📣 Santa Paula City Council Reorganization Update

Santa Paula, CA – During the December 10, 2025 Council meeting, the Santa Paula City Council conducted its annual leadership reorganization, appointing Carlos Juarez as Mayor and Jenny Crosswhite as Vice Mayor for the upcoming year.

Outgoing Mayor Pedro Chavez was recognized by community members and fellow Councilmembers for his leadership, integrity, and historic service as Santa Paula’s—and Ventura County’s—first openly gay Mayor. Mayor Chavez was presented with a commemorative plaque in appreciation of his contributions to the community.

Mayor Juarez begins his second term as Mayor, bringing decades of public service experience through his 27-year career with the Santa Paula Police Department and long-standing involvement in the community. Councilmember Jenny Crosswhite, unanimously selected as Vice Mayor, expressed her commitment to continuing collaborative leadership and advancing important initiatives for Santa Paula residents.

The City extends its congratulations to Mayor Carlos Juarez and Vice Mayor Jenny Crosswhite as they begin their new roles and looks forward to a productive year ahead.

👉 Learn more about the Santa Paula City Council on the City’s website: City Council Webpage

👉 Read the full bilingual press release here: https://tinyurl.com/SPCITYCOUNCILNEW

Built on Dedication: 30 Years of Protecting Our Water

On January 1996, the City of Santa Paula purchased the local water company (then Park Water), bringing the system under City ownership. As part of that transition, several dedicated employees joined City service—carrying forward invaluable institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to public service that helped shape the Water Division for decades.

Over the years, many of those early team members have retired, leaving behind a lasting legacy that continues to influence how the Water Division operates today. Recent retirees such as Liz Murillo, along with Pat Parrish and others, represent a generation of professionals who helped improve, modernize, and steward Santa Paula’s water system through years of dedicated service.

Several individuals from that era continue to serve the community in important ways. Anita Lopez remains with the City in another department, while Water Systems Operators Joe Dugas and Tim Martinez continue their long-standing service within the Water Division—forming the backbone of the team that operates and maintains the City’s water system today.

Thirty years later, the mission remains the same: to deliver safe, reliable drinking water—honoring the legacy of those who helped build the foundation and investing in the team that will carry it forward into the future.

📣 The 2026 Winter/Spring Recreation Guide is here! ❄️🌷

The City of Santa Paula Parks & Recreation Department is excited to share the Winter/Spring 2026 Recreation Guide, featuring programs and activities for children, youth, adults, and older adults from January through April 2026.

Browse programs, seasonal activities, senior services, youth enrichment, sports, volunteer opportunities, park information, and more by viewing the guide below:

📖 View the Recreation Guide: https://www.spcity.org/DocumentCenter/View/6252/Parks-and-Recreation-Guide-Spring-2025

📞 Info: (805) 933-4226 ext. 350

📍 Location: 530 W. Main St., Santa Paula

Don’t miss out—there’s something for everyone in Santa Paula’s vibrant community! 💙

🚲⚠️ Bike, E-Bike & E-Scooter Safety PSA — Keep Santa Paula Moving Safely!

1️⃣ Don’t ride head-on into danger.

Wrong-way riding is the #1 cause of bike crashes in Ventura County. Always ride with the flow of traffic so drivers can see you and react in time.

2️⃣ Give yourself a brake.

E-bikes take 3× longer to stop than regular bikes. Slow down early and leave extra stopping distance to avoid crashes.

🛴 Electric Scooter Safety

✔️ Helmets are required for riders under 18

✔️ Riders must have a valid driver’s license or instruction permit

✔️ Scooters must be ridden on public streets — not sidewalks

✔️ Riders are responsible for following all traffic laws

🚴 Electric Bicycle (E-Bike) Safety

✔️ Class 3 E-bikes: Riders must be 16 or older

✔️ Class 1 & 2 E-bikes: No minimum age

✔️ Helmets are required for all Class 3 riders

✔️ For Class 1 & 2, riders under 18 must wear a helmet

📍 Where you can ride:

• Class 3: Bike lanes and public streets
• Class 1 & 2: Bike paths, bike lanes, and public streets

🚦 When riding on public streets, all e-bike riders must follow traffic laws.

Simple choices save lives. Let’s look out for one another and keep Santa Paula safe on the road. 💙

🌿 Join us for the Fagan Barranca Park Community Meeting! 🌿

We’re excited to share updates on the proposed park plans and hear your ideas to help shape this community space. Your voice matters — let’s work together to build a park that reflects the needs and vision of Santa Paula residents. 💬✨

📅 January 13, 2026

🕕 Starts at 6:00 PM

📍 Community Center (530 W Main St)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages welcome!

🗣️ Spanish interpretation services will be available

Have questions?

✉️ mschouten@spcity.org

Let’s create something amazing together, Santa Paula! 🌱💚

RV Parking & Storage: Quick Reminder for Santa Paula Residents

Planning a trip, hosting visitors, or getting your RV ready for the weekend? The City of Santa Paula wants to share a friendly reminder about existing rules for recreational vehicles (RVs) and similar vehicles, like trailers and boats. These regulations help protect neighborhood safety, access, and community appearance.

