Hearing Officer Deborah Cohen and clerk staff managed a broad calendar of individual assessment appeals Oct. 22; the majority of matters called during the session were continued to either Feb. 23, 2026, or June 8, 2026, with the assessor routinely requesting that any information needed for review be supplied no later than 30 days before a continued hearing.

Key scheduling outcomes and motions (selected items recorded on the hearing record):

- Approval of the 2026 assessment appeals hearing officer calendar — the hearing officer's schedule for 2026 hearing officer days was approved by order.

- App. nos. 2310201, 2310202, 2310204 (Elvira Baptist Williams Trust): Applicant requested a continuance to 02/23/2026 while the assessor and applicant attempted to resolve document questions; the assessor agreed and the matter was continued with the usual 30‑day data deadline.

- App. no. 2311474 (Lynette Haley): Applicant lacked one set of police reports and requested time; assessor agreed to continue the hearing to 02/23/2026 with the proviso that police reports be provided no later than 30 days prior to the hearing.

- App. no. 2311902 (Paul Family Living Trust, Darren Paul): Applicant declined a two‑year waiver, opted to proceed in person and then agreed to sign a waiver; the hearing was continued to 02/23/2026 with a signed waiver to preserve appeal rights and a 30‑day data deadline.

- App. no. 2312159 (Roberto Garcia) and several others (multiple in‑person appellants who had not returned hearing confirmations): Continued to 02/23/2026 with the assessor's proviso for additional data as needed.

- A number of Zoom appellants who had submitted documents to the assessor within 30 days of the hearing asked for continuances while the assessor completed review; those matters were continued (commonly to 02/23/2026) and flagged for a 30‑day documents deadline so the assessor could complete its review before the next hearing.

- Several matters were denied for lack of appearance where no claimant checked in by the start of the hearing (e.g., App. 2410209, 2510090) and the clerk recommended denials on the record.

Process notes repeated to multiple appellants:

- Standard continuance options offered were Feb. 23, 2026 and June 8, 2026 (with data due 30 days earlier: Jan. 24 and May 9 respectively).

- If an appellant is approaching the two‑year time limit for finalizing an appeal and prefers not to proceed to hearing, a two‑year waiver or an indefinite waiver may be signed; clerks explained the effect of waivers and the right to rescind later by notice when applicable.

- When documents are submitted late or within the 30‑day window, the assessor requested additional time to review and the matter was often continued so the assessor's assigned appraiser could examine the materials.

What it means: The clerk and assessor used the hearing as a case‑management session to clear in‑person appointments and to push work that requires review into a consolidated later hearing date. The uniform 30‑day documents deadline and the repeated use of Feb. 23, 2026 as the first follow‑up date created a predictable schedule for appellants to provide materials and for the assessor to complete reviews.

Selected actions and outcomes (from the hearing record):

- Approval of 2026 assessment appeals hearing officer calendar — ordered approved.

- Continuance orders (selected): App. 2310201 / 2310202 / 2310204 — continued to 02/23/2026 (pending original stipulation or additional documents). App. 2311474 — continued to 02/23/2026 (police reports due no later than 30 days prior). App. 2311902 (Paul Family Living Trust) — continued to 02/23/2026 (applicant signed two‑year waiver). App. 2312159 (Roberto Garcia) — continued to 02/23/2026 with assessor proviso. Multiple other in‑person and Zoom matters similarly continued to 02/23/2026 or 06/08/2026 with a standard 30‑day data provision condition.

- Denials for lack of appearance: Clerk recommended and the hearing officer ordered denials where no appearance was confirmed at call (several application numbers recorded on the agenda: e.g., app. 2410209 and app. 2510090 where the record shows no one checked in).

Speakers (primary): Hearing Officer Deborah Cohen; various applicants appearing in person or via Zoom; Ventura County Assessor's Office staff (including assigned appraisers such as Rebecca Russell and county assessment staff who handled document review and inspection scheduling).