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Ventura County approves grant to upgrade Port Hueneme library HVAC to serve as clean-air shelter
Summary
The Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board approved up to $200,000 in Community Air Protection funding to replace HVAC equipment at the Ray D. Pewter Library in Port Hueneme so it can operate as a clean-air shelter during wildfire smoke events.
The Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board on March 2025 approved up to $200,000 in Community Air Protection (CAP) funding to replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment at the Ray D. Pewter Library, 510 Park Avenue, Port Hueneme, enabling the facility to serve as a clean-air shelter during wildfire smoke events.
Tyler Harris, planning rules and incentives division manager for the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, told the board that the CAP program was established by the California Air Resources Board to support implementation of Assembly Bill 617 and that funds come from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Harris said the district received $202,510 through the CAP program for fiscal year 2023–24 and recommended approving one project to upgrade the library’s HVAC. "The total quoted cost of the replacement equipment and installation for the project is $197,298. District staff recommend approving funding up to $200,000 to ensure the library has sufficient funds to cover unforeseen expenses," Harris said.
Harris said the upgraded HVAC would allow the library to handle filters capable of removing fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke and that district staff coordinated with Ventura County Library and the Ventura County Sustainability Division to determine needs. He said the library was already undergoing renovations from previous flood damage, making it an opportunity to install higher-capacity equipment.
Board member Chavez asked about the application process for local organizations and cities. Harris explained that the district typically runs a formal application process for incentive funds and prioritizes projects by cost-effectiveness, but that the CAP funding approved in this case is a more flexible, pass-through implementation grant intended to support AB 617 goals. "In order to have it staffed by public staff and available to the public, without any kind of discrimination or anything like that, we found that the library was actually undergoing renovations already," Harris said.
The board voted to approve the funding, authorize the APCO to execute the grant agreement, and direct the auditor-controller to process the accounting transactions. One board member abstained: Board Member Perez said, "This is actually in Port Hueneme and as the mayor I think I'll just abstain from that just to keep it clean." The motion carried with the remaining members voting in favor.
District staff said they will administer the grant agreement and ensure contract requirements are met before making any payments. Completed projects will be monitored according to program requirements for the life of the grant agreement.
Background: AB 617 (2017) created the Community Air Protection program to fund projects that reduce emissions and improve public health in communities with high cumulative burden from pollution. The district identified the Port Hueneme neighborhood as a disadvantaged and low-income community under the California Climate Investments priority mapping tool.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the grant agreement and begin contracting with the library for equipment replacement and installation. No public speakers were registered on this item at the meeting.
