A newsletter for the Camarillo community
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October - December 2021
Volume 28 | Number 1
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Camarillo City Council
Mayor Charlotte Craven
(805) 482-4730 (home)
Vice Mayor Shawn Mulchay
(805) 419-3370 (cell)
Susan Santangelo
(805) 232-4183 (cell)
Kevin Kildee
(805) 482-2124 (office)
Tony Trembley
(805) 987-9040 (home)
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What's In This Issue?
Catalytic Converter Theft Protection
Community Planning Month
Code Compliance Appreciation
Conserve Water As You Recycle
EPS Food Packaging Ban
Budget At A Glance
Coastal Cleanup Volunteers
Camarillo Library Programs
Water Saving Tips & Rebates
Holiday Trash & Recycling
Rainy Season Preparation
VC Alert Notifications
Fire Weather Safety
Community Calendar
City Directory
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In an effort to move the City toward more environmentally- and fiscally- sustainable practices, CityScene Newsletter will now be issued quarterly in print, transitioning to fully electronic by July 2022.
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Coping With the COVID-19 Pandemic |
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Thank you for doing your part to help reduce community transmission of COVID-19. As cases continue to increase in Ventura County, wearing masks in public places indoors will help us slow the spread and get back to normal sooner. Let's work together to protect ourselves and our community:
The City of Camarillo continues to push all information that we receive from Ventura County in regard to COVID, through City News emails and by sharing on social media. For all COVID-specific information for the City of Camarillo, please visit cityofcamarillo.org/covid19.
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Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention |
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Catalytic Converters are a target of theft because many are easy to access from underneath a vehicle, can be easily removed with a battery operated power tool and garner a high resale value because they are illegally sold to people who can recycle them for the precious metals inside.
Between April 1st, 2020 - August 17th, 2021, there have been 152 catalytic converter thefts in the City of Camarillo alone
Here are some tips to help prevent theft to your vehicle:
- When possible, park in a secured garage or a well-lit area where the vehicle will be seen by passersby.
- Install motion-sensitive lighting and surveillance cameras that cover areas where you park your vehicles.
- Install a catalytic converter anti-theft device which can be found online by searching “catalytic converter anti-theft”.
The Camarillo Police Department has partnered up with 5 local businesses who are performing the “Etch & Catch” program designed to be a theft deterrent. Please feel free to contact Senior Deputy Mike Baker in the Camarillo Community Resource Unit at (805) 388-5131, or email mike.baker@ventura.org for more information.
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
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National Community Planning Month |
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The month of October is designated as National Community Planning Month which gives us the opportunity to publicly recognize the dedication of planning commissioners and city planners to community planning. |
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This year’s theme highlights how planning and planners can lead our community into an equitable, resilient, and long-lasting recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of the pandemic substantially impacted our community, and during this time the planning division played a substantial role in accommodating and implementing new polices to assist our local residents and businesses while protecting the health of our community.
In order to enable business recovery while maintaining physical distancing guidelines during the pandemic, staff made valuable service adjustments such as allowing applications to be submitted via email, coordinating remote application payments with other City departments, facilitating interdepartmental review of requests for approval, establishing a system for the electronic submission of compliance inspection forms and digital plans, and developing a permit to accommodate for temporary outdoor patio areas and business activities through a Zone Clearance so businesses could remain open.
With the assistance of our planners, community planning provides an opportunity for all residents to be meaningfully involved in the decision making process that determines the future of our community and the quality of work and life within our city.
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Code Compliance Appreciation Week |
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Code Compliance Officers play a vital role in keeping Camarillo clean, beautiful, and safe for our residents, business community and visitors.
Camarillo’s Code Compliance Division plays a vital role in maintaining property values, while enforcing the City's Municipal Code to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and businesses within our community.
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They are available to answer questions/ concerns by phone, in-person at City Hall or by email, with the goal of providing quality customer service and compliance assistance through support, education, and resources, rather than penalties.
The team carries out their responsibility through enforcement of the laws and codes adopted by the City and responding to reports of potential violations by community members.
Conducting proactive inspections are the most common routine inspections that our Officers utilize to ensure compliance with the City’s landscape ordinance, working with the Police Department to identify and surveillance properties frequently vandalized or contain graffiti, and conducting joint inspections with the Building and Safety Division to address cases involving structural issues or unpermitted work.
