On Sept.3, at 9:35am, fire units from Ventura City, Oxnard, and Ventura County Fire departments responded to a reported structure fire at Balboa Middle School. Units arrived to find the school in session and being evacuated due to the smell of smoke in a classroom. Upon investigation it was determined that the motor of a roof mounted heating and air-conditioning unit had overheated sending light smoke and odor of electrical burning into a single classroom. The HVAC unit was isolated with the help of school district personnel on scene and no further damage was found. The classroom was cleared and deodorized by fire personnel. No injuries were reported. School district maintenance personnel were on scene to ensure proper repairs to the HVAC unit.
Category Archives: News and Notes
When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water—Benjamin Franklin
Deborah Jordan Ph.D. EPA Deputy Regional Administrator, City Manager Alex McIntyre, Councilman Joe Schroeder, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-26th District), EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava, and were part of the treatment facility presentation
by Sheli Ellsworth
The Sons of the Pioneers recorded the melodic song “Cool Water” in 1962: All day I face the barren waste without the taste of water, cool water . . . . Seventy-five years later, Ventura will face the same challenge. With the current system, demand will outpace the city’s water supply by 30% as early as 2035.
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A recent press conference and tour of the Ventura Water Treatment Facility with Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-26th District) and EPA Administrator Michael Regan introduced Ventura Water’s plan for avoiding the upcoming water shortage. “It’s important to get out from behind the desk in Washington, D.C., and see what’s happening on the ground,” Regan said. “And looking at the innovation and the creativity it takes to develop these aged facilities in a way that can withstand some of the pressures we’re facing today.” Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava, City Councilman Joe Schroeder and City Manager Alex McIntyre also attended the event.
The two-part plan includes: tapping into state water and recovering, treating and reusing water that is currently discharged into the Santa Clara River Estuary.
Sound simple? Ventura Water has been planning and researching for over a decade to make the city’s future water usage sustainable, environmentally friendly and regulatory compliant. They have met with over 25 legislators and lobbyist looking for funding. They have operated a demonstration facility for nine months and have made four annual trips to Washington, DC to meet with Congress members and Senators. They have reached out to the community through facility tours, open house events and received national EPA recognition for their efforts.
Climate change and the worsening drought bode poorly for the future of Ventura County. Ventura County is the “fastest-warming county” in the lower 48 states, Brownley said, referring to a 2019 survey by the Washington Post. August 19 maps from the U.S. Drought Monitor show most of Ventura County in exceptional drought—the most severe category.
Since 1971, the city of Ventura has owned the rights to a 10,000 acre foot a year of water (3.259 x109 gallons) via the California State Water Project. The proposed State Water Interconnection Project would improve the movement water from rainfall-rich Northern California to drier local areas. The seven-mile pipeline to deliver water from Calleguas Municipal Water District systems in Camarillo to the City of Ventura will cost approximately $50 million.
Judge water by its quality, not by its history—Ventura Water
he process of recovery, treatment and reusing water is a complex series of filtration. From sewage to potable water is forward-thinking leap of technology known as VenturaWaterPure. The proposed advanced water purification facility (AWPF) would: biofiltrate, ultrafiltrate, reverse osmose, UV and oxidate treat our wastewater then inject it into groundwater basins like the Oxnard Basin. Extractions would occur as needed and extracted water is “conditioned” before being released to the community at drinking water quality standards. Reuse at its best. The advanced water purification facility needs to be implemented in the next six years to meet water supply needs.
The current plant on Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor, which treats eight to nine million gallons of wastewater per day, was built in 1955 and had has undergone several improvements through the decades. Ventura Water General Manager Susan Rungren said construction on the new facility will begin in November 2023 at a price tag of about $260 million. The Senate-approved trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, which includes funding for water projects, may help fund the project if the House of Representatives passes the legislation.
According to a CNN article by Kieron Monks in 2015, toilet-to-tap is not new although the thought might disgust some. Orange County Water District (OCWD) recycles used water and returns it to the drinking supply and is expanding production to 100 million gallons per day, enough for a third of the population or 850,000 people.
The website southeastasiaglobe.com wrote in 2014 that Singapore began working on recycling water in 2003 and now a third of the waste water produced by its 5.7 million inhabitants is treated. Thirty miles of tunnels transports the sewage from residential areas to huge treatment facilities where about 72,345,000 gallons of “new water” is produced each day.
