Board of Supervisors — September 16, 2026

Have any other questions though? Do you have a question?

No, actually I really do appreciate our staff working with my office all of our offices to ensure we understood what the changes were and really appreciate getting this moving forward. I'm very very thankful. I know there's more to do but this is a great start

It is. Supervisor

Levin? Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to echo that. I think as we talk about wanting to make our process simpler for our customers, there's a lot of things in here which are a great start in terms of kind of downshifting on some of the CPU or CUP to PD And similar things in this, I think it's a great start. And I know this is a much bigger project but again baby steps and we're moving in the right direction. So thank you for all the work that went into this.

Thank you Supervisor McPherson.

Right? I mean there's no speakers. I think everyone was just in support that contacted me. This is great. I'm so excited about what the county is doing. Thank you so much. We've been heard. So thank you.

For me it's the opposite of last item. There aren't any, I'm going to close the public hearing and appreciate the work. Good work all of you in the department closing the hearing. Motion.

Thank You Madam Chair My comments are as follows. I attended the Area 805 Innovation Center site visit and the Housing Trust Fund Raise the Roof campaign with supervisors, so I will not comment more. I was honored to be able to join uniformed and civilian personnel on the morning of September 11th at the Ventura County Fire Department headquarters in Thousand Oaks honoring the lives of those lost and the heroes that emerged on September 11th It was a great moment of remembrance to share with all of them and just really in such a moving time to bond, to reflect and to be thankful for the liberties and the freedoms that we have here. So I wanted to share that.

Congratulations to Thomas Hunt. He's our new General Services Agency Director. He started with the county in May of this year as the deputy director and as the previous director retired, you know his leadership has really just shown through. And we're really excited for the ways that he will strengthen the general service agency which really is the backbone of so many of our facilities it touches almost every facility every agency that we have so a huge congratulations to him and look forward to working with him more Ventura County Medical Center, their family medicine residency program was ranked number one in California and number two in the nation.

That is a huge honor so really want to say congratulations to them for earning this prestigious ranking by proximity and just say thank you to all of those On the ground floor, behind the scenes on the front line at VCMC to make this happen. We know that is a team that makes our program one of the top tier ranking training programs for residents not only in California but also in the nation.

Yesterday, September 15th marked the beginning of National Latino Heritage Month. This is a time to recognize and honor the contributions culture and history of Latino community. The observance also highlights the deep roots in vibrant traditions that continue to enrich us right here in Ventura County. Next week we will have our second annual disability summit.

It will be September 23rd to the 26th at the Crowne Plaza in Ventura. This event will bring together advocates, families and community leaders to discuss resources and policies that support equity and inclusion for people with disabilities. There are different tracks they'll be discussing disaster preparedness peer mentoring housing crisis intervention and more so Encouraging folks to come out.

And then lastly we talked about it, we had a presentation but just want to make sure I also add that the Ventura County Fire Department in partnership with the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging will be hosting the 2025 Fall Prevention Forum on September 26 from 8 to noon and that'll be at the fire department headquarters in Thousand Oaks Of course, September is Fall Prevention Awareness Month and this event is free. It provides educational speakers. There'll be balance activities, health assessments and resources to help older adults prevent life-altering falls.

Space is limited so they're asking everyone to pre-register and if you just go online to the fire department's website there's a cool flyer here and the QR code that you can scan from your phone to register. Thank You Madam Chair that concludes my comments Thank you, Supervisor

Lopez. Thank you, Chair. It's been a few couple of weeks now starting with the celebration for Labor Day. I attended the annual Central Coast Labor Council picnic. There were a number of big representatives, including the AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, the California Federation of Labor Unions President Lorena Gonzalez, UFW President Teresa Romero, Excuse me, the International Association of Firefighters Secretary and Treasurer Frank Lima who is a county resident. The former U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Hsu and the California State Building Trades President Chris Hannan so it was a really big gathering in South Oxnard and they were there to volunteer to help Serve meals to those in attendance. So I'm really glad to have participated there.

