City Manager Butler's Transition

As I recently announced, I've been appointed as the new City Manager for Jurupa Valley in Riverside County.  My tentative start date is Monday, December 9, and will be working diligently to help make that transition as successful and smooth as possible.  I will be working up until Thursday, December 5, and our City Clerk is beginning to coordinate a farewell reception that will be hosted on Monday, December 2, at 6:00 p.m., just prior to the City Council meeting.  We will invite Council and community members to come and celebrate the last 3 years of great progress for our City! 

Deputy City Manager Charles Peretz

The new Deputy City Manager Charlez Peretz is slated to start on November 4 and will be introduced at the City Council meeting that evening.  Mr. Peretz comes from the City of Pasadena and has ample experience in the Public Works Department and City Manager's Office.  He received a Bachelor's Degree from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania and a Masters in Public Administration from Pace University in New York. 

Human Resources Manager

The final two candidates for the Human Resources Manager will be interviewed on Wednesday, October 30th, and we are hopeful that we'll have someone on the ground by the beginning of the New Year.  With numerous recruitments, trainings, and claims, this is a crucial position and we are pleased with the quality of candidates.  We anticipate a successful transition as our Interim Human Resources Manager Tanya Bragg has agreed to stay on and provide a good pass-off to the new Manager.

Water Manager Recruitment

The Water Manager recruitment is also underway and we expect to have the first round of interviews in early November.  The Public Works Department has been without a Water Manager for 18 months now, and we are very anxious to get an expert in to help assist our Public Works team and give some relief to Director Don Villafana.

Strategic Planning Project

ARIA Consulting is continuing to validate the information they received from the successful October 1 Council Workshop.  The next Steering Committee meeting will be on _________, and members will continue to rotate to allow all Council Members and Executive Team Members to participate. ARIA Consulting has asked us to schedule a 2-hour Special Meeting so we will be reaching out to Council with possible dates in the very near future to get that session scheduled. 

Cannabis Business Update

Construction plans for the tenant improvements for this new indoor cannabis cultivation business are currently in review.

High Farms
501 W. Channel Islands Blvd., #201   

Leaf and Lion (formerly Port Retail) 
437 W. Channel Islands Blvd 

Construction of this dispensary (the City's seventh) has been completed.  The City will be issuing a Certificate of Occupancy shortly and the business should be open within the next two weeks.

PH Organics
475 W. Channel Islands Blvd           
The application for the Conditional Use Permit and Development Agreement for this proposed cannabis microbusiness (dispensary, indoor cultivation and ancillary distribution operations) has been deemed complete and staff anticipates scheduling the application for City Council action at their November 18, 2019 meeting date.

Skunkmasters
On October 21, 2019, the City Council approved the resolution for the Conditional Use Permit and introduced the ordinance for the Development Agreement to allow the Skunkmasters dispensary to relocate from their current location at 2675 N. Ventura Road to a new, much larger facility on the "Green Mile" at 233 E. Channel Islands Blvd.

Tech Delivery
501 W. Channel Islands Blvd., #204
On October 14, 2019, the City Manager issued a Certificate of Approval for this proposed cannabis delivery business.  Staff is awaiting submittal of the formal application for the required Conditional Use Permit and Development Agreement.

Tradecraft
2597 Bolker Drive
The applicant is revising the construction drawings for the tenant improvements for this cannabis microbusiness (dispensary, indoor cultivation and ancillary distribution operations) based on comments made from the last round of plan checks.  It is anticipated that building permits should be issued upon re-check.

Community Development Activity

In September, the Building Division issued 91 residential building permits and 3 commercial building permits with a total valuation of $609,400.  In October (through 10/22), 55 residential permits and 3 commercial building permits were issued with a total valuation of $325,300.  Major highlights of recent building activity include:

Project description: South terminal crane electrification power infrastructure project.
Project Status: Approved by Building Division, Port waiting for contract bid.

Petco

545 W. Channel Islands Blvd.
Project Description: Install new retail and display racking.
Project status: Project complete and permit finaled.

House of Gains

529 W. Channel Islands Blvd.
Project Description: Tenant improvements valued at $10,000 and 2 signs.

Project status: Temporary Certificate of Occupancy issued.

2480 Victoria Ave.
Project Description: Interior remodel.
Project Status: Plans approved and permit issued. Final inspection requested for 10/25/19.

Anacapa View Condos

Surfside I

Project Description: Building 1 and Building 2 re-roof.
Project Status: Permits issued.
Project Description:  Site and electrical infrastructure improvements for the installation of (10) electrical vehicle charging stations.
Project Status: Permits issued.

Ormond Beach Cleanup

The Port Hueneme Police Department will be assisting The City of Oxnard Police Department with Phase II of the Ormond Beach Cleanup from October 29-31. We remain committed to providing any resources they might need in the effort to relocate the Homeless from Ormond Beach and will continue to offer assistance to those individuals who wish to received help.  
 

