🌟 Apply for Cohort II of the Santa Paula Future Leaders Academy! 🌟

The City of Santa Paula invites residents and local business owners (18+) to apply for the Santa Paula Future Leaders Academy – Cohort II! This 9-week civic leadership program offers a behind-the-scenes look at City government, how services are delivered, and how local decisions are made.

📅 When: Mondays, 6:00–8:30 p.m.

🗓️ Dates: March 2 – May 11, 2026

⏸️ Spring break recess: March 30 – April 10

🍽️ Light food & refreshments provided

💲 Program fee: $25 (for accepted participants)

📝 Applications are now open!

✅ Deadline: February 13, 2026 (space is limited)

🔗 Apply online: https://ayrs.io/DsPWV0

📍 Applications may also be requested in person at City Hall.

ℹ️ More info: www.spcity.org/734/Santa-Paula-Future-Leaders-Academy

📧 Nicholle Azpera: nazpera@spcity.org | 📞 (805) 933-4201 ext. 234

Watch the video below for more information:

📣 Did you hear the news?! 🎉

Santa Paula just got a major upgrade! 🌟 Please join us in welcoming Aminah Mears, DPA, as our new Deputy City Manager! 🏛️👏

Aminah brings 16+ years of local government experience to our community and most recently served as Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Corona—so yes, she knows her stuff. 💼✨

When she’s not helping move cities forward, you’ll find Aminah hanging out with her three-year-old boxer, Ali 🐶, soaking up anything (almost!) on or near the water, catching live concerts, or cheering on her favorite teams—Go Dodgers, Steelers, and Clippers! ⚾🏈🏀

We’re thrilled to have her on board and can’t wait for the impact she’ll make in Santa Paula. 💙

👉 Read more in our press release: https://ayrs.io/6AZTMt

📣 The 2026 Winter/Spring Recreation Guide is here! ❄️🌷

The City of Santa Paula Parks & Recreation Department is excited to share the Winter/Spring 2026 Recreation Guide, featuring programs and activities for children, youth, adults, and older adults from January through April 2026.

Browse programs, seasonal activities, senior services, youth enrichment, sports, volunteer opportunities, park information, and more by viewing the guide below:

📖 View the Recreation Guide: https://www.spcity.org/DocumentCenter/View/6252/Parks-and-Recreation-Guide-Spring-2025

📞 Info: (805) 933-4226 ext. 350

📍 Location: 530 W. Main St., Santa Paula

Don’t miss out—there’s something for everyone in Santa Paula’s vibrant community! 💙

Built on Dedication: 30 Years of Protecting Our Water

In January 1996, Pat Parrish and others in the City of Santa Paula purchased the local water company (then Park Water), bringing the system under City ownership. As part of that transition, several dedicated employees joined City service, carrying forward invaluable institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to public service that helped shape the Water Division for decades.

Over the years, many of those early team members have retired, leaving behind a lasting legacy that continues to influence how the Water Division operates today. Recent retirees such as Liz Murillo, along with Pat Parrish and others, represent a generation of professionals who helped improve, modernize, and steward Santa Paula’s water system through years of dedicated service.

Several individuals from that era continue to serve the community in important ways. Anita Lopez remains with the City in another department, while Water Systems Operators Joe Dugas and Tim Martinez continue their long-standing service within the Water Division, forming the backbone of the team that operates and maintains the City’s water system today.

Thirty years later, the mission remains the same: to deliver safe, reliable drinking water—honoring the legacy of those who helped build the foundation and investing in the team that will carry it forward.

🏠 Housing Rights Workshops – 2026 🏠

The County of Ventura, in partnership with the Housing Rights Center, is pleased to offer a series of Housing Rights Workshops for tenants and landlords in 2026. These free workshops will provide important information on tenant protections, fair housing laws, and rental rights.

Upcoming Workshops

Tenant Workshop #1

📅 Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | ⏰ 6:00–8:00 p.m.

🌐 English & Spanish | In-person & Zoom

📍 Oxnard Main Library

251 South A Street, Oxnard, CA 93030

Tenant Workshop #2

📅 Tuesday, March 19, 2026 | ⏰ 6:00–8:00 p.m.

