Posts by Sean Paroski
Thomas Fire Highlights Risk of Wildlife Corridor Restrictions
“I have a place in my heart for the town,” Cliff Simonson said, speaking about Ojai in the aftermath of the Thomas Fire. The manager of the 1,000 acre Bentley Ranch, directly south of the City of Ojai on Black Mountain proved it in the harrowing week of December 4th as the fire raced through…
Read MoreCounty Provides Relief to Homeowners in Wake of Thomas Fire
In the wake of the destructive impact of the Thomas Fire, the County of Ventura has made initial steps toward helping affected residents and property owners. The County has collaborated on a clearinghouse of information on recovery efforts, established a series of resource centers in areas affected by the fire, expanded access to rental assistance, and…
Read MoreCounty creates a new economic plan at just the right time
In the midst of a dramatic contraction of Ventura County’s economy, the County of Ventura assembled its first ever Economic Vitality Strategic Plan. This was a much needed addition to the County’s policy arsenal, as they had never before put together a comprehensive evaluation of the challenges and opportunities facing Ventura County’s economy. While the…
Read MoreADU, Housing, Ventura County CoLAB
Ventura County faces fundamental threats to the future of local agriculture if limitations to water diversions from the Santa Clara River are continued, according to a presentation given by United Water Conservation District’s (United) Tony Morgan. Morgan, Deputy General Manager of Groundwater and Water Resources, warned that if water diversions were reduced by even a…
Read MoreCounty expands housing opportunities through new granny flat ordinance
Ventura County’s ongoing housing shortage continues to be a significant drag on the local economy. Multiple local economists such as Mark Schniepp from the California Economic Forecast in Santa Barbara and Matthew Fienup from CLU have pointed to the lack of housing as one of the main reasons for Ventura County’s stagnant economic growth. Just…
Read MoreDespite Progress, Wildlife Corridors Could Threaten Farmers, Ranchers and Public
The County of Ventura offered further clues to what landowners, farmers and ranchers can expect from the proposed Wildlife Corridor regulations during a second stakeholder meeting held on August 8. New restrictions on fencing, lighting and brush clearance were suggested, potentially creating new hurdles for landowners and increasing the threat of wildfires by restricting brush…
Read MoreWildlife Corridors Are Already Wild
The County Board of Supervisors is considering the adoption of a Habitat Connectivity Overlay Zone, which would impose new regulations on agricultural and open space landowners immediately after the renewal of the SOAR ordinance until the year 2050. While SOAR promised to “save open space and agricultural resources,” additional new regulations could be another blow…
Read MorePuente Power Project brings benefits, protests to Oxnard
The Puente Power Project to replace the aging Mandalay and Ormond Beach power plants in Oxnard promises to deliver significant benefits to the region, according to a presentation given to CoLAB members at the monthly WHEEL Committee meeting by Dawn Gleiter, Senior Director of Development for NRG. According to NRG, which currently owns and operates…
Read MoreEconomic Vitality Strategies Considered by County CEOs Office
Ventura County CoLAB was invited to participate in the County of Ventura’s Economic Vitality Summit, allowing input into an Economic Strategic Plan to be prepared by the CEO’s Office in 2017. The purpose of the Summit was to evaluate the impact of the County government’s operations on the local economy as well as improve the…
Read MoreDespite Drought Relief, Water Infrastructure Challenges Remain
The recent heavy rains have relieved drought conditions across the State, but they have also highlighted how much work needs to be done to update California’s aging water infrastructure, according to Eric Bergh, Manager of Resources for Calleguas Municipal Water District. Bergh gave a presentation on the State’s water situation to a packed room at…
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