Accomplishments

Supervisor Long has been championing the expansion of the Tattoo Removal Program, which provides tattoo removal free of charge with a focus on the face, neck, and hands that are gang or human trafficking related and to help seek employment.

The clinics in Santa Paula and Oxnard were closed in 2020 due to COVID. Both machines at these locations were no longer functioning or usable.

Because of her persistence and strong belief in the importance of this program, the Board of Supervisors, on July 26, 2022, moved unanimously to “Approve the Resurrection and Expansion of a Tattoo Removal Program”.  Since that time, new machines have been purchased for detention facilities at the Todd Road Jail and Juvenile Facilities. Another machine was purchased and is at the Free Clinic of Simi Valley. A fourth machine is anticipated to be purchased in September for a facility in Oxnard and a fifth machine for a location in Santa Paula.

Changes to the services, other than the new state-of-the-art machines, include instituting an appointment only system, a priority list for referrals from partner agencies and organizations such as Probation, Public Defender’s Office GEO Reentry, etc. and providing all services free of charge to clients.

One of the biggest complaints that I get when speaking to Ventura County residents that use public transportation is that there aren’t enough links to other bus service providers in the county. This has been vocalized loud and clear by residents and elected officials in the City of Fillmore that have been advocating for bus service to Moorpark. As a board member with the Ventura County Transportation Commission, I was able to take action on this unmet need and vote to approve adding this connection to the Valley Express bus service.

Supervisor Long understands that housing and a stable work force are vital to the strength and viability of our Agricultural industry. This 360-unit, affordable farm worker housing community not only goes a long way to meeting the needs our Ag industry, but also provides safe and quality housing for our hard working farm worker families.

The Supervisor and her staff maintain very close relationships with the community organizations that help advocate for their community. The Piru Neighborhood Council is one such organization that informed our office of the need for updated play apparatus at Warring Park in Piru. Staff communicated this need to our Parks Dept who were in turn able to secure a grant to design and build new state of the art park play apparatus and shade structures at Warring Park.

Supervisor Long worked hand in hand with Santa Clara River Valley advocates and County staff to evaluate and improve mental health outreach and services to the Latino community. Through a series of stakeholder workshops, advocates, elected officials and county officials were able to present the services that are being provided, how these services were meeting expectations, failing expectations and to discuss alternative methods to improve mental health service access and outcomes within the Latino community.​

The County of Ventura allocated $164 million in federal recovery pandemic funds, known as American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to address negative economic impacts and invest in critical infrastructure. The County of Ventura engaged in a yearlong public engagement process, with final approval by the Board of Supervisors, to determine how to utilize these funds to address the most pressing needs that were made apparent during the response to the COVID- 19 pandemic. Investment in early learning and childcare initiatives was one of many areas identified as priorities to support the recovery efforts for the local community.

The County of Ventura presented a check for $5 million to CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) in support of their CSUCI Early Childhood Care and Education Center and programs. The Center is intended to support expanded programs in childcare and educational enrichment for pre-school aged children of university students and farmworker families in the community. This expansion is part of a greater initiative by CSUCI to increase local access to childcare in order to support working families during a time in which there is a growing need for increased numbers of early childhood education workers.

In addition to this program, Supervisor Long also supported other important projects in her district including: Piru Wastewater Desalination Project, for Nyeland Acres Community Center Improvements, Transitional Housing Site Acquisition and Construction, Business Programming Training and Support, Water Purveyor Needs Assessments, and Santa Clara Valley Boys & Girls Club Facilities.

Supervisor Long is the current Co-Chair of RDP-21 along with Gene Fisher and regularly attends their general meetings and executive meetings. She meets with many of NBVC’s Command staff to better understand the Navy’s needs for the future and from our community. She has attended numerous trips to meet with Navy leaders to support additional funding for Navy Research, Development, Test and Evaluation on the Sea Test Range and to discourage further encroachment of the Base’s facilities which deters their critical work.

Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) is the largest employer in Ventura County and is responsible for generating 20,000 well-paying jobs and over $2 billion dollars in economic activity for the residents of our community. Supervisor Long appreciates the significant economic impact the base has on our local economy and has been honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the Regional Defense Partnership for the 21st Century (RDP-21), since being elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2016.

RDP-21 is Ventura County’s non-profit community organization dedicated to the enhancement of the military value of Naval Base Ventura County. RDP-21 members include representatives from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, Mayors and Councilmembers from the county’s ten cities, elected and retired federal and state political leaders, retired military and senior Navy and business executives as well as a broad-based citizen coalition.

The mission of RDP-21 is to preserve and enhance the unique military value of the base facilities located in Ventura County. They do this by lobbying appropriate federal and state representatives for military mission enhancements and effectiveness. RDP-21 collaborates with military organizations to leverage the base’s existing capabilities and technologies as well as strengthening existing military and community partnerships to attract new military missions to NBVC. Additionally, they encourage technology-based industries to utilize existing military base capabilities and explore ways to meet current requirements at reduced costs.

