Santa Paula Blog

How come the developer of the low income appartment buildings on Santa Anna street never finished painting the buildings? Its visible from the freeway and looks like an abandoned building.
 

In checking with our Building and Safety Department, the building is painted. The grey it is painted apparently looks better standing in front of the building versus looking at it driving down the freeway.
 

this might not be the right forum, but i can't seem to find any info. on the de colores festival. are we not having one this year? thanks!
 

The De Colores Art Festival in Santa Paula ended in 2006.
 

Why does the city website information regarding Measure G say that this is a special election? Isn't there also a primary for congressional district(s)?
 

General elections in Santa Paula are in November on even numbered years. Any other election is a special election.
 

My family and I are very seriously considering moving to Santa Paula within the next year, and I want to find out more about your town from people who actually live there. What are some things that you like & dislike about Santa Paula? Does anyone have any advice for finding out more about the town? If you don't want to post your answer on the blog, you can email me directly at baffafamily@sbcglobal.net Thanks!
 

What happened at the recent hearing (5/16/2008) regarding the lawsuit that Cabrillo has filed against the city? I think the answer needs to be posted on the SP blog page.
 

Judge conducted hearing which lasted all morning and after lunch he decided to take the case under submission. He must rule under California law in 90 days.
 

Which council members will be up for election this November?
 

There is a June 5 article in the Star Free Press mentioning new state storm-water pollution rules for Ventura County cities that could cost millions of dollars for storm drain modifications and result in hundreds of dollars in higher taxes each year for homeowners.

If the rules are adopted, cities could be asked to retrofit their storm drains with costly water purification devices at a cost of millions.

If cities fail to comply with the new regulations, the state could fine them around $30,000 per day per storm drain.

How far out of compliance are our storm drains and what could this cost each Santa Paulan?
 

Councilmembers Luna and Procter are up for election in November, 2008.
 

Re: Stormwater - The City of Santa Paula is working with the other cities and the County of Ventura to address issues of cost and compliance with provisions of a new stormwater permit that is currently in draft form. It is not known at this point what it will cost to comply with the final provisions of this new permit.
 

How come the Santa Paula Police Department has a web site and the Fire Department does not? I recall they used to have a nice one.
 

Fire Department is working on a revised site.
 

What's going on 10th street near the intersections with Mill St. and Loma Vista? Looks like a graffiti artist went wild. What is planned for these areas? Street repair, water line or sewer line placement? When will the work take place?

Thanks
 

I stopped by the library today to check out DVDs for the last 2 City Council meetings. The library did not have them; in fact, the only one they have is 2 June 08! Somewhere, someone has dropped the ball. Please advise when the remainder of the DVDs will be available at the library.
 

What did the judge rule about the lawsuit that Cabrillo has filed against the city? The Judge conducted a hearing on May 17, and you said he must rule under California law in 90 days. Times up!
 

Is there anything that can be done about all these vacant houses (rentals and otherwise) in santa paula? Seems like many are becoming dumping grounds... most notably 504 E. Santa Barbara Street--large trash items are beginning to collect in the driveway. I called the listed realtor, Quantum, I believe--they did nothing about the trash. Also, 2 doors down, at 508 E. Santa Barbara, which looks empty as well, the front yard is becoming a trash heap--and a dresser is on the boulevard there. It's been there for months! Can the city find out who owns/manages such properties and force them to keep things clean/decent?
 

The City had some equipment problems. DVDs should be up to date now at Library.
 

To 8/28 re: Cabrillo lawsuit: Judge made preliminary ruling in early August. See Ventura County Star article
 

To 8/29: I have passed on info to our Building and Safety and Public Works Department for enforcement.
 

I wonder why Victoria Shoe Repair was cited, for a small piece of furniture, near the entrance to his business, when 2-3 other businesses were not, for the same alleged "violation" ?
I saw the City Council Meeting & it seems Staff also had some concerns;I now understand that 14 other businesses that have been cited since Jan. of this year, but question is, when Mr. Victoria was cited, were the other 2-3 businesses that had similar violations, if not the same, as written, were they cited at or about the same time as was his business ? Because I heard, not from Mr. Victoria, that they were not.

