Category: News

THE FRIENDS OF THE VENTURA RIVER COALITION MEETING

MONDAY Sept. 30, 2013

PATAGONIA FIREHOUSE BUILDING

from 4:30-6:30

 

Directions:

The meeting will take place on the 2nd floor of Patagonia’s Firehouse building, in the Grand Room. The Firehouse is the tall building closest to Main St, address: 280 W. Main St.

Enter Patagonia’s campus from Main St. and park anywhere in our lots (the lot at the corner of Main and Olive is most likely to have space available — all parking lots will remain unlocked until after this meeting is over). Enter the Firehouse on the south side of the building (furthest from Main St.)- we will have someone at the door directing you upstairs.

 

For Late Arrivals:

There will be someone at the door until 4:45pm, if you arrive after that call to be let in.

(If you think you will may be late, bring phone & call Kathy Bremer: 805 901-6415 & she can run down and let you in.)

 

Agenda:

Round the room introductions (with brief 1 to 2 minute updates to group if you have them).

(We have a full agenda so the updates have to be kept brief.)

Although this meeting is our National Parks Service Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance grant wrap-up meeting we are going to make some “timely” detours before we get to the “main event.”

• Presentation on the current dry conditions in the Ventura River Watershed (created by Lorraine Walter Vta River Watershed Council) presented by Ben Pitterle of SBCK aided by Brian Stark OVLC.

 

• Sample short video from Ventura Water’s Take One online film contest called “A Watershed Fairytale.” The Water: Take 1 challenges how we look at, use, and share water. Watch films at www.watertake1.com & vote for your favorite by October 3.

 

• “A Big Day” overview of the Ventura River Parkway progress filmed by CAPS-TV, demonstrating community support for the Ventura River Parkway.

 

• Patrick Johnston with NPS RTCA program discuss progress FoVR work group made during 2 year grant program. 
Ventura River Trail Guide (Can be updated as the parkway evolves.  And Spanish language translation Ventura River Trail Guide status.
• Trail connectivity document (Paul may have draft document to pass around– document helps in multi-jurisdictional parkway to coordinate projects.)

 

• Certificates of Recognition from State Senate to FOVR Work Group (KK Holland representative for State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson). Huge FoVR thank you to Patrick for sharing his talents and Cynthia Hartley for her amazing GIS mapping skills and Miguel Rodriguez for helping with the Spanish translation of the Ventura River Trail guide and thanks to Paul, Derek, Lee, Greg, Brian, Ed, Ben, Kathy for their unfailing devotion to making the Ventura River Parkway a great environmental and recreational asset.)

 

• Brian Segee of EDC discuss SBCK/EDC suit against Ojai quarry.

 

• Kathy Bremer, Ed Wehan, Derek Poultney will discuss National Recreational Trails application for recognition & how it could help Ventura River Parkway in the future.

 

• Derek Poultney and Paul Jenkin discuss SCC climate change grant application.

 

• Lauren Cole with Vta Watershed Council re: public out reach to Spanish-speaking community. One of Ventura Watershed Council’s grant deliverables is to hold an outreach meeting on our watershed management plan process with our Spanish-speaking residents.  Lauren hopes to make good connections here to help get input from this segment of community. (10 min.)

 

• Kurt Lieber of Ocean Defense Alliance (ODA) works in collaboration with NOAA and CA DF&W to clean up abandoned fishing gear and other garbage from ocean bottom. Talk about damage ghost gear causes.  Looking for volunteers to help in local efforts (either on boats or diving) to clean up in and around Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands. (10 min.)

 

Other business or announcements

Adjournment no later than 6:45 Thank you everyone for staying involved!

 

 

 

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=1a37c05f95f3f89221f8254a7&id=80b135f0c6

2nd Annual Picnic at the River:  Reconnecting the Community with the River

Date: Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 11AM-1PM

Friends of the Ventura River and Ventura Hillsides Conservancy will host a free community picnic and present information about the Ventura River Parkway on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 11am-1pm. The event will be held on the Conservancy’s Willoughby Preserve in the Ventura River, south of the Main Street Bridge.

The public is invited to take a self-guided tour to witness first-hand the progress made in restoring the property over the past year. Informational exhibits will be stationed at areas throughout the preserve extolling the various benefits of the parkway plan. The theme of the event is “reconnecting Ventura to the river in our backyard.” Visitors can take advantage of new trail connections between the Ventura River Trail and Emma Wood State Beach.

A diverse coalition of partners has gathered under the Friends of the Ventura River umbrella including the State Coastal Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, California State Parks, National Parks Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program, Coastal Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), Environmental Defense Center, Tortilla Flats Archive, Project Understanding, Downtown Ventura Organization, Ventura Chamber of Commerce, Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau, Ventura Audubon, Ventura Water, the City of Ventura’s Community Development, Environmental Sustainability and Parks and Recreation departments, Ventura Surfrider, Santa Barbara Channel Keeper, Ventura Citizens for Hillsides Preservation, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy and the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy.

Parking is available in the Main Street Lot across from the Peking St. bus stop, with overflow available on Olive St, but as always please consider walking, biking, taking the bus or carpooling.

