Issue 8 - August 15, 2007
IKEA Makeover Contest - Downtown Ventura
You may have seen the press reports that Ventura's downtown made the finals for IKEA's Downtown promotion (we're in the top ten in the nation). Downtown Ventura has made the final cut in a $50,000 "Small Business, Big Dreams" makeover contest "furnished by IKEA." Last week the super-popular Swedish home furnishings giant selected ten historic downtown "main street" neighborhoods out of fifty applicants to vie for $50,000 worth of furnishings and a team of IKEA designers to "makeover" up to ten stores' interiors. The American public will choose a winner by voting online for the next two weeks.
- To view the top ten and vote for Ventura, go to: http://ikea.shycast.com/contest/1
Taking It to the Streets - New City Initiative to Engage Residents
The Ventura Police Department (VPD) along with other city departments will be holding a public safety meeting, called "Taking It to the Streets," from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 16 in the parking lot at Cemetery Park (Poli and Main Streets). The meeting is the first in what will be a series of meetings across Ventura neighborhoods. The idea is to engage members of the community in face-to-face discussion/dialogue and give people the opportunity to voice their concerns about their city.
Representatives from all departments will be present, including officers who patrol the surrounding neighborhood. Representatives from fire, code enforcement, recreation, engineering, water, community development, and environmental service will also be on hand to answer questions and address concerns.
For more information, please contact Laura Robinson at 339-4403.
Ventura Featured in Civic Alliance Newsletter
The City of Ventura has been featured in the Livable Communities Newsletter for it's Smart growth leadership and development projects currently under construction. The newsletter covers the 10 tenets of livable communities, and reviews multiple projects within the City of Ventura that have implemented the livable communities principles.
Adopt-A-Poll and Raise Funds
Raise funds for your service organization with the "Adopt-a-Poll" Program!
Ventura County pioneered the "Adopt-a-Poll" program in 1996 with 23 organizations participating. Today there are 51 organizations participating in the Elections process showing their civic pride and supporting democracy. With the "Adopt-a-Poll" program, an organization "adopts" a precinct and is responsible for manning the poll on Election Day. Compensation for a three-person board (1-inspector and 2-clerks) board is $365.00. Organizations with numerous, interested members are cordially invited to "adopt" more than one poll to raise even more money.
If you or your organization are interested in becoming part of the "Adopt-a-Poll" program, please see the link below or contact the City Clerk's Office at (805) 658-4787.
City Manager Blog
City Manager Rick Cole gives immediate insight into breaking news. His latest post analyzes how recent environmental regulations will impact the City of Ventura and what we are doing to improve our green practices.
"Most Californians consider themselves as "pro-environment," happy to do their part by recycling their trash and not dumping motor oil in the stormdrains. True, some think "global warming" is hysterical propaganda and there are others who think that unless we all ride bikes and wear locally-grown organic cotton clothes the world faces imminent catastrophe. But most of us fall in between."
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
