Stop the Trucks: City Council Candidate, Betsy Clapp, Answers Our Election Year Questions
(photo credit to Ray Smith, Daly Road Graphics)
1) Do you now or have you in the past personally supported "Stop the Trucks!"
Yes, I have and I will continue to do so.
2) If so, please give examples of actions you have actually taken.
I have donated money. I am also actively speaking out about your organization "Stop the Trucks" and letting people know that I will do everything I can to support the cause when I am elected.
3) Do you believe the Ojai City Council should take a more active role in the truck campaign, such as providing funding and legal support?
The City Council has agreed to give financial support to the "Stop the Trucks" organization. There are some legal hurdles that need to be addressed, but I believe we need to find a way to make it happen.
(photo credit to Ray Smith, Daly Road Graphics)
4) If so, can you name specific steps that you believe the City can and should undertake?
Below, please find my position statement on the Gravel Truck issue.
*UNFORTUNATELY THE CITY OF OJAI HAS NO JURISDICTION OVER STATE HIGHWAYS.
*IF ANY LEGAL OPPORTUNITY ARISES THAT CAN HELP, THE CITY SHOULD SUPPORT IT IN ANYWAY IT CAN.
*SUPPORT THE "STOP THE TRUCKS"
+Stop the Trucks, demonstrates the desire of our residents to work hard to keep Ojai great.
+Stop the Trucks has been very successful getting people to become pro-active.
+The City should also be pro-active.
*COMPLIANCE
+Make sure the gravel companies adhere to their CUP's
+Make sure the trucks stay off our City and County streets
*HEALTH AND SAFETY
+Air Quality
+Pedestrian and bicycle safety
+Noise
+Deters tourism
+Traffic congestion
5) Do you believe the City should work with Caltrans to permanently ban all thru heavy trucking on Route 33 north of Ojai and on Route 150 through downtown Ojai?
"All thru heavy trucking" is the operative word. ALL heavy trucks is NOT realistic.
6) If so, what specific steps would you take to see that this is accomplished.
NA
7) The Ozena mine's county permit states its "normal hours of operation" for trucks traveling on Highway 33 in the Ojai Valley are from 6 to 7 a.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., yet they seem to be in violation of these conditions and so far County officials have failed to take any action. What steps should the City take to see that County officials enforce the permit?
Again, I would work together with the Stop the Trucks Coalition. During the course of my relationship with them I will become more educated about the legal alternatives available and participate in any way possible.
8) Would you actively support the Coalition's request to have an independent Ombudsman appointed to not only undertake a further investigation into abuse of CUP 5170 by the permit holders, but also the very operation of compliance monitoring by the Planning Division?
Absolutely
9) Given the Planning Division's claim that it is seemingly impossible to monitor C.U.P. compliance, do you agree that the County has no business, under CEQA guidelines, approving the C.U.P. in the first place?
I am not qualified to answer this question because I do not have enough information at this time. I will say, I want to do anything possible to stop the health, safety and environmental hazard that is being caused by these gravel trucks.
10) Do you believe the County should begin the process to terminate Ozena's current C.U.P.?
Yes, if it is appropriate legally.
11) And if so, how would you persuade the County to accomplish this?
As a city we need to actively support the "Stop the Trucks" Coalition's ongoing effort, verbally and in writing. If found appropriate, financially and or legally as well.
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