I also attended the SCAG Regional Council meeting where the big focus was around the LA-28 Olympics, and I know that there's been conversations that have already started here about the county's involvement and presence in making sure that we play a role as a county in this big event along with other events that will be coming to the area. I attended the Clean Power Alliance board meeting and we voted to formally invite the City of Fillmore to join CPA. So, the next steps include the city adopting an ordinance to join CPA and then the process begins to create the implementation plan and hopefully If the city moves forward with it, then they would begin receiving clean power by 2027 and that will bring Ventura County as a whole to be a member from cities to the county being members of CPA.

So I think that's really great news. I attended the Housing Trust Fund annual event, Raise the Roof. So it was just really good gathering. I know a number of community leaders and county officials were there. And then on September 5th, I attended the grand opening of the Dolores Huerta Gardens where she was also present to cut the ribbon and this project It includes 58 units for farm workers and veterans in Ventura County. So I just want to congratulate Curbu Economic Development Corporation and county, and everyone who made this project possible. It's beautiful. It's a beautiful site.

On September 9th, Rose Avenue Elementary School held a ribbon cutting for the new building, the new school site. And again just really great to see the new school and this was actually the first school I attended here when I arrived from Mexico in kindergarten. And last week, the Mexican Consulate held a reception for a new art exhibit which is Héroes Anónimos or anonymous heroes. And there were artists present just really good some really nice pieces of art held there.

I also attended last night the celebration of the Mexican Independence Day, which is today. And it was an event that took place at Ventura City Hall with the Mexican consulate and other electeds. And some upcoming events I wanted to share includes the California Coastal Cleanup, which is on September 20th. One of the sites will be in South Oxnard at Ormond Beach starting at 9 a.m.

until 12 p.m., there will be seed planting, plant removal, beach cleanup, bird watching and resource booths with the Merito Foundation so encourage everyone to come out to the beach and help out. And on Thursday, September 25th there will be a tsunami preparedness community meeting at the Channel Islands Beach Community Room from 630 to 830 p.m. in Silver Strand so I look forward to being there as well and there will be presentation from the Office of Emergency Services on preparation notifications updated signage And on the last event coming up is September 27th, the Port of Wainimi's 12th Annual Banana Festival.

And with that I do have a list of people I request we adjourn in memory of but I wanted to bring attention to one specific member of the community in Oxnard, Carol Beck Flores who was a lifelong resident of Oxnard. She passed away on August 23rd. She was an educator and administrator for more than 40 years She touched thousands of lives of students and families in the Oxnard Elementary School District, Wainimi School District and the Rio School District as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Oxnard. She was a trusted mentor to many and leaves behind an enduring legacy of guidance compassion and leadership. And I had the opportunity to engage with Carol as a member of the Oxnard Sister City Committee so I send my condolences to her husband Bruce back who was married to Carol for 26 years.

Thank you, Chair. Supervisor LeVere?

Thank you Madam Chair and Dr. Johnson mentioned it but that those 9-11 ceremonies are always incredibly powerful and I was able to join the firefighters at Station 23 in Oakview on the morning of the 11th and I just wanted to thank the fire department for always making The effort to bring, we had several members of the community there even though it's 645 in the morning but it's always a great way to remember all the lives lost on 9-11 particularly almost 400 first responders who gave their life that morning. And then last Sunday, we had our Ventura County Healthcare Foundation Ronald McDonald walk the Walk for Kids. And there are hundreds and hundreds of people showed up to State Beach in Ventura, was able to hang out Dr. Johnson a little on a Sunday morning but it's just another wonderful event and I want to congratulate the foundation and Amy Towner for all that work they do supporting the Ronald McDonald House which we all know is so incredibly important to Ventura County residents.

And then lastly, I would ask that we adjourn in honor of those on the list I provided to the clerk. I want to call out several of them one being Alan Bonner who was a United States Army veteran Douglas Morton who was a United States Army veteran and who then went on to serve the community for many years as a police officer with the Ventura Police Department John Brooks who was a long time journalist and then in retirement became really a beloved activist in the Ohio Valley. He's one of the founders of Seafrog, and a driving force behind the Ohio Valley Family Shelter which serves homeless residents in the Ohio Valley but just really dedicated his life in retirement to serving the community and was as I said really beloved especially in the Ohio Valley.