🌐 English & Spanish | In-person & Zoom

📍 Moorpark Community Center – Apricot Room

799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark, CA 93021

Landlord Workshop

📅 Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | ⏰ 10:00 a.m. (New Time)

🌐 English | Zoom only

Spanish interpretation will be provided for tenant workshops.

📲 Registration is encouraged. Visit www.housingrightscenter.org/workshops for details.

Empower yourself with accurate housing information—join us!

RV Parking & Storage: Quick Reminder for Santa Paula Residents

Planning a trip, hosting visitors, or getting your RV ready for the weekend? The City of Santa Paula trailer and boats. These regulations help protect neighborhood safety, access, and community appearance.

Temporary parking in a front yard or driveway is allowed up to 48 hours. After that, RVs may not be parked in any front yard

For longer-term storage, RVs may be kept in a side or rear yard, if all of the following requirements are met:

• One RV per residential property
• Maximum size: 96 inches high and 32 feet long
• Setbacks: 20 feet from the front property line and 3 feet from side/rear property lines
• Screening is required (such as a wall, fence, gate, or dense landscaping) so the RV is not visible from the street or sidewalk

Street parking is limited: vehicles may not remain on any street or alley within the City for more than 72 consecutive hours. After 72 hours, the vehicle must be moved at least ¼ mile, remain off that street for at least 4 hours, and then may return.

A few additional reminders: RVs may not be used as permanent residences, and in residential zones, front-yard vehicle parking is restricted, screening is required in other areas, and vehicles 6,000 pounds or more may not be parked on residential lots.

Questions or need clarification?

City of Santa Paula – Code Compliance Department

📞 805-933-4218

🌐 Submit a request online: https://www.spcity.org/772/Code-Enforcement-Request

Thank you for doing your part to help keep Santa Paula neighborhoods safe, orderly, and well-maintained.

Walk With Ease at the Santa Paula Senior Center 🚶‍♀️💚

Looking for a simple, supportive way to stay active?

Join Walk With Ease, a FREE walking program offered at the Santa Paula Senior Center. This program is designed to help participants improve mobility, reduce pain, and build healthy habits at a pace that works for you.

Program Details:

• Class Days: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
• (No class on luncheon days)
• Time: 9:00–10:00 AM,
• Cost: FREE (Guidebook available for $5. Don’t let cost be a barrier! Talk to Ariana for options)

Sessions Available:

• Session 1: 2/3–3/12
• Session 2: 3/17–4/23
• Session 3: 4/28–6/4

🎁 Free water bottle for participants!

📩 Contact: atalamantes@spcity.org

👉 Register today and take a step toward better health!

YARA: Building Skills. Building Futures.

The Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Accelerator (YARA) is a FREE pre-apprenticeship program for Santa Paula youth ages 16–24, offered in collaboration with LiUNA and based on the NABTU Multi-Craft Core Curriculum. This hands-on, accelerated program is designed for problem-solvers ready to jump-start a career in the building trades, with real-world training and direct connections to registered apprenticeship opportunities.

Participants earn 5 industry-recognized certifications:

• First Aid / CPR & AED
• Confined Space
• OSHA 10
• 40-Hour Hazardous Waste
• Traffic Control



Program Dates: July 6 – July 31

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

Spots are limited—enroll now and start building your future.

TK & Kindergarten Enrollment Round Up – 2026–2027

The City would like to share an enrollment reminder from the Santa Paula Unified School District.

Only NEW families enrolling students in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten for the 2026–2027 school year need to attend the Enrollment Round Up.

Please see the attached flyer for dates and times.

Age Eligibility:

• TK: Child must turn 4 on or before September 1, 2026
• Kindergarten: Child must turn 5 on or before September 1, 2026

What to Bring:



• Proof of student’s age (original birth certificate or passport)
• Parent/Guardian photo ID
• Two proofs of residence (rental agreement and/or utility bill)
• Immunization records and Oral Health Assessment form
• Legal custody/guardianship documents, if applicable

Current TK & Kindergarten Students

Families of currently enrolled TK and Kindergarten students do not need to attend. Students will automatically roll over.

🎖️ Honor Santa Paula’s Heroes with the Military Banner Program

Santa Paula proudly recognizes local military personnel through the “Santa Paula Salutes” Military Banner Program — honoring active duty, retired, and fallen service members with personalized banners displayed along 10th Street and Mill Street.

