AOV E-Newsletter Dec. 7, 2007
In this issue:
- Ventura's New Mayor: Christy Weir
- Neighborhood Engagement: Taking it to the Streets
- Resources for Public Safety: Funding Options
- Community Development: Notice of Public Hearing to Discuss the General Plan Housing Element
- City Manager's Blog: Budget Prospects for the Year Ahead
Ventura's New Mayor: Christy Weir
On Monday, December 3, the City Council appointed Christy Weir mayor of Ventura. Christy has served on the Council since running for the first time in 2003, and had served as Deputy Mayor for two years. She was reelected to her Council seat this past November after winning more than 20 percent of votes.
In her acceptance speech Monday night, Mayor Weir said that she's "...looking forward to working with citizens of all ages to make Ventura even more of a healthy and beautiful place to live." She named parks, streets and smart growth as other priorities she'll keep as mayor of this city.
Ventura's Westside: Taking It To The Streets
Next Thursday, December 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sheridan Way Elementary School, Westside community members, businesses and families are invited to the City's second public safety meeting called "Taking It To The Streets." Community members have been notified of the event - both in English and in Spanish - and are encouraged to bring questions, concerns or issues regarding public safety in their neighborhood.
City representatives from the Police and Fire Departments, as well as Community Development, Community Services, Finance, and Public Works will be on hand to answer questions. PEAK staff members will provide on-site childcare, light refreshments will be served, and a surprise guest (wearing a red suit and fluffy white beard) will visit the children and bring gifts. Future events are planned for the Midtown area and East Ventura community in 2008.
Public Safety Funding
Back in 2003, the City Council commissioned an independent study of our finances and services, comparing Ventura to 19 similar cities in California. That study highlighted how short-staffed our Police and Fire Departments were compared to the comparison cities. Population has continued to grow, along with demand for emergency response.
A proposed sales tax increase to fund 14 additional police officers and 11 firefighters fell short of the needed two-thirds vote in 2006, so the City Council directed last year's strong revenue growth to public safety by adding six officers and three firefighters, which was the first permanent increase in 15 years.
Now with the housing downturn and the slowing economy, the Council must look to either cuts in other services or again seek new revenues to add public safety staff.
Notice of Public Hearing to Discuss the General Plan Housing Element
All California cities are required to make provisions for meeting the needs of their residents by encouraging the development of "affordable housing." The City of Ventura is in the process of updating the 2000-2006 General Plan Housing Element, which must be adopted by the City Council and approved by the State of California. As part of this effort, the public is encouraged to attend an informational study session with the Planning Commission.
December 18, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
501 Poli Street, Ventura, CA
The purpose of the study session is to:
- Provide information on the Housing Element update process
- Review State law requirements
- Answer questions about the update
- Receive public input concerning potential key issues
If you would like to review the City's current Housing Element, it is available online or visit the Planning Counter located at City Hall in room 117 at 501 Poli Street, Ventura, California, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
If you have any questions about this information, please contact Lisa Wilkinson, Associate Planner, at 805-658-4755 or by email at lwilkinson@cityofventura.net.
City Manager's Blog: Economic and budget prospects for the year ahead
City Manager Rick Cole gives immediate insight into breaking news. His latest post discusses the City's commitment to fiscal responsibility and the challenges and strategies related to that goal.
"We are now in the third year of Ventura's successful Three Year Plan to balance our City's General Fund budget. Our goals at the outset were simple, clear and straightforward:
- Eliminate the chronic structural deficit where expenses were rising faster than revenue, opening a widening gap between our commitments and our capacity.
- Create additional capacity to address long neglected community priorities:
- Address the near-tripling of 911 calls by adding new police and fire staffing
- Invest in our aging infrastructure, particularly streets
- Maintain park maintenance in the face of 33% more greenspace and 25% less staffing
- Bring salaries and benefits back to competitive levels for all city staff
- Strong fiscal discipline and a strong economy achieved the first goal and carried us a long way toward the key priorities of the second goal. We've added 10 police officers and firefighters. We've invested a half million of annual additional General Fund dollars into street repair and tapped other resources to fund a major infusion of park, building, water, wastewater and other capital projects. We've kept competitive on sworn police compensation and made up major ground across other units.
City of Ventura eNews: Achieving Our Vision
If you would like to receive Achieving Our Vision via email, please click here.
Current and past issues of Achieving Our Vision can be found online at http://www.cityofventura.net/enews/smartgrowth.
Masthead Art: katherinemcguire.com
