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COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
City Service Updates
In the City of Ventura, the health and safety of our community is a priority. It is with careful thought and planning that the City proclaimed a local State of Emergency on Sunday March 15, 2020 in response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The declaration allows critical services and operations to continue while reinforcing best practices identified by the CDC and Ventura County Public Health Officials and is simply a tool to enable the City to coordinate an effective response and allow for access to state and federal funds.
We continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community and are working closely with Ventura County Public Health Officials to ensure our community receives credible information and guidance during this time. This page has been developed to share the latest updates and information connected with City services during this dynamic situation.
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City of Ventura Ordinance Updates
March 30, 2020 - Emergency Ordinance - "Temporary Eviction Moratorium"
March 30, 2020 - Emergency Ordinance - Suspending automatic approval deadlines for all land use, subdivision, and zoning applications, applications for installation of wireless telecommunication equipment, and issuance of building permits.
Meal Services
Youth
Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) is providing drive-up and walk-up meal service for children ages 1-18 at the following six locations throughout the District:
- Atlas Elementary School, 760 Jazmin Avenue, Ventura
- Montalvo Elementary, 2050 Grand Avenue, Ventura
- Will Rogers Elementary, 316 Howard Street, Ventura
- Data Middle School, 2060 Cameron Street, Ventura
- Sheridan Way Elementary, 573 Sheridan Way, Ventura
- Sunset K-8 School, 400 Sunset Ave., Oak View
More information can be found on VUSD’s website at: www.venturausd.org
Seniors
While the Ventura Avenue Adult Center will be closed through April 12, home delivered meal service will continue and regular congregate meal participants can pick-up a meal, Monday through Friday, at the Ventura Avenue Adult Center from 11:00am - 1:00pm, while supplies last.
For more information, please contact the Ventura Avenue Adult Center at: 805-648-3035.
VCAAA Food and Supply Pantry
The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) is now offering a full-service delivery or door-to-car Food and Supply Pantry at no cost for Ventura County residents who are 60 and older and people with disabilities. A two week food supply will be provided. Available items include: fresh produce, dry goods, and canned food. Toilet paper is also available; limit 1-roll per person.
How it works: call the VCAAA at 805-477-7300 to identify needs and schedule a time for pick-up or delivery.
For pick-up orders, drive up to the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) office at: 646 County Square Drive in Ventura. A staff member or volunteer will either deliver the supplies to the doorstep or bring the supplies to your car, with minimal or no person-to-person contact.
Additional Resources for Seniors
For additional information and resources for Seniors, please visit the Senior Services Updates page.
Public Meetings
Most City sponsored public meetings scheduled March 28 - April 3 will be rescheduled.
As we reschedule and plan future meetings, the Brown Act modifications in Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-25-20 will be considered, allowing the community to participate in Public Meetings in a way that helps reduce the spread of COVID-19.
City Council Meetings
There are three ways to watch City Council meetings from your home and two ways to share your comments on the items being discussed at the meeting.
How to watch the City Council meeting LIVE from your home:
- Join the City Council WebEx meeting LIVE using the link that will be provided here, and in the meeting agenda, the Friday before each meeting.
- Watch the meeting while it’s streaming live at: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/718/Videos . An archive of this video will also be available at the same link a day or two after the meeting.
- Watch the meeting live on Cable TV - Channel 15 (your Local Government Channel). The meeting will also be replayed as listed on the CAPS media schedule.
How to participate in the City Council meeting and submit a public comment:
Before the Meeting: to submit a Public Comment and have it read by City Council and placed into the item’s record, submit a comment form or email by 4:00pm on the day of the City Council meeting.
To submit your comment(s) to the City Clerk, please use the form located at the following link: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1829/City-CouncilMeeting-Electronic-Comment- OR send an email to cityclerk@cityofventura.ca.gov (up to 1000 characters).
When sending an email, please indicate in the Subject Line the Agenda Item Number (e.g. Item No. 8A). Your form/email will be read by City Council and placed into the item’s record at the meeting.
During the Meeting: when watching the meeting live using WebEx or live stream video, you can submit a Public Comment for items either not on the day’s agenda (item 7 – Public Communications) or comments on a specific agenda item as it is being heard.
To submit your comment(s) to the City Clerk, please use the form located at the following link: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1829/City-CouncilMeeting-Electronic-Comment- OR send an email to cityclerk@cityofventura.ca.gov (up to 1000 characters).
Every effort will be made to read your comment into the record, but some comments may not be read due to time limitations. All comments received by the conclusion of the agenda item will be made part of the meeting record.
To contact City Clerk staff, call 805-658-4787 or email cityclerk@cityofventura.ca.gov
Building and Safety, Planning, Land Development, and Transportation Divisions
Starting on Monday, March 23, 2020, all applications, plan submittals, and resubmittals for the Community Development and Public Works Departments must be submitted electronically in order to allow development review services to continue during the Stay at Home order.