📅 Installed quarterly

💵 $124.50 (renewed every 3 years)

📝 Easy application with proof of service & residency

✅ Step 1: Apply online using the link below

➡️ https://ayrs.io/-Hfce7

✅ Step 2: Pay in person at Santa Paula City Hall (cash or check only)

Please note/label your payment: “Military Banner Program – City of Santa Paula.”

🐾 Humane Society Cares Clinic Coming to Santa Paula 🐾

The Humane Society Cares community outreach program is planning to host a low-cost spay/neuter and microchip/vaccination clinic in Santa Paula this March.

📅 Saturday, March 7

📍 Veteran’s Park

⏰ Vaccination Clinic: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

(Set-up begins at 7:30 a.m.; event concludes around 2:30 p.m.)

This clinic will provide essential services to help keep pets healthy and safely at home. Veteran’s Park was selected based on its success during a previous clinic.

🔗 For more information about Humane Society Cares and available services, visit www.hsvc.org.

Stay tuned for additional details as the event date approaches!

City Corps Keeps Downtown Santa Paula Shining ✨

Our City Corps Leader Trainees help keep Main Street clean and welcoming by maintaining the downtown corridor three times a week—so residents and visitors can enjoy an even better shopping experience and a downtown that looks its best.

You’ll see them out and about every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. If you spot the team while they’re working, feel free to stop and say hello—because soon they may be cleaning up an alley near you! 👷🏼‍♂️

Youth Volunteers Needed (Ages 12–17)!

Want to get involved? The Parks and Recreation Department is always looking for youth volunteers for their Saturday alley cleanups. It’s a great way to give back—whether you’re volunteering for fun or need community service hours for school, religious, or legal requirements.

To sign up, use the link in the button down below:

Westminster Free Clinic – Free Medical Services

The City would like to share information about free medical services available through the Westminster Free Clinic & Community Care Center for community members who are uninsured or unable to afford medical care.

Services may include physician visits, diagnostic tests, vision services, cancer screenings, mental health services, nutrition classes, Zumba and yoga classes, and limited preventive dental services. Healthy food distributions are also offered at select locations. Services vary by location and are provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no cost.

Weekly Locations & Times:

• Oxnard (Tuesdays):
• Food distribution begins at 2:30 p.m.; medical services at 4:00 p.m.
• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

• Thousand Oaks (Wednesdays):
• Food distribution begins at 3:00 p.m.; medical services at 4:00 p.m.
• United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks

• Santa Paula (Thursdays):
• Medical services begin at 4:00 p.m.
• El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church

All services are completely free, and no donations are requested.

Hop Into Volunteering This Easter! 🐰🌷

Looking for a fun way to give back this Easter?

We’re inviting 30 youth volunteers (ages 12–17) to help make the Santa Paula Easter Event a success! Volunteers will assist with event setup and breakdown, run game booths, hand out prizes, and support the City Corps wagon train.

Volunteer Hours: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

(Volunteers are welcome to help for part of the day, longer shifts are appreciated!)

This is a great opportunity to earn volunteer hours, build leadership skills, and support a fun, family-friendly community event.

👉 Sign up on Instagram by clicking the button down below:

Bootcamp for New Dads – Free Workshop



The City would like to share an upcoming Bootcamp for New Dads, hosted by the Ventura County Fatherhood Initiative. This free, in-person workshop is open to new and expecting fathers and offers a supportive space to learn, ask questions, and connect with other dads.

Participants will hear from experienced fathers as they share practical tips on caring for a newborn, building strong bonds, calming a crying baby, balancing work and parenting, and navigating co-parenting relationships.

Event Details

• Date: February 7, 2026
• Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Location: 5171 Verdugo Way, Camarillo, CA 93012
• Cost: Free

Registration is required.

For more information, call (805) 795-3197 or email DCSSCommunityRelations@venturacounty.gov.

FREE Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training in Spanish!

After a major disaster, first responders may not be enough. You could be your own best first responder! 💪

In coordination with FEMA and the City of Santa Paula, we are offering a FREE course for up to 40 residents of Santa Paula and Ventura who are interested in learning how to prepare for and respond to emergencies.

