AOV E-Newsletter Feb. 22, 2008
In this issue:
- City to Hire Public Safety Personnel to Reduce Response Times
- Downtown Water and Sewer Main Replacement March to June 2008
- Preservation Matters! Historic Resources Training Tuesday, Feb. 26 at City Hall
- Mobility Options for Ventura's Environment (MOVE): Walkable Communities Expert Dan Burden Presents to Public Feb. 28 at City Hall
City to Hire Public Safety Personnel to Reduce Response Times
At the February 25th City Council meeting, staff will present a plan to add public safety personnel using funds from the Emergency Communications System Service Fee.
The recommendation before City Council includes a monthly fee amount of $1.49 on telephone lines in Ventura, while giving residents the option to select a per-call alternative equal to the annualized fee, in the amount of $17.88. Other revisions have been made to the fee structure, including a first-time exemption from the per-call fee, and the opportunity to enroll in the monthly fee after having chosen the per-call option and then dialing 9-1-1 from that line.
In January 2008 the City Council adopted an Emergency Communications Systems Service Fee Ordinance. The primary purpose of implementing the fee is to provide funding for the City's 9-1-1 communications center, allowing the funds currently used for the center to be redirected for:
- Hiring of 6 new Police Officers and 3 new Firefighter Paramedics;
- Staffing our community's High School Resource Officers program;
- Staffing a fire crew to be deployed to assist with hours of the heaviest demand for service; and
- Upgrading the Emergency Communications Center.
The City's goal is to respond to Priority 1 Fire and Police calls in five minutes or less 90 percent of the time. This addition of six new Police Officers and three new Firefighter Paramedics is another incremental step in reducing response times. Responding to Priority 1 calls in less than five minutes is operative in saving lives during critical medical and police emergencies, such as cardiac events and domestic violence.
More information on this topic can be found at www.cityofventura.net
Downtown Water and Sewer Main Replacement March to June 2008
From March to early June, the City of Ventura will replace old water and sewer main pipelines along sections of Main, Oak and California Streets downtown. The project will replace approximately 4,800 feet of water pipeline and 2,700 feet of sewer pipeline.
The replacement project will improve the reliability and increase the capacity of the water and sewer system, reduce maintenance costs for the City, and ensure that water and sewer services continue to meet the current and future demands of our residents and business community.
The City is working closely with downtown merchants and residents to minimize delays and disruption during the project.
- Read on for more details, and to view a larger map, or visit the Downtown Ventura Organization website (www.downtownventura.org)
Preservation Matters! Historic Resources Training Tuesday, Feb. 26 at City Hall
The City of Ventura Community Development Department is pleased to present "Preservation Matters! An Update from the State Office of Historic Preservation."
- Tuesday, February 26
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Community Meeting Room (Room 202)
- City Hall, 501 Poli St. in downtown Ventura
Interested parties are invited to attend an informative daylong workshop conducted by the State OHP staff. This free program is intended to provide insight on historic preservation tools and programs.
Topics to be discussed includes: Historic Preservation Program Overview: a checklist for success; What's a historical resource?; CEQA and historical resources; Survey Savvy; The Mills Act: an important incentive program.
Who should attend?
- City and County Planners
- Board and Committee members
- Elected officials
- Anyone interested in historic preservation and land use planning
To register:
E-mail: bcavalli@cityofventura.net
Phone: 805-654-7748
Fax: 805-653-0763
Mail: City of Ventura Community Development Department
PO Box 99, Room 125
Ventura, CA 93002
Mobility Options for Ventura's Environment (MOVE): Walkable Communities Expert Dan Burden Presents to Public Feb. 28 at City Hall
Members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend Dan Burden's keynote address about Walkability - why it's important and how it can be achieved in the City of Ventura - Thursday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room.
During Mr. Burden's visit to Ventura, he will be conducting walking audits in four areas of the community: Westside, Downtown, Midtown and the Victoria Corridor. Please join one or all of these free and interactive walks:
- Westside Walk - Thursday, February 28 at 10:00 a.m., meet at the corner of Ventura Avenue and Main Street;
- Downtown Walk - Thursday, February 28 at 2:00 p.m., meet at the corner of Thompson Boulevard and Chestnut Street;
- Midtown Walk - Friday, February 29 at 10:00 a.m., meet at the corner of Main Street and Borchard Drive
- Victoria Corridor - Friday, February 29 at 2:00 p.m., meet at the southwest corner of Victoria Avenue & Telephone Road.
Dan Burden's presentation and walking audits are part of a City-sponsored initiative called "Ventura on the MOVE: Mobility Options for Ventura's Environment" - aimed at helping the City achieve its General Plan goal of providing more transportation choices by strengthening and balancing alternative mobility opportunities in the City and surrounding region.
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Masthead Art: katherinemcguire.com
