February CityScene Newsletter

February 2024

Download a copy of CityScene Newsletter at cityofcamarillo.org/cityscenenewsletter

What's In This Issue:

Camarillo Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Temporary Meeting Location @ Library

Trash Cigarette Butts to Keep Waters Clean

Free Emergency Response Training

SURVEY: Internet Use and Speed Test

First-Time Homebuyers Assistance

Camarillo Airport Layout Plan Meeting

Don't Move or Share Homegrown Fruit

Launching a New Business in Camarillo

Serving on Camarillo Committees

Library Programs

Trash & Recycling Services

City Meetings & Holidays

Community Event Calendar

City Departments Directory

City Council

Mayor Tony Trembley

(805) 701-9768

Vice Mayor Kevin Kildee

(805) 482-2124

Martita Martinez-Bravo

(805) 910-0192

David Tennessen

(805) 754-4320

Susan Santangelo

(805) 232-4183

Email all Council Members

[email protected]

City of Camarillo Celebrates 60^th Anniversary

Incorporated on October 22, 1964, the City of Camarillo celebrates its 60^th anniversary this year. Over the past six decades, our community has grown and evolved with an enduring strength and vibrant spirit. In celebrating our 60^th milestone, we acknowledge the contributions of the people, “las personas,” who share a commitment to making Camarillo a place we are proud to call home. As our City motto states, las personas son la ciudad – the people are the city.

The theme of the 60^th anniversary is “Generations – From Origins Onward.” In Spanish, this translates to “Generaciones – Desde Nuestros Orígenes y Adelante” as depicted in the graphic above. The 60th anniversary theme honors our beginnings, embraces all we have become, and promotes our future progress. As we reflect on the past with appreciation, we look towards the future with optimism. Together, we will continue to build a bright future for generations to come.

We encourage Camarillo residents, schools, businesses, organizations, and service clubs to celebrate the 60th with us in their own unique ways throughout the year.

City Hall Council Chambers Remodel Will Shift City Meetings

Beginning February 2024, the City Hall Council Chambers will be undergoing a full remodel. During the period of construction, all regularly scheduled public city meetings will be temporarily held in person at the Camarillo Public Library and will continue to be livestreamed on the City’s YouTube channel for full access by the community. Replays of the meetings will be played on the government channel.

Trash Cigarette Butts to Keep Our Waterways Clean

We need your help to keep cigarette litter from entering our waterways! Though small, cigarettes have a big impact on the health and beauty of our neighborhoods and surrounding ecosystems.

Cigarette waste contains toxic chemicals that stay present in the environment for many years. Improperly discarded cigarette butts eventually travel by stormwater runoff through drains to pollute our rivers and ocean. This can harm aquatic life.

Cigarette butts should always be properly disposed of in a waste receptacle. A clean and healthy watershed is a beautiful watershed!

For more on how to keep waterways clean, call the City's Stormwater Program Manager at 805-383-5659 or visit cleanwatershed.org.

Free Emergency Preparedness Training

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) In-Person Class is for adults of all ages and abilities! CERT training empowers community members with knowledge and skills to safely respond to an emergency. Ventura County firefighters teach us to be aware and build resiliency. Increase your readiness during this FREE six-session course!

Questions? Contact Heidi Zahrt, CERT Coordinator, at 805-383-5688 or [email protected].

Internet Use Survey and Speed Test

The Ventura Council of Governments (VCOG) is working to improve internet access and affordability across Ventura County, and we need your help! Please take 2 minutes to complete a community internet use survey and speed test that will help us identify areas with limited connectivity so we can fight for better connections for everyone.

Click HERE to take the speed test now!

This effort is in partnership with the Broadband Consortium of the Pacific Coast (BCPC).

First-Time Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance

Help is now available for local working households that want to become first-time homeowners.

Up to $50K is available for eligible households through the Camarillo Workforce Housing Down Payment Assistance Program.

FOR MORE INFO:

805-273-7800

vccdc.org/lending

Deferred loans with a simple 3% annual interest rate can be used for down payments or closing costs, with up to 10 years for repayment.

Camarillo Airport Layout Plan Meeting

The City of Camarillo is committed to keeping our community informed about the Camarillo Airport Layout Plan.

We encourage you to attend this upcoming meeting for all Ventura County residents:

Tuesday, February 20 at 6 p.m.

