Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Paula public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
4 issues in roads with medium priority
Citywide Sidewalk Master Plan
Santa Paula's sidewalks are old, buckling and inconsistently maintained. A $138,080 consultant contract will produce the city's first true master plan, ranking sidewalks by safety, accessibility and safe routes to school so repairs can be prioritized — and Measure R funds have doubled the annual repair budget.
Street Repair Funding Shortfall Resolved
Gas tax revenue has been running about $500,000 short of street maintenance costs. Staff found extra TDA money from Ventura County that adds $415,000 in revenue, covers the gap, and still leaves $183,000 for slurry sealing this year.
US 101 widening funding shortfall
Vice Mayor Crosswhite reported the planned US 101 improvement project needs $1.8–2.2 billion but is on track to have only about $218 million by 2031 — potentially a 20-plus-year construction project.
City grants success — record $4.2 million for the Santa Paula Trail
The city has gotten dramatically better at winning grants: a record $4.2 million federal CMAC grant plus $1 million from VCTC will take the Santa Paula Trail expansion from design to construction, with final design coming to council this fall.