City does some house cleaning
Council repeals several obsolete ordinances
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

In its final act of 2007, the City Council cleaned house Monday night by introducing an ordinance and resolution that repealed obsolete provisions in the Simi Valley Municipal Code.

Since their original enactment, the provisions- relating to issues such as ambulances and open fires- have been replaced by other regulations or state laws and therefore haven't been enforced for many years.

Earlier this year, Councilmember Barbra Williamson asked that the city attorney's office review the municipal code to determine whether it contained outdated ordinances that could be repealed or removed.

The city's staff recommended eliminating six sections of the existing code.

Chapter 2 of Title 4 of the Simi Valley Municipal Code, which was adopted in the early 1970s, contained steps for the licensing of ambulance services in the city. Because Ventura County now regulates and contracts for ambulance services throughout the county, the ordinance is no longer necessary.

Another section, which addressed open burning- primarily for the purpose of destroying tumbleweeds- was also adopted in the '70s but today such work is overseen by the Ventura County Fire Protection District.

Other sections to be repealed involve smoking indoors and displaying drug paraphernalia- both of which are regulated by state law- and provisions regarding temporary shelters, which no longer apply to the city's zoning ordinances.

The City Council, with the exception of Williamson, who wasn't present at the meeting, introduced the new ordinance and resolution without further discussion.

During the council comment period, Mayor Paul Miller summarized the status of Simi Valley in regard to a number of issues anticipated in the coming year.

"Overall as we approach the end of the year, our city is in decent shape financially and we continue to be a safe place in which to live and work," Miller said.

Still, the mayor said, the city should be concerned with next year's state budget.

"The projected $10-billion shortfall in next year's budget is a hazard to us," he said. "The past behavior of the state Legislature is to raid the cities' treasuries, and the last time they did that it cost our city over $4 million."

Other concerns Miller mentioned involved the cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, results of the soil analysis at Runkle Canyon, a possible action by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to require cities to clean storm water, and the proposed expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill.

"We're going to watch that proposal very carefully and make sure that our city's voice is heard," Miller said of the proposal by Waste Management.

Despite those problematic issues, he said, the city could look forward to using a new eastbound lane on the 118 Freeway, new programs at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, more synchronized lights at intersections and progress on the General Plan update.

The next meeting of the Simi Valley City Council is scheduled for Jan. 14.