City of Santa Paula's Official Digital Newsletter
MAY 2025
| | Welcome to Your Santa Paula Connection! | | Your Santa Paula Connection is the official monthly digital newsletter of the City of Santa Paula, offering comprehensive insights into all aspects of life in Santa Paula... | | |
In This Newsletter, You’ll Find:
- City Council's Strategic Plan Update
- Parks & Recreation Summer Guide
- Officer of the Year Awards
- Upcoming Events and Community Meetings
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Sports Park Grand Opening - Saturday May 3rd, 2025!
Join us for the Grand Opening of the Sports Park on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 301 Harvest Loop, Santa Paula, CA 93060! 🎉
🎀 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
🎊 Celebration & Festivities: 11:45 AM – 2:00 PM
Enjoy live band music, 2-3 food trucks, inflatables, face painting for children, and Parks & Recreation activities.
Explore educational booths from Lewis Limoneira and drill demonstrations from Santa Paula Sports.
Come celebrate this exciting new space with food, fun, and community festivities! 🙌
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City Council’s Strategic Plan Update Process
The City is in the final stages of updating Council’s Strategic Plan, which will guide the City's priorities for 2025–2027. This effort builds on the 2023–2025 Strategic Plan and began earlier this year.
So far, the process has included deep engagement with the City Council, staff, and the community. Residents and businesses participated through public workshops, surveys, and roundtable discussions, providing feedback on what matters most to Santa Paulans. In total, the City received over 78 survey responses and input from more than 100 business leaders.
The draft plan now includes a refreshed vision, mission, and six key focus areas:
- Arts, Culture, and Entertainment
- Economic Development
- Infrastructure, Transportation & Mobility
- Healthy, Connected & Thriving Community
- Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness
- Operational Excellence
Each objective includes estimated costs and staff time, ensuring transparency and accountability as the plan is put into action.
On Wednesday, May 7th, the City Council will review the draft plan and offer final direction on goals, priorities, and budget impacts. Once final edits are made based on their feedback, the full plan will return for formal adoption. Have a question or want to learn more? Visit the City’s Strategic Plan webpage or contact jroyas@spcity.org.
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Save the Date: June 5, 2025 - 6:00pm-7:30pm at the Ventura County Agriculture Museum
Santa Paula is on the move — and you can feel it. From new investments in infrastructure and developments in housing to our new Sports Park and efforts to revitalize the downtown with growing local businesses, our city is embracing a new chapter of growth.
This year’s State of the City theme, “Feel the Progress,” captures the energy and momentum shaping Santa Paula’s future. Together, we’re building a more connected, resilient, and vibrant community.
On behalf of the City Council, thank you to our residents, business owners, and community partners for being part of this exciting journey. We invite you to join us on Thursday, June 5, 2025, to celebrate how far we’ve come — and where we’re headed.
This event is free and open to the public to attend.
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New Street Sweeper hits the Streets of Santa Paula
Athens Services, the City’s franchised waste collection company, recently introduced its newest tool for keeping Santa Paula clean: a 2025 CNG-powered Tymco Model 600 Regenerative Air Street Sweeper. The new sweeper officially went into service in mid-March.
This state-of-the-art model offers several features to help maintain our streets to the highest standards—while doing so in a more environmentally friendly way. Both the Freightliner truck and the sweeping mechanism are powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which produces fewer emissions than diesel and operates more quietly, reducing both air and noise pollution in our community.
What sets this sweeper apart is its Regenerative Air System, inspired by jet engine technology. Instead of relying solely on brooms or vacuums, the system recycles high-speed air to dislodge and lift debris—much like how a jet engine pushes air through its turbines. This method not only delivers a deeper clean but is also gentler on the pavement, helping extend the life of our streets.
Fun fact: Athens’s street sweeper collects over 30 tons of dirt and debris from Santa Paula’s streets each month—that’s more than 720,000 pounds every year!
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Did you miss the Wildfire Preparedness and Fire Insurance session hosted by Supervisor Kelly Long?
The presentation covered critical topics including the new CAL FIRE hazard severity maps, wildfire home hardening strategies, and more.
Expert speakers included representatives from the Ventura County Fire Department, Ventura County Wildfire Collaborative (formerly Ventura Safe Council), and the California Department of Insurance.
If you weren't able to attend, you can watch the full recorded session by clicking on the button below.
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Protect Our Water, Santa Paula!
Did you know that self-regenerating salt-based water softeners are prohibited in Santa Paula? These systems release high concentrations of salt into our sewer system, which can increase the level of chlorides discharged by our Water Recycling Facility.
✅ Eco-friendly alternatives include:
🔹 Potassium-based water softeners – safer for plants & soil
🔹 Reverse osmosis systems – removes hard minerals without chemicals
🔹 Electronic descalers & magnetic conditioners – reduce scale without harmful discharge
🔹 Water softener tank exchange programs – easy, low cost service direct to your home which provides soft water.
