Board ratifies emergency road and creek repairs and waives permit fees for storm‑impacted property owners

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 ratified a series of emergency public‑works actions taken after December storms and approved a resolution waiving permit fees for private property owners conducting emergency repairs.

Public Works Director Anita Balin reported that Reeves Road suffered washout damage in the Dec. 24 storms. Staff described an emergency time‑and‑material contract with Summer Construction to protect the embankment and reconstruct the roadway; the presentation referenced a 'not‑to‑exceed' amount but the transcript did not specify the exact figure for that contract. The Fraser Street low‑water crossing repair was completed under a time‑and‑material contract not to exceed $60,000 to Summer Construction, and Old Telegraph Road bridge had temporary repairs with a reduced 3‑ton load limit and one eastbound lane open while permanent designs continue.

Watershed Protection Director Urthea Nance reported that a 120‑foot section of the Barlow Barranca Channel failed on Dec. 24; Toro Enterprises completed emergency stabilization using Hesco barriers and bracing at a total project cost of $157,212 funded by Zone 2, and county staff said they have requested a 75% state cost share from the California Office of Emergency Services.

The board adopted a resolution to waive the usual permit application fee ($505) and the $2,000 trust deposit for engineering review for storm‑impacted private property owners, which staff estimated could affect up to 25 properties and represent approximately $62,625 in foregone revenue. Staff said the fee waiver is in effect through March 31, 2026; permits obtained under the fee waiver may be extended beyond March 31 if state and federal conditions are met and district check‑ins are completed.

Property representatives raised concerns about long‑term erosion and urged county staff to coordinate durable designs into the emergency work. Alina Worth, speaking for a nearby resident, said engineers concluded the county’s emergency revetment work appears to be a temporary fix and asked that repairs address erosion impacting adjacent private property. Public Works responded that the work at the Reeves Road location was intended as a permanent restoration for the specific 200‑foot segment but that floodplain constraints and river migration limit the range of interventions.

Items 34–36 (emergency repairs for Reeves Road, Fraser Street and Old Telegraph Road bridge) and item 37 (Barlow Barranca emergency repairs) were received and ratified by the board; item 38 (fee waiver resolution) was adopted unanimously on a motion by Supervisor Long, seconded by Supervisor Parvin.

What’s next: Staff will return to the board with further updates as designs and permanent repairs are developed and will coordinate with regulatory agencies on permanent restoration work.