Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us tonight as I present the 2024 State of the City Address. I am deeply honored to 00:00:01
serve as your Mayor for 2024 and to reflect on the achievements we've made together in 2024 and the aspirations that guide our 00:00:06
future. 00:00:11
I am proud to serve alongside an incredible team of dedicated leaders who worked tirelessly for our community. Tonight, I'm 00:00:16
pleased to introduce my fellow City Council members, Mayor Pro Tem Martha R McQueen, Legend. 00:00:22
Councilmember Steven A Gama. 00:00:29
Councilmember Laura D Hernandez, Councilmember Bobby Martinez and I look forward to swearing in of incoming Council Member Jess 00:00:31
Lopez and waiting working with him for 2025. 00:00:36
Tonight we've navigated challenges, celebrated or together. We've navigated challenges, celebrated accomplishments and laid the 00:00:42
groundwork for a bright future for Port Hueneme. This past year has been 1 of resilience, growth and collaboration. 00:00:49
Our city has faced historic challenges, yet through the strength of our community and the hard work of our team, we've emerged 00:00:57
stronger. Tonight, I'll guide you through the highlights of our year, focusing on key areas, emergency preparation and recovery, 00:01:02
public works and improvements, public safety efforts. 00:01:08
Economic development, environmental resilience, partnerships and the community. 00:01:14
The first one is emergency preparation and recovery. 00:01:20
We began 2024 recovering from the December storms. These historic storms called and caused unprecedented flooding, but our 00:01:23
community came together in true port where enemy spirit to recover and rebuild. 00:01:28
Through coordinated efforts with our County of Ventura, we have proactively prepared for this year's rainy season by assisting the 00:01:35
County with their efforts to clear the Channel Islands Flood control channel. 00:01:40
Additionally, our public works team has been distributing supplies such as sandbags to prepare for upcoming rains. 00:01:45
In 2024, the city began the third year of the Building Bubbling Springs Creek Restoration Project, which is a long term, proactive 00:01:52
project that has many benefits, including to help address drainage and preparedness for future rains. 00:01:59
Public works and infrastructure upgrades. 00:02:08
Investing in infrastructure is crucial for the growth and safety of our community. 00:02:10
This year we completed many projects including the westbound Channel Islands Blvd. resurfacing project along with slurry sealing 00:02:15
the recreation corridor and Wyoming Beach parking lot C. 00:02:21
We also introduced new amenities at Whitney Beach, including the fire pits that we have quickly become a winery favorite, bringing 00:02:28
people together to enjoy evenings at our beautiful beach. 00:02:33
We continue on the Wyoming Beach Walkway project, ensuring our coastline remains accessible and welcoming for residents and 00:02:40
visitors. 00:02:44
Finally, Ventura Rd. Rd. sewer replacement project began this month and is expected to modernize critical infrastructure by April 00:02:48
2025 to help ensure we can continue to provide great wastewater services to our community. 00:02:55
Economic development. 00:03:04
Economic growth remains a priority for our city. This year we adopted an economic development plan. 00:03:06
And our building and economic development focused culture to help attract new businesses and make permitting the process easier 00:03:12
and faster for businesses such as Grocery Outlet, Bargain Market and coming soon Wingstop, which will be able to fill long term 00:03:18
vacancies in our commercial areas. 00:03:23
We've also began coordinating enhanced community events at Windy Beach, starting with Rams on the One and our first every. 00:03:30
In our first every community 5K and Wellness fair and partnered with the Portawan EMI on economic development projects as part of 00:03:39
the community benefit fund to be launched 2025. These steps ensure their economic growth benefits everyone in our city. 00:03:47
Public safety efforts. 00:03:56
Ensuring the safety and well building building being of our residents has been cornerstone of our mission this year. In 2024, we 00:03:58
reinstated the Port Hueneme Police Department's Motorcycle Enforcement Unit and recently added an additional motorcycle officer. 00:04:04