Help keep Santa Paula’s water clean for future generations!
Learn more at www.spcity.org or contact the Public Works Department at (805) 933-4212.
| | RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS | | |
Celebrating Excellence and Service in Santa Paula!
At our April 16th City Council meeting, Council was honored to recognize some outstanding individuals who have made a remarkable impact in our community:
Lorenzo Veloz received recognition for achieving 1st place in the Junior Division for Environmental Engineering at the Ventura County Science Fair, presented by the Ventura County Office of Education. His dedication to scientific inquiry and innovation makes us incredibly proud. Great work, Lorenzo!
William Quinlan Jr. was honored with a Certificate of Recognition for his 26 years of service to the Santa Paula Police Department's Citizens Patrol. From December 1999 to April 2025, William has shown unwavering commitment to serving our community. Thank you for your dedication, William
Lastly, Council proudly proclaimed April as Arte, Cultura, & Creativity Month in Santa Paula! This marks the 7th Annual Statewide Celebration first established by the California Legislature in 2019. A special thanks to the Santa Paula Arte & Cultura Collective for striving to bolster art, culture, and creativity in our vibrant community!
We are so proud of all of these accomplishments and the incredible individuals who make Santa Paula a better place to live, work, and thrive!
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Swearing-In Ceremony for Boards, Commissions, and Committees
On April 30th, the City of Santa Paula held a swearing-in ceremony for all recently appointed individuals selected by the City Council to serve on various local boards, commissions, and committees. The ceremony recognized community members stepping into important civic roles, including—but not limited to—the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Mobile Home Rent Review Committee, and the Measure R Oversight Committee. These appointments play a vital role in supporting city operations, ensuring public input, and guiding local initiatives that help shape the future of Santa Paula.
| | Meet Celeste Medrano - Customer Service Representative in the Finance Dept. | |
Celeste Medrano joins the City of Santa Paula as a Customer Service Representative in the Finance Department! Born and raised in Santa Paula, Celeste has always been passionate about giving back to the community that shaped her.
As a mom of three, she’s raising her children to take pride in their city and stay active in local sports. Celeste attended Santa Paula High School before finishing in Ventura and has some college experience—she’s excited to return to school in Fall 2025!
Her professional background includes three years working for a softening company, where she most recently served as an Office Manager. Beyond work, Celeste has a deep love for the arts—she spent 12 years dancing flamenco, performed in Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta, and was crowned Jr. Spirit of Fiesta in 2002!
When she’s not at work, Celeste enjoys shopping, reading, interior design, and spending time with her boyfriend of almost three years, her children, family, and friends.
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🚒 Future Firefighters – Don’t Miss This! 🔥
Registration for the 2025 Junior Fire Academy opens May 1 at 9:00 a.m.!
🧯 FREE week-long sessions for ages 13–15 featuring:
✅ Leadership & confidence building
✅ Hands-on training + field trips
✅ CPR, first aid & more
✅ BBQ Fridays!
📅 Sessions:
• July 14–18
• July 21–25
• July 28–Aug 1
📍 VCFD Training Center, Camarillo
🕗 Mon–Thurs: 8 AM–4 PM | Fri: 9 AM–1 PM
⚠️ Only 30 spots per session!
📩 Questions? Email: JFA@ventura.org
📝 Register now by clicking the button down below:
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🌿 Grow Your Own Mexican Kitchen Garden! 🌿
Attention Santa Paula Residents! Join the De Colores Intergenerational Workshops for a hands-on gardening experience.
Learn to grow traditional fruits, vegetables, and herbs used in Mexican cuisine while exploring eco-friendly gardening techniques.
📅 Workshop Dates:
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Poder Popular, 113 N. Mill, Santa Paula, CA
🎟 Free Event! Space is limited.
📞 Reserve Your Spot: Contact Vanessa at 805-658-2266.
Learn gardening fundamentals, eco-friendly tips, and enjoy hands-on activities. Don’t miss out!
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☀️ Summer vibes are calling, Santa Paula! ☀️
Get ready for 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬 — a FREE, family-friendly music series under the sunset skies! 🌅
📅 Save the dates:
🎵 June 20 | July 18 | August 22
🕕 Fridays | 6–9 PM
📍 Santa Paula Creek Sports Park | 301 Harvest Loop
🌮 Food trucks | 🎶 Live entertainment
Bands to be announced soon!
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🌼 Attention Santa Paula Residents
Check out the Santa Paula Senior Center's May Newsletter for exciting upcoming activities and events for our senior community!
