Camarillo endorses Ventura County neighbor fund, approves $70,000 direct grant to FoodShare

The Camarillo City Council unanimously endorsed the Ventura County Neighbor Support Coalition and approved a one-time $70,000 direct grant to Ventura County FoodShare to help address food insecurity among Camarillo residents and nearby campus and unincorporated populations.

Council members voted 5-0 to endorse the coalition, and later voted 5-0 to authorize a direct, one-time $70,000 contribution to FoodShare after debate over whether city funds should be routed through the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) to obtain matching dollars. The council’s final decision directs the city manager to provide the funds directly to FoodShare and includes a condition that the nonprofit report the number of Camarillo residents served; the council also noted that FoodShare treats recipients the same regardless of immigration status.

Councilmember Marti Martinez Bravo moved the initial funding proposal that the council ultimately adopted; Councilmember Susan Santangelo seconded the motion. The vote record showed Mayor Kevin Kildee, Vice Mayor Tennyson, Councilmembers Tremblay and Santangelo, and Martinez Bravo voting in favor.

The action follows several weeks of public comment from residents and advocates who warned of increased federal immigration enforcement activity in the region and described sharp declines in customer traffic for small businesses and growing demand at local food distributions. Local volunteer groups and nonprofit leaders told the council that volunteers and charitable organizations are already seeing rising needs among families, seniors and students.

Vanessa Bechtel, president and CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation, briefed the council on the Neighbor Support Coalition’s work. She described VCCF’s model of matching municipal contributions with private donor commitments and named two requests the foundation had identified as priority local recipients: Ventura County FoodShare (commonly called FoodShare) and Saticoy Food Hub. Those two nonprofits had sought city support: FoodShare requested $28,000; Saticoy Food Hub requested $74,605. Staff initially recommended $15,000 to FoodShare and $35,000 to Saticoy so that VCCF could match the city funds and fully fund both requests.

Jennifer Caldwell, chief development officer for Ventura County FoodShare, told the council FoodShare serves thousands of Camarillo residents through pantry partners, weekly distributions and local programs. She said FoodShare distributed about 1,000,000 pounds of food in Camarillo last year, and estimated an unduplicated count of “just under 8,000 Camarillo residents” served during the year through FoodShare’s local networks and partners including Pleasant Valley Senior Center and local pantry sites.

Council members deliberated over three main points: whether the city should endorse the VCCF coalition; whether to give funds directly to FoodShare or route them through VCCF to obtain matching dollars; and whether the city should restrict funds to Camarillo residents. Some members expressed concern about precedent and the need for oversight and resident benefit reporting. Others stressed the urgency of aid and the multiplier effect of leveraging matching private donations.

Councilmember Tremblay pressed for direct funding to the nonprofit the council knows serves Camarillo residents, saying that FoodShare’s existing footprint made it a transparent recipient. Councilmember Martinez Bravo advocated a larger, one‑time direct grant that would also reach adjacent campus and unincorporated residents affected by recent enforcement activity: she specifically asked that CSUCI students and residents at nearby Somis Ranch be included in the geographic focus. After debate, the council approved a $70,000 direct, one-time grant to FoodShare and added council direction that FoodShare provide reporting to the city on the number of Camarillo residents served.

The council also unanimously adopted the nonbinding endorsement of the Ventura County Neighbor Support Coalition earlier in the meeting; that endorsement does not by itself commit city funds.

The motion and follow-up language the council approved specify (1) the $70,000 one-time direct grant to Ventura County FoodShare, (2) an expectation that FoodShare report the number of Camarillo residents served with the funds, and (3) a statement that FoodShare provides assistance to recipients without making distinctions based on immigration status.

Several public commenters, including members of local immigrant advocacy groups and owners of small businesses, urged the council to go further with funding or policy changes; others urged caution about using taxpayer funds for nonprofits. Council members acknowledged those concerns and discussed staff follow-up and reporting. The motion passed with all five members voting yes, and the council instructed city staff to implement the payment and to require a brief status report from FoodShare on how many Camarillo residents were served with the grant.

Votes at a glance

- Endorse Ventura County Neighbor Support Coalition — motion passed 5-0 (unanimous). Justification: formal recognition of VCCF-led coalition efforts; nonbinding, no immediate funding obligation.

- Direct one-time grant to Ventura County FoodShare, $70,000 — motion passed 5-0 (unanimous). Motion: provide $70,000 directly to FoodShare to address food insecurity among Camarillo residents, CSUCI students, and nearby Somis Ranch residents; one-time expenditure; FoodShare to report number of Camarillo residents served. Mover: Councilmember Marti Martinez Bravo. Second: Councilmember Susan Santangelo. Vote: Martinez Bravo — yes; Vice Mayor Tennyson — yes; Councilmember Tremblay — yes; Councilmember Santangelo — yes; Mayor Kevin Kildee — yes.

what this means locally

City staff said the approved grant will be processed as a single, one-time community support payment and that FoodShare will be expected to provide a short report on how the funds were used and how many Camarillo residents benefited. Because the council chose direct funding rather than routing the payment through VCCF, it did not attach a formal matching requirement; several council members and VCCF staff said the foundation and local donors would likely continue to pursue additional private matching dollars.

Next steps and reporting

City staff will process the direct grant and will receive written reporting from FoodShare on recipients. Council members requested that staff also explore policy guidance for future requests so the council has a clear, consistent framework for nonprofit endorsements and one-time emergency grants. The council’s action closes a weeks‑long debate but leaves open further policy work and outreach to neighboring jurisdictions and funders to coordinate regional responses to food insecurity and related needs.