[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6568391,"mediaKeyId","3195341-a8a9abb71a11d4b6efe8e557aaeb8ca4","parentId",3195341,"title","Independent auditor gives Simi Valley a clean opinion on FY2023–24 financial statements; single audit notes one finding","audioSeconds",1078,"startMs",1752000,"endMs",2830000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195341-a8a9abb71a11d4b6efe8e557aaeb8ca4&start=1752&end=2830","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195341-a8a9abb71a11d4b6efe8e557aaeb8ca4/thumbnail_1752000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568391/Simi-Valley/Ventura-County/California/Independent-auditor-gives-Simi-Valley-a-clean-opinion-on-FY202324-financial-statements-single-audit-notes-one-finding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568391-7cfd4fc7541e7be28001c0ce00ab01e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775343143&Signature=ctzpO2RQecbh1GIiH765pl8q895ELWxuIH7kc8AWWTq5mSns6WI~JI8UOdtDEzgnLarmk7UWnEtDcIEb3h8xEJzZ7qw7G0YN~2yZsguosRVUuwK8peYqaaJO7zXm9GLL8IhzCc7nYREKt1w7ZVNwulSNJh4sDa0icfxN03HTJTMRUwSfjYM4R8yK6ZMK7IFgGOTZixU4cdJzrTYtz1N35uGcG0o59i0q1S4lBWH~xpuM0uvAfMmvjt65B7muPhleH6smv-vrbSkgTDKero2cjm-Jkl9VjxUJ7JTroFG1GfcYnJ09dkgxbW7~Dxsb20txn5qtv~ISlNwxtweAcnnSMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Simi Valley","date","2025-05-06T04:32:36.63Z","article","An independent audit firm informed the Simi Valley City Council on May 5 that the city’s fiscal year 2023–24 financial statements fairly present the city’s financial position and that no material weaknesses in internal control were identified.

Linda Narciso, audit partner with Vasquez and Company LLC, told the council the firm issued an unmodified opinion—commonly described as a ‘‘clean’’ opinion—on the city’s basic financial statements and on related supplemental information. Narciso said the firm performed a single audit of federal funds because the city expended more than $750,000 in federal grants and concluded the city qualifies as a low‑risk auditee.

The auditors reported one significant deficiency in the single audit related to a federal program (ALN 16753), an approximately $1 million Department of Justice award for radio equipment. Narciso said the equipment purchase was expended in June 2023 and should have been reported in the FY22–23 single audit; the reimbursement was not received until November 2023 and the grant expenditure was excluded from the prior year’s single audit, producing the finding. Narciso said the item was included in the current year’s audit and no further compliance findings resulted from that program review.

Key financial highlights presented by the auditors included an overall government‑wide net position of about $473 million—an increase of roughly $20.7 million from the prior year—and an unrestricted net position increase of about $18 million. The general fund ended FY23–24 with approximately $78.1 million. The auditors also cited net pension and OPEB liabilities of about $169.4 million and $69.1 million, respectively. Enterprise results showed sanitation generating the bulk of net income at about $14.5 million, waterworks net income of $2.8 million and transit showing a $5.6 million loss before transfers.

Narciso told the council that proposed audit adjustments had been recorded by management, that no disagreements with management required disclosure, and that no irregularities or fraud came to the auditors’ attention during the engagement.

Council members thanked the administrative services and finance staff for what they described as a “very nice clean audit.”","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Vasquez and Company reported an unmodified (clean) opinion on the city’s FY2023–24 financial statements and noted a single significant deficiency in federal compliance tied to the timing of a federal grant reimbursement.","taxTitle","Simi Valley, Ventura County, California","taxId",3724,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568394,"Residents and researchers urge Simi Valley to fund public air monitoring around landfill receiving LA fire debris",1247,2913000,4160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195341-a8a9abb71a11d4b6efe8e557aaeb8ca4&start=2913&end=4160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195341-a8a9abb71a11d4b6efe8e557aaeb8ca4/thumbnail_2913000.jpg","/articles/6568394/Simi-Valley/Ventura-County/California/Residents-and-researchers-urge-Simi-Valley-to-fund-public-air-monitoring-around-landfill-receiving-LA-fire-debris","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568394-1f72db84db8ed03fb3946afd7c350dbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775343143&Signature=KW27ZUD3khCJqEefaQZNfBTEIQPukK8K2MgUA7wOZXyYX0utyJaxK4iDlCWqJT7ggxMlyy~njuFbK89wdRpVy5Le3gWLOM8aJwRFSrNVI0Tp7DX8JI9lzaHbnW0IfxnIEIqSRdakMcZKxzDSZmquYuZhzsuto2J7uX38amp99-0YQg2a1G-vkVXq7jO37t9720N6Ooj-0d~7wCNgGlnnSqAUjyCvluw0fk0ULzTX3d-5A0vwm7Dic1FcRpHzw8Qxh3GyENNsYkcf7WMJw2ycGrJJCUeIQI-OvGeBK~ZbCwmo4UkRZOd99qTMi1VReTyQU0NgS6iKwPeVP2IMPDTIPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public‑comment portion of the May 5 meeting, residents and community groups urged the City Council to work with university partners to fund public air monitors around the Simi Valley landfill, which has received debris from recent Los Angeles region fires.