What about the taste? Researchers at the University of California, Riverside published a study of recycled wastewater in 2018 that focused on the taste. The UCR study asked 143 people to compare treated tap water (IDR) with conventional tap water and commercially bottled water. The waters were presented in similar cups and were unlabeled. After tasting the water, participants ranked the taste, texture, temperature and smell. Mary Gauvain, a professor of psychology at UC Riverside and co-author of the study reported that groundwater-based water was not as well liked as the indirect potable reuse (IDR) or bottled water. “We think that happened because IDR and bottled water go through remarkably similar treatment processes, so they have low levels of the types of tastes people tend to dislike.”
Water is essential for life on earth. Whether or not Ventura is blessed by rain, a sustainable, environmentally friendly way of reclaiming quality water is imperative for each and every citizen.
The time is now.
Ventura County Public Health issues new health order requiring masking indoors
Ventura County Public Health has issued a new health order requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions. This order took effect at 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 20, 2021. Businesses and other public entities had until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021, to comply. The order will be in effect until 11:59 pm on September 19, 2021, or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended by the Health Officer.
“As of today, we reached a rate of 28 cases per 100,000, a 40% increase. I hope that this order will increase mask usage in Ventura County. I expect that this will have a beneficial effect on the increase in COVID-19 infections we are seeing,” said Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin.
The order directs that face coverings must be worn over the mouth and nose – regardless of vaccination status – in all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and workplaces, including but not limited to offices, retail stores, restaurants and bars, theaters, family entertainment centers, conference and event centers, and government offices serving the public.
Individuals, businesses, venue operators, hosts, and others responsible for the operation of indoor public settings must:
- Require all patrons to wear face coverings for all indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status; and
- Post clearly visible and easy-to-read signage at all entry points for indoor settings to communicate the masking requirements to all patrons. Signage is provided by Ventura County Public Health at www.vcrecovers.org.
This health order aims to reduce community transmission of COVID-19. Health officials are concerned by the substantial levels of increased community transmission, especially among unvaccinated people. In part, this is due to the widespread COVID-19 Delta variant, which is substantially more transmissible than previous forms of the virus
More information about COVID-19 available at: www.venturacountyrecovers.org.
Ventura City Fire units dispatched to large vehicle fire
Ventura City Fire units were dispatched to a report of a large vehicle fire at Walker St. & Moon Dr. Fire and police personnel responded and arrived to find a motorhome fully involved with fire. Heavy smoke was visible for a long distance. Two adult occupants and a cat were able to escape from the vehicle unharmed. While they were driving, they noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine compartment and were able to stop and safely exit unharmed.
Ventura City Fire units dispatched to vegetation fire
Ventura City Fire units were dispatched to a report of a vegetation fire in the area of Peninsula St. and Harbor Blvd. Emergency personnel responded and arrived to find a growing fire in an encampment area and nearby vegetation that was best accessed from the southbound lanes of the 101 freeway, south of Seaward Ave. Fire crews made an aggressive attack on the fire and prevented it from spreading to a nearby eucalyptus windrow. The fire was contained and completely extinguished within an hour. CHP units were on scene to assist with needed traffic control on the freeway. The cause was determined to be an unattended cooking fire in the encampment.
Ex-city manager becomes VCTC Interim Executive Director
The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) has named Mark Watkins Interim Executive Director.
Watkins will succeed VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle, who in July was named chief executive officer (CEO) of Metrolink, Southern California’s regional passenger rail.
The Commission reached an agreement with Watkins during a special meeting. Watkins’ start date will be Sept. 7, and he is expected to serve in the position for four to five months while the Commission completes the search for a permanent executive director.
Watkins is a familiar face in local government in Ventura County. Most recently, he was the city manager of Ventura, a position he held for four years before retiring at the end of 2017. Before that, Watkins was the public works director and assistant city manager in the City of Thousand Oaks for several years. A Ventura resident, he is currently president of the Ventura Land Trust Board of Trustees.
Ventura County Supervisor and Commission Chair Kelly Long stated “We look forward to working with Mr. Watkins over the next several months as we search for the next permanent leader of VCTC.”
Watkins thanked the Commission for the opportunity to return to public service temporarily.
“I’m excited to help VCTC navigate through this transition and to keep critical projects and initiatives moving forward without interruption,” Watkins said.
The Ventura County Transportation Commission is the regional transportation planning agency committed to keeping Ventura County moving.
Metrolink expands Ventura County Saturday service
Metrolink has announced the expansion of Ventura County Line Saturday service, adding service to and from three additional stations: Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura-East.