Supervisor Long spearheaded the first-ever Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA), with Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) for large vehicle maintenance and repair to be provided by the County’s General Services Agency Fleet Services. The agreement, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors in July of 2018 and took over one-year to negotiate, allows the U.S. Navy to send heavy equipment and fire trucks to the County’s main fleet service facility in Saticoy. This location is much closer to NBVC than vendors previously used by the Navy which provides cost and time savings in repairing their equipment. Supervisor Long stated, “Municipal agencies as well as military installations are under a great deal of pressure to provide even more services with less and less funding. Having the ability to enter into these contracts will allow both entities to maximize their use of taxpayer dollars and meet the challenges of the future.”   She also led a second effort in 2020 to approve an IGSA for up to $1 million of reimbursable road maintenance services to NBVC annually, reducing costs to the Navy Base. These agreements are expected to save government money, increase Navy operational efficiencies, and help to ensure the long-term sustainability of the local Navy installation. Supervisor Long was quoted, “I am encouraged by the longstanding cooperative relationship between the County of Ventura and Naval Base Ventura County, these IGSA’s are yet another example of our ability to work together.”

My office was contacted by numerous parents and teachers from Rio Mesa High School regarding un-safe traffic conditions including illegal U-turns and drop offs at the High School both before and after school. We set up several meetings with the Oxnard Union High School District, Rio Mesa High School Administrators, and our Ventura County Public Works Agency to discuss ways to mitigate the issues. As a result, Ventura County Public Works agreed to install a line of yellow stanchions down the middle of Central Avenue to prevent illegal U-turns as well as replacing NO PARKING signs with NO STOPPING 7AM to 5PM signs and revised truck restrictions. These actions will enhance the installation of sidewalks and Bike Lanes, access curb ramps, curb and gutter construction and driveway reconstruction that was done in 2019. Additionally, Rio Mesa High School will be conducting an internal circulation study which will provide more information on traffic patterns in the area.

Supervisor Long was approached by the Vietnam Veteran’s of Ventura County to assist them with installing two new statues at the Ventura County Veteran’s Memorial at the Government Center in Ventura. The two statues will be installed at either end of the memorial. The first statue is the Gold Star Mother/Wife statue and will be a life size rendition of a wife/mother kneeling while holding her son’s/husband’s folded casket flag. The Remembering Statue is a life size rendition of a kneeling soldier reaching out and remembering his fallen comrades. Kelly worked with the General Services Agency as well as the Vietnam Veteran’s, who will be raising the funds to purchase the statues and brought a letter to the Board of Supervisors, along with Supervisor Matt LaVere to allow the County to accept the donation and coordinate efforts to install the new statues. She was quoted as saying, “I am pleased the Board has voted to partner with the Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County… this will be a nice facelift to a Memorial that was originally put in place in 1985 and will provide a place of healing for Ventura County residents who have lost a loved one in a military conflict.” The exact date of the installation is not yet determined.

Supervisor Long has always emphasized the importance of safe routes to school and ensuring students and residents can walk safely in their neighborhoods. She is a strong supporter of our Public Works Agency’s efforts to secure grant funding to complete the safety improvements planned in our Countywide Safe Routes to School plan. Recently, the Supervisor voted to approve the Public works Agency’s $9 million grant for infrastructure improvements in the El Rio neighborhood in unincorporated Oxnard. These improvements include minor pavement widening, curb & gutter, sidewalk, driveway approaches, access ramps and curb extensions (bulb-outs), rectangular rapid flashing beacons, crosswalks and drainage improvements. This sidewalk project enhances safety and accessibility in the community. Construction is anticipated to be completed by mid-April 2025.

Many of the roads throughout unincorporated Ventura County were designed and built many decades ago, prior to current building and design standards. Many of our communities have commonly traveled roads that our families use to get to our schools. That is why Supervisor Long is such a strong supporter of our Public Works Agency’s efforts to secure grant funding to complete the safety improvements planned in our Countywide Safe Routes to School plan. Recently, the Supervisor was able to vote to approve the Public Works Agency’s $3.5 million dollar grant to install sidewalks and other ADA safety improvements on the street’s Piru resident’s use most to get their children to school.

Supervisor Long was a strong supporter of the Fillmore Library Expansion project. She made clear to County staff in the CEO’s office that the project was a priority and that message found its way to our elected officials at the state level. Assembly Member Monique Limon was informed of the importance of the project by County staff which led to Assembly Member Limon getting the state to contribute $1.5 million to complete the project. ​

After a disastrous meeting on changing the Master Plan of Camarillo Airport which took place in 2021, Supervisor Long worked with our Airport Administrator to pivot from a complete update on our Master Plan to a Airport Layout Plan. These plans are periodically required by the FAA to meet grant assurances. The Airport Layout Plan provides guidelines for the Airport’s overall maintenance, development, and operation. It’s focus it with identifying strategies that will sustain the airport within the same role Camarillo Airport has had since its inception as a General Aviation Airport in 1976 and not look for change.