Jenny Knack, representing Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab, said the LA Fire Community Coalition and academic partners have developed monitoring approaches and asked the city to partner on a “long term real time monitoring program that can be publicly accessed.” Knack said the coalition’s university partners (including UC Davis and UCLA researchers) can contract with cities and counties to deploy monitors and analyze results.

Mel Espinosa, a local resident, told the council she lives within a few miles of the landfill and urged timely action: “We deserve a right to know the air we are breathing and how and know if it is safe.” Both speakers said the recent routing of fire debris to the landfill—and limits on publicly available EPA soil classification data—underscore a need for independent, transparent monitoring.

Council members said staff have been engaging with the landfill operator and that a public presentation on the debris handling process would be useful. Council member Rhodes requested a council briefing explaining how debris moves from collection points to deposition sites and what controls are in place; Council member Litzler, who toured the landfill that day, said the operator is separating and watering loads but agreed that “it never hurts to do soil samples and do monitoring.” Mayor Kavanaugh said staff and the city manager would review options for further exploration.

No formal council action was taken at the meeting; staff said they would follow up on requests for additional briefings and consider potential monitoring partnerships.","Community members and university researchers asked the council to partner on long‑term, publicly accessible air monitoring around the Simi Valley landfill after it received debris from recent Los Angeles area fires.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568399,"Simi Valley council adopts draft CDBG action plan for FY 2025–26 and adds $3,000 to a capital request after nonprofit appeals",1443,2899000,4342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195341-a8a9abb71a11d4b6efe8e557aaeb8ca4&start=2899&end=4342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195341-a8a9abb71a11d4b6efe8e557aaeb8ca4/thumbnail_2899000.jpg","/articles/6568399/Simi-Valley/Ventura-County/California/Simi-Valley-council-adopts-draft-CDBG-action-plan-for-FY-202526-and-adds-3000-to-a-capital-request-after-nonprofit-appeals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568399-665866220ea0efabc7d1092f571d1a35/orig.mp4?Expires=1775343143&Signature=a2ROf-rVwfWCx~Y8Y2TZRMPtTcf2O~xQLPf-ylgAR2kmdFiefavljfnWR~OLHruXZ5rwGoWIZCtxewBqzH6kDTSgBYjicqMDtOGxsXxPGxLXc~6YYkBO-Kb~~k~esvUNvlE~mLPPFqySba2V3fyb3bf5j~3131rjbSGBhsK~s3S5ltHu76TVNmnCgt20se83-s3oA1AYYQkvGUV1jTIBcwNCkPimCq3~CCjIWZFQVRuBvQ72z~F3EPmeB83CweYLLM9ncaT7cmKmvxJCLz5B8XMcem2lv05E3Wgi-WhmsCDaOHAN-vKudkYXpImDfp8sSKBO3GujxAG0iIoJ-iDPmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Simi Valley City Council on May 5 approved the draft fiscal year 2025–26 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) action plan and amended the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee’s recommendation to add $3,000 to a capital funding request.

Staff said the draft action plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and serves to guide the countywide consolidated plan for 2025–29. Staff noted HUD had not yet confirmed the city’s FY25–26 entitlement and that the city used the FY24 allocation ($672,694) as an estimate while final figures are expected in the coming weeks. Staff also described regulatory caps that limit public service expenditures to 15% of the entitlement and administration to 20%.

Nonprofit speakers urged fuller funding. Anika Sambi, executive director of the Samaritan Center, told the council the organization has relied on a $45,000 CDBG case management grant for years and that a recommended cut to $35,000 would “present a significant challenge… forcing us to either seek additional funding to cover the gap or to hire staff for only part of the year, which would result in layoffs and rehiring for year 2.” Tracy Hemeneck, a Samaritan Center board member, and representatives from Senior Concerns, Many Mansions and Upwards also described services the organizations provide and the consequences of reduced funding.

Upwards representative Melanie Ford clarified that her organization’s request for an additional $3,000 related to a capital/economic development category rather than public services; Ford said the extra $3,000 would allow the Upwards program to meet the budget needed for the scope proposed.

After discussion, Council member Litzler moved to modify the advisory committee’s recommendation to add the $3,000 allocation to the capital category; the motion passed with Council member Rhodes voting no.