To provide the best customer service we can during this time, the Community Development and Public Works Departments can be reached through one common phone line and email account.
Phone: 805-654-7869, between 7:30am and 5:30pm
Email: devservices@cityofventura.ca.gov
Staff will be available to answer your call, provide you a response during normal business hours, and direct your inquiry to the right people to take care of your needs.
Building and Safety Division: Daily Inspection Schedule
The Building and Safety Division now prepares a daily Inspection Schedule that lists the estimated time-frame your inspector will arrive to your site. This Schedule is updated every work day before 8:30am and can be found here.
City Parks & Facilities
City parks and beaches CLOSED to the Public:
- All City Parks
- All City Beaches
- Beach Promenade
- Ventura Pier
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Wildlife Ponds
The actions of a few can take the lives of many. In an effort to decrease the spread of COVID-19, the City of Ventura is closing all City parks and beaches until further notice. This includes the Promenade, Pier, and Wastewater Treatment Plant wildlife ponds.
Closures like this are difficult, but we need to take the health and safety of our community seriously. Please follow the advice of County Public Health officials and help protect our doctors, nurses, and first responders. Stay home, wash your hands frequently, and practice social and physical distancing of 6-feet or more when conducting essential tasks.
The efforts and sacrifices you make now will save the lives of people you know and love in the future. Thank you and Stay Ventura Strong!
City facilities CLOSED to the Public include:
- City Hall
- Sanjon Maintenance Yard
- Albinger Archeological Museum
- Barranca Vista Center
- Leo Robbins Community Sailing Center
- Olivas Adobe
- Ventura Avenue Adult Center
- Ventura Aquatic Center
- Westpark Community Center
While our City facilities are closed, community members seeking City services can use email, online, or telephone methods to communicate with City staff.
California Public Utilities Commission
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has ordered energy, water, sewer, and communications companies under its jurisdiction to halt customer disconnections due to non-payment; this includes all cell phone companies. This action is to protect people from being shut off from non-payment because they are unable to report to work due to illness, quarantine, or social distancing and applies retroactively to March 4, 2020 when Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency.
Copies of letters sent to the utility companies and all other updates on matters concerning COVID-19 in CPUC’s jurisdiction can be found here.
Utility Payments
Ventura Water customers can pay their water bills using the following options:
- Drop Box locate in front of Ventura City Hall at 501 Poli Street, Ventura, CA 93001
- Mail to: Ventura Water, P.O. Box 612770, San Jose, CA 95161-2770
- 3rd Party payment options:
- Online at cityofventura.net/online_services
- Toll-free phone at 1-844-278-9127
3rd Party payment options will be available using a checking or savings account, debit, or credit card (VISA or Mastercard). Please note that a $3.95 convenience fee will be charged for each online transaction and a $4.25 convenience fee will be charged for each phone transaction. The fee is paid directly to the processing company.
For questions call Ventura Water’s Customer Care at: 805-667-6500
Recreation Programs, Rentals & Services
All City sponsored programs, classes, rentals, permits, and tours will be cancelled March 16 through May 4. A full refund will be processed for all programs, classes, events, rentals, permits, and tours that have not yet started. A prorated refund will be processed for all classes and programs that are currently in session.
For additional information, please contact the Parks, Recreation, and Community Partnerships Department main office at: 805-658-4726 or parksandrec@cityofventura.ca.gov
City Sponsored Community Events
All City sponsored events and public gatherings have been cancelled from March 16 – May 4 to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
For additional information, please contact the Parks, Recreation, and Community Partnerships Department main office at: 805-658-4726 or parksandrec@cityofventura.ca.gov.
City Recruitment
The City of Ventura is continuing to accept online applications for positions currently listed on the City’s Career page. If you are interested in applying for an open position, please do so before the advertised closing date. The City’s Career Page can be accessed by clicking on the following link. http://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs
Please note that due to the dynamic circumstances of the Coronavirus, the scheduling of interview panels and department interviews may be delayed. Additionally, if the City identifies a need to extend a recruitment filing deadline, it will be noted on the individual recruitment. If you have any questions regarding the City’s recruitment activity during this time, please email recruitment@cityofventura.ca.gov and a member of the City’s HR staff will respond as soon as possible.
For additional information, please contact: 805-654-7853 or HR@ci.ventura.ca.us
Business Tax Office
The Business Tax Office will continue to provide services via the following methods:
Call: 805-658-4715 for the following:
- Questions about your business license account
- Assistance filling out an application
- Make a credit card payment
Email: bl@cityofventura.ca.gov for the following:
- Questions about your account
- Submitting completed applications
- Business License Applications
- Sending in TOT payment forms
Any transactions requiring a payment should be followed up with an over-the-phone credit card payment, or by mailing a check to our office at:
Business Tax Office
501 Poli Street
Ventura CA 93001
Contact UsCity Managers Office Phone: 805-654-7740 |