Santa Paula Blog

Tickets are still available for Friday night's event at the new Limoneira Mercantile. Details on the event can be found here or by calling the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce at 525-5561.

There is an Op-Ed article by me discussing The Mill in today's Ventura Star

http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/opinion/article/0,1375,VCS_125_3414167,00.html

1. The City is delaying second reading of an ordinance which would
change the zoning of a portion of Santa Paula Memorial Hospital's property
to allow for residential development. The second reading is being
continued to January 18, 2005 to better allow the timing of the zone change
coincide with the approval of the proposed reorganization plan for the
Hospital by the Committee of Unsecured Creditors.

2. Staff is recommending approval by the Santa Paula Redevelopment
Agency of a $1,000 sponsorship for the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce
"Moonlight at the Mercantile" event New Year's Eve at the new Limoneira
Mercantile.

3. Staff is recommending approval by the Redevelopment Agency of hiring
Graphic Solutions, Inc. of San Diego to begin development of a brand for
Santa Paula.

4. The Council will be considering approval a 50 unit affordable
apartment complex at 622 E. Main Street.

There is a great article in today's Los Angeles Times talking about the Mercantile and Limoneira's high opinion of investing further in Santa Paula:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-limoneira19dec19,1,3558605.story?coll=la-headlines-california

The City of Santa Paula received notification today that $500,000 of
housing rehabilitation funds have been reserved for the City by the
California Department of Housing and Community Development CalHome program.
This funding is part of $30 million made available by the State this year
to local public agencies through competitive applications to assist in the
operation of housing programs for persons and households of low or very low
income. The application for CalHome funds this year was the first time the
City had applied for State housing rehabilitation funds. The City received
the maximum amount available to a local agency.

These funds will help the City of Santa Paula and Santa Paula Redevelopment
Agency provide loans to rehabilitate ten homes over the next three years.
The CalHome funds will be used to augment the City's existing housing
rehabilitation program. Over the last eighteen years, the City's housing
rehabilitation program has successfully rehabilitated 52 housing units
totaling $791,000 in loans. These monies have been provided by Federal
Community Development Block Grant funds. Housing rehabilitation loans are
used to correct code violations and to make general improvements to homes
and property which may include correction of health and safety hazards,
correct deterioration of a structures and some approved exterior
improvements.

The award of the CalHome funds is the latest achievement of a new
initiative started this year by the Santa Paula City Council and
Redevelopment Agency to increase resources for the creation and
rehabilitation of affordable housing in Santa Paula.

Vice Mayor Cook brought this article to my attention in the December issue
of Governing Magazine. Governing is the top state and local government
monthly magazine in the country.

http://www.governing.com/archive/2004/dec/hlthbrfs.txt

The Downtown Business Association requested an update on the Paseo project
for their meeting this morning. I thought it might be of general interest:

In May 2004, a contract for architectural services was granted to Leach
Mounce architects to complete the improvement drawings for the Paseo
project. The original project included front and rear façade improvements,
public restrooms, atrium, and paseo (walkway) from Main Street to South
Alley.

In July, the project was expanded to include the façade improvements at the
Mupu Grill. This required revision of the contract with the architect and
changing priorities to meet various deadlines. The project was divided
into two phases, with the first phase including the front façade work on
the Paseo and Mupu Grill. The second phase included the tenant
improvements of the Paseo, completing the remainder of the project.

Delays in the project stem from various sources, including architectural
design and engineering design of the Mupu façade, meetings with the Mupu
building owners on various design review, and approval requests.

The first phase was due to go out to bid this month, but additional
requests by the Mupu Grill owners for design changes may delay bidding
until January 2005. We hope to start construction by March on the first
phase.

The second phase plans are near completion. The project should go out to
bid in March, with construction starting in May.

The City and Downtown Merchants Association holiday cookie contest Saturday
night was a great success. Twenty-four entries were received. The
winners:
1st Place: Janet Grant, Santa Paula - Toffee Bars
2nd Place: Susan Medina, Santa Paula - Chocolate Dipped Macaroons
3rd Place: Estela Ramos, Oxnard - Christmas Coconut Cookies

The City of Santa Paula's Youth Basketball season will start on Saturday,
January 8th. There are 435 boys and girls between 1st through 12th grade
participating. With having 54 teams participating in our leagues, the City
will be utilizing the Santa Paula High Schools Boys Gym and the Boys and
Girls Club facility from 9 am - 6 pm for games.

