Meeting Summary
Present: LaVere, Parvin, Lopez, Gorell
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Aviation Advisory Commission Appointment
- Doug Tauber was recommended for appointment based on his 31 years of experience as a pilot and flight instructor.
- One board member abstained from the vote due to a campaign contribution from a related entity.
- The motion to approve the appointment passed.
General Services Agency Purchasing Authority
- The Board considered increasing the purchasing agent's authority to enter into agreements exceeding $200,000.
- The motion to approve the increased authority passed with three votes in favor.
- Two supervisors abstained from the vote on this item.
California Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Week
- Supervisor Lopez presented a proclamation designating the week of January 30 through February 6 as CalEITC Awareness Week.
- A VITA representative outlined volunteer efforts, site locations, and projected refunds for the upcoming tax season.
- The Board unanimously approved the proclamation.
Healthcare Foundation Employee Giving Program
- The Board reviewed the 2026 "We Give" Employee Giving Program annual campaign for the Healthcare Foundation of Ventura County.
- Presentations highlighted the program's goals and the fiscal challenges currently facing the healthcare agency.
- The motion to approve the campaign recommendations passed unanimously.
Healthcare Agency Behavioral Health Facilities
- Staff presented site plans for the Crisis Stabilization Unit and Psychiatric Urgent Care Facility at Lewis Road and Church Street.
- Clarification was provided that the two facilities will be adjacent with a short walk between them but will not share a common wall.
- The Board approved finding the projects categorically exempt from CEQA and accepted funding agreements totaling over $34 million.
Public Works Emergency Repairs
- The Board ratified emergency contracts for road and bridge repairs on Reeves Road, Frazier Road, and Old Telegraph Road following winter storms.
- Staff noted that some repairs are temporary measures pending permanent solutions and regulatory approvals.
- Public comment addressed the necessity of immediate repairs and concerns regarding long-term erosion solutions.
- The motion to approve all three emergency repair items passed unanimously.
Barlow-Barranca Emergency Repair Project
- The Board received a report on the stabilization of a failed channel section following December storms.
- The project cost was stated as $157,212 and was found exempt from CEQA under the emergency repairs exemption.
- The motion to receive and file the report passed unanimously.
Emergency Permit Fee Waiver Resolution
- The Board considered a resolution to waive application fees and trust deposits for private property owners conducting emergency watercourse repairs.
- The resolution extends the permitting period for these repairs until March 31, 2026.
- Public comment supported the fee waiver and discussed the timeline for necessary repairs.
- The motion to adopt the resolution passed unanimously.
Correspondence
- The Board moved to receive and file correspondence items.
- The motion passed unanimously.
Closed Session
- The Board entered a closed session to discuss agenda items 42 and 43.
- No announcements, motions, decisions, or vote outcomes were recorded during this segment.
Full summary
Board Member Reports and Announcements
- Board members provided updates on recent activities, including attendance at the Economic Development Collaborative annual meeting, the MLK Day of Service, the Local Agency Formation Commission meeting, and community events such as the Simi Valley YMCA groundbreaking and the California Fish Grill ribbon-cutting. Updates were given regarding cybersecurity threats, the appointment of a new chair for the Local Agency Formation Commission, and the installation of the Canoe Simi Moorpark Association of Realtors president. Additional reports covered a grand jury protocol visit, a public hearing on federal offshore drilling, the MLK Freedom March, the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year announcement, the Gold Coast Health Plan Commission meeting, and the formation of a healthcare coalition to address HR1 impacts. Tributes were offered to William Bill Terry and Alex Preddy. Comments addressed the importance of local healthcare facilities, the "We Give" campaign, and the need for emergency permit fee waivers for creek repairs.
Employee Service Recognition
- The Board recognized 21 County employees for reaching continuous service milestones of 25, 30, and 35 years. Honorees were acknowledged from the District Attorney's Office, Probation Agency, Public Works Agency, Human Services Agency, and Healthcare Agency. The presentation noted a total of 580 years of combined service among the recipients.
Community Recognition and Proclamations
- The Board observed a moment of silence to honor three deceased community members: Dr. John Stephen Hook, Robert Velasquez, and Diane Ayun. The Thrive Grove Navigation Center in Thousand Oaks was recognized, with representatives from the City of Thousand Oaks present to highlight the facility's impact on homelessness.