📌 Upcoming Highlights:
🧘♀️ Wellness Fair – May 7th | 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
🎬 Movie Day – May 23rd | 1:30 PM
🌳 Santa Paula Beautiful – June 21st
🚌 Chumash Trip – June 25th
🟣 The Santa Paula Senior Advisory Committee continues to advocate for the well-being of our senior residents. Meetings are held the 1st Thursday of each month.
📍 For more info, contact our Recreation Coordinator at:
📞 (805) 933-4226 ext. 356
📧 ATALAMANTES@SPCITY.ORG
📍 530 W. Main Street, Santa Paula, CA
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📢 Attention Ventura County Job Seekers!
Don’t miss the Spring Job & Resource Fair happening on Thursday, May 22, 2025 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties (1401 N. Rice Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93004)!
✅ Explore job opportunities
✅ Access valuable community resources
✅ Get on-site medical screenings
📩For more info, contact Erika Cabral at ecabral@goodwillvsb.org or (805) 981-0130 ext. 180
🎯 Register now by clicking the button down below:
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The City of Santa Paula Parks and Recreation Summer Guide 2025 is here!
From June through August, the City of Santa Paula’s Parks & Recreation Department is offering a full lineup of exciting youth and adult programs, free community events, and seasonal fun for the whole family!
Inside the guide you’ll find:
- Youth classes like gymnastics, Tae Kwon Do, volleyball, flag football, and more
- Adult fitness, gardening, and drop-in sports
- Senior programs including chair yoga, writing club, knitting, Zumba, and free movie days
- Free summer events like Concerts in the Park, Fourth of July Fireworks, and Movie Nights at the Park
📲 Register online: santapaula.recdesk.com
📞 Questions? Call us at (805) 933-4226 ext. 350
📍 Or visit us at 530 West Main Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060
Let’s make this a summer to remember, Santa Paula! ☀️
| | POLICE & EMERGENCY SERVICES | | |
Oxnard Knights of Columbus Officer of the Year - Officer Brittany Najera
On behalf of the Santa Paula Police Department, we proudly recognize Officer Brittany Najera, who was selected as Officer of the Year and honored at the Knights of Columbus Public Safety Night. She was nominated for her outstanding public engagement, teamwork, productivity, and for consistently going above and beyond in service to the community.
Congratulations, Officer Najera, and thank you for your dedication to Santa Paula.
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Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer of the Year - Officer Eddie Acevedo
On Monday, April 21, the Ventura County Behavioral Health Advisory Board held a recognition ceremony honoring law enforcement personnel from across the county with the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer of the Year award.
We are proud to share that Officer Acevedo was nominated by his supervisors for this distinguished recognition, highlighting his exceptional service, professionalism, and commitment to supporting individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.
Congratulations, Officer Acevedo, and thank you for your dedication to Santa Paula.
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🕊️ Santa Paula Police Memorial Event🕊️
The Santa Paula Police Department invites the community to a solemn ceremony honoring fallen law enforcement officers.
📅 Saturday, May 10, 2025
🕘 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
📍 Police Memorial Monument (Santa Barbara St. & Mill St.)
The ceremony will include:
🔹 Honor Guard
🔹 Bagpiper Corps Procession
🔹 Reading of the Names of the Fallen
🔹 Ringing of the Ceremonial Bell
🔹 Dove Release
🔹 Playing of Taps
👮♂️ Law enforcement attendees: Class A uniform with cover is requested.
📣 Open to the public — all are welcome to attend.
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🚨 Attention Santa Paula! 🚨
Want to build emergency skills and strengthen your community?
📢 CERT Training Applications Now Open!
Join this free, hands-on 6-week course in partnership with Ventura Police & Fire Departments. Learn how to prepare, respond, and recover during a disaster.
📍 Ventura PD HQ – 1425 Dowell Dr.
📅 Wednesdays, May 21 – June 25
🕕 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🔥 Final drill: Saturday, June 28
✅ Open to Santa Paula & Ventura residents
✅ Taught by local emergency pros
📲 Apply by May 7 by clicking on the button down below:
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📅 Check out our video about How to Submit a Calendar Request 📅
📅 Got a Community Event Coming Up?
Help us, help you, spread the word!
In this quick video, we walk you through how to submit your event to the City of Santa Paula’s official calendar on our website. It only takes a few minutes and is a great way to get more eyes on your event!
✅ Add your event details
✅ Upload flyers or links
✅ Reach more community members
Let’s keep Santa Paula connected, one event at a time.
🔗 Please note: Event submissions are reviewed, and publication is subject to City approval.
Click the button down below to submit your first event today:
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🎉✂️ Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in Santa Paula! ✂️🎉
On Thursday, April 10, 2025, we had the honor of celebrating the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Rocket Bins! ✂️
The event marked an exciting moment as we welcomed this new business to Santa Paula, located at 969 East Main Street.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to commemorate this special occasion and show support for our growing community.