We have also launched the Reflect Yourself Pedestrian Safety Campaign which focuses on visibility, awareness and safe practices 00:04:10
for both pedestrians and drivers. 00:04:16
On Surfside Drive and accessible pedestrian signal, crosswalk and rubber medians were installed. 00:04:23
There were medians were installed as a pilot program to deter cars from performing Donuts on the street. 00:04:29
Feedback from the community has been very positive with strong support from the community and as an example of our city being 00:04:36
proactive to address community concerns. 00:04:39
Additional public safety efforts include reducing speed limits on key streets, following on a traffic study, installing speed 00:04:44
cushions and creating an application process for communities requesting them installed truck route signs. 00:04:52
The streamlining stop signs streamline the stop sign installation procedures, resulting in new stop signs being installed. 00:05:00
And additionally, school zones were upgraded with ADA accessible ramps, enhancing safety and accessibility for all. 00:05:07
Promoting environmental resilience Portoinies natural beauty is one of our greatest assets and strengths. At the beginning of the 00:05:15
year our expanded polystyrene or Styrofoam ban went into effect, promoting a more sustainable and eco friendly community. 00:05:22
Our community continued its participation in the annual California Coastal Cleanup and with hundreds of volunteers at our Port 00:05:30
Hueneme sites, we were able to collect 4250 lbs of trash and recyclables. 00:05:36
We are excited for upcoming. 00:05:44
The upcoming start of the Channel Islands dredging project which will replenish Winami Beach with much needed sand and provide 00:05:46
vital shore protection. 00:05:50
The US Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to start dredging on December 26th. 00:05:55
Our City team, in partnership with the port and the Channel Islands Harbor, have done a tremendous job of keeping that project 00:06:00
moving and ensure that the dredge will occur this year. 00:06:05
Community Partnerships. 00:06:11
The heart of Port Hueneme lies in its community. 00:06:14
And this year, we had great community partnerships and events. This year we strengthened ties with the Porta Wine, EMI, Naval 00:06:17
Base, Ventura County, the County of Ventura and our residents. Our strong partnerships with the Port Alien ME continues to bring 00:06:22
meaningful benefits to our community through the Community Benefit Fund. 00:06:28
We are proud to be a part of the Robotics Regional Competition at the Port of Waimea, an event that showcased the incredible 00:06:34
talents of students from around the globe. The Community Benefit Fund also created a Community Benefit Fund scholarship to support 00:06:40
College Bound Winnie residents, helping to invest in the next generation of leaders. 00:06:46
Additionally, donations were made to the Port Hueneme Police Explorers Program, fostering youth engagement in public service, and 00:06:53
to the Port Hueneme Little League, supporting recreational opportunities for our local children. 00:06:59
We value our strong partnerships with Naval Base Ventura County, and we are honored to welcome Captain Daniel W Brown as the new 00:07:06
Commanding Officer this year. 00:07:11
Together, we've collaborated on initiatives to address parking shortages on San Pedro St. and make some improvements to areas 00:07:15
around the base and look forward to continue our work to benefit both the base and our community. 00:07:21
Our partnership with the County Ventura has been instrumental in advancing critical initiatives for our community. 00:07:28
The City has assisted the counties efforts to manage the Channel Islands Flood Control channel, ensuring preparedness for 00:07:34
potential storm impacts. Additional Additionally, the City Police Department, in partnership with our County Fire Department 00:07:40
partners proactively brought back the Community Emergency Response Team Program, or CERT, which educates residents and businesses 00:07:45
on disaster preparedness and equips them with essential response skills to ensure our community is prepared for future 00:07:50
emergencies. 00:07:56
Whew. 00:08:03
Community events. 00:08:15
Now we come to the heart of what truly makes Port Hueneme special, our community. 00:08:17
