I worked for two years to secure the re-opening of Santa Paula Hospital which happened in June 2006. Over the course of the Hospital’s first year, there has been steady growth and better than expected revenues. The emergency room has treated close to 10,000 patients.
The community’s continued use of the Health Care Services at the Hospital is important to maintain the overwhelming support that made the reopening of the Santa Paula Hospital a reality.
SANTA PAULA TATTOO REMOVAL CLINIC
I assisted in the establishment of the Santa Paula Tattoo Removal Clinic. Since it was initiated in November 1999, thousands of treatments have been provided. This has helped many residents from all over the county find employment, leave gang life styles, serve their country in the military, and for some to start school with no fear of being of being pre-judged or overlooked for promotions. Services provided are in return for volunteer work participants perform in their communities.
FILLMORE HEALTH CARE SERVICES CENTER
I put forth a motion adopted by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to enter into a long-term lease agreement for new medical offices at the intersection of Hwy 126 and Ventura Street in Fillmore. It was important the medical office be located at an accessible and convenient location in Fillmore. The medical offices opened in June-2007.
The County has recognized a need for a multitude of health care services in the Fillmore/Piru area and recruited the services of esteemed local physician, Dr. Christine Johnston, to act as Medical Director of the ambulatory care clinic/medical center. The health care services provided include: Behavioral Health (youth/family, alcohol & drug intervention); Public Health (including WIC program), Human Services (health coverage eligibility/enrollment, employment assistance, Cal Works and food stamps)
The Health Care Agency is continuing to work with the local medical community for extended hours coverage including an after-hour Urgent Care that would complement existing local medical services.
The Fillmore Health Care Services Center provides quality preventative care through this clinic site, lending support for the Santa Paula Hospital.
HERITAGE VALLEY TOURISM BUREAU (HVTB)
As a Charter Board Member of the Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau (HVTB), I continue to provide ongoing support of its mission. The HVTB focuses on the development of a marketing infrastructure that expands visibility of the Heritage Valley statewide, nationwide and globally highlighting our rich cultural and historic assets, which includes our regional tourism neighbors.
I convened a regional tourism summit in May 2007 in the Santa Clara River Valley. The participants were the cities of Santa Clarita, Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Paula, and Fillmore. As a result, a regional collaborative was born and these entities are meeting to discuss today’s trends in tourism that include the establishment of destination packages accommodating visitor’s interests. The Heritage Valley has something for everyone! For information go to www.heritagevalley.net.
PIRU AREA PLAN UPDATE PROGRAM
I lead the support for the Piru Area Plan to be updated to ensure that new development in the area is directed in a comprehensive plan to coordinate with the existing community.
The proposed Area Plan amendments would include new policies and programs that would result in enhancements to Main Street, allow mixed-use developments in commercial areas, would expand the allowed uses for the Heritage Valley Inn property, ensure that new development would provide new community parkland, and would add detailed residential design guidelines to augment the existing commercial design guidelines within the Piru Area Plan.
An environmental impact report has been prepared and may be viewed at http://www.ventura.org/rma/planning/studies_eirs/studies_eirs.htm .
Hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors are expected to be scheduled in spring 2008.
PIRU WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
I assisted in secured $200,000 towards the improvements to the Piru Wastewater Treatment Plant to assist in increasing capacity. I will continue to work to identify other revenues to assist with the approximate $10 million upgrade to the treatment plant as required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
PIRU CREEK EMBANKMENTS
I remain committed to support improvements to the Piru Creek embankments. The slope protection is about 600 feet in length in front of new homes, consisting of rock riprap bank protection. The riprap slope will provide protection up to a 25 year storm. The current cost estimate is about $1M. The construction is expected to take about 3 months, and should begin late 2008 or early 2009.
SANTA CLARA RIVER WATERSHED
I serve as Co-Chair of the Santa Clara River committee along with Dana Wisehart of United Water Conservation District and EJ Remson of The Nature Conservancy. This work started in July of 2006 to bring together stakeholders of the Santa Clara River Watershed to prioritize projects in that watershed as part of the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) to be submitted as part of a Prop 50 application. The regional collaboration of this committee is leading the way in managing the precious resources in the valley.
I led the support for the Board of Supervisors’ legislative agenda request for Federal funding of the Santa Clara River Watershed Feasibility Study, which will help identify flooding, erosion and sedimentation problems in the watershed. Thanks to the work of Congressman Gallegly and Senator Feinstein, Congress approved $246,000 in FY 2007-08 funding for the Study.
SESPE CREEK STUDY
The devastating Day Fire at the end of 2006 burned over one third of the vegetation in the 270 square mile Sespe Creek Watershed. As a result, there is a concern regarding the impacts of the fire and the potential for increased flooding in the communities located in the lower Sespe such as the City of Fillmore. Working with the Ventura County Watershed Protection District, a study has been commissioned to focus on assessing flood hazard risks based on fire impacts, updated rainfall and runoff information, and levee capacity. The study will evaluate solutions and provide recommendations to maintain a safe level of protection for the communities for the future.
