Online payments, transit JPA, water update on Tuesday Council agenda
August 30, 2013
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
The City Council will get an update on water supply and availability in the Santa Clara River Valley, possibly launch online utility bill payments, and hear about the famed party that each year benefits public safety at Tuesday’s meeting.
The September 3 meeting, held a day later due to the Labor Day holiday, will start at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Administration Conference Room where the council will take public comment before a closed session. Once behind closed doors the council will consider labor negotiations with the Santa Paula Firefighters Association, and initiation of unnamed litigation and existing litigation, the latter referring to recently launched arbitration proceedings with PERC.
The company designed, built and operates the city’s wastewater treatment plant and is a partner in Santa Paula Water LLC, the private company that owns the facility. The city alleges that PERC breached its contract centered on the removal of chlorides from wastewater.
The council will meet in open session at City Hall Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. The session will be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable Channel 10 and replayed per scheduled. The meeting will also be live streamed on the city website and archived for later viewing.
Chamber of Commerce President John Chamberlain will update the council on Moonlight at the Ranch VII: “Disco Fever!” to be held September 21 at Limoneira Ranch. As with each year’s Moonlight, this year’s celebration will benefit the Santa Paula Police & Fire Foundation - which uses its two-thirds cut of the proceeds for public safety equipment and other needs - and the Chamber.
There will also be a Proclamation presented to recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, with information offered about how the public can help the fight against the disease and programs they can support.
Santa Paulans might soon have the opportunity to pay their utility bills online if the council approves a plan presented by Finance Director Sandy Easley, who notes in her report that city staff is overwhelmed by bill payers each month - especially those who make payments by phone on the last day. Costs of an online payment program and other options are addressed in her report to the council.
In other business, the city will consider giving the okay for staff to proceed with crafting a joint powers agreement with the City of Fillmore and the County of Ventura for transit services that would be operated locally. Santa Paula and Fillmore both opted out of being part of a larger coalition that would provide public transportation in favor of having their own system that would include Piru and the unincorporated areas of the river valley.
Water consultant Frank Brommenschenkel will present an oral report and update the council on water supply and availability in the Heritage Valley.
City Hall is located at 970 E. Main Street. For more information call 805-933-4208.