This past year has been filled with events that have brought us together, celebrated our shared values, and strengthen our bonds 00:08:23
as neighbors. 00:08:27
It's been my privilege to serve as mayor at these community events this year, and I'd like to take a moment to highlight some of 00:08:30
these incredible moments. In February, we broke ground on the Bubbling Springs Park Improvement Project, a transformation that 00:08:36
will create a vibrant and welcoming space for all to enjoy. February also saw the launch of the first ever Port Hueneme Run for 00:08:42
Your Heart 5K, promoting health, Wellness, and community spirit. 00:08:47
In March, families came together for the Big for the Egg Extravaganza celebration, a joyful event filled with fun and laughter. 00:08:54
In April, we had our first Coffee with Your City event, fostering open dialogue between residents and city leadership. 00:09:02
In May, the Memorial Day ceremony at Winamy Pier featured the first ever Paddle Out tribute led by the Port Hueneme Lifeguards. A 00:09:10
deeply meaningful way to honor our heroes. 00:09:14
This summer, Movies in the Park series brought families and friends to our local parks for free movies and popcorn under the 00:09:19
stars. 00:09:22
July was National Parks and Recreation Month as we celebrated with a variety of events including yoga and Miranda Park and the 00:09:27
colorful Wyoming Beach Kite Festival. 00:09:31
July also saw the Port Hueneme Historical Museum reopened after several years, enriching our community's cultural fabric. 00:09:35
August was a busy month. 00:09:42
We announced our 2024 Winning ME Hero Awards with Kevin Brannon and George Mahogan. 00:09:44
I didn't. 00:09:50
For their outstanding contributions to the community. I practice that so many times. You have no idea. 00:09:51
We also hosted our sister city delegation from Puerto Vallarta, strengthening our international bond. National Night Out was 00:09:57
celebrated, fostering connections between residents and public safety officials. The Port Oranimi Police Officers Explorer program 00:10:03
competed in the Oxnard Channel Islands Challenge, bringing home numerous trophies, and the PhD introduced a new team member, K9 00:10:09
Officer George. 00:10:14
In September, the Rams on the One event at Whitening Beach drew huge crowds of Rams fans. The city approved his first official 00:10:22
public art mural at the Raid Deputer Public Library, which is being completed now, and the Port Hueneme Community Center 00:10:27
auditorium reopened after a remodel. 00:10:32
The Wyoming Beach Festival capped off the month with an amazing turn out and great success. In October we celebrated Halloween and 00:10:38
the 3rd Annual Spooktacular and host of the popular Touch of Truck event. 00:10:43
In November, we honored our veterans with a heartfelt veteran's day ceremony where we were thrilled to have OR Venus Carpenter 00:10:49
speak at the ceremony. 00:10:53
We continued our traditions of giving back through the Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner giveaway, where over 200 Turkey dinners were 00:10:57
given away to our community members. 00:11:01
Finally, in December, we lit up the holidays with our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and celebrated the 31st Annual Senior 00:11:06
Luncheon, bringing joy and cheer to our community during this festive season. 00:11:11
These events and achievements remind us that it's the people of Port Hueneme who make our city truly remarkable, and I'm so 00:11:17
grateful to be part of such a vibrant, engaged and caring community. 00:11:21
Looking ahead. 00:11:28
As we step into 2025, we do so with pride and what we've accomplished and determination to keep moving forward. 00:11:29
Our City team is on a great path to continue to do outstanding work and progress is being made on major projects that I look 00:11:36
forward to celebrating with you all next year, such as our work with the Veteran County, I'm sorry, Ventura County Library System 00:11:42
to open and improved ready Pruder Public Library. 00:11:48
The grand opening of the redesigned Bubbling Springs Park and the refresh of Windy Beach after completion of our critical dredge 00:11:54
project. Together we've built a strong foundation for Whiny Me, a city that thrives through community, innovation and resilience. 00:12:02
Thank you for your support, your engagement and trust, and let's make 2025 another remarkable year for our city. 00:12:11

Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us tonight as I present the 2024 State of the City Address. I am deeply honored to 00:00:01
serve as your Mayor for 2024 and to reflect on the achievements we've made together in 2024 and the aspirations that guide our 00:00:06
future. 00:00:11
I am proud to serve alongside an incredible team of dedicated leaders who worked tirelessly for our community. Tonight, I'm 00:00:16
pleased to introduce my fellow City Council members, Mayor Pro Tem Martha R McQueen, Legend. 00:00:22
Councilmember Steven A Gama. 00:00:29
Councilmember Laura D Hernandez, Councilmember Bobby Martinez and I look forward to swearing in of incoming Council Member Jess 00:00:31
Lopez and waiting working with him for 2025. 00:00:36
Tonight we've navigated challenges, celebrated or together. We've navigated challenges, celebrated accomplishments and laid the 00:00:42
groundwork for a bright future for Port Hueneme. This past year has been 1 of resilience, growth and collaboration. 00:00:49
Our city has faced historic challenges, yet through the strength of our community and the hard work of our team, we've emerged 00:00:57
stronger. Tonight, I'll guide you through the highlights of our year, focusing on key areas, emergency preparation and recovery, 00:01:02
public works and improvements, public safety efforts. 00:01:08
Economic development, environmental resilience, partnerships and the community. 00:01:14
The first one is emergency preparation and recovery. 00:01:20
We began 2024 recovering from the December storms. These historic storms called and caused unprecedented flooding, but our 00:01:23
community came together in true port where enemy spirit to recover and rebuild. 00:01:28
Through coordinated efforts with our County of Ventura, we have proactively prepared for this year's rainy season by assisting the 00:01:35
County with their efforts to clear the Channel Islands Flood control channel. 00:01:40
Additionally, our public works team has been distributing supplies such as sandbags to prepare for upcoming rains. 00:01:45
In 2024, the city began the third year of the Building Bubbling Springs Creek Restoration Project, which is a long term, proactive 00:01:52
project that has many benefits, including to help address drainage and preparedness for future rains. 00:01:59
Public works and infrastructure upgrades. 00:02:08
Investing in infrastructure is crucial for the growth and safety of our community. 00:02:10
This year we completed many projects including the westbound Channel Islands Blvd. resurfacing project along with slurry sealing 00:02:15
the recreation corridor and Wyoming Beach parking lot C. 00:02:21
We also introduced new amenities at Whitney Beach, including the fire pits that we have quickly become a winery favorite, bringing 00:02:28
people together to enjoy evenings at our beautiful beach. 00:02:33
We continue on the Wyoming Beach Walkway project, ensuring our coastline remains accessible and welcoming for residents and 00:02:40
visitors. 00:02:44
Finally, Ventura Rd. Rd. sewer replacement project began this month and is expected to modernize critical infrastructure by April 00:02:48
2025 to help ensure we can continue to provide great wastewater services to our community. 00:02:55
Economic development. 00:03:04
Economic growth remains a priority for our city. This year we adopted an economic development plan. 00:03:06
And our building and economic development focused culture to help attract new businesses and make permitting the process easier 00:03:12
and faster for businesses such as Grocery Outlet, Bargain Market and coming soon Wingstop, which will be able to fill long term 00:03:18
vacancies in our commercial areas. 00:03:23
We've also began coordinating enhanced community events at Windy Beach, starting with Rams on the One and our first every. 00:03:30
In our first every community 5K and Wellness fair and partnered with the Portawan EMI on economic development projects as part of 00:03:39
the community benefit fund to be launched 2025. These steps ensure their economic growth benefits everyone in our city. 00:03:47
Public safety efforts. 00:03:56
Ensuring the safety and well building building being of our residents has been cornerstone of our mission this year. In 2024, we 00:03:58
reinstated the Port Hueneme Police Department's Motorcycle Enforcement Unit and recently added an additional motorcycle officer. 00:04:04
