Ensuring economic prosperity for our citizens:

As chair of the City Council’s Economic Development Committee, I have worked hard to grow economic prosperity for our city and all citizens. Job creation is especially important to prevent the loss of our younger and well-educated citizens. The demographics show that the average age of Venturans continues to increase and that we lose more high school graduates after college or during their 20s that we retain. Vital, high-wage jobs are one important step in reversing this trend.

• On the council I have worked to create a Job Investment Fund, high-tech incubator and a positive climate for starting and maintaining small business. As a result, Ventura was named No. 68 in Fortune Magazine’s list of the top 100 cities in the United States to start a small business and one of only nine in California to make the list.

I have worked to implement many of the components of the City’s Economic Development Strategy:

• The extension of Olivas Park Drive is on schedule and will open up economic development for retail activity in this identified high potential region of Ventura.

• We have made continued progress in the Downtown with several prominent retailers opening in the last two years.

• The Ventura Harbor recently completed a long-range planning charrette to increase the economic and recreational opportunities in this area. 

• Tourism has been identified as a key economic strategy for our community. Two new hotels are in the final design phase and construction will begin soon.

• As chair of the City’s Cultural Affairs Commission and now as a council member I have worked to see the planning, funding and building of the WAV project. This $57 million project, which is funded through private, state and federal sources, has brought economic activity to Downtown this past year.

Recently I worked with City staff in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce to hold an Economic Summit which brought more than 180 community members representing business, community organizations and community councils to City Hall for a Saturday planning meeting.  Recommendations that resulted from the working groups were presented to the council and we took action that day to provide direction and timelines for the implantation of many of the proposals.  Fifty-two action items were provided to us including increased emphasis in taking advantage of the new “green economy” through new workforce education programs, two ombudsman positions for business and land use issues, expanding the incubator space, using “green building” principles in development and better information and communication on new technologies and business opportunities.

There was an increased emphasis on “customer service” in the development process within the city including clear citywide coding, a citywide historical resource survey and a well defined application process. There was an overall emphasis in workforce education and job skill training. These are all goals that will involve not only the city but our partners in the business community, the Ventura Unified School district and Ventura Community College. Working groups have already been formed to develop and implement action plans for the day’s outcomes.

A strong economy helps all of our citizens. Job creation and enhancement is needed at every level to enable our community to grow and prosper.

Affordable housing for our workforce:

An important part of economic prosperity and business attraction is workforce housing.  I have been an advocate for more affordable housing in Ventura. Businesses locate where employees are available and often bring new members to the community. Workforce housing that is affordable also is key to retaining our young citizens.  When they have the opportunity to have a home and exciting career opportunity they are more likely to return to Ventura to start a career and build a family. We need to be sure we have housing for the people we depend on for vital services such as our police officers, fire personnel, nurses and teachers.

Over the past three years we have worked to establish homes for these workers. 

Preserving the unique history and character of Ventura:

It is important that Ventura retains the identity and character we all see is important. In my time on City Council I have worked to:

• Lead the effort that resulted in the city securing a Historic Preservation grant for the restoration of the Olivas Adobe.

• I will continue to work toward securing a city-wide historical resources survey to identify assets in the community that need to be preserved. This helps us develop a program that not only preserves the significant resources but also helps us in adopting policies that include adaptive reuse of older buildings and chronicling other noteworthy elements of the past.

• I have supported the development of a Midtown Residential Historic District and have been involved in increasing public awareness and support of the restoration and preservation of the E.P. Foster House, now badly need of attention and repair.

 Protecting our environment, resources and hillsides:

Part of what makes Ventura special is our natural environment.

• I worked with the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy to establish a budget line item that will help to identify and secure future funding sources for partnering between the city and the Conservancy to protect and maintain our hillsides as permanent recreation and natural settings.

• I sponsored a policy consideration that brought together citizen stakeholder groups for the planning and enhancement of Grant Park, one of our city’s most vital natural resources. 

• I served as a member of the working group for the enhancement and restoration of Surfer’s Point.

Protecting our environment also means being careful in how the city uses and protects resources such as water and energy. 

• I helped push for a new green streets policy that allocates funding as part of the city’s ongoing maintenance program for streets for permeable surfaces to help preserve storm water and return it to the earth and natural wells and reservoirs.  Not only do these practices help ensure a larger water supply, they also reduce the costs the city is assessed related to storm water runoff, a financially prudent solution to resource management. 

Investing in our future through youth and education:

As Council liaison to the Ventura Unified School District, I work with the school district to maintain a healthy, safe and active learning environment for our students. There is nothing more important than ensuring all our students have access to a quality education. This is critical to our community's growth and success.  An issue we face as a city is the outward migration of young adults.  In addition to a good education, our strategies of creating high-wage, high-value jobs and affordable housing are needed to encourage our younger generation to build its future in Ventura.  I also support the efforts of City Corps in working with our youth and I sit on the board of the Ventura Boys & Girls Club and am a former director of Casa Pacifica.

Caring for all the people in Ventura:

Compassion and providing the opportunity for a place to live is an important element in a city. I am proud to serve on the City Council Committee to oversee the implementation and city’s role in the 10-Year Strategy to end homelessness. 

I am working to facilitate transitional living opportunities, short-term emergency shelters and making sure affordable housing is available for low- and very low-income residents. I introduced a policy consideration — that was approved — moving the city to look for innovative policies and programs that help create and make available low-income housing. I supported the inclusionary housing program for new development and continue to work with other organizations in our community that develop housing opportunities for the low-income segments. 

We have created more than 200 housing opportunities for moderate- and low-income residents in the past three years.

Protecting the fiscal soundness and future of our city:

During these challenging economic times, it is important to maintain the fiscal soundness of the city while working to minimize the impact on critical community services such as public safety, reliable water and sewer systems, maintenance of roads, sidewalks and parks.

It is also important to remember that aspects of community service programs such as recreation, arts and instructional programs not only improve the quality of life of our community but also help to bring tourists to Ventura, an important component to our economic well being. These are the factors a business will consider in looking to locate in Ventura. 

Over the past two years we have cut city expenditures by more than $16 million in response to declining revenues while keeping as many services as possible. Yes, some cuts have been necessary but we have not significantly impacted the most critical services for Ventura. It will be important to work over the next four years to resolve the immediate problems and build a strong economic base that provides the revenues needed to make Ventura sustainable.