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📸 Enfoque: Voces Indígenas Mexicanas del Condado de Ventura | In Focus: Mexican Indigenous Voices of Ventura County
The Santa Paula Agricultural Museum will be hosting the opening of this highly anticipated exhibition featuring over 40 stunning photographic portraits by internationally acclaimed photographer Diego Huerta.
These portraits celebrate the vibrant and resilient Mexican Indigenous communities of Ventura County—a tribute to culture, history, and identity you won’t want to miss!
📅 Exhibition Hours: Thursday–Sunday, 11 AM – 5 PM, every week until 2026
📍 Location: Santa Paula Agricultural Museum, 926 Railroad Ave, Santa Paula, CA
This exhibition is made possible thanks to the support of Hofer Properties and Ventura Auto Center, the Busch Family Foundation, Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Gabriella Navarro-Busch and Peter Busch, and Vida Newspaper.
For more information click the button down below:
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FireSafe Council - Firewise USA Monthly Workshops
Join the Firewise USA® Live Monthly Workshop to learn how to protect your home and community from wildfires! This month’s session is all about New Year’s Networking!
📅 Next Workshop: May 16th
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM (Zoom)
👥 Facilitator: Stephen Watson, Executive Director, Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council
Connect with fellow resident leaders, share experiences, and gain insights on the Firewise process!
Don't miss this opportunity to strengthen your wildfire preparedness network.
Hosted by the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council 🔗 venturafiresafe.org
📌 Register by clicking down below:
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💡 Did You Know? 💡
If your car breaks down on U.S. 101 or CA-118 during rush hour, the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) offers Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) to help — at NO COST to you!
FSP is there to quickly assist with disabled vehicles and keep traffic moving safely.
📞 805.477.4174
| | UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS | | | |
City Council Meetings
Join us on 5/07 & 05/21 at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers, 970 E Ventura St, Santa Paula.
Participate by:
- Watching live on Spectrum Channel 10
Interpretation services available!
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Local Business Roundtable
Don't forget to join us on Thursday, May 29 for the Local Business Roundtable at the Glen Tavern Inn, taking place from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM!
Hear updates on various projects and developments from local businesses, and much more!
To receive updates on upcoming business roundtables, please sign up at:
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Free Admission to Santa Paula Museums
Don't forget on the first Sunday of every month, get free admission to all Santa Paula Museums!
Mark your calendars for 06/08/2025, and 07/06/2025!
Explore: Santa Paula Art Museum, the Agriculture Museum of Ventura County, and the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula.
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Santa Paula Beautiful is back on June 21!
Join us to help beautify our city—volunteer projects coming soon, and lunch is on us! This will all take place on Saturday, June 21st from 9AM to 12PM.
Pre-register by clicking on the button down below:
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Feel to Heal: Exploring Loss and What Comes Next in Every Stage of Our Lives
Join the Feel to Heal presentation on Friday, May 16 in Moorpark to explore grief, resilience, and self-care—free event with Zumba, resources, and Spanish interpretation.
Register by clicking the button down below:
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Swap Meet Justice Returns!
Swap Meet Justice returns with free legal services, community resources, and Know Your Rights workshops—don’t miss it!
🗓️ Upcoming dates:
4/27, 5/18, 6/29, 7/27, 8/24, 9/28, 10/26, 11/30
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Santa Paula Unified School District - Adult Education
The Santa Paula Unified School District is now offering free beginning Spanish classes for adults on Mondays and Wednesdays at Isbell Middle School (221 S. 4th Street Santa Paula, CA 93060) from 4:40 PM to 6:30 PM.
Registrations are ongoing - call us at (805) 933-8990 for more information!
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Ventura College is now offering Free English Classes!
Learning English just got a whole lot easier! Free English classes are now being offered in Ventura, Santa Paula, and Piru!
For more information and question contact Valeria Ramirez at 805-289-6100 or click on the button down below for more information:
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The City of Santa Paula is always thrilled to welcome new employees to our team! With a variety of job opportunities available, there's truly a place for everyone to grow and contribute to our community.
Here are some of the positions currently open. Come be a part of something great in Santa Paula!
Positions Available:
- Facility Attendant
- Water Systems Operator I-IV
- Animal Services Coordinator
- Police Officer (LATERAL/ACADEMY COMPLETE)
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When are City Hall Offices Closed?
Please note that City Hall will be closed on May 16th, 26th, and 30th, 2025.
City Hall's business hours are available on the City's website. Click the button below to check it out!
| | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES | | Click on our partner logos for a complete listing of webinars and trainings, many of which are free for local business owners. | | |
📢 The City of Santa Paula’s Public Information Office wants to hear from you!
What topics or issues would you like to learn more about in future editions of our newsletter?
Your input helps us keep the community informed and connected.
📝 Click the button below to take a quick survey and share your thoughts with us!
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Public Information Office
pio@spcity.org
970 E Ventura Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060
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