Don't be the Dealer Event

On Saturday, October 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Port Hueneme Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 18th opportunity in nine years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Residents can bring pills for disposal to the Port Hueneme Police Department at 250 North Ventura Road. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.  We will offer drive up service on this day as officers will be accepting prescription drugs curbside.

Free Shredding Event

The City of Port Hueneme and Port Hueneme Police Department are hosting a FREE Paper Shredding Event at City Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to safely discard and dispose of unwanted personal paperwork with a free shred event in our community. Bring everything from bills, medical records, bank statements, credit cards, tax returns and other documents containing personal identifying information.

The Port Hueneme Police Department is teaming up with Shred-It to provide residents with an opportunity to combat identity theft, the fastest growing crime in the United States. No binders, hard covers, binder clips, trash, plastics or clothing. Paperwork with staples and paperclips will be accepted. Limit of ten (10) banker boxes per resident.

Take advantage of this free event which offers drive-thru service thanks to our Police Department Explorers. Consumer fraud and identity theft are becoming an epidemic in our communities so let’s all do our part to protect our community from the risks of fraud and identity theft.

Ventura Road Slurry Seal

The Public Works Department started the Ventura Road Slurry Seal Project, from B Street to Pleasant Valley, on Tuesday, October 22.  The slurry seal will be finished on Thursday the 24th, and the roads will be striped late next week and the reflective pavement markers will be placed.

Water Valve Replacement

Continuing to take a proactive approach on repairs to our water system, the Port Hueneme Water Crew is working on replacing another broken 8-inch valve on a main line in the Bolker neighborhood.  The crews will replace the valve this week and next week, and will complete the water line repairs prior to the resurfacing project that is scheduled for that area.

Navy Base Water Leak

Last week the Public Works Department responded to a water leak at the Navy Base.  The leak was a service lateral to the air vacuum valve and the crews were able to dig down and shut it off at the "crop stop" (the valve on the lateral as it comes off the main line).  There were no disruptions to the water flow in the main line, and crews were able to relocate the valve to an area where there is less heavy truck and crane traffic.  

Sidewalk Repair Near Museum

The Public Works Street Crew was working on sidewalk replacement near the museum on October 16-17, and replaced sections that had been uplifted by tree roots and posed a trip hazard. The crews continue to work diligently to ensure our streets are safe for commuters and pedestrians!

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS BUDGET

On November 4, the City Council will be presented with a draft Capital Improvement Projects Budget.  Staff has been working hard to prepare for the budget approval process and plans to bring forth a comprehensive report on the Capital Improvement Projects slated to cover projects for the next two years.  These projects include modifications to the Community Center, bringing City Hall up to ADA Standards, _______, ________ and much more. 

4th Annual Veteran's Day Celebration

The City of Port Hueneme, Port Hueneme Historical Society Museum, Oxnard Harbor District, Sea Cadet Corp Ben Moreell Battalion, VFW Post 3935, and Navy League Cordially Invite You to the 4th Annual Veterans Day Celebration Honoring America’s Military: Past, Present and Future on Monday, November 11, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in front of City Hall.

Ceremony Highlights:
Hueneme High School Band Performance

Remarks by:  
US. Congresswoman Julia Brownley
California State Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin
Ventura County Supervisor Kelly Long
City of Port Hueneme Mayor Will Berg
-AND-
2019 Keynote Speaker CMDR Angel Santiago, Commanding Officer of NMCB FOUR

Monarch Butterfly Festival

The Monarch Butterfly Festival will take place on Saturday, November 2 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Pleasant Valley Road Historical Cemetary at 2242 E. Pleasant Valley Road, Oxnard.  There will be hand-crafted kite building and flying contest for cash prizes, line dancing, famous taco bar, live artists Robin Lee and Denis O'Leary, face painting, and gift basket drawings hourly. 

Mayor Will Berg - Chinese Characters

Mayor Berg will be presenting on Chinese Characters at the Port Hueneme Historical Society Museum on Saturday, November 9.  Please come support our Mayor as he participates in the Museum's Distinguished Speaker Series.

Wake Up Hueneme Breakfast

The Chamber of Commerce will host their monthly Wake Up Hueneme Networking Breakfast on November 19 from 7:00-9:00 a.m. at the Orvene Carpenter Community Center.  The topic will be "Hempcrete" and the Speaker will be announced soon.

Please let Kristy know if you'd like to be registered for this event. 

7th Annual Tree Lighting

The Chamber of Commerce will host the 7th Annual Hueneme Holly-Day Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 5 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Port Hueneme City Hall Lawn.  Seating opens at 5:00 p.m., please bring your own lawn chairs and/or blankets for this event.

Alaska Flight 261 Memorial

At the October 21 City Council Meeting, Steve Campbell and Anarud Fasad attended and spoke on behalf of the Families of Alaska Flight 261 about the upcoming 20th Anniversary Memorial Event.  We will continue to update Council on new information we receive regarding this important date and hope everyone plans to attend the memorial on January 31, 2020.