Thanks very much
 

Do we still have farmer's market in Santa Paula that used to be next to the train depot? I was in Ojai and went to their farmer's market which was great, would be nice if we had one here.
 

No. Unfortunately not enough people attended and purchased goods at the farmer's market here to support it.
 

My understanding was that use of the skate park required use of safety equipment...helmet, pads, etc. I recall seeing a lot of such equipment in the past, but now, it seems that none of the kids are using safety equipment. Is this now permissible. Is there a bulletproof waiver that absolves the city of liability?
 

Safety equipment still required. Skaters are cited periodically for not having equipment and the park is closed for non-compliance. The City has immunity from liability for injuries under provisions of California State law.
 

I can attest that this weekend I saw approximately 20-25 skaters in the skate park, and I did not see a single set of protective gear.

Since there is no potential liability, the approach may well be to let the safety restriction slide. If that is a conscious decision, I can respect that.

On the other hand, if you would like to police this, but just have better things for folks to do, I'm sure people would be happy to help by submitting photos to assist the city in taking care of enforcement.


Thanks!
 

I would rather see the PD spend their time going after real criminals rather than the kids at the skate park. It should be up to the parents to check in on them and make sure they have their gear on, the police are not babysitters. The question should be where are the parents?
 

I agree, in part, re: parents & their children, saftey gear, etc. but as I have seen done on more than one ocassion, the children shed their gear when they leave home & their parents never know! That said, if not on a call, the SPPD could drive by, & if kids are without the proper gear, then issue them a warning, get the parents names & contact info. to then Fwd. a copy on, in case the child "loses" it. Then have the parents sign it, return it to the PD & if the same child(ren) is caught again, then it becomes a small fine, then maybe the parents can really instill the value of the safety gear. Perhaps said fine can be taken from the child's allowance ?!
And what about the law that was passed re: kids on bikes, wearing helmets ? I see kids all the time w/out helmets, the PD drives by, not on a call either(I have a scanner). I see it in Ventura as well; so much for that one & trying to save a child's life!
The laws are only as good as they are enforced.
 

Enforcement of various laws and community policies is not an "either-or" proposition.

Parental guidance would be nice, but that is apparently not happening.

If the city wants to leave use of safety equipment up to the individual, they should simply adjust the posted policy accordingly, rather than subject the kids to sporadic, random and arbitrary enforcement.
 

When will the city start to enforce it noise ordinances and start to fine Motorcycles with loud modified exhausts. It is against CA state law to modify your exhaust system on a motorcycle. It seems that the loudest are the ones with the vertically flattened exhaust tips.
 

I AGREE WITH THE LAST COMMENT 100%
I live on Ojai Rd. and EVERYTIME my baby sleeps, he is woken up by these LOUD motorcycles. I have let it slide, but I have finally HAD IT. The latest incident was 10 MINUTES AGO!
It is worse on the weekends. If I need to take video so the City of Santa Paula can see how loud they truly are, I will be more than happy to.
 

Wally, is everything okay ? You answered a few Posts, after mine on ther 6th, then there have been several others, including one from me, yet that has not appeared or the other ones answewred either.

Thanks
 

These are the biggest problems the city has ?!?!? Kids skateboarding without helmets and loud motorcycles. If this is the biggest problem the citizens can come up with then this sounds like a city I would want to move to.
 

How about starting a blog item for Bond Measure Q, so residents can commwent on it? There is nothing on the city website regarding this $39-million measure
 

Hmmm, not sure what's wrong here Wally; you Posted my original query, never answeredd it here, posted other people's thiuf=ghts & questions after mine, but still did not answer my query re: Victoria Shoe Repair, I questioned again & you Posted it, so it seems you're looking at them. I also responded to Joe S & annoymous, yet neither of those have been Posted. Are we all, or am I, doing something wrong here ?
 

How about a Friday evening or Saturday morning Farmers market?
Give it another shot!
 

Could you post a Safety Officer on the crosswalk to the High School? The kids need to know what or how to use one. Mainly 5th and Santa Barbara St. There seems to be a crosswalk but kids just walk on the opposite side where there is no crosswalk or in the middle of the street.
If they get hit by accident due to the fact that they were Jaywalking who would be at fault?
If they see acop they will use the crosswalk but if there is no cop they just walk wherever they want.
 