We have also launched the Reflect Yourself Pedestrian Safety Campaign which focuses on visibility, awareness and safe practices 00:04:10
for both pedestrians and drivers. 00:04:16
On Surfside Drive and accessible pedestrian signal, crosswalk and rubber medians were installed. 00:04:23
There were medians were installed as a pilot program to deter cars from performing Donuts on the street. 00:04:29
Feedback from the community has been very positive with strong support from the community and as an example of our city being 00:04:36
proactive to address community concerns. 00:04:39
Additional public safety efforts include reducing speed limits on key streets, following on a traffic study, installing speed 00:04:44
cushions and creating an application process for communities requesting them installed truck route signs. 00:04:52
The streamlining stop signs streamline the stop sign installation procedures, resulting in new stop signs being installed. 00:05:00
And additionally, school zones were upgraded with ADA accessible ramps, enhancing safety and accessibility for all. 00:05:07
Promoting environmental resilience Portoinies natural beauty is one of our greatest assets and strengths. At the beginning of the 00:05:15
year our expanded polystyrene or Styrofoam ban went into effect, promoting a more sustainable and eco friendly community. 00:05:22
Our community continued its participation in the annual California Coastal Cleanup and with hundreds of volunteers at our Port 00:05:30
Hueneme sites, we were able to collect 4250 lbs of trash and recyclables. 00:05:36
We are excited for upcoming. 00:05:44
The upcoming start of the Channel Islands dredging project which will replenish Winami Beach with much needed sand and provide 00:05:46
vital shore protection. 00:05:50
The US Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to start dredging on December 26th. 00:05:55
Our City team, in partnership with the port and the Channel Islands Harbor, have done a tremendous job of keeping that project 00:06:00
moving and ensure that the dredge will occur this year. 00:06:05
Community Partnerships. 00:06:11
The heart of Port Hueneme lies in its community. 00:06:14
And this year, we had great community partnerships and events. This year we strengthened ties with the Porta Wine, EMI, Naval 00:06:17
Base, Ventura County, the County of Ventura and our residents. Our strong partnerships with the Port Alien ME continues to bring 00:06:22
meaningful benefits to our community through the Community Benefit Fund. 00:06:28
We are proud to be a part of the Robotics Regional Competition at the Port of Waimea, an event that showcased the incredible 00:06:34
talents of students from around the globe. The Community Benefit Fund also created a Community Benefit Fund scholarship to support 00:06:40
College Bound Winnie residents, helping to invest in the next generation of leaders. 00:06:46
Additionally, donations were made to the Port Hueneme Police Explorers Program, fostering youth engagement in public service, and 00:06:53
to the Port Hueneme Little League, supporting recreational opportunities for our local children. 00:06:59
We value our strong partnerships with Naval Base Ventura County, and we are honored to welcome Captain Daniel W Brown as the new 00:07:06
Commanding Officer this year. 00:07:11
Together, we've collaborated on initiatives to address parking shortages on San Pedro St. and make some improvements to areas 00:07:15
around the base and look forward to continue our work to benefit both the base and our community. 00:07:21
Our partnership with the County Ventura has been instrumental in advancing critical initiatives for our community. 00:07:28
The City has assisted the counties efforts to manage the Channel Islands Flood Control channel, ensuring preparedness for 00:07:34
potential storm impacts. Additional Additionally, the City Police Department, in partnership with our County Fire Department 00:07:40
partners proactively brought back the Community Emergency Response Team Program, or CERT, which educates residents and businesses 00:07:45
on disaster preparedness and equips them with essential response skills to ensure our community is prepared for future 00:07:50
emergencies. 00:07:56
Whew. 00:08:03
Community events. 00:08:15
Now we come to the heart of what truly makes Port Hueneme special, our community. 00:08:17