Metrolink launched Saturday service on the Ventura County Line on May 29 with one roundtrip connecting Moorpark, Simi Valley, Chatsworth, Northridge, Van Nuys, Burbank Airport, Burbank Downtown, Glendale and Los Angeles Union Station. The service is made possible from funding provided by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Los Angeles Metro.
The expanded Saturday service will depart the Ventura-East Station at 8:15 a.m. and will arrive at Union Station at 10:07 a.m. The return trip leaves Union Station at 4:28 p.m. and arrives at Ventura-East at 6:16 p.m. Travelers wanting to travel northwest can depart Union Station at 4:28 p.m. on Saturday and return Monday. Metrolink train times can be seen at metrolinktrains.com/schedules.
Travelers to Los Angeles arrive at historic Union Station, where they are just a short walk or Metro connection from destinations including Olvera Street, Grand Central Market, Chinatown, Angels Flight and many other attractions. Families can also stop at destinations along the way, such as the Arroyo Simi Bike Path, CSU Northridge and the Burbank Airport.
“When Metrolink Saturday service first launched from Moorpark in May, we received numerous requests to extend the service to Ventura,” said VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle. “We are excited to add Saturday service to the East Ventura, Oxnard, and Camarillo stations. The extended service will make it easier for more Ventura County riders to explore Los Angeles by train.”
Adults can purchase a $10 Weekend Day Pass that is valid for unlimited rides on Metrolink trains on Saturday or Sunday. And with Metrolink’s Kids Ride Free on Weekends fare, as many as three children aged 17 and younger ride for free with a paying adult, so the new service will offer more affordable connections to summer fun. Paid Metrolink fare includes free transfers to the Los Angeles County Metro bus, subway and light rail system.
The air on all trains is recirculated through antimicrobial air filters that destroy 99.98% of viruses and bacteria. Masks are required on all platforms and trains, and you can ensure you have plenty of space for physical distancing by using the online tool How Full is My Train? Each train car also has two hand sanitizer stations, and cars are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day using hospital-grade products.
More information can be found at https://www.goventura.org/getting-around/metrolink-saturday-service/.
Ventura Fire Department enhances community safety by increasing wildfire defensible space inspections
Fire season is here and if you have not yet completed your brush clearance do it now.
During its regular meeting on May 24, 2021, the Ventura City Council approved the City’s adopted fee schedule and authorized the Ventura Fire Department to begin billing for defensible space and other fire inspections.
Earlier this year Ventura Fire mailed 6,500 notices to city property owners reminding community members to perform fire hazard reduction clearance by May 18, 2021. Beginning August 23, 2021, defensible space inspections and associated activities will be billable according to the City’s adopted fee schedule, effective July 23, 2021.
“Fire season is here and if you have not yet completed your brush clearance to create 100 feet of defensible space, act now for the safety of your community,” said Ventura Fire Marshal Joe Morelli. “Properties with good defensible space stand a better chance of survival during a wildfire.”
Defensible space is the area around a structure, free of flammable plants and objects, that creates a zone in which firefighters can operate safely in order to help protect a home during a wildfire. This space is wide enough to prevent direct flame impingement and reduce the amount of radiant heat reaching the structure. The defensible space for each structure varies and depends on the type of vegetation and topography. Maintaining this defensible space is critical.
In 2021, Ventura Fire’s goal is to inspect 6,500 properties in very high, high, and moderate fire hazard areas of the City of Ventura. This is a 900% increase from the 580 annual inspections previously performed.
The City of Ventura has contracted with Fire Recovery USA, LLC, a third party billing service, to administer billing on behalf of the Ventura Fire Department.
First inspections are billable at $21.00 per inspection, plus associated fees totaling $38.97, per the City’s fee schedule. To avoid additional inspections and subsequent fees, residents can correct violations and email pictures showing compliance to [email protected] before re-inspection.
To find out if a parcel has been approved, please call (805) 658-4709, or send an email to [email protected]. For questions regarding a bill or the billing process, please call (888)-650-5320, or send an email to [email protected].
For additional information on the Fire Hazard Reduction Program, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/FHRP.
Ventura County Public Health issues health advisory urging vaccinations and masking indoors
Due to the current surge, Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) is urging all Ventura County residents that are eligible but have not yet been fully vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible. In alignment with state and federal health authorities, VCPH officials also continue to strongly recommend mask wearing indoors in public places regardless of vaccination status. While Ventura County continues to be aligned with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on masking, which recommends that everyone regardless of vaccination status wear masks indoors, and that requires those that are not fully vaccinated to mask indoors, officials are closely monitoring the current surge in case additional mitigation measures are needed.