Iwas wondering if the City has a General Plan and if it can be reviewed by the public?
 

Santa Paula General Plan can be found here.
 

Re. crosswalks, Every intersection is a crosswalk, wheather it's painted or not!
 

What happened to Verizon Fios. I do not know when it was stated but last I heard on this blog was Fios was to be in SP by June '08. Can you enlighten on this subject?
 

Verizon delayed their plans. Now probably first part of 2010.
 

Thank you, Wally, for the information. Guess I'll stick with Turner for now.
Oh, just thought of this, what effect does going with cable - vs. - Fios - vs. - satellite TV with regard to fees paid to the City of SP?
 

City receives franchise fees from cable and likely Fios. No fees from satellite.
 

It's time for an update re. the audits re. the use of fuel in City vehicles (esp. fire engines) and the $400k grant to CEDC. Numbers please!
 

CEDC audit on Council agenda on Monday 12/15. Gas usage info with budget update at end of January.
 

The intersection sign on 10th street by Vista Point has come off one of its bolts, which puts it halfway down the pole. Please fix this, as the intersection at Monte Vista and 10th is still very dangerous for us walkers, as well as motorists.
 

Public Works staff has been notified.
 

The LA Times today has a story about the city of Lancaster. It is proposing an ordinance targeting owners of pit bulls and Rotweilers, saying that they are "potentially dangerous" and "vicious", and favored by gang members and used for intimidation.

I strongly agree and recommend that Santa Paula adopt the same ordinance.
 

The stop sign at 10th and Loma Vista appears to be too small for drivers to see as it is rare to find someone stop at it. Would it be possible to add led lights to the stop signs or maybe a really big pictogram explaining what to do at a stop sign? The 10th street cross traffic is dangerous for pedestrians and cars turning onto tenth.
 

To the comment on the pitbulls and rotweilers - I am not a gang member, dont deal drugs, dont have guns but yet I have a pitbull so you are telling me just because some person thinks that pitbulls and rotweilers are "potentially" (which means by the way could be) dangerous we should accept a ordinace? Yeah no how about we crack down on the people who DO use them for intimidation. When will people learn that these dogs are not born mean and violent, people make them this way by training them. If SP were to propose a ordinance on this and I had to get rid of my dogs I would move just as fast.
 

Re: the Meghan Mendoza comment: Pit bulls are born with (meaning genetic) the potential to be mean and violent. In contrast, golden retrievers don't have this genetic component. Why own a pit bull when you can have a golden retreiver? Why take the chance?
 

I keep seeing these posts for mountain lion spottings and I have to wonder when is Fish and Game gonna step up and handle the situation. I hear on the scanner each and every time the police go out on these calls and they call FG right away. They show up on scene and they don't do anything but watch. I don't expect the police to handle it after shooting that cub and everyone crying for F&G, which is fine, but they need to do something! When are the city leaders gonna call them up and tell them to tranquilize and relocate them. It's obvious the lions are here to stay. The only question is how long before a child or adult is hurt by one of these things.

I'm sure you have received lots adn lots of blogs about hte mountain lions but its time something is done. I'm not talking about killing them, but if FG are teh experts why arent they doing anything ?!?!?!?
 

So Wally I think Santa Paula should be involved in Earth Hour this year. For anyone who doesn't know what Earth Hour is, it is on Sat the 28th from 8:30-9:30pm, and all that needs to be done is the non-important lights of the city and homes get turned out, and stores can agree to also participate. I think this would be a great thing for all of Santa Paula to come together to support this great cause for the WWF!
 

We came to visit the Pierce Brothers, Santa Paula Cemetery yesterday for Mother's Day - I have many family members that have been there since 1864 or longer - My question is why is the cemetery not being cared for any longer - it was A COMPLETE MESS - OVERGROWN GRASS WEEDS - ETC. SHOCKING??? Who do we contact to take action against?
 

The cemetery manager at Pierce Brothers Cemetery can be reached at 805) 525-5258.
 

With the City streets in such bad condition, the current misuse of the 500 block of Bradley St. for the cleaning and servicing of large trucks is not appropriate. The trucks are bad for the already potholed street. The trucks are cleaned mostly on weekends and the dirty water is not reclaimed but goes down the gutter to the river. It might be added , the things are noisy!