Issue 14 - November 14, 2007
2007 Mayor's Arts Awards
On November 15th, from 6pm to 8pm, the City will host the third annual Mayors Arts Awards at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel. Bestowed by Mayor Carl E. Morehouse, five exemplary leaders will receive distinguished awards: Josh Addision in the category of Arts Patron; Paul Lindhard in the category of Artist in the Community; Linda Ottsen in the category of Arts Leader; Carlisle Cooper in the category of Arts Educator; and Brian McDonald in the category of Emerging Artist. Through the Mayor's Arts Awards initiative, the City aims to cultivate greater visibility and understanding of the value of the arts, as well as provide an opportunity to build new leadership and develop new patrons for the arts in our community. Guiding the selection process was a panel of four local citizens prominent in the fields of art, business, and education, who thoughtfully reviewed the nominations and made the final recommendations to Mayor Morehouse.
Noted Author and UCLA Professor Donald Shoup to Speak on Downtown Parking Management Thursday Nov. 15, 7 p.m. at City Hall
The public is invited and encouraged to attend a keynote address by author and UCLA urban planning professor Donald Shoup on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at City Hall (501 Poli Street). Professor Shoup will focus his remarks on the economics of parking, asking the compelling question, "Is free parking really free?" Shoup will share his vision for how improved parking policies can support downtown development and growth. As part of the workshop, city staff will present an update on the implementation of the Downtown Specific Plan Parking Management Program.
Professor Shoup's visit to Ventura is the first in a series of City-sponsored guest lecturers to help the City achieve its General Plan mobility goal of providing more transportation choices by strengthening and balancing bicycle, pedestrian, and transit opportunities in the City and surrounding region. Future lectures related to the mobility strategy will be held in coming months.
Public Hearing on November 19 to Consider Adoption of Midtown Corridors Development Code
The proposed Midtown Corridors Development Code including Local Coastal Program (LCP) Amendment and the Environmental Analysis and Findings are for review and adoption at the Joint Planning Commission and City Council Meeting on Monday, November 19, 2007 at 7pm at the City Hall Council Chambers at 501 Poli Street.
The draft code and supporting documentation is available at the City's website: www.cityofventura.net/midtown.
Pepper Tree Garden Planting
Pepper Tree Garden is a demonstration garden located at the water booster pump station on Poli and Hall Canyon Road. Artists Kathryn Miller (Professor of Art, Pitzer College) and Andreas Hessing (landscape artist) were commissioned in 2007 to create four "interventions" in the garden. The interventions draw attention to local hydrology and ecology and emphasize how humans interact with the environment. Part of the artwork involves planting a series of native drought tolerant plants. On Saturday November 10, approximately 25 community members, including a dozen children, gathered in Pepper Tree Garden to work side-by-side with the artists to plant these native plants. The community learned about the significance of the site and how the artwork functions as a demonstration garden.
Joint Meeting between the City Council and Public Art Commission to Discuss the State of Public Art
On November 13th, the City Council and Public Art Commission held their annual joint meeting to discuss the public value of the arts as well as update the Council on the Annual Public Art Work Plan. The Public Art Commission advises and recommends to City Council an Annual Public Art Work Plan as part of the Capital Improvement Program and approval process. The Annual Work Plan, including project descriptions, budgets, locations, and recommended design approaches, are submitted to City Council for approval concurrent with the capital improvements plan and budget as well as the operating budget.
Key areas of interest discussed at the meeting included the development of a Public Art in Private Development program, public value, diversity of the types of public art projects in Ventura's collection, and public art funding.
City Manager Blog
Neighborhood oasis: green art
City Manager Rick Cole gives immediate insight into breaking news. His latest post discusses how community involvement in a modest art project transformed a water boosting station.
"...it is hard not to be proud of the Pepper Tree Demonstration Garden.... On Saturday, local neighbors pitched in with planting native shrubs and groundcover as part of a unique public art improvement to the little oasis."
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Masthead Art: katherinemcguire.com