Temporary parking in a front yard or driveway is allowed — up to 48 hours. After that, RVs may not remain parked in any front yard area.

For longer-term storage, RVs may be kept in a side or rear yard, if all of the following requirements are met:

• One RV per residential property
• Maximum size: 96 inches high and 32 feet long
• Setbacks: 20 feet from the front property line and 3 feet from side/rear property lines
• Screening is required (such as a wall, fence, gate, or dense landscaping) so the RV is not visible from the street or sidewalk

Street parking is limited: vehicles may not remain on any street or alley within the City for more than 72 consecutive hours. After 72 hours, the vehicle must be moved at least ¼ mile, remain off that street for at least 4 hours, and then may return.

A few additional reminders: RVs may not be used as permanent residences, and in residential zones, front-yard vehicle parking is restricted, screening is required in other areas, and vehicles 6,000 pounds or more may not be parked on residential lots.

Questions or need clarification?

City of Santa Paula – Code Compliance Department

📞 805-933-4218

🌐 Submit a request online: https://www.spcity.org/772/Code-Enforcement-Request

Thank you for doing your part to help keep Santa Paula neighborhoods safe, orderly, and well-maintained.

🚧 Streets Ahead: Pavement Management Plan (Cycle II) — Watch the Workshop Recording! 🎥

Missed last month’s City of Santa Paula Pavement Management Plan (Cycle II) Workshop? No worries — you can watch the full recording on YouTube here:

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/live/l7afEOhY9Eo?si=83yszOv1sHTYaofh

🗺️ Explore maps + project details: bit.ly/483eDfq

SERVICE SPOTLIGHT - Ventura County Continuum of Care, Homeless Point-in-Time Count

The Ventura County Continuum of Care is seeking volunteers to support the 2026 Homeless Point in Time Count on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

This annual count is a critical requirement for state and federal grants that fund:

• local homeless shelters
• permanent supportive housing
• rental assistance programs
• street outreach, and other essential services.

Volunteer shifts begin at sunrise and typically run between two to five hours, depending on the selected city. Participants will use the “Counting Us” mobile app to collect survey data, with training provided in mid-January.

🎖️ Honor Santa Paula’s Heroes with the Military Banner Program

Santa Paula proudly recognizes local military personnel through the “Santa Paula Salutes” Military Banner Program — honoring active duty, retired, and fallen service members with personalized banners displayed along 10th Street and Mill Street.

📅 Installed quarterly

💵 $124.50 (renewed every 3 years)

📝 Easy application with proof of service & residency

✅ Step 1: Apply online using the link below

➡️ https://ayrs.io/-Hfce7

✅ Step 2: Pay in person at Santa Paula City Hall (cash or check only)

Please note/label your payment: “Military Banner Program – City of Santa Paula.”

🛑 Keep Holiday FOG Out of Our Drains! 🛑

Cooking this season? Help protect Santa Paula’s sewer system by disposing of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) the right way:

✔️ Seal it! Let FOG cool, then pour it into a sturdy, sealable container.

✔️ Scrape it! Before washing, scrape excess FOG from pans and dishes.

✔️ Wipe it! Use a paper towel to wipe remaining grease off cookware.

✔️ Dispose of it! Put sealed FOG containers in the trash and food scraps in the green bin.

Keeping FOG out of drains prevents clogs, sewer backups, and costly repairs—help us keep our sewers clean all year round!

🎄⚡ Holiday Energy Reminder! ⚡🎄

We tend to use a lot more electricity during the holiday season—from lights and decorations to extra cooking and hosting. Let’s use energy wisely and safely this season. ✅

Southern California Edison (SCE) shares helpful tips to keep your holiday lights from becoming a hazard (and to help you avoid wasting energy).

🔗 Click here to read more: https://energized.edison.com/stories/dont-let-hazardous-lights-spoil-the-holiday

💡 Quick reminders: use LED lights, check cords for damage, don’t overload outlets, and turn lights off when you’re away.

FREE Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training in Spanish!

After a major disaster, first responders may not be enough — you could be your own best first responder! 💪

In coordination with FEMA and the City of Santa Paula, we are offering a FREE course for up to 40 residents of Santa Paula and Ventura who are interested in learning how to prepare for and respond to emergencies.

🔥 Fire prevention

🚑 Basic first aid

🧭 Light search and rescue

🤝 Supporting first responders and neighbors

🎓 Includes certificate, manual, and emergency kit (helmet, gloves, vest, and goggles)

✅ No experience required.

📅 January 21 – February 28, 2026

⏰ Wednesdays, 6:30–9:00 PM

📍 Santa Paula Community Center (530 W. Main St.)

📢✨ Get Involved in Your Community! 🌟🤝

The City of Santa Paula is now accepting applications for open positions on several boards, commissions, and committees. If you're passionate about making a difference, now’s your chance!