The City Council tonight directed the City Attorney to commission a "peer
review" of an economic report commissioned by Centex Homes which
demonstrates that the impacts of the proposed Fagan Canyon development will
have sufficient economic impacts on real estate in the entire Santa Paula
community that will allow Councilmembers Gabino Aguirre and John Procter to
no longer have a conflict on the project based economic impacts specific to
the location and property interests in their own homes. If a peer review
of the Centex commissioned report comes up with the same findings, the City
would then submit this information to the California Fair Political
Practices Commission (FPPC) and ask that they issue an opinion that
confirms these findings and allows Aguirre and Procter to participate in
the review of the Fagan Canyon project.

A reader of the blog wrote in yesterday asking about what could be done about the smell at the City's existing wastewater treatment (sewer) plant. The City Council met tonight and heard a report on the City's plans to build a new treatment plant near the existing plant site. The City is required by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region to construct and open a new plant by September 15, 2008. The new plant is currently under design and in the midst of its environmental review process. About the smell at the current plant, the plant's operator, ECO Resources, Inc. reports that smell complaints are down and after questioning by me tonight reported that there is nothing structurally wrong with the plant that should be causing unusual odor.

So, with that said, if folks smell something, please call the Santa Paula Public Works Department to complain (805-933-4212) or ECO Resources at the plant directly (805-933-2712). Best to call when you smell, rather than waiting a few days. Hope this helps.

The Santa Paula City Council tonight offered a $500.00 reward for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) responsible
for vandalism to trees on Main Street in Downtown Santa Paula. Over the
past few days, five trees have had their trunks shaved of bark and one tree
was heavily sliced by a knife. According to the City's arborist, one tree
is likely to die from its damage and three trees stand only a 50% chance of
surviving. Individuals with information about this vandalism are
encouraged to contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME or on the Internet at
http://www.wetip.com. Individuals may also contact the Santa Paula Police
Department Anonymous Tip Line at 805-933-4253, extension 1.

This morning, Santa Paula PD conducted searches of seventeen residences in
an on-going effort to reduce gang activity and drug trafficking. SPPD was
joined by State Parole, Ventura County Adult and Juvenile Probation and
officers from five other agencies in conducting these searches. Six
individuals were arrested for violation of their parole and other charges.
The searches are a part of an on-going effort by Santa Paula Police to
reduce the ability of gang members with the sales and use of controlled
substances in Santa Paula.

United Way of Ventura County and the City of Santa Paula will be hosting a
presentation on Wednesday December 15, 2004 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the
Santa Paula Community Center, 530 W. Main Street, to inform Santa Paulans
and all residents of the Santa Clara Valley about the new 2-1-1 telephone
number that will enable everyone in Ventura County to access vital social
services in their community. 2-1-1 is sponsored by a partnership of United
Way of Ventura County and Interface Children Family Services to bring 2-1-1
to Ventura County. One call to 2-1-1 will offer access to information
regarding health and human services such as basic needs (food, clothing,
shelter), physical and mental health resources and support for the elderly
among other services. For further information about the event, contact
United Way of Ventura County at 485-6288, ext. 234 or the City of Santa
Paula at 933-4200.

The public new hours for the Community Development Building as approved as
part of the budget reallocation last week by the City Council will begin on
Monday, January 10, 2005.

The new hours will be Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 12 Noon and 1:00 PM
to 5:00 PM, except on Wednesdays when the Building will be closed to the
public at 11:30 AM for the remainder of the day.

Last night, the City Council elected Mary Ann Krause Mayor and Richard C. Cook Vice Mayor for a one year term.

On Friday, Councilmember John Procter was elected Vice Chairman of the
Ventura County Transportation Commission. He is expected to be elected
Chairman when the Commission Board re-organizes in February, 2005.

Tonight, the Santa Paula City Council will be swearing in newly re-elected
Councilmembers John Procter and Ray Luna as well as City Treasurer Sandy
Easley. Also to be sworn in tonight is new City Clerk Josie Herrera. The
Council will also reorganize and select a new Mayor and Vice Mayor. The
other item of interest on tonight's agenda is the proposed re-zoning of
land adjacent to the Santa Paula Memorial Hospital from Institutional to
Residential. The meeting will be held at the Santa Paula Community Center,
530 W. Main Street.