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising due to the increased circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant. The latest local case rate has reached 15.5 cases per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of 6%. With these metrics, Ventura County would be in the purple tier in the now retired color tiered framework.
Vaccines remain the most powerful tool against COVID-19 and its variants, including the Delta variant. Nonetheless, the Delta variant is infecting a small percentage of vaccinated people in Ventura County but such vaccinated people remain strongly protected against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. State data reported on August 4, 2021 shows that there have been 688 total cases among fully vaccinated people, a “breakthrough” or infection rate of 0.14%.
Cases in the past month have trended younger with persons 18-29 years of age making up the majority of cases. It is important for all eligible people to get vaccinated especially as school resumes in person and youth under 12 years of age are not eligible to receive the vaccines.
Mask wearing prevents transmission of the virus especially to those most at risk and people who cannot get vaccinated yet for eligibility and other health reasons. People are strongly recommended to wear masks indoors in settings like grocery or retail stores, theaters, and family entertainment centers, even if they are fully vaccinated as an added layer of protection for both themselves and unvaccinated residents. Businesses are asked to expect masking for customers entering indoor areas of their businesses to provide better protection to their employees and customers. Workplaces must comply with Cal/OSHA requirements and fully vaccinated employees are encouraged to wear masks indoors even though no longer required for fully vaccinated employees by the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards. For masks to work properly, they need to completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of your face and around your nose.
People with only one vaccine dose of Pfizer or Moderna are not fully protected. Completion of the vaccine series is necessary to provide full protection. People are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Public Health continues to monitor transmission rates, hospitalizations, deaths and increasing vaccination rates throughout the County and will reevaluate the recommendation as needed in the coming weeks. COVID-19 data can be monitored at www.vcrecovers.org.
COVID-19 vaccines are free for all community members 12 or older.
Vaccination locations can be found at www.vaccines.gov or by calling 800-232-0233.
Appointments can be made at MyTurn.CA.gov or by calling 833-422-4255.
Visit www.vcrecovers.org for more information.
Program helps COVID-impacted veterans become employed in high-demand industries
Veterans experiencing unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic are among the country’s hardest-hit populations. To help veterans who have been impacted, Ventura College’s Veterans Resource Center (VRC) is now offering the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP). Eligible veterans will receive up to one year of U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs-paid training for high-demand occupations and a monthly housing allowance.
To qualify for the Veteran Affairs (VA) program, veterans need to be between the ages of 22 and 66, unemployed due to COVID, not totally disabled and have no other VA benefits remaining.
The VRC will assist eligible veterans in applying for VRRAP and then getting enrolled at Ventura College for the fall 2021 semester with classes starting Aug. 16. Ventura College also offers classes beginning January 2022 to accommodate students’ schedules.
The college’s VRRAP students will have a choice of 23 certificate of achievement programs, including accounting, automotive technician, construction management and the new veterinary assistant program.
VRRAP veteran students and all military-connected students—including active duty and dependents of veterans—are supported by the VRC. The Center helps students navigate the college’s enrollment process, links them with educational benefits, and connects students with academic counselors and financial aid specialists. As an advocate for military students, the VRC provides information, holds special events and offers a location for students to work, study and mingle.
“It’s rare that the VA introduces new educational funding programs. Having Ventura College be a VRRAP provider is important because it specifically addresses the needs of our veterans who have been so greatly impacted,” said Jordana Ybarra-Telias, VRC program coordinator. “I hope to see more VA programs like VRRAP that provide a housing allowance to make it easier for veteran students to focus on school without worrying about how they will pay rent as they invest in their futures.”
“Ventura College is honored to support our veterans, and this new program will help them gain knowledge and skills to increase their employability,” added Ventura College President Kim Hoffmans. “Veterans and their families have made great sacrifices for our country, and this is one way for us to demonstrate our gratitude.”
In March, the VA enacted VRRAP as part of the American Rescue Plan of 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package designed to help individuals and businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic.
“As a member of the California Community Colleges Veterans Caucus, I appreciate how VRRAP will not only help Ventura College students, it will also help our community’s economic recovery,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie.
Ventura College offers several VA programs and other educational funding resources from federal, state and local entities. Students can access the college’s Zero Textbook Cost program and other resources to help with educational expenses.
For more information about VRRAP at Ventura College, contact Ybarra-Telias at (805) 289-6060 or [email protected], or visit venturacollege.edu/departments/student-services/veterans-resource-center