs associated with not providing the appropriate level of care. For the population that lives with serious mental illness, our failure to provide treatment and facilities is costly. We need to be able to take an honest look at what is needed, generate a plan, and then work to fill these gaps. Other counties are doing this.”

But it is not enough just to have the beds and the facilities. Haffner said, “We need a continuum of care for this population, which would include: a promise to provide best practice treatment; appropriate staffing; effective outreach and engagement; post-discharge supports; and, appropriate housing in our communities, not out of the county. And, we need to do so in the most effective and efficient way possible.”

Girl Scouts has kicked off the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie season

The Girl Scout Cookie Program has long taught girls how to run a business.

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has kicked off the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie season nationally, during a challenging time when many Girl Scouts are selling in creative, socially distant, and contact-free ways to keep themselves and their customers safe. Even in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, girls are adapting their sales methods to share the joy of Girl Scout Cookies through the largest girl-led entrepreneurship program—including taking contact-free pickup and delivery orders through a new national collaboration with Grubhub. Additionally, GSUSA is making online cookie ordering available nationwide on February 1 so consumers who don’t know a Girl Scout can still purchase cookies from a local troop for direct shipment to their homes or donation to local organizations.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program has long taught girls how to run a business via in-person booths, door-to-door activity, and the Digital Cookie® platform online, which GSUSA launched in 2014. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the middle of the 2020 season and girls were faced with the same challenges as other small businesses, girls in the Central Coast quickly pivoted their sales methods. From marketing their cookie businesses online to facilitating orders that ship directly to customers’ door, girls as young as five years old are continuing to embrace their entrepreneurial spirits, stay connected to their communities, and have fun by participating in the cookie program. And, the proceeds from each and every purchase stay local with the troop and its council to power Girl Scouts’ essential leadership programming.

For all locations and their corresponding business hours, visit www.girlscoutsccc.org for more information. As always, the proceeds benefit the troop and council while providing another innovative way to safely run the cookie program virtually. GSUSA is grateful to Grubhub for waiving all fees for the organization to make this new delivery option feasible for sales without reducing troops’ and councils’ proceeds.

This year, Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast will offer the new Toast-Yay!™ cookie, a French toast–inspired cookie dipped in delicious icing and full of flavor in every bite. Toast-Yay! gives consumers a new way to celebrate moments of joy alongside other favorites, like Thin Mints® and Caramel deLites®. And though social distancing measures may keep families and friends apart, cookie customers can share joy and stay connected this season through a gift-box option that ships directly to others via the Digital Cookie platform.

Girl Scout Cookie season is recognized in the Central Coast through March 14, 2021. Consumers can support Girl Scouts by purchasing Thin Mints®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Shortbread ®, and more in a few different ways:

If you don’t know a Girl Scout, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org, text COOKIES to 59618 (message and data rates may apply. Text STOPGS for STOP, HELPGS for help), or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app for free on iOS or Android devices to find cookies in your area.

Our Ventura TV features introduction to COVID-19 Vaccinations

Dr. Lissa Barger, Dr. Nessa Meshkaty and Host Sandra Siepak at Our Ventura TV.

Dr. Lissa Barger and Dr. Nessa Meshkaty, Infectious Disease Physicians with Oceanview Medical in Ventura, recently joined Our Ventura TV host Sandra Siepak for a discussion on the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines available in Ventura County.

They shared more on how the vaccines work, offer protection, their long-term effects, safety and advice during COVID-19. With safety being the priority, Dr. Barger and Dr. Meshkaty also discuss and encourage continued use of masks and social distancing to slow COVID-19’s spread. “Our discussion answers many important questions about the vaccines and how we can all better protect ourselves during the pandemic,” explained host Sandra Siepak.

The Our Ventura TV interview with Dr. Lissa Barger and Dr. Nessa Meshkaty is available online at www.ourventura.com. Our Ventura TV is an award- winning weekly talk show broadcast on Ventura Cable Channel 6 TV and also published online as well as on social media networks. To become a guest and for more information on the program go to the website and click “contact.”

A timeless piece of architectural and Pierpont history

Starkly beautiful geometric lines make this award-winning home unique.

by Amy Brown

It was the 1960s, and Bud and Eunice Koch of Arcadia owned a modest family summer beach bungalow on a lane in Pierpont. The Ventura Freeway had only recently been expanded, further putting Ventura literally and figuratively on the map in new ways. Homes were just beginning to be built on the sand in the area, and when a beachfront lot became available, the Kochs purchased it. They soon launched the idea of their dream home, made possible with help of family friend in Arcadia–and Bud’s fellow Dartmouth alumnus–well-known architect James G. Pulliam. Pulliam was famous for commercial designs, and some residential projects, featured in Pasadena, Beverly Hills and the campus of Cal Poly Pomona, all with a signature geometric style. Pulliam went on to greatly influence mid-century modernism throughout Southern California.