Additionally, Camarillo Airport and Oxnard Airport are currently in the process of updating the Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study for the Camarillo Airport (CMA) in accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 150 (14 CFR Part 150). This study is a cooperative effort between the Ventura County Department of Airports and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This voluntary Part 150 study, which is funded by a grant from the FAA, will update the Noise Exposure Maps for Camarillo Airport published in 1998 and Part 150 Study Noise Compatibility Program adopted in 1999. In the end, we hope to determine methods to reduce the impacts of noise above the FAA thresholds in existing residential areas.

The Private Hanger Lease Agreements at Camarillo and Oxnard Airports was languishing for several years due to multiple unresolved issues between the Department of Airports and the private hanger owners. This timeframe also covered four different Airport Administrators which added to the difficulty. Supervisor Long was finally able to work with Keith Freitas, our newly appointed Airport Administrator and the diverse group of Hanger owners to resolve complex issues like, reversion, immediate termination, alternative dispute resolution and additional stored aircraft just to name a few.

Supervisor Long understands that there rare instances when an infrastructure problem can face repair delays when it isn’t clear which County agency is responsible for said repairs. With respect to the property owners adjacent to the blocked storm drain and the county staff with the overwhelming responsibility of addressing all the damage done by record rains and mud flow, Supervisor Long was able to work with County officials to repair the storm drain and protect the affected properties.

Piru Box Culvert – 2023 January Storm Infrastructure Improvement Project​

Supervisor Long has vocalized the importance and prioritization of a project to improve the storm water management system that feeds into Piru Creek. Watershed Protection is working on a storm water system design that will more adequately manage storm water flows in Piru.​

On December 15, 2020, Supervisor Long and the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt a permanent hemp ordinance with a quarter mile buffer zone around incorporated cities, schools and other similar, sensitive facilities. The ordinance was a mediated effort to balance the need for the ag industry to have the ability to grow another potentially lucrative crop while adequately addressing nuisance concerns from the public.

The Spirit of Santa Paula has done the impossible. They started with a goal for providing Santa Paula with an emergency homeless shelter. With their vision, hard work and empathy for the most vulnerable in their community, they were able to secure a building to make their dream a reality. With the building secure, the Spirit team was able to begin applying for grants for operational funding, but it wasn’t enough to cover all of their costs. That is where the County of Ventura, City of Santa Paula, and City of Fillmore came together to work out an MOU to collectively address the shelter operational funding shortfall. The County agreed to match the funds committed by both Santa Paula and Fillmore, for a total contribution amount of $876,000 per year for the next two years.

Our groundwater is perhaps our most valuable resource in the County. That is why Supervisor Long is such a big supporter of groundwater recharge projects. Piru Stormwater Capture for Groundwater Recharge was one such project. The project improves water quality of Piru Creek and provides a long-term and sustainable source of groundwater recharge to the Piru Groundwater Basin.

While individual groundwater recharge projects like the one I supported in Piru are critical to replenishing our County’s groundwater resources, It is only with a well-coordinated and designed regional plan that we can ensure that we are managing our precious groundwater in the most efficient and equitable manner possible. That is why Supervisor Long jumped at the chance to join and lead the Fillmore Piru Groundwater Sustainability Agency (FPBGSA) as chair of their board of directors. As a state designated high priority basin, the Fillmore subbasin was required to prepare a Groundwater Sustainability Plan within a tight time frame. As chair of the FPBGSA, Supervisor Long provided the balanced and focused leadership that was needed to steer plan development effort in a time sensitive and inclusive manner. Her leadership also helped to coalesce the efforts of various public agencies, water associations, and environmental advocates and work together to create and adopt a responsible and adequate plan prior to the State’s stringent deadlines.

Supervisor Long heard the residents loud and clear. The explosion at the former waste water site had shaken the trust in the community. When the new operator submitted their application to re-open the facility, the residents of Santa Paula were not happy about it. After attending a town hall and hearing the concerns of Santa Paula residents on the matter, Supervisor Long requested that staff require the project applicant submit a full Environmental Impact Report, given the past history of the site.

Heavy rains on January 9 & 10, 2023 resulted in high runoff within the Santa Paula Creek watershed causing several rock rip-rap spur dike protection system structural failures along with severe bank erosion. These spur dikes were originally installed by the County of Ventura with NRCS funding in 2008. This resulted in the loss of farmland, endangered several homes, as well as a school yard along the creek. The rains caused several vertical banks standing 10 to 20 feet high to become highly unstable. The homes and additional farmland along these portions of the river were in danger of being lost if action was not taken to keep the creek away from the banks and provide some degree of bank stabilization. We were able to put together several community meetings with the affected residents, Ventura County Public Works, and other elected officials to determine a path forward. Ultimately, we worked with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and were successful in receiving funds to reconstitute the project that was done in 2008. Environmental work is currently underway, and construction should commence shortly.