And then lastly, Brad Halverson who was a United States Army veteran passed away last week at the tender age of 39 of a heart attack. A reminder just how precious life is but Brad was a longtime member of the Nordhoff music family. He was an accomplished musician and became a really beloved contractor in the Hawaii Valley His family has been so involved at Nordoff in the music and drama department for many years.

His dad is on the Ohio Unified School Board, Dr. Jim Halverson and his mom Robin, his sister Jenna really just one of the upstanding families in the Ohio Valley. And it was a tragic loss at such a young age. So we're thinking of the Halversons during this difficult time. Thank you.

Thank you Supervisor Long

Thank you, a lot of great events going on. One thing I do want to say is congratulations to the Santa Paula Union School District for their Building and Construction Academy. ROP is so important teaching the trades and so really do appreciate Everyone who put that together. Also, I'd like to just congratulate on the Dolores Huertas garden grand opening and that is just such a beautiful build and the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation and our CEOs housing team for their excellent work it was it was beautiful to see Attended the Interface Children and Family Services Hope & Light fundraiser event. I just want to say thank you to so many people who made donations, they raised over $450,000 for their 2-1-1 and all their programs and as we know Many of the nonprofits are really hitting the cuts right now from the federal side, so I just wanted to say thank you.

Also congratulations to Richard Hunt and Craig Hodgson's for their years of dedication serving our regional defense partnership our advocacy with cities county veterans businesses to really advocate for our Navy base is so essential especially In today's world, and they've just dedicated their service for free to do the good work. Also attended the CSUCI presidential transition event. Congratulations to Dr. A for becoming the interim Channel Islands president and thank you to the outgoing President Dr. Yao for everything he did in advance the university's mission. I also met with the CHP Captain Premisario to discuss safety issues affecting the 3rd District with 118 and the 126. I would also like to just thank him for his service.

We also met with City of Fillmore, Caltrans, VCTC, also discussed the safety issues on the 126 And there'll be more to become in November from Caltrans. So very, very excited about that. And so that was good. I also just wanted to make a note. I attended the Charlie Kirk visual last night and there was over 300 3000 people. I just want to really say thank you to Sheriff Fryhoff for attending And speaking about hate crime and how that is not appropriate anytime.

And also to really remind people to not be threatening people, to not be putting things in writing that you would not send your mother or your friend. To really think twice before threatening anyone about anything, because we should be compromising. We should be talking about things and discussing and being civil and moral with each other. And I think in today's world, we need to remember that. And so it took that to heart last night. Many have said they do it but they don't.

And I just want to make sure that everyone is really being appropriate so. That's my big push and then also I'd like to just adjourn with those in memory on this list that I serve to the clerk of the board, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In the interest of time I'm just going to do one and one. One thing that's happened already and one thing coming up. Last Saturday we organized the Somos Road cleanup and staff and community leaders got together when we filled more than 60 bags of trash along that we collected from along Somos Road with a special thanks to Athens, to Harrison, to Somas School and Villanova school who sent out about eight or nine students to come down and help us out it was great We had over 20 maybe 25 people there is fantastic turnout.

One thing coming up is tomorrow night, September 17th. I'm having a Zone Zero Town Hall hosting that Wednesday at the Ventura County Fire Department headquarters in Newberry Park starts at 530. We're also going to stream that on YouTube but it will have panelists there including the representatives of the Board of Fire Street I met with a local constituent as

And I learned from him first hand about the dangers of this opioid and as well as the dangers of nitrous oxide. And it's readily available also in stores near you. Kids can actually get it as well so and again, it's addictive. It's horrible and I'm really glad that our doctors brought this forward. We also attended the quarterly economic vitality meeting where a number of ideas were shared including the upcoming Olympics and the importance of collaborating with all districts and agencies across the county I had the pleasure of being the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Simi Sunset, provided an update on the county as well as highlights of what's going on in District 4. Participated in the monthly Moorpark Chamber of Commerce Government Relations meeting.

