Supervisor Foy anticipates action
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Peter Foy

Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy told the Moorpark Acorn this week that he intends to continue his efforts to improve public safety, bring more county services to local residents and maximize fiscal efficiency in the new year.

Since taking office in January 2007, Foy, who represents the county's 4th District including Simi Valley and Moorpark, has created a task force to improve safety on the 118 Freeway, introduced term limits for supervisors and made government more accessible to its constituents, he said.

In addition, the supervisor hosted town hall meetings in the unincorporated communities of Somis, Santa Susana Knolls and Home Acres, where he met with residents and addressed local concerns.

He also spearheaded efforts to bring county officials to Simi Valley for a first-ever off-site board of supervisors meeting in July and later initiated an examination of how the county collects fines and penalties imposed by its planning department.

Foy said he doesn't intend to slow down this year.

"We should look at the things that government is required to do, and we should be doing only the things people can't do for themselves," the supervisor said.

East County services

Given that 50 percent of the county tax base resides in the East County, Foy has long asserted that local residents should have easier access to county services.

To date, the county clerk and county recorder have agreed to provide an East County office site that will include a wedding chapel. The facility may open as soon as March, according to Foy, who spearheaded the move.

The county assessor is also preparing to bring staff members to Simi, but that is likely to take longer than originally anticipated because the office is busy handling assessment appeals to reduce property taxes, Foy said.

Several other county departments, including the district attorney's office, also plan to heighten their presence on the east side of the grade. In fact, the D.A. and some of his staff members will be taking over Foy's old office in the Simi Valley courthouse.

"He has the keys and everything, so this could happen anytime," Foy said.

Fiscal matters

About 90 percent of the county's income comes from property taxes, Foy said, so with real estate values continuing to drop, Ventura County's budget is likely to be tight in 2008.

"I plan to take a close look at the county budget this upcoming year to determine where money should be spent first and avoid deficits," Foy said.

The county may not be in a position to increase staff or fund new programs.

"The state may also require cuts in some programs that were funded by grants," the supervisor said.

According to Foy, the county shouldn't start programs it can't sustain.

"Grants can be the heroin of government: You just get hooked on the grants, but when (they) go away, people suffer," he said.

Road safety

Last year Foy created a task force to improve safety on rural Highway 118 between Camarillo and Moorpark. The stretch has been prone to accidents because local commuters and large commercials trucks share the narrow roadway.

"We've had a major increase in hours spent patrolling the road and truck inspection, which has resulted in a lot of unsafe trucks taken off the road and a reduction in accidents," Foy said.

Caltrans has also approved funding to build a protective barrier between the truck scales west of Moorpark to improve safety for CHP inspectors while they perform vehicle inspections.

And the state has made a commitment to better maintenance of warning signs to ensure that the dangers of the road are effectively and clearly communicated to drivers, Foy said.

Santa Susana Field Lab

Although Foy initially opposed a proposal to designate the Santa Susana Field Lab property as a Superfund site because he was concerned the label would have a negative effect on property values in Simi Valley, Foy said he now supports the effort.

"The designation will hopefully release federal funds to get the site cleaned up. It's a couple of miles away from Simi, so it won't have any impact on property owners," he said.

Foy noted that the board of supervisors recently sent a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger requesting his endorsement of the Superfund designation.

Illegal immigration

As protestors continue to gather in front of United Church of Christ of Simi Valley on Royal Avenue to oppose the harboring of an illegal immigrant and her U.S.born infant son in a churchowned building, Foy said he stands with the demonstrators.

"I'm glad that some people are protesting to uphold the law," he said. "It's a slap in the face of our system and for the law-abiding citizens."