The culmination of their partnership in 1971 was a beautiful home at 1094 Driftwood Lane, with symmetrical, imposing, square lines and a wall of glass windows looking out to the ocean. “Just look for the house that looks like a Chinese puzzle,” was how the Koch family would help first-time visitors find the beach house. Once someone had seen it, they wouldn’t need it described again. The unique home went on to be recognized for architectural design distinction, and was featured in the 1973 LA Home Magazine, and in 1974 received an Award of Merit by the American Institute of Architects for excellence in the design and execution of architecture.

“It was so unusual at that time—there were only a few beachfront houses sprinkled along the sand,” said daughter Marjo Gardner. “Now it doesn’t stand out quite as much, but it was pretty noticeable in late 1970s!” Gardner remembers the feeling one would have when first walking into the house, with the living room right on the sand, with wall-to-wall windows, especially back then, before the beach was later built up.

Eunice and Bud loved Ventura and were active in the community. Eunice was particularly involved, engaged in supporting organizations from the American Association of University Women (AAUW), League of Women Voters, Ventura County Women’s Political Council, Friends of The Library, to the Ventura County Symphony League, C.A.S.A program of Interface, Ventura Education Partnership, Camerata Pacifica, and the Ventura Botanical Gardens. In 1978, she and Marjo opened Voila! Coffee Beans on Thompson Blvd, which for years, according to the family, was the only coffee bean shop between Santa Barbara and Santa Paula, in that pre-Starbucks era.

Adela Trainor, the realtor currently representing the home, which is now in escrow, shared that this distinctive house has stood the test of time and is unique among the other homes in the area, which range from little beach cottages to the ultra-modern.  “People say they love the character when they come through to see the house, many of them in the entertainment business from Hollywood, it’s just been fascinating,” said Trainor. “They appreciate it just the way it is, original. Someone even asked if the sellers would be interested in filming there, since it’s so unique to a time period.”

Bud passed away in 1991, and Eunice in January of 2020 at the age of 94, but they leave behind a lifetime of contributions to the community, including the legacy of a timeless piece of post-modern Ventura architectural history.

VCAAA offers online nutrition courses and counseling for older adults

Start eating healthy in 2021.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Nutrition Program is offering free nutrition counseling and classes to Ventura County residents as part of an effort to promote healthy living among older adults. All classes and counseling sessions are currently being held over the phone or online and are free to participants.

Nutrition counseling services and classes include personalized one-on-one or group online settings with a registered dietitian and a focus on healthy eating on a budget, understanding food labels, managing weight loss, controlling diabetes, controlling high blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, enhancing bone health, and variety of other individualized concerns.

Registration is now open for classes beginning in January, including a special series for the New Year. Counseling session availability varies. Participants must be 60 and older.

To learn more about the Senior Nutrition Program, counseling sessions, or to register for a class, please contact the VCAAA at (805) 477-7300 or visit www.vcaaa.org.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

Ventura County Leadership Academy announces new board members and leadership

The Ventura County Leadership Academy recently announced the addition of Bob Harrell and Flossie Hall to its board of directors and named new officers of the board. “These leaders bring unique insight and a passion for our community that will be beneficial to VCLA,” said Brad “Brick” Conners, Ventura County Leadership Academy’s board president.

Bob Harrell is a Financial Planner with Independent Capital Management. He is the past chair and director for the Camarillo Rotary Club and a Community Advisory Member for the Camarillo Healthcare District.

Flossie Hall is the Co-Founder of The Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs. She has volunteered extensively with the Student Veterans Association, MCCS Miramar Food Locker and the Travis Manion Foundation.

New board appointments include Brad “Brick” Conners, City Manager for the City of Port Hueneme, as president, Steve Elson, Ph.D., CEO Emeritus for Casa Pacifica, as treasurer, and Rudy Gonzales, Government Relations Manager with Southern California Edison, as secretary.

VCLA was founded in 1994 and delivers on its mission of “connecting people and issues to strengthen our county” by developing, educating and inspiring a diverse group of leaders who aspire to enhance the quality of life in Ventura County.

For more information about Ventura County Leadership Academy please contact Pattie Braga via phone: (805) 797-3985 or email: [email protected].