Please join us to learn more about this exciting opportunity to reconnect with our river! For more information call Lee Sherman, Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Development & Volunteer Coordinator at 805-643-8044.

THE FRIENDS OF THE VENTURA RIVER COALITION

MEETING

TUESDAY May 21, 2013

PATAGONIA FIREHOUSE BUILDING

from 4:30-6:30p

Directions:

The meeting will take place on the 2nd floor of Patagonia’s Firehouse building, in the Grand Room.

The Firehouse is the tall building closest to Main St, address: 280 W. Main St. Enter Patagonia’s campus from Main St. and park anywhere in our lots (the lot at the corner of Main and Olive is most likely to have space available — all parking lots will remain unlocked until after this meeting is over). Enter the Firehouse on the south side of the building (furthest from Main St.)- we will have someone at the door directing you upstairs.

For Late Arrivals:

There will be someone at the door until 4:45pm, if you arrive after that call one of these cell numbers to be let in.

(If you think you will may be late, bring phone & call Kathy Bremer: 805 901-6415 & she can run down and let you in.)

Agenda:

Sign in sheet / Brief round table introductions

Old Business:

New Business:

• Paul Jenkin will talk about NPS-RTCA new fold-out Parkway Trail Guide and progress made on River Parkway trails planning document

• Lee Sherman will discuss Planning June Picnic at River June 8 on VHC Willoughby Property– the event will be more tour-oriented than last year, but there will still be tabling opportunities for FOVR member groups

• Kathy Bremer/ Miguel Rodriguez talk about shared FOVR/ Cause Summerfest booth on June 1, 2013 (Booth volunteers needed.)

• Discuss FOVR strategies for getting business sponsorship for picnic and future map printings

• Review projects that FOVR will be “championing” in the new Ventura River Watershed Plan.

• Announce upcoming River Clean-up Events

• Other Ventura River-related Announcements or events

• Be aware of 2013 Water Resources Report draft — due back to Ventura City Council in mid June of interest to FOVR because portions of city water come from Ventura River (May was pushed to June)

Paraphrased from Vta City Council staff report 3-4-13 Agenda Item 3:

In Nov 2012 LAFCO mandated Municipal Service Review (MSR) to determine if currently approved and proposed development in the City’s sphere is outpacing projected water supply. Staff prepared 2013 Comprehensive Water Resources Report draft & presented it to Council Mar 4 w/ final to return in May. “The data reveals that prudent planning and collaboration will be needed in the coming years to develop practical strategies to manage demand, balance economic growth, and pursue new water supplies.”

Other business or announcements

Next meeting date

Adjournment no later than 6:45 Thank you everyone for staying involved!

THE FRIENDS OF THE VENTURA RIVER COALITION MEETING

TUESDAY March 26, 2013 from 4:30-6:30

PATAGONIA FIREHOUSE BUILDING

 

Directions:

The meeting will take place on the 2nd floor of Patagonia’s Firehouse building, in the Grand Room.

The Firehouse is the tall building closest to Main St, address: 280 W. Main St. Enter Patagonia’s campus from Main St. and park anywhere in our lots (the lot at the corner of Main and Olive is most likely to have space available — all parking lots will remain unlocked until after this meeting is over). Enter the Firehouse on the south side of the building (furthest from Main St.)- we will have someone at the door directing you upstairs.

For Late Arrivals:

There will be someone at the door until 4:45pm, if you arrive after that call one of these cell numbers to be let in.  (If you think you will may be late, bring phone & call Kathy Bremer: 805 901-6415 & she can run down and let you in.)

Agenda:

Sign in sheet / Brief round table introductions

New Business:
Community Dev. Director, Jeff Lambert, who recently attended briefing on LA River will share some ideas that might translate to the Ventura River (Below are two sites of interest)

http://larivercorp.org/ http://www.urbanwaters.gov/
NPS-RTCA work group progress on new fold-out Parkway Trail Guide (Patrick Johnston, Cynthia Hartley, Paul and members of the FOVR NPS-RTCA work group have done some great work.)

• Show map
• Talk about printing time line

Discuss Planning June Picnic at River (possible event for Parkway Trail Guide Roll-out ?)
Plan FOVR Summerfest booth on June 1, 2013
Report on Ventura Backyard Collective / Conservation Alliance scheduled for Thursday, March 21^st from 12:00 – 1:00 PM located in the Patagonia parking lot.
Announce upcoming River Clean-up Events

Be aware of 2013 Water Resources Report draft — due back to Ventura City Council in May

Paraphrased from Vta City Council staff report 3-4-13 Agenda Item 3:

In Nov 2012 LAFCO mandated Municipal Service Review (MSR) to determine if currently approved and proposed development in the City’s sphere is outpacing projected water supply. Staff prepared 2013 Comprehensive Water Resources Report draft & presented it to Council Mar 4 w/ final to return in May. “The date reveals that prudent planning and collaboration will be needed in the coming years to develop practical strategies to manage demand, balance economic growth, and pursue new water supplies.”

Other business or announcements

Next meeting date May 28, 2013

Adjournment no later than 6:45 Thank you everyone for staying involved!

 

Don’t miss this year’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival!

March 7th and 8th, 2013 from 7 – 9:30pm

Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd  Ventura, CA 93003