Tomorrow (Tuesday 12/7), the East Area 1 Master Plan Oversight Committee
will meet in the City Council Chambers at 6:30 PM. Their agenda can be
found at:
http://www.ci.santa-paula.ca.us/docs/120704_eastarea1.pdf

Wednesday (12/8), the City Council meets again at 6:30 PM in the City
Council Chambers to get updates on the operation of our existing wastewater
treatment plant, plans for the construction of the new plant and a report
on issues regarding the control of chemicals in the wastewater by
developing new controls at our water sources.

The City Council last night directed staff to return to the City Council in January with actions to implement the following adjustments to the FY 2004/05 budget:

Addition of three Fire Captain positions.

Elimination of 0.5 Secretary (Building and Safety - Vacant); Accounting Technician (Finance); Police Cadet (Police-Vacant). In addition the City Council directed staff to eliminate the paid-call
Firefighter classification and create the position of Fire Reserve. These changes will allow for the staffing of Fire Station 2.

Reclassification of Senior Planner to Associate Planner (Vacant) and of Maintenance Worker III to Custodian.

Other miscellaneous cuts were agreed to including the elimination of 4th of July fireworks, the Community Services Activity Guide, reduction of public hours in the Community Development Building and shifting of Police vehicle maintenance to Public Works.

The City Council left a balance of $115,591 in remaining funds from these changes to be allocated in the future.

The full accounting of the changes can be found on our website:
http://www.ci.santa-paula.ca.us/docs/2004-05%20Budget%20Reall_FINAL.pdf

Note: Two new exhibits open this Sunday, Dec 5, with a reception from 1 to
3 PM. You are invited - see below!

Santa Paula High School students will open a new history exhibit entitled,
"Remembering Korea: Heroic Sagas of a Forgotten War," this Sunday, December
5, 2004. Refreshments will be served and everyone is invited. There will be
a special program at 1:30 PM. The students have gathered stories,
documents, and photos from veterans and their families for presentation in
this historical exhibit. This is the tenth original exhibit of history or
art presented by Santa Paula High School students at the Museum since 1999.
This program is funded by a grant from the Timmons Foundation.

On the same day, the new exhibit of "Santa Paula Memories" will open
featuring community memorabilia from the archives of the Santa Paula
Historical Society. These exhibit items showcase the people, shops, and
businesses prominent in Santa Paula in the last century. This will be the
sixteenth new exhibit presented by the SPHS at the Museum. The Society was
the first community group to exhibit at the Museum in 1997.

The Museum's Annual Special Gift Campaign has already received $1,425 in
the first two weeks of this fundraising effort. Appreciation is extended to
all of the supporters of this annual fall fundraising campaign for the
Museum. The generous gifts of our Donors help fund the Museum's programs
and operations.

Renewing Museum Members this month: Wayne & Diane Culberson (Camarillo) and
Harry and Leslie Leavens-Crowe (Santa Paula). Tour groups last week
included Ambler Tours (25) from San Diego and Pinecrest School (25) from
Thousand Oaks.

The attendance during the last week was 148; 93% of the Museum visitors
were from out-of-town and 7% were from outside California. Out-of-state
visitors came from El Salvador, Hungary, England, Arizona, Oregon, Idaho,
Wisconsin, and Washington. --- Mike Nelson, Administrator, (805) 933-0076,
info@oilmuseum.net

Rotating Exhibits:

Remembering Korea: Heroic Sagas of a Forgotten War ? to Feb 20

Santa Paula Memories (Santa Paula Historical Soc) ? to Mar 20

Revolution in Racing: Vintage British Grand Prix Motor Cars ? to Dec 19

Insect Fossils (Ventura Gem & Mineral Society) ? to Mar 20

Permanent Exhibits:

California & The Age of Petroleum

The 1900 Cable-Tool Drilling Rig

The Lundgren & Bennett Gas Pump Collections

Great California Gas Brands

The 1890s Offices & The 1930s Apartment

The City of Santa Paula is having a holiday cookie contest as part of our
annual Holiday Community Celebration on Saturday December 11, 2004 at the
Santa Paula Depot, 963 E. Santa Barbara St. The celebration will include
caroling, bell ringers and general good time. The event is from 5 PM to 8
PM.

Those interested in participating in the cookie contest should drop off one
dozen cookies at the Depot between 5:00 PM and 5:45 PM that Saturday
evening. Judging (by a panel of holiday cookie experts) will begin at 6:00
PM. 1st prize is $100 grocery store gift certificate; 2nd prize $50 and
3rd prize $25. For further information, please contact the City of Santa
Paula at 933-4200.