🔥 Fire prevention

🚑 Basic first aid

🧭 Light search and rescue

🤝 Supporting first responders and neighbors

🎓 Includes certificate, manual, and emergency kit (helmet, gloves, vest, and goggles)

✅ No experience required.

📅 January 21 – February 28, 2026

⏰ Wednesdays, 6:30–9:00 PM

📍 Santa Paula Community Center (530 W. Main St.)

🎉 February Newsletter is Here! 🎉

Santa Paula Senior Center | February Highlights (530 W. Main Street)

Join us this February at the Santa Paula Senior Center for connection, fun, and community!

Residents are invited to attend the Senior Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 5 at 1:30 PM, enjoy an afternoon of Bingo on Wednesday, February 12 at 12:30 PM, and gather with friends for our Luncheon on Tuesday, February 18 at 11:00 AM.

For details or to get involved, contact the Recreation Program Coordinator Ariana Talamantes at (805) 933-4226 ext. 356 or atalamantes@spcity.org.

Come join us, stay active, and start the new year connected at your Senior Center! 💫

✨ 2026 Social Justice in Education Conference ✨

Join us for El Amor Como Resistencia: Healing and Educational Justice for Our Immigrant Communities for a powerful day of learning, reflection, and action centered on immigrant experiences in education.

🎤 Featured Speakers:

• Dr. Antero Garcia – Stanford Graduate School of Education
• Alix Dick – Filmmaker, writer, and author of The Cost of Being Undocumented

📅 Saturday, February 28, 2026

⏰ 8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

📍 CSU Channel Islands | Grand Salon

💡 Free to attend (registration required)

This conference invites educators, students, and community members to explore healing, resistance, and educational justice through storytelling, scholarship, and collective dialogue.

🔗 Register today—space is limited by clicking down below!

🎨 CALL FOR ARTISTS | CSU Channel Islands 🎨

The CSU Channel Islands School of Education invites students and community members to submit artwork for a Student/Community Art Gallery featured at the 2026 Social Justice in Education Conference.

🗓 Submission Deadline: February 23, 2026

🎟 Free Entry

🖼 Gallery on display during the conference on February 28, 2026

This gallery will showcase creative work that reflects themes of social justice, education, identity, resistance, and community. Artists of all mediums are encouraged to participate.

📧 Questions? Email schoolofeducation@csuci.edu

Share your voice. Share your art. Be part of the conversation.

🌟 Youth Opportunity Reminder: VC NextGen Program 🌟

Goodwill Industries, in partnership with the Ventura County Workforce Development Board, continues to offer VC NextGen, a WIOA Title I Youth Program that supports local youth ages 14–24.

VC NextGen provides:

✔️ Work readiness workshops

✔️ Paid work experience (up to 150 hours)

✔️ Post-secondary education support

✔️ Vocational training

✔️ Supportive services

Eligibility:

• Ages 14–24
• Must have a barrier to employment or education

📌 Enrollment Update:

• In-school youth enrollment is now full
• Out-of-school youth are still being enrolled

– Ages 18–24

– High school graduates

– May be enrolled in college

If you work with youth and would like to make a referral, please complete the referral form and submit it to the email listed at the bottom of the form.

🔗 For more information, visit www.vcnextgen.org

Help connect young people to tools, training, and paid opportunities for success!

Where to Get Sandbags (Flood Preparedness)

If you need sandbags for flood-related concerns, please note that sandbag distribution for Santa Paula is handled by the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD).

The City does not typically distribute sandbags directly. If you have questions about City resources, Public Works can help you confirm what is available locally.

For fire and flood-related information and assistance, Santa Paula is served exclusively by the Ventura County Fire Department.

You may contact your nearest station:

• VCFD Fire Station 26 — 536 W. Main St., Santa Paula
• 📞 (805) 371-1111 ext. 26
• VCFD Fire Station 29 — 114 S. 10th St., Santa Paula
• 📞 (805) 371-1111 ext. 29

Note: Fire Station 29 personnel and equipment are operating from a temporary facility on East Main Street (one block east of the 10th Street location) while the new station is completed.