Participated in the Economic Development Collaborative Executive Committee meeting where we authorized the president to sign approval of various grant agreements. I presented a certificate to the third annual Simi Valley Film Fest to last month's moment of inspiration Joseph and Katie participated in the area 805 meeting where we received an update on the collaborative efforts of local stakeholders who also toured. And we also toured their innovation center site.

I participated in the VCTC meeting where we had with many of you approved amendment to the comprehensive transportation plan received a transportation emergency preparedness plan and a rail safety update. And a rail corridor update was all about transportation. Participated in the Moorpark Simi Valley Chamber Networking Breakfast. Participate in ribbon cuttings for Sunray Adult Daycare Healthcare, Sedora Carnelian Learning Place and celebrated the 25th anniversary of Vision Windows and also a ribbon-cutting at The Hive.

I also participate in the Blue Mass service at St. Rose of Lima Church in Simi Valley. Not sure what I want to cut in there for just a second and say, you know, I know a lot of people are very angry right now. There are a lot of people saying some pretty awfully mean inappropriate things but the fact that I went to a church and had some very inappropriate comments written, I just want to share that we need to be nicer. We need to be nicer to each other and start trying to be more united I also volunteered for registration at the For The Troops golf tournament as well as the Boys and Girls Golf Tournament. I participated in the air pollution control meeting where we adopted resolutions to accept community air protection funds, and the funding of agricultural replacement measures for emission reductions from the California Air Resource Support.

I know many of you went to these two that's why it's like I'll just hit them all. I participated in the monthly Ventura Council of Governments meeting where the Ventura County Emergency Services Director Patrick Maynor shared a presentation on the role of elected officials in disaster preparedness and response. It was a very good presentation. We participated in the Simi Valley Teacher of the Month and presented a certificate. Congratulations to Larry Soderlund from Apollo High School.

I spoke and presented a certificate at the Waste Management Ribbing, or WM, that's their new name. We've been cutting upon opening of their new renewable natural gas project, creating a more sustainable environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Dr. Johnson was also in attendance so it's really special and incredible investment that they've made in our county.

I met with the Metropolitan Water and Cayugus Water Boards to discuss the Delta water project and other water projects around the county. I also attended a 9-1-1 memorial at Fire Station 41 in Simi Valley, we had donuts at our event. That's real motivation for me to show up at 645 in the morning aside from the fact that I can't they'll never be forgotten. Those firefighters met with Edison to discuss the general rate case, and I want to thank everyone that came to my latest blood drive. We had 52 spots filled. So we got a lot of blood. It was actually a really successful event.

I also presented a certificate to Adventist Health Simi Valley upon their 60th anniversary. I'm almost done. Almost done. I also attended the Simi Valley Filipino Catholic Community Groups Town Festival. That was an amazing event, I wasn't sure what to expect but there was a lot of dancing and you know they actually dance for the ice cream man? They actually have a dance for that it was incredible and you get ice cream.

I had a tour of the American Jewish University in Simi Valley and learned about their expansion plans. And then I have two upcoming meetings, one similar to you with the Zone Zero. We're going to have a panel of speakers that includes the Assistant Fire Chief Chad Cook, Mayor Dede Cavanaugh from Simi Valley, a representative from Edison and the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council. So there's a lot going on with fire and the more we can get We're collecting items for the Navy's birthday. For the active military, we're doing a supply drive.

And for more details on these items, you can go to my website. And then lastly, almost lastly I'm very pleased to announce that the City Council Simi Valley voted unanimously last night to participate in the regional radio system Patrick Maynard He's very, he's very persistent. Very I have to give it to him and I know the city council members did a great job last night by doing the right thing for their community and doing the right thing overall so I'm very proud of their vote last night. Lastly, I'd like to adjourn this meeting in the memory of the individuals I provided to the clerk of the board. And with that, I'm done. Thank you.

Correspondence? Okay, whoops I can't vote.

Oh sorry about that okay that passes unanimously thank you.

We're done we do oh yes

Okay.

Sorry,

just confirm I don't think anyone said on the record so we're going to adjourn into closed session? Okay thank you.

Adjourning into closed session.