Council members and staff stressed the two‑year public service application cycle (funds are allocated yearly but programs are approved for a two‑year period provided compliance and continued HUD funding) and cautioned that final award amounts depend on HUD’s upcoming entitlement notice. Staff and council also noted other local grant sources and possible surplus funds as potential supplements for nonprofits.

The council adopted the action plan and the amended citizen participation plan and authorized the city manager to finalize documents for HUD submission.","The council approved the draft HUD consolidated action plan and amended the advisory committee’s recommendation to add $3,000 to a capital category request after several local nonprofits described program shortfalls.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568406,"Simi Valley council introduces 5-year sanitation rate increases after protest ballots fall short",2251,3653000,5904000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195341-a8a9abb71a11d4b6efe8e557aaeb8ca4&start=3653&end=5904","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195341-a8a9abb71a11d4b6efe8e557aaeb8ca4/thumbnail_3653000.jpg","/articles/6568406/Simi-Valley/Ventura-County/California/Simi-Valley-council-introduces-5-year-sanitation-rate-increases-after-protest-ballots-fall-short","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568406-590d216a067e6b884ed00d734f44d763/orig.mp4?Expires=1775343143&Signature=nCn7budYCCIM5QGRE4rDxpuWWl69PYqH3~J6P~k9Ptc2wF4pj3hXlBdGEWVJ9Jl-pfx74sbXw~qdIw1zuh0DWRR~k6l2HhoLZxfBdb7PBHeFjxoPHgUIwDxS6o8V-7F6kuLpVVssDD7b7~JJpyX2FLyuZqVhBxJ77nZrH0kNSUyvurLw02~4IsiuzUT0Eu2sf-hpd6cnTi2rxbzIxeY7Yavp~Re48m6SfDLSEMqPDLPHD92f0X05A63mD-BIz4ofAHHeCAhxWfdBHwcneCDXQoGzygtVvrq1trnrq3xCNffeGWcHFXCrHA0n0osfNSZzb6XX3ZtG6obUOMrwABo-qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Simi Valley City Council on May 5 introduced for first reading an ordinance that would raise sanitation rates an average of 3.5% annually for five fiscal years, beginning in 2025–26.

The rate package, presented by Public Works Director Ron Fujiwaki, would fund a multi-year capital program for the city’s aging sanitation system and water quality control plant. Fujiwaki told the council the increases respond primarily to infrastructure needs and that sanitation operates as a self-supporting enterprise fund paid for by user fees.

Council members and staff emphasized the scale of planned capital work as the principal driver. Fujiwaki said the city plans “to repair and rehabilitate the sanitation infrastructure, such as the sewer lines and the processing equipment at the water quality control plant,” and noted an estimated multi‑year capital program the staff characterized as sizable.

The city mailed about 38,000 Proposition 218 protest ballots to property owners and, as of the meeting, had received 472 protest ballots. Council staff told the council the threshold to block the rate increases would be a majority of ballots mailed (50% plus one), and that the returned protests were far below that level. Because sanitation fees are billed on the county tax roll, the ordinance introduction required and received the supermajority vote required for Proposition 218 collection on the tax roll.

Public comment ranged from fairness concerns to technical suggestions. Resident David Service told the council that single sewer hookups serving what he described as multi‑residence conversions feel unequal: “They have 10 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. And I think that there needs to be some thought or adjustments made to deal with that, to make it more fair.” The council asked staff to study whether accessory dwelling units and other multi‑occupancy situations could be addressed in future rate design.

Council member discussion noted comparisons to neighboring cities and options for spreading capital costs. Council members referenced variable pricing, bonds and timing of repairs; staff and council agreed to return with additional information on ADU connections and other means to refine equity and administration before further action.

The motion to approve the 2025 sanitation five‑year rate study and introduce Ordinance No. 1363—“an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Simi Valley, establishing a schedule of sanitation fees and charges and repealing ordinance number 1,300”—passed with the required supermajority; one council member recorded a no vote.

Next steps: the ordinance will return for second reading and final adoption (and, if adopted, inclusion on the county tax roll for collection). Staff was asked to report back with options to address ADU/multi‑occupancy fairness and other administrative details.","The City Council voted to introduce an ordinance to raise sanitation rates an average of 3.5% a year for five years, after officials said mailed protest ballots fell far short of the threshold needed to block the change.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Independent auditor gives Simi Valley a clean opinion on FY2023–24 financial statements; single audit notes one finding

Residents and researchers urge Simi Valley to fund public air monitoring around landfill receiving LA fire debris

Simi Valley council adopts draft CDBG action plan for FY 2025–26 and adds $3,000 to a capital request after nonprofit appeals

Simi Valley council introduces 5-year sanitation rate increases after protest ballots fall short