Additionally, our Code Compliance Division works with residents who operate home based businesses, to obtain City approval of a Home Occupation Permit. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Code Compliance Division has conditionally approved a grand total of 233 Home Occupation Permits to help our community maintain local business operations from the safety and comfort of their home.
Questions? Contact Code Compliance at (805) 383-5660.
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Conserve Water as You Recycle |
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QUESTION: Is it necessary to rinse out your empty jars and other food containers before you toss them in the recycling cart?
ANSWER: NO. It is a widely held misconception that residential recyclables must be pristine clean. With advanced processing systems, E.J. Harrison & Sons, and partner Gold Coast Recycling, ask that you only empty containers of excess food.
“The simple rule is, "empty but not rinsed," said Gold Coast General Manager George Harrison. “We’re in a long-standing drought and rinsing your recyclables is a waste of water; everything is processed the same either way.” So please don’t waste your water on a duplicated effort.” Learn more at ejharrison.com and goldcoastrecycling.com.
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BANNED: EPS Food Packaging |
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Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a commonly used material to produce disposable dishes and packaging.
Effective January 1, 2022, the City of Camarillo will prohibit the use and sale of EPS food and beverage containers, furthering the City’s goal of minimizing impacts on the environment. Restaurants, retailers, and other businesses that are affected may apply for hardship exemptions.
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Thank You Camarillo Cleanup Day Volunteers |
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The 37th Anniversary of California Coastal Cleanup Day was held on September 18, 2021. In Camarillo, volunteers removed trash and recyclables from Calleguas Creek and the Mission Oaks Park barranca, stopping debris at the source, preventing it from entering our waterways and ending up in our ocean.
Thank you to all of those who dedicated their time to cleaning up and making our environment a better place to live! The City of Camarillo and the California Coastal Commission continue to request that all residents take responsibility for ensuring trash is disposed of properly—securely in a trash can, recycling bin, or a hazardous waste facility when appropriate. View event details at cityofcamarillo.org/news. Hope to see you again next year!
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Camarillo Public Library Programs |
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Current State and County health and safety guidelines allow the Camarillo Public Library to remain open with modifications to building capacities, gatherings, physical distancing, cleaning, and disinfecting protocols. Details at camarillolibrary.org.
Preschool Storytime (Ages 3 to 5) Thursdays 10:30 AM.
We are excited to bring back in-person preschool Storytime! Join us for stories, fingerplays and music in the Community Room. Seating is limited. Register at a public service desk or on our online Event Calendar. Please note: For Children's in-person programs, masks are required for children and adults regardless of vaccination status.
Crafternoons (Ages 12-18) Tuesdays 3:00 PM.
Crafternoons is an awesome series of afterschool craft activities. From t-shirt design to dreamcatchers, we offer a new craft every Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the Young Adult Center.
Movie Matinee (Ages 19+) Friday, October 15 & Friday, October 29 at 3:00 PM
For October we’re featuring a selection of horror movies in celebration of Halloween. Our Movie Matinee will screen on Friday, October 15 and Friday, October 29 at 3:00 p.m. in our Community Room. For movie info and to register, please stop by a public service desk or check our online Event Calendar.
Patrons may contact the Library by any of the following methods:
Online chat service (Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) available directly from camarillolibrary.org
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Conserve Our Water Resources |
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Taking simple steps to save water around the home and yard can make a big impact on our local water resources. Here are some helpful ways you can help save water at home.
Adopt a sustainable landscaping practice.
- Water your lawn in short intervals.
- Use automatic shut-off nozzles.
- Water landscaping only 2-3 times a week during the summer.
- Water during the cooler hours, after 8 p.m. and before 10 a.m.
- Sweep sidewalks and driveways clean rather than using a hose.
Select low and moderate water-use plants.
Implement indoor water saving technique.
- Only run the dishwasher/ clothes washer with a full load.
- Install low-flow showerheads.
- Fix leaks promptly.
- Consider upgrading to energy efficient washing machines and high-efficiency toilets.
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Holiday Trash & Recycling |
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E.J. Harrison & Sons and the City of Camarillo make it easy for you to “recycle” your Christmas tree as much-needed mulch. Simply remove the ornaments, hooks, lights, tinsel, bows, nails, and tree stand, cut the tree into three-foot sections, and place them in your yard-waste barrel on your scheduled pickup day.