Ventura County Office of Education

5100 Adolfo Rd., Camarillo

Presentation with Q&A to follow

To learn more about the Camarillo Airport Layout Plan, please visit vcairports.org.

To provide comments to the Ventura County Department of Airports on the Camarillo Airport Layout Plan, please click here.

Do Not Move or Share Homegrown Fruit

Ventura County's agriculture is under threat from two highly invasive pests. The Asian Citrus Psyllid insect brings the deadly Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, turning trees green and killing them. The Queensland Fruit fly devastates fruits and vegetables, infecting them and making them inedible. #SaveOurFood by heeding the current quarantines across the State of California, especially those here at home in Ventura County, and DO NOT move or share your homegrown fruit!

Do you suspect your tree is infected? Contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture Pest Hotline at 800-491-1899. CDFA can arrange a time to test your tree.

Launching a New Business in Camarillo – Step-by-Step

The City of Camarillo’s Economic Development division recently released a helpful Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Own Business in Camarillo. Planning a new business can feel overwhelming at first, but our Economic Development team is here to help.

Check out the guide to explore the steps you’ll need to take to establish your business here in the city. The guide covers everything from choosing your business location and structure to getting zoning approvals, permits, and a business license.

Learn more about what the City of Camarillo can do to help your business at choosecamarillo.com! Your success is OUR business!

City of Camarillo Seeking Committee Volunteers

The City of Camarillo is seeking residents interested in serving on the following commissions, boards, and committees:

Camarillo Council on Aging
Investment Committee
Area Housing Authority
Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee
Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council, Ventura County

Learn more about each of these opportunities here. If you are interested, apply here!

Camarillo Public Library

4101 Las Posas Road

Camarillo, California 93010

Hours:

Mon – Thurs | 10 am – 8 pm

Fri – Sun | 10 am – 5 pm

Phone: (805) 388-5222

Email: [email protected]

Free Covid tests available at the Library's

public service desks. Limit one per person.

Library's Event Calendar

Black History Month: Music by CHAZZ (All Ages)

Sunday, February 11 / 3 p.m. / Pirate Ship

Interactive program showcasing the rhythms and beats of the many forms of music created and developed by black musicians viewed in historical context.

Music Class for Babies (Ages Prenatal to 24 months)

Monday, February 12 / 10:30 a.m. / Pirate Ship

Bond with your baby through music! Music Therapist Lori Sunshine will guide parents, caregivers and babies in exploring music, movements, vocalizing, playing instruments and listening using traditional tunes and well-known children's tunes.

Black History Month: Music and the Civil Rights Movement

Thursday, February 15 / 6 p.m. / Community Room B

Dr. Gregory Freeland, Uyeno-Tseng Professor in Global Studies and Political Science Professor at California Lutheran University, will speak on the intertwining history of music and the Civil Rights Movement.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Camarillo Library.

To ensure a spot at this event, register on our online Event Calendar.

Trash & Recycling - Food Waste Reminder

As most of you already know, existing yard waste carts are used to collect bagged food waste. But please do not place food waste directly into the yard waste cart, as this will contaminate the yard waste. All food waste must be bagged. Please use your own plastic or paper bags and be sure to seal them securely. Clear bags are preferred (though not required). Reusing what you have is best, but bags are available at local retailers and online.

Securely tie the bag and place it in your yard waste cart for weekly pickup. Remember, all food waste can be collected. This includes meat, bones, fish, shells, dairy, bread, fruits, vegetables, peels, pits, cobs, and coffee grounds. Even if you only have bags of food waste and no yard waste, please put the cart out by the curb anyway. And remember, all three carts – yard, recycling and trash – are being picked up every week.

Recycled food waste becomes compost, energy, animal feed, and other green products. It’s one of the simplest ways to slow global warming, and it’s required under California law. Learn more about food waste recycling at ejharrison.com/food-waste.

City Meetings and Local Events

Beginning in February 2024, regularly scheduled public City meetings will be temporarily held in the Community Room of the Camarillo Public Library to accommodate a full remodel of the City Council Chambers. This includes City Council, Planning Commission, Camarillo Sanitary District, Camarillo Library Board, and Successor Agency Meetings.

City Council meetings are open to the public and can be viewed on the City's YouTube channel, on cable TV (Spectrum channel 10 and Frontier channel 29), or on the Camarillo Community Channel mobile app.