Agenda Modifications and Levine Act Disclosure
- Chair Grell made a Levine Act disclosure regarding Item 14 on the Consent Agenda, noting a $2,000 donation received from a benefactor of the item. Consequently, Item 14 was pulled from the Consent Agenda to be considered as a regular agenda item. Chair Grell recused themselves from deliberation and voting on this specific item.
Consent Agenda
- A motion was made to approve the Consent Agenda, consisting of Items 9 through 13, 15 through 16, and 18 through 29, with Item 14 removed. The motion was seconded. The Consent Agenda passed unanimously.
Item 14: Aviation Advisory Commission Appointment
- A recommendation was presented to appoint Doug Tauber to the Aviation Advisory Commission, citing his 31 years of experience as a professional pilot and flight instructor. A motion was made to approve the appointment and was seconded. One board member announced an abstention from the vote due to a campaign contribution received from a related entity. The motion passed.
Item 14: General Services Agency Purchasing Authority
- This item concerned an approval to increase the dollar amount for the purchasing agent to enter into agreements in excess of $200,000. A motion to approve the item was made and seconded. The motion passed with three votes in favor; two supervisors abstained.
Item 33: California Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Week
- Supervisor Lopez presented a proclamation declaring the week of January 30 through February 6 as California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) Awareness Week. A representative from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provided details on the upcoming tax season, including volunteer efforts, site locations, and projected refunds. A motion to approve the proclamation was made and seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 32: Healthcare Foundation Employee Giving Program
- The Board considered the approval of the Healthcare Foundation of Ventura County's 2026 "We Give" Employee Giving Program annual campaign. A presentation was given on the program's goals and the fiscal challenges facing the healthcare agency. A motion to approve the recommendations was made and seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 17: Healthcare Agency Behavioral Health Facilities
- The Board reviewed a recommendation regarding the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and Psychiatric Urgent Care Facility (PUF). Presentations included site plans for the Lewis Road campus and the Church Street location, detailing renovations and new construction. Questions were raised regarding the physical connection and staff synergy between the CSU and PUF; staff clarified that the buildings would be adjacent with a short walk between them but would not share a common wall. The request was to find the Lewis Road Mental Health Rehabilitation Center and the East County Psychiatric Health Facility categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and to accept funding agreements totaling over $34 million. A motion to approve staff recommendations was made and seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Items 34, 35, and 36: Public Works Emergency Repairs
- The Board considered three items regarding emergency road repairs following winter storms:
- Item 34: Ratification of an emergency contract for Reeves Road repairs, including rock riprap and roadway reconstruction.
- Item 35: Ratification of an emergency contract for Frazier Road and a low-water crossing, involving temporary rock placement in a scour hole.
- Item 36: Ratification of an emergency contract for the Old Telegraph Road Bridge, addressing scour protection and traffic restrictions.
- Staff presented on the scope of work, noting that some repairs were temporary pending permanent solutions and regulatory approvals. Public comment was received regarding the necessity of the repairs and concerns over long-term erosion solutions. A motion to approve staff recommendations for all three items was made and seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 37: Public Works Receiving File Report
- The Board received a report from the Public Works Agency regarding the Barlow-Barranca Emergency Repair Project, which involved stabilizing a failed channel section following December storms. The report requested the Board receive and file the report and find the project CEQA exempt under the emergency repairs exemption. The total project cost was stated as $157,212. A motion to approve the staff recommendations was made and seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 38: Resolution Adoption
- The Board considered a resolution to waive application fees and trust deposits for private property owners conducting emergency repairs on jurisdictional watercourses following recent storms. The resolution extends the permitting period to March 31, 2026. Public comment was received regarding the necessity of the fee waiver and the timeline for repairs. A motion to adopt the resolution was made and seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 41: Correspondence
- The Board moved to receive and file correspondence. A motion was made and seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Public Comment
- Public comment periods were held for various agenda items. Speakers addressed the Board regarding emergency permit fee waivers, the need for resources to support creek repairs, recent violent incidents, and the importance of the Healthcare Foundation. A resident from La Conchita requested the suspension of a year-round evacuation warning and called for a comprehensive review of geological data. Another speaker advocated for increased Sheriff's Department enforcement regarding e-bike safety near schools. Regarding Item 34, a representative for a property owner acknowledged the need to expedite construction but requested the opportunity to work with county staff on a long-term, durable solution for chronic erosion, citing concerns that current emergency repairs might be a temporary fix.
Closed Session
- The board proceeded to enter a closed session regarding agenda items 42 and 43. No announcements were made during the closed session. No motions, decisions, or vote outcomes were recorded in this segment.