Tree collection will begin on the first collection day after December 25 and will conclude the end of the second week in January. Additionally, Harrison & Sons accepts flocked trees for recycling. Collected trees are processed into various sizes of mulch, which is used to make several products that benefit local farmlands, orchards, nurseries, and gardens.
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Rainy Season Preparation Tips |
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The best preparation for possible flooding is to plan ahead. Here are some wet weather preparation tips:
- Assemble an emergency supply kit.
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Register your phone numbers at www.vcalert.org to receive emergency messages.
- Clear debris from roof gutters, downspouts and drains so water can flow properly.
- Apply erosion controls to bare slopes and barriers around perimeter of property to prevent loose woodchips, mulch, dirt or debris from flowing off your yard into the adjacent gutter and clogging downstream storm drains.
- Check your roof for leaks or damage, paying special attention to areas where separation could occur, such as around the chimney.
- Have a supply of sandbags and other flood prevention materials such as plastic sheeting, plywood and tarps. Check with your local fire station to see if they have sandbags available for the public.
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For a list of fire stations and/or local vendors where you can purchase sandbags as well as obtain more emergency preparedness information visit www.readyventuracounty.org.
The City also maintains our drainage facilities, which includes inspecting and cleaning city-maintained ditches and over 1,500 storm drain inlets.
To report a clogged storm drain in Camarillo, please call 805-388-5338.
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Ventura County has implemented VC Alert Emergency Notification System that may be used to deliver time sensitive emergency alerts to residents when there is a threat to your health and safety.
Register your cell phone and/or email at readyventuracounty.org/vc-alert or by texting “VCALERT” to 313131 to be automatically notified during an emergency affecting Camarillo. Land lines are automatically added to the system. Contact the VC Alert Hotline at (805) 648-9283 for further assistance.
VC Alert is a free service provided by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services and participating cities. It's your one-stop web address to get prepared.
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Wildfires are now a year-round reality in Ventura County. This means that both firefighters and residents have to be on heightened alert for the threat of wildfire at all times. Firefighters train hard and make countless preparations to be ready for a wildfire. Residents need to do the same.
The READY, SET GO! WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN is an award-winning, national program which helps community members be Ready with preparedness understanding, be Set with situational awareness when fire threatens, and to Go, acting early when a fire starts.
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October 2021
2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Camarillo Old Town
(805) 987-3347
13, 27
Camarillo City Council Meetings
5 p.m.
601 Carmen Drive
8, 9
Household Hazardous
Waste Drop-Off
(805) 987-0717
7
City of Camarillo
State of the City Luncheon
Thursday, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Spanish Hills Club
999 Crestview Avenue
3 - 31
Camarillo Art Center
"Fall Open Judged Art Show"
Sat. / Sun., 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
3140 Ponderosa Drive
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November 2021
6, 13, 20
Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 12p.m.
(805) 987-3347
10
Camarillo City Council Meetings
5 p.m.
601 Carmen Drive
12, 13
Household Hazardous
Waste Drop-Off
(805) 987-0717
6, 7
Camarillo Art Center "Raise the Roof" Artisan Arts & Crafts Fundraiser
Sat. / Sun., 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
3140 Ponderosa Drive
13
Ride For The Red
Raising awareness and funds for the Service to the Armed Forces
(818) 689-6016
All Month
Spark of Love
Holiday Toy Drive
Info and drop-off locations at:
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December 2021
4, 11, 18
Camarillo Old Town
(805) 987-3347
1, 8
Camarillo City Council Meetings | 5 p.m.
601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo
10, 11
Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
11
Camarillo Christmas Parade
"Community All-Stars"
Begins at 10 a.m. at Temple & Las Posas
1 - 24
Spark of Love
Holiday Toy Drive
Info and drop-off locations at:
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The West Ventura County Business Alliance is pleased to announce the State of the City Luncheon with Camarillo Mayor Charlotte Craven on October 7, 2021, at Spanish Hills Club starting at 11:30 am.
Registration is $55 per person including lunch.
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The City is committed to keeping our community informed!
Check out Engage Camarillo! to learn about Camarillo's Community Engagement platform and share your input through Open City Hall.
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Please send inquiries to:
CityScene Editor
601 Carmen Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
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Las Personas Son La Ciudad |The People Are Our City |
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