Residents push for community low-power radio and batting-cage noise limits; Ventura nonprofit announces awards luncheon

Several members of the public used the City of Camarillo’s general comment period on Feb. 12 to raise items the city may consider, including help finding donated studio space for a proposed low-power community radio station and asking the city to review backyard batting-cage noise.

Barry Funkhauser told the council he and partners are launching a nonprofit low-power FM station licensed to serve Camarillo called “Grama radio.” “Imagine a radio station that’s truly our own that provides emergency information in times of crisis — fires, floods, earthquakes — reliable information,” Barry Funkhauser said. He asked the council to help identify a donated studio location “any available area open to the public with parking and a restroom where we can build our studio and train future broadcasters.”

A second speaker identified as Simhan (spelling as pronounced in the meeting) added that the station could integrate with Channel Islands-area universities and provide internships and emergency-management announcements.

Resident Neil Congelo raised ongoing neighborhood disturbance from a backyard batting cage. He said the yards in his area are about 30 feet apart, that sessions have lasted two hours, and that he measured noise levels he described as exceeding the level he believed should apply: “They say the noise level should not go over 5.5, and I've clocked it over 7.7,” Congelo said. He told council staff he had raised the issue previously and asked the city to consider restrictions. He also said the state of California has a law regarding softball use but did not provide a statute citation; staff noted the comment for follow-up.

Patty Braga, executive director of Ventura County Leadership Academy, used public comment to invite the council and residents to the organization’s Journey to Leadership awards luncheon on April 24 at Mandalay Beach in Oxnard and listed the year’s honorees. The academy described its program as a countywide leadership development program with a network of more than 745 alumni.

Mr. Sykes, representing Trinity Presbyterian Church members, asked the city to be open to permitting occasional fundraising concerts on church property to raise money for fire victims, noting available parking and greenbelt space adjacent to church facilities.

No formal council action on these public comments was taken at the meeting; comments were entered into the public record for staff follow-up as appropriate.