Groundwater Sustainability Agency vote on April 21st

By Logan McFadden

At the Camarillo City Council meeting on April 8th, help a representative from the Camrosa Water District asked the Council to send a letter supporting the District’s water management application. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors will vote on April 21, 2015.

At issue is the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). Ventura County is also applying to manage the Santa Rosa Basin water. Camrosa Water District is seeking to exclude Ventura County. The representative stated that granting a voting seat on the GSA board to Ventura County would hamper the management of the water district by adding another level of management.

Camrosa Water District encompasses an area of about 31 square miles in the southern portion of Ventura County. The District is surrounded by the Cities of Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks. The District serves more than 27,000 people and delivers more than 14,400 acre feet of water each year (3 acre feet equals one million gallons). Camrosa delivers potable water, non-potable surface water and water reclaimed at its Water Reclamation Facility. 27% of District water by volume is delivered to Camarillo.

Since the vote on April 21st will take place before the Camarillo City Council meets on April 22nd, Councilmember Jan McDonald suggested that the City send a letter to the Board of Supervisors requesting that the vote be delayed. This would give the City the opportunity to place GSA on the April 22nd agenda and take comments from the public.

Camrosa–Santa Rosa Water Basin –Desalter

The Council agreed unanimously to send a letter requesting a short delay. The City attorney will determine whether Mayor Bill Little of City Manager Bruce Feng should sign the letter.

As reported in a related CitizensJournal article,HERE the City Council voted unanimously to reorganize the General Services and Human Resources departments and passed a resolution amending the Classification Plan and Sections 2.9.7 and 2.10 of the Personnel Rules.

The following was read into the minutes. Closed session Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation. Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9; Number of Cases: One

The Council voted unanimously to restrict the use of parking spaces at electric vehicle charging stations located in the Metrolink train station parking lot. The chargers will be Level 2 models which fully charge batteries in 2-4 hours. The Council also approved two other charging station locations in the City.

California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin requested support for the establishment of an Engineering Program at California State University Channel Islands. The request was for a letter of support with no City funds. Vice Mayor Mike Morgan stated that the community is short of engineers and typically 80% of graduates stay in the region. Local engineers also stay longer with an employer. The Council voted unanimously to forward a letter.

Janice Feingold addressed the Council urging the City to place a resident on the Ventura County Civil Grand Jury. The jury does not hear criminal cases. The Grand Jury is the people’s watch dog for issues of city and county government including libraries, jails, hospitals, school administration, water districts and city administration. The jurist will learn about local government and serve from 7/1/15 to 6/30/16. The commitment is 15-30 hours per week. The position pays $25.00 per day plus mileage. More information is available at http://www.ventura.org/grand-jury. April 24th is the application deadline.

A resident of Lamplighter Mobile Home Park spoke of her frustration with the park owner, Investment Property Group (IPG). Rent increase notices are not being mailed on a timely basis to allow the tenant 30 days to respond. The City’s Rent Review Board will meet on April 24th. Resident Matt Lorimer spoke and stated that the Board needs a massive overhaul. The Board serves as a non-binding arbitrator. The City Council voted down a request for mobile home park rent control at a previous meeting.

Matt Lorimer again complained about the city police department paying overtime to provide security for the Outlet Mall. He cited payroll costs of $4,200, $4,400 and $5,800 in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. Mr. Lorimer feels that the city should bill the Outlet Mall for the “private” security patrol.

Matt Lorimer praised the City for building the Rancho Campana High School near the Camarillo Public Library. The new school opens in the fall and will reduce overcrowding at Adolfo High School. Also, students will no longer be bused to Newbury Park High School.

A resident questioned the status of the Ventura County mosquito control program. The City Manager will talk to Vector Control. The resident also lodged a complaint about Motel 6 hotel guests. Guests frequently gather on the hotel parking lot and climb over a chain link fence to come onto private residential property. The resident stated that she has reported this activity to the police department. Also, the homeowners have no privacy as the fence between the homes and Motel 6 is not screened. Mayor Bill Little asked the City Manager to check into the conditions of approval in effect when the motel began operating on the site. Also, the City will look into the possibility of screening the fence to provide privacy.

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Logan McFadden is a Citizensjournal.us city reporter and a recently retired banker, residing in Camarillo. He volunteers for the Heritage Action Sentinel team and serves as the AMAC Delegate to the 26th Congressional District and a Convention of States District Captain.

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