CAMARILLO: Possible Health Care District Expansion

      In order to keep up with the region's growth and increasing health care needs, the Camarillo Health Care District will seek approval of an expansion of its boundaries. Annexation, if approved, would include land in the Santa Rosa Valley, an unincorporated area within the boundary of the Camrosa Water District, the Ponderosa Corridor and Sterling Hills. These areas amount to a gain of 5,742 acres for the district. The impetus behind the request, according to district CEO Jane Rozanski, "is to follow the natural growth of the greater Camarillo area and to ensure that our services are available to the expanding community." She added that the current boundaries have been in place for 30 years and that the district is struggling to keep pace with the population explosion: "Just six years ago we served 250 clients with 12 health-related programs. In 1997-1998 we served 23,000 clients with 1,000 programs. You can see how more and more people are relying on us for more of their health services," she said. District officials will submit the expansion request before the Local Agency Formation Commission today (Waggoner,Ventura County Star, 11/17).