Santa Paula Blog

The City be holding a public meeting to receive input on qualities needed in our next police chief on Tuesday, June 28 at 6:30 PM at the Depot (10th and Santa Barbara Streets). The City is has hired an executive recruiter to assist with the recruitment and he will be present to get feedback on the qualities needed in Santa Paula's next police chief.

There will be two major events in Santa Paula for the 4th of July:

From 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, the City and the Odd Fellows Lodge of Santa Paula
will sponsor a pancake breakfast at the City's historic train depot.
Tickets are $4.00 pre-sale and $5.00 at the door. Pre-sale tickets are
available at the Santa Paula Times, Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce and
City Hall. There will be a short program at 10:30 AM including the annual
reading of the Declaration of Independence.

The annual fireworks show will be at 9:00 PM at Harding Park. There is no
charge for the fireworks display which is sponsored by the City of Santa
Paula and the generous contributions of Santa Paula businesses.

There have been lots of televised meetings lately. In order to play them each back twice and fit in the new live broadcasts, here is the television schedule for Channel 10 over the next few weeks. All broadcasts are at 6:30 PM unless otherwise noted:

Thursday 6/23 - Council Meeting of June 20 (6:00 PM)

Sunday 6/26 - Council Meeting of June 20 (1:00 PM) Fagan Canyon EIR meeting at approximately 6:00 PM

Monday 6/27 - Council Meeting (LIVE)

Tuesday 6/28 - Council Meeting of June 27 (4:00 PM), Park Master Plan Meeting at approximately 6:30 PM

Wednesday 6/29 - Fagan Canyon EIR Meeting

Thursday 6/30 - Council Meeting of June 27 (6:00 PM)

Tuesday 7/5 - Council Meeting (LIVE)

Wednesday 7/6 - Park Master Plan Meeting

Thursday 7/7 - Council Meeting of July 5 (6:00 PM)

Monday 7/9 - Council Meeting of July 5

Wednesday 7/13 - Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting on Fagan Canyon EIR (LIVE)

Thursday 7/14 - Joint City Council / Planning Commission Meeting on Fagan Canyon EIR (6:00 PM)

Monday 7/18 - Council Meeting (LIVE)

Tuesday 7/19 - Council Meeting of July 18 (4:00 PM)

Wednesday 7/20 - Joint City Council / Planning Commission Meeting on Fagan Canyon EIR

1. Announcement of 4th of July Fireworks Task Force. The City will be
posting signs at all City Limit entrances indicating all fireworks are
illegal in Santa Paula. City will also have an undercover Police and Fire
task force to cite unlawful use of fireworks in the City.

2. Public hearing on increase in sewer and refuse rates.

3. Agreement with the Santa Paula Rotary Club for donation of fountain
and other improvements next to St. Francis Dam Memorial. Total value of
improvements over $95,000.00.

The City's 2004 water quality report is now on our website (PDF).

Info on the 38th Annual Santa Paula Citrus Festival food contests can be found on the festival website.

The City will be holding a community meeting to receive comment on a new City Park Master Plan on Wednesday, June 22 at 6:30 PM at the Santa Paula Community Center. This master plan helps determine needs in the community for existing and new parks. For further information, contact the City's Community Services Department at 933-4216.

The Fagan Canyon Draft EIR will be released at a public meeting on Tuesday, June 21. For further information on the environmental review process, see our website.

The Powerpoint presentation made to Council Monday night on the budget can be found in PDF format on our website.

Heritage Park Villas at March St. & Dean Dr.: Storm drain construction is due to start next Monday, followed by the new sewer main installation.

Santa Paula Airport Levee Reconstruction: Phase 1 of the levee reconstruction is the emergency replacement of eroded areas and, has begun. This part of the reconstruction will be completed in less than three weeks, so that the Airport can reopen. Phase 2 includes the bank protection and is currently in design stage at the County Watershed Protection District, with a target date of completion no later than December 31, 2005.

Caltrans Overlay Project: Highway 150 was overlayed from the railroad tracks north to Royal Oaks Pl. The contractor will be performing clean up work on the water valves and sewer manholes, which were damaged during the grinding phase of this project.

Street Tree Program: This project is re-bidding on June 22, 2005. The bids from the first bid opening on February 16, 2005 were rejected due to unmet Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirements.

Las Piedras Park Restrooms Upgrade: This project is nearly complete. The Contractor is working on punch list items.

Community Drop-off Event: The next event is scheduled for July 30, 2005 Residents of Santa Paula are encouraged to bring large bulky items such as sofas, appliances, and mattresses to the City facility located at 600 South Palm Avenue for proper disposal. The facility will be set up to accommodate traffic flow in a one-way pattern. Areas will be designated for items requiring special handling such as refrigerators. Areas will also be designated for metal and yard waste.

Streets Division: The Streets crew is continuing spring weed abatement work in the public right-of-way throughout the City.

Water & Wastewater Master Plans: These plans are nearly completed and under review by City staff.

The proposed City budget for next year is out. The best summary of the budget is the City Manager's transmittal letter. This letter can be found on our website here in PDF format.

The City's Solid Waste Division will be testing a new solid waste
collections truck. For the next two days the vehicle will be placed on our
residential solid waste collection route to evaluate performance. The
truck is white in color and does not have any City logos on it. FYI.

The Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 1019 Honeywood
Court at 0839 Saturday morning, June 4. The attached garage was fully
involved on Engine 81's arrival, and all members of the family were out of
the house. Firefighters were able to protect the neighboring residences
and confine most of the fire to the garage, although there was extensive
smoke and heat damage throughout the house. Responding to the call were
four SPFD engines with a total of 16 firefighters, two chiefs, and a fire
chaplain. In addition, 4 county engines and a battalion chief were
dispatched for mutual aid. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Damage to the structure was estimated at $150,000 and contents at $20,000.
There were no reports of injuries to civilians or firefighters. Chaplain
Vindel assisted in obtaining from Red Cross temporary housing assistance
for the family at the Glen Tavern Hotel. The Police Department handled
traffic and crowd control, and the Building and Safety Director responded
to assist with the safety assessment. The house is posted unsafe for
occupancy at this time.

1. Joint meeting of City Council and Planning Commission for final
consideration of land use approvals for 76 unit housing project on land
formerly owned by Santa Paula Memorial Hospital.

2. Adoption of FY 2005/06 City Council Goals

3. Revisions to City's False Alarm ordinance.

FYI: Streets Division will be doing more paving work on Palm between Santa
Barbara & Santa Paula, tomorrow, Thursday June 2, and Friday June 3. The
entire block will be closed to traffic on Thursday from 7:00AM to 4:30PM,
local schools and school buses were notified.
The southbound lane will be closed on Friday from 7:00AM to 3:30PM.