✅ Current Vacancies:

👵 Senior Advisory Committee – 1 vacancy, 2-year term

Eligibility: Santa Paula resident, age 55+

Role: Advises on senior programs, classes, events, and activities

Meets: 1st Thursday at 1:30 PM (Community Center)

💰 Measure T Oversight Committee – 1 vacancy (Business Member), 4-year term. Role: Reviews the use of Measure T sales tax revenues. Eligibility: U.S. Citizen, 18+, Santa Paula resident, not a public employee. Note: Members must file an annual financial disclosure

👥 Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) – 1 vacancy (Santa Paula Representative)

Role: Supports the development and implementation of a coordinated system of care that helps older adults, children and adults with disabilities, and caregivers live in community-based settings (County of Ventura Human Services Agency). More info: www.vcaaa.org

⏰ Deadline: Submit by Noon on January 22, 2026, to be included in the first wave of reviews!

🎉 January Newsletter is Here! 🎉

The Santa Paula Community Senior Center is kicking off 2026 with exciting activities and opportunities to stay connected! 💙

📌 What’s happening this month?

✨ Bingo – January 8 at 12:30 PM

✨ Senior Advisory Committee Meeting – January 8 at 1:30 PM

✨ Luncheon – January 21 at 11:00 AM

We’re proud to highlight our wonderful Senior Advisory Committee and all they do to support seniors in our community.

📍 530 W. Main Street

📞 (805) 933-4226 ext. 356



Come join us, stay active, and start the new year connected at your Senior Center! 💫

Giving Back with Heart: Santa Paula’s Shop with a Cop 🎁🚓

This past month, the Santa Paula Police Department took part in Shop with a Cop, a special community event that helps bring smiles to local children in need through gifts and support.

Police Officers, Community Services Officers, and Explorers generously volunteered their time to make the experience meaningful and memorable for participating families.

A heartfelt thank you to Target, the VC Sheriff’s Foundation, and Chick-fil-A for their generous donations and partnership in making this event possible.

Reminder: Reporting Stray Animals After Hours

If you see a stray or loose animal in the community and it’s after City business hours or on a City-observed holiday, please call the Santa Paula Police Department’s 24-hour non-emergency line at (805) 525-4474. A police dispatcher will be ready to take your call and help route the report appropriately.

Calling the non-emergency line helps ensure the situation is documented and responded to as quickly and safely as possible. If there is an immediate threat to public safety or an animal-related emergency, please call 911.

Support the businesses that make Santa Paula special. 💚 Shop Small. Shop Local. Shop Santa Paula. 💚

Take a moment to watch and share our short video by clicking the video above or using this link: https://youtube.com/shorts/v6mRbpa0FhM?feature=share

🔥 Stay Firewise All Year Long! 🔥

Learn how to make your community safer from wildfire while connecting with others doing the same. 🌿🏡

✅ Explore the Firewise program and its benefits

💬 Hear success stories from other communities

❓ Join live Q&A sessions with Regional Coordinators

📅 Join on Zoom — every 3rd Friday at 1:00 PM.

Open to everyone!

👉 Register today at venturafiresafe.org

💻 You can also book a 30-minute virtual chat with the Regional Coordinator

🎥 Watch past workshops on YouTube: @venturaregionalfsc

ℹ️ The City of Santa Paula is sharing the following community resource from 211Now:

📢 Community Needs Assessment

Recent ICE activity in Ventura County has impacted many families and individuals. Local community organizations are available to help with resources such as:

✔️ Legal assistance

✔️ Food

✔️ Family reunification

✔️ Health care

✔️ Mental health counseling

📝 Complete the anonymous and confidential 211Now survey to help identify emerging needs and ensure resources are available where they’re needed.

👉 Survey link: 211Now.com/ventura-county-immigration-resources

📞 Call 211 or visit 211Now.com for more information.

🚍 Transit Update from the City of Santa Paula

The City of Santa Paula would like to share that the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) has launched Tap2Ride on VCTC Intercity buses!

Skip the cash—simply tap your card or phone, hop on, and go. It’s a faster, easier, and more convenient way to ride. 👏🏽

👉 For more information about Tap2Ride and how to pay:

Visit https://www.goventura.org/pay/ or watch the video up above!

🎄♻️ Holiday Tree Recycling with Athens Services ♻️🎄

Athens Services makes it easy to recycle your natural holiday tree and keep it 100% recyclable! Follow these simple steps:

✅ Remove all decorations

Take off stands, ornaments, lights, and tinsel

✂️ Cut tall trees

If your tree is over 6 feet, cut it in half

🗑️ Curbside pickup

Place your tree next to your containers on your regular trash day

🌱 Missed pickup?

Cut up your tree and place it in your green organics container

🚫 Not recyclable:

Artificial trees and trees with flocking or fire retardants will be treated as trash. Please submit a bulky item pickup request if needed.

📅 Service Dates:

🗓️ December 26, 2025 – January 9, 2026

Thank you for helping keep our community clean and sustainable! 💚♻️

When are City Hall Offices Closed?

City Hall will be closed on January 1–2, 2026, and will reopen on January 5, 2026.

For full business hours, please visit our website by clicking the button below.