Category Archives: City News

Vol. 9, No. 24 – August 31 – September 13, 2016 – Ask the Chief

City councilmember (And ex Chief of Police) Mike Tracy and current Chief of Police Corney work to keep crime in Ventura down.

What are today’s challenges in keeping Ventura safe?
by Police Chief Ken Corney
Ventura Police Department

In these times of “instant communication” we are often aware in real time of criminal acts that occur around the country. In my experience, however, people are most concerned about their sense of safety and security impacted by crime that occurs in their own neighborhoods. It is understandably disturbing when your neighborhood experiences a residential burglary, theft from cars, or vehicles being stolen. Compared to around five years ago, Ventura has experienced double-digit percentage increases in these crimes that all too often affect our local neighborhoods. Our crime fighting team knows these crime increases are not just numbers, but represent individual victims harmed by violence and loss throughout our city where we live, the places we enjoy and the schools our children attend.

Our response to this growth of reported crime is challenged by increased calls for all categories of service, including quality of life issues such as the impacts of vagrancy in our community. Last year (2015) our police department handled nearly 98,000 calls for service, compared with just over 78,000 calls five years ago. And our police staffing today is essentially at the same level it was in 1999. Understandably, this limits our ability to provide proactive patrols in neighborhoods experiencing increased crime and to direct resources to follow-up investigative efforts.

As necessary resources become available, the police department has developed a growth plan to address some of the most critical issues our neighborhoods and community face today. Key elements of the plan include:

Enhanced patrol response efforts in order to focus on high crime areas and improve response times to in progress crimes and other emergencies.

Re-implementation of our Gang Violence Suppression Team strategies to provide proactive response to the impact of gangs in our community, including enforcement, intervention and prevention efforts.

Officers dedicated to focus on investigating reports of drug sales in our neighborhoods throughout our community.

Reinvest resources in our Traffic Safety team to keep our roadways safe around our neighborhoods and schools.

Expand our safe and clean efforts to provide officers dedicated to the downtown tourism areas most impacted by vagrancy and related quality of life issues.

Provide greater resources to our investigative division in order to increase our ability to solve more crime within an environment of increased caseloads and complex investigations.

Despite the challenges, I can assure you the men and women of the Ventura Police Department continue to work diligently to reduce harm in our community through innovative and effective approaches to achieve our five core goals of: Crime Control, Team Development, Active Community Partnerships, Safe Neighborhoods and Efficiency and Accountability. More information on how we will work to accomplish these goals can be found in our Strategic Plan document at Venturapd.org

Finally, I want to take a moment to thank the Ventura community for the support demonstrated by so many during this extremely difficult time for our profession. The support, outreach and kindness demonstrated towards our officers by so many Venturans has had a very positive impact on the brave men and women who serve this community. We are deeply appreciative and look forward to your continued support and our continued service to this community.

Apply for City Council Advisory Board and Committee positions

Residents of Ventura are encouraged to apply for volunteer City Council Advisory Board and Committee positions that advise the City Council on various issues. Applications are available online at www.cityofventura.net/involved/advisory or from the City Clerk’s Office, Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Room 204. The application deadline is 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

There are three open positions on the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee and one open position on the Mobile Home Rent Review Board; these positions require special qualifications. Interested City residents for the Mobile Home Rent Review Board must be persons who are not connected with the real estate or rental housing industry and shall not reside in or have any financial interest in any mobile home park. Open positions on the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee must be filled with two members who are owners of commercial property situated with the Downtown Parking District area, and one member who is a business owner, operator or manager of a business within the Downtown Parking District Area.

Members shall be residents of the City at the time of their appointment and during their term of office, and volunteers must be willing to serve two to four-year terms. All eligible applicants will undergo interviews with the City Council Appointments Recommendation Committee in September.

Applications may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], or by fax to the City Clerk’s Office at 641-1046, by mail to the City Clerk’s office P.O. Box 99, Ventura, CA 93002, or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Room 204.

For more information call the City Clerk’s Office at 658-4787.

Vol. 9, No. 24 – August 31 – September 13, 2016 – City Classes

Fun and informative City classes

City of Ventura Barranca Vista Imagination Center classes check out hundreds more on our web-site
Call 658-4726 or 654-7552 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net
Classes and events held at the Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston Street in Ventura unless otherwise noted

Fairytales in the Park free performances for Families
9/10 Saturday 4pm
Fairytales in the Park is celebrating its 22nd season! Join us at Barranca Vista Park for a production of The Boy Wizard in the Land of Oz. Performances are the 2nd Saturday of every month. Bring a blanket, picnic and low lawn chairs.. For more information call 654-7553

Morning Zumba 18 years-Adult
$40/$65 for both days
9/12-10/17 M 8:45-9:45 am #7379
9/14-10/19 W 8:45-9:45 am #7380
Start your day with the Latin dance workout Zumba®! This is a dynamic, exciting and effective fitness system. Bring water and towel and dress comfortably. Walk in fee $7 due at start of class. Certified Zumba® Instructor Dala Sondors.

Beyond Paint Night 16 years-adult
9/13-10/18 Tu 6:30-8:30 pm $95 #7152
In this studio class, you will complete your own unique work of art or multiple works with daily demonstrations and one-on-one guidance from instructor Gail Weissman. Learn traditional and not so traditional basic techniques of acrylic painting as you capture atmosphere color diversity
and contrast.

Beginning Bagpipes 9 years-adult
9/14-11/2 W 7:30-8:45 pm $40 + $85 instrument fee #7089
Learn to play bagpipes, their history and the player’s uniform with traditional Scottish piping instructors Steve Busch and Joseph Thayer using the Scottish College of Piping Tutor Book curriculum. Students must bring $85 to the first class to purchase a practice chanter, the double reed woodwind instrument used to learn how to play the bagpipes themselves.

Improvisation for Youth 8-12 years
9/14-10/12 W 3-3:45 pm $50 #7091
Gain self-confidence, team building skills and theater knowledge as you create theater in the moment from what is on hand with an end of session showcase for family & friends. Instructor Jackie Ringhof. Classes held at the Bible Fellowship Church, 6950 E Ralston St.

Explore with Me 2.5-5 years
$65/adult & child
9/14-10/19 W 5:15-6 pm #6771
9/16-10/21 F 10:30-11:15 am #6772
Discover the world of art through the eyes of your child with such hands-on activities as sculpture, painting, collage, drawing and gardening. Instructor Jennifer Benitez.

Facts on the City-owned building and Brooks Institute

From the Brooks website “After considerable discussion and deliberation, the difficult decision has been made to close Brooks Institute.” Where does that leave their students?

by City staff

Last year, the City was approached with an idea by downtown property owners, represented by the Downtown Ventura Partners (DVP), to facilitate the relocation of Brooks Institute to the Downtown Area. Brooks presented a plan to re-energize their institution and move into three locations downtown. In order for Brooks to find and occupy other permanent facilities, they needed a temporary location to assist in their transition. With the Trade Desk just having vacated a City-owned building downtown and their lease expiring in February, the City had the ability to make short-term space available to Brooks.

To make more efficient use of rentable space in the building downtown, the City consolidated the non-profit tenants with other tenants; no tenants were evicted. Subsequently, the City entered into a short-term lease with Brooks