Our Message
VC COLAB is a group of agricultural and other business folks who have come together out of frustration with the system. We formed this 501 c (6) non-profit organization to work with public agencies and decision makers in Ventura County to provide regulatory solutions for business and private property owners.
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Our goal is to be informed, credible and well-funded as we analyze new and revised land use and other regulations proposed by the agencies. Poorly conceived regulations cause unintended consequences that hamstring businesses, stifle job creation and increase government bureaucracy causing constant pressure for tax increases. Through your membership and contributions we will hire respected professional scientists, attorneys and engineers to critically review guidelines, ordinances, policies and projects and to help agencies draft reasonable regulations. In addition, through our “Newsletter” and “Our Stories” pages we will bring sunshine to the permit processing system by posting real accounts, exposing the consequences of unreasonable rules to our families and businesses in the county.
Hiring respected professionals to analyze complicated regulations is expensive, time consuming and we believe is best accomplished with a coalition of like-minded business members. We know you would rather spend your valuable time running your business. Therefore, we invite you to become a part of our coalition and help fund our efforts to represent your regulatory issues. Please join us and help support our agenda for change!
Don’t put it off – Please join us TODAY!
AnnouncementsRead Our May 2013 Newsletter
Posted on 02. May, 2013 | 0 Comments
May 2013 Newsletter
Find out about hydraulic fracturing “fracking” in California and Ventura County.
Read our article on Marz Farm’s Innovery Ranch berry operation and the challenge of farming in the urban interface.
VC COLAB Spring Event
Posted on 18. Apr, 2013 | 0 Comments
You are invited!
VC COLAB’s Spring Event at Beautiful Rancho Matilija
Courtesy of the Gramckow Family
SATURDAY, JUNE 8th. – 3:30 to 7:30 PM
12410 Ranch Road, Ojai
Come and enjoy!
SOCIAL TIME WITH MUSIC BESIDE THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE
CHICKEN & TRI-TIP BBQ
ANTIQUE TRACTOR PARADE
No Host Beer, Wine and Margaritas
FEATURED SPEAKER: TIMOTHY SANDEFUR
(Principal Attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation)
ONLY $35.00 PER TICKET
PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS!!!
Tickets on Sale at http://www.colabvc.org/event-tickets/
VC COLAB Comments to the US EPA on TMDLs
Posted on 28. Jan, 2013 | 0 Comments
Click HERE for VC COLAB Comments submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on TMDLs that will affect Agriculture, Horse Owners, Cattle Ranchers and all residents in Ojai and the Ventura River Watershed
» Read MoreEPA Releases Draft “Flow” TMDL for the Ventura River
Posted on 26. Dec, 2012 | 0 Comments
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft “Flow” TMDL for the Ventura River TRUMPING a parallel ”Algae” TMDL adopted in December by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. If adopted, the regulation will have serious implications for farmers, horse owners, cattle grazers and septic system users. The comment period ends at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2012. VC COLAB will submit a comment letter by the deadline. More details will follow in our January Newsletter.
» Read MoreComment on Pumping/Diversion Draft MOA Framework
Posted on 02. Oct, 2012 | 0 Comments
VC COLAB submitted a letter to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board on 9-24-12 commenting on the draft Memorandum of Agreement Framework proposed as an alternative to TMDL’s.