Be Ready: Build Your Own Emergency Kit

The City website also includes guidance on packing an emergency “go bag.” While pre-made kits can be purchased online, it’s best to build your own with trusted supplies—some low-quality kits may not hold up when you need them most.

Dog Licenses Available at City Hall

All dogs in Santa Paula are required to be licensed. Dog licenses can be obtained in person at Santa Paula City Hall.

When applying, please bring proof of a current rabies vaccination (documentation from your veterinarian or a local vaccination provider is acceptable). If your dog is spayed or neutered, please also bring proof of sterilization, as pricing depends on whether your dog is fixed.

Annual License Fees:

• Spayed/Neutered (Fixed): $20/year, varies based on sterilization status
• Not Fixed: $75/year

For questions, please contact the Finance Department at City Hall for assistance by clicking below:

🌟 Vendor Applications Now Open | Parks & Recreation 🌟

The Parks & Recreation Department is excited to announce that vendor applications are now open for our upcoming community events throughout the year!

We invite local food vendors, artisans, performers, and community organizations to participate and help us create engaging, family-friendly experiences for our residents. Vendors will have the opportunity to showcase food, music, crafts, and informational resources while connecting with large, diverse audiences.

🎉 Upcoming Events Include:

• 🥚 Easter Egg Hunt

• 🎆 4th of July Fireworks Celebration

• 🎶 Concerts at the Park

📍 High-traffic, community-wide events

📅 Multiple event dates available

🤝 Great exposure for your business or organization

⏳ Space is limited

🔗 Apply here: https://linktr.ee/SantaPaulaParksandRecreation

We look forward to partnering with our local vendors to bring vibrant, memorable events to our community.

🔥 Stay Firewise All Year Long! 🔥

Learn how to make your community safer from wildfire while connecting with others doing the same. 🌿🏡

✅ Explore the Firewise program and its benefits

💬 Hear success stories from other communities

❓ Join live Q&A sessions with Regional Coordinators

📅 Join on Zoom every 3rd Friday at 1:00 PM.

Open to everyone!

👉 Register today at venturafiresafe.org

💻 You can also book a 30-minute virtual chat with the Regional Coordinator

🎥 Watch past workshops on YouTube: @venturaregionalfsc

ℹ️ The City of Santa Paula is sharing the following community resource from 211Now:

📢 Community Needs Assessment

Recent ICE activity in Ventura County has impacted many families and individuals. Local community organizations are available to help with resources such as:

✔️ Legal assistance

✔️ Food

✔️ Family reunification

✔️ Health care

✔️ Mental health counseling

📝 Complete the anonymous and confidential 211Now survey to help identify emerging needs and ensure resources are available where they’re needed.

👉 Survey link: 211Now.com/ventura-county-immigration-resources

📞 Call 211 or visit 211Now.com for more information.

❗Important reminder from the County of Ventura's Treasurer-Tax Collector for taxpayers mailing property tax payments

The U.S. Postal Service has updated its postmark rules. Postmarks now show the date mail is first processed by USPS machines, NOT the date it’s dropped in a mailbox.

If you’re paying close to the due date, we strongly recommend taking your payment inside the Post Office and requesting a manual postmark to help ensure it’s on time.

Payments postmarked after the due date will be considered late and may incur penalties. Mail early, hand-deliver, or pay online when possible.

📞 Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office

Monday–Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Phone: 805-654-3744

💻 taxpayment.venturacounty.gov

👨‍👩‍👧 FREE Parenting Classes Available 👨‍👩‍👦

Ventura County Public Health is offering FREE parenting classes designed to help families better understand how school-age children think, grow, and develop. These classes also provide practical tools to strengthen communication, improve discipline strategies, and build positive parent-child relationships.

📍 In-person sessions: Oxnard

💻 Virtual option: Attend via Zoom

🏫 Need a viewing location? For the second session, families may also watch the streamed classes at the school district office.

📝 Important: All participants for the second session must pre-register, regardless of how they plan to attend.

👉 Please see the flyer for registration details and additional information.

Supporting parents means supporting our children—don’t miss this opportunity!

When are City Hall Offices Closed?

City Hall will be closed on February 6 and 20, 2026, as well as Monday, February 16, 2026, for Presidents Day.

For full business hours, please visit our website by clicking the button below.