Council debates steelhead
By Jesse Phelps

The southern steelhead has migrated into the Ojai City Council Chambers and, as is becoming the norm, it continues to stir up controversy in its wake.
What was meant to be a two-sided presentation by the Matilija Flyfishers and Casitas Municipal Water District turned quickly into a communitywide debate before the council cut the line.

Bill Loehr and Alasdair Coyne of Matilija Flyfishers brought a petition before the council petitioning its members to urge Casitas to reach agreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service on water release and flow requirements for the fish.

At issue is the proposed fish ladder at Robles Diversion in Meiners Oaks. The diversion, which channels water from the Ventura River to Lake Casitas, blocks passage of the endangered southern steelhead to its natural headwater spawning grounds in Matilija Canyon.

"There are few communities that can support steelhead in their back yards," said Coyne. "Ojai can and we should take measures to make sure they are here forever."

Coyne, Loehr and John Johnson, executive director of Casitas, presented slides detailing Lake Casitas water levels over the years since its erection. Then central debate centers on how much water should be released to aid the passage of the steelhead and as yet, no agreement has been reached. Until such an agreement can be reached, the ladder will remain but a proposal.

In an unusual break with the tradition of the council, public speaker cards were taken having to do with the presentation. Local activists Larry Yuva and Russ Baggerly spoke on the importance of both the ladder and council's involvement in the process.
"Your voice represents over 8,000 people," said Baggerly. "And we want to hear it."

After much debate, council at last decided, in a three-to-two vote, to bring the topic back as an agendized item at a future meeting. Councilperson Rae Hanstad pointed out that Ojai's main concern is for its water customers and that agriculture should be a part of the discussion.

Other parts of Tuesday night's meeting's discussion focused on a discussion of Visitor's Bureau Services, block grant funding distribution, street improvements, water rate increases and information items from the p
olice chief Capt. Gary Pentis.
Pentis focused on laws for stand-up scooters. As the scooter craze has continued, both gas- and electric-powered scooters have proliferated. With that proliferation has come modifications in look, style and speed. Pentis warned that, though the scooters may seem harmless, they are subject to many laws.

No one under 16 is allowed to ride scooters on public streets and no scooters are allowed on streets with speed limits over 25 miles per hour. In addition, scooter riders are subject to the helmet law and neither passengers nor packages can be carried on board.

Every year, the council receives community block grant funding from Housing and Urban Development, a small portion of which is allocated for distribution among worthy community causes and projects. As per usual, requests far exceeded this year's allotment of nearly $12,000.

The council heard presentations from 11 groups seeking funding, including the Ojai Library, which intends to improve accessibility to the handicapped and expand the homework center by upgrading computers and expanding staff.

Council reacted most favorably to the City of Ojai Recreation Dept., which was seeking to renew past funding for its Recreation Enrichment Voucher for low-income youth to offset the cost of participating in recreation programs.

Favorable nods from the council went to a variety of services for the elderly and youth substance abuse counseling provided by the Palmer Drug Abuse Program, which would provide a weekly intervention group at Nordhoff and counseling.

Other groups vying for dollars included Rain, a local group providing shelter for the homeless a self-employment training program for women and a consumer credit counseling service.

City Manager Dan Singer addressed the issue of Southern California Water's proposed rate increases. He recommended that council authorize Mayor Joe DeVito and himself to take appropriate actions to object to the increases, saying, "The squeaky wheel gets oiled. We need to keep our interests at the fore."

Singer quoted statistics showing that on average, Ojai's water prices far exceed countywide norms. In 1999, Southern California Water Company rates were $60 per month to Ojai residents, compared to a figure of $43 per month around the county.

Singer also presented a recommendation for council to reject all bids submitted for the El Paseo Road Sidewalk and Street Improvements Project, as new sources of funding are imminent and the project is coming in over budget currently.

That would push back the date of the project, which would improve safety for children walking to school at Matilija by widening sidewalk space and reworking crosswalks and roadways at the corner of El Paseo and Bristol, to June, rather than the original date set for Spring Break, 2003.

The meeting, at the suggestion of Mayor Pro-Tem Sue Horgan, was adjourned in the memory of Ojai philanthropist Florence "Jimmi" Clapp. Horgan mentioned that Clapp, aside from being a most generous benefactor, was also a friend and a fervent attendee of council meetings. "I'll miss her wisdom," said Horgan, before council adjourned to chambers for closed session

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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