» Read MoreVentura council OKs leasing city land to grow row crops, avocados
Posted on 18. Apr, 2013 | No Comments
Arlene Martinez/VC Star/4-16-13: …On Monday night, the City Council voted to accept a joint proposal submitted by Williams/Bookwalter, Finch Farms and Rutledge Farms. The three, all with farming operations in Ventura County, plan to grow 78 acres of organic row crops and eight acres of Haas avocado trees. The 10-year lease, which starts at $43,500 for the first year and grows every year, will bring in just under $1.6 million over the term of the contract… (Full Article)
» Read MoreUnited Water won’t release September groundwater for first time since 1989
Posted on 18. Apr, 2013 | No Comments
Carol Lawrence/VC Star/4-17-13: Residents and growers in several Ventura County cities will likely see water in their wells drop and pumping charges rise in September because a yearly release of groundwater will not happen this year for the first time since 1989. Last winter’s light rainfall dried the Santa Clara river to dirt in several places and did not fill Lake Piru enough for the United Water Conservation District…(Full Article)
» Read MoreJerry Brown starts push to revamp California’s environmental law
Posted on 18. Apr, 2013 | No Comments
Evan Halper/LA Times/4-17-13: The governor is restrained in his expectations, however, acknowledging that the appetite for such change ‘is bigger outside the state Capitol than it is inside.’ As Gov. Jerry Brown toured China over the last week, he repeatedly contrasted that nation’s speedy construction of modern transportation systems and other key public works with what he characterized as a lack of vision back home (Full Article).
» Read MoreNo pesticide exposure found in Somis case after 9-month probe
Posted on 10. Apr, 2013 | No Comments
Kathleen Wilson/VC Star/4-4-13: After a nine-month investigation, county inspectors say they are unable to determine whether a Somis couple reporting numerous health problems were exposed to pesticides…“Claims of exposure have been consistent regardless of whether any application has occurred and regardless of how far away the applications were that did occur,” the report stated..(Full Article)
» Read MoreFishing for Wildlife Lawsuits
Posted on 14. Mar, 2013 | No Comments
Review & Outlook/WSJ/3-10-13: The Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service has resurrected a Clinton-era tactic known as “sue and settle.” With this strategy, outside green groups friendly to the Administration sue the government, demanding a particular regulatory action (Full Article)… Businesses and property owners most hurt by the settlement are barred from the talks; the public gets no input. Is this a great country or what?
» Read MoreAbuse pollutes state environmental law
Posted on 12. Mar, 2013 | No Comments
George Skelton/LA Times/3-11-2013: The California Environmental Quality Act, signed into law by Gov. Ronald Reagan, is being used for unintended purposes and needs fixing (Full Article)…State Sen. Jerry Hill grew up in San Francisco…Hill wants to return CEQA to what it originally was: a check on environmental degradation. It gradually veered out of control as various interests learned to use the landmark law for their own non-environmental agendas…
» Read MoreImmigration Poison Pill: Big Labor’s ‘commission’ to kill a guest-worker program
Posted on 22. Feb, 2013 | No Comments
Review & Outlook/WSJ/2-21-13: The AFL-CIO and Chamber of Commerce on Thursday released a set of immigration reform principles, and the press is calling it a breakthrough. But don’t be fooled. The real story is that the backroom talks failed, and Big Labor is still holding out for a political commission to run any new guest-worker program (Full Article).
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Pesticides trigger rift between Somis residents and farm
Posted on 05. Feb, 2013 | No Comments
Jennifer Letzer, Kathleen Wilson/VC Star/2-2-13: …Petersen and Flores are among close to a dozen Somis residents who presented complaints about pesticide exposure at the Ventura County Board of Supervisors’ meeting last month… Marz officials say there is no possibility the pesticides being used could cause the problems cited by the neighbors, although the county report will address whether laws designed to protect public health have been violated…(Full Article) The grower has made accommodations, such as installing a plastic barrier and switching to organic formulations…
» Read MoreLetter to the VC Star: Balance is necessary
Posted on 21. Jan, 2013 | No Comments
Bud Sloan/VC STAR/1-21-13: Re: your Jan. 10 article, “Land use, pension reform are key issues”: Our nonprofit organization was founded in 2010… Contrary to the article’s implication, we are not “frequently at odds with the board majority.” The Ventura County Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business (VC-COLAB) provides necessary balance and as a matter of record, the board has considered our input and made substantive changes to reflect such… (Full Article) We are nonpartisan and endorsed Bob Roper for supervisor because of his…
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