This past year has been filled with events that have brought us together, celebrated our shared values, and strengthen our bonds 00:08:23
as neighbors. 00:08:27
It's been my privilege to serve as mayor at these community events this year, and I'd like to take a moment to highlight some of 00:08:30
these incredible moments. In February, we broke ground on the Bubbling Springs Park Improvement Project, a transformation that 00:08:36
will create a vibrant and welcoming space for all to enjoy. February also saw the launch of the first ever Port Hueneme Run for 00:08:42
Your Heart 5K, promoting health, Wellness, and community spirit. 00:08:47
In March, families came together for the Big for the Egg Extravaganza celebration, a joyful event filled with fun and laughter. 00:08:54
In April, we had our first Coffee with Your City event, fostering open dialogue between residents and city leadership. 00:09:02
In May, the Memorial Day ceremony at Winamy Pier featured the first ever Paddle Out tribute led by the Port Hueneme Lifeguards. A 00:09:10
deeply meaningful way to honor our heroes. 00:09:14
This summer, Movies in the Park series brought families and friends to our local parks for free movies and popcorn under the 00:09:19
stars. 00:09:22
July was National Parks and Recreation Month as we celebrated with a variety of events including yoga and Miranda Park and the 00:09:27
colorful Wyoming Beach Kite Festival. 00:09:31
July also saw the Port Hueneme Historical Museum reopened after several years, enriching our community's cultural fabric. 00:09:35
August was a busy month. 00:09:42
We announced our 2024 Winning ME Hero Awards with Kevin Brannon and George Mahogan. 00:09:44
I didn't. 00:09:50
For their outstanding contributions to the community. I practice that so many times. You have no idea. 00:09:51
We also hosted our sister city delegation from Puerto Vallarta, strengthening our international bond. National Night Out was 00:09:57
celebrated, fostering connections between residents and public safety officials. The Port Oranimi Police Officers Explorer program 00:10:03
competed in the Oxnard Channel Islands Challenge, bringing home numerous trophies, and the PhD introduced a new team member, K9 00:10:09
Officer George. 00:10:14
In September, the Rams on the One event at Whitening Beach drew huge crowds of Rams fans. The city approved his first official 00:10:22
public art mural at the Raid Deputer Public Library, which is being completed now, and the Port Hueneme Community Center 00:10:27
auditorium reopened after a remodel. 00:10:32
The Wyoming Beach Festival capped off the month with an amazing turn out and great success. In October we celebrated Halloween and 00:10:38
the 3rd Annual Spooktacular and host of the popular Touch of Truck event. 00:10:43
In November, we honored our veterans with a heartfelt veteran's day ceremony where we were thrilled to have OR Venus Carpenter 00:10:49
speak at the ceremony. 00:10:53
We continued our traditions of giving back through the Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner giveaway, where over 200 Turkey dinners were 00:10:57
given away to our community members. 00:11:01
Finally, in December, we lit up the holidays with our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and celebrated the 31st Annual Senior 00:11:06
Luncheon, bringing joy and cheer to our community during this festive season. 00:11:11
These events and achievements remind us that it's the people of Port Hueneme who make our city truly remarkable, and I'm so 00:11:17
grateful to be part of such a vibrant, engaged and caring community. 00:11:21
Looking ahead. 00:11:28
As we step into 2025, we do so with pride and what we've accomplished and determination to keep moving forward. 00:11:29
Our City team is on a great path to continue to do outstanding work and progress is being made on major projects that I look 00:11:36
forward to celebrating with you all next year, such as our work with the Veteran County, I'm sorry, Ventura County Library System 00:11:42
to open and improved ready Pruder Public Library. 00:11:48
The grand opening of the redesigned Bubbling Springs Park and the refresh of Windy Beach after completion of our critical dredge 00:11:54
project. Together we've built a strong foundation for Whiny Me, a city that thrives through community, innovation and resilience. 00:12:02
Thank you for your support, your engagement and trust, and let's make 2025 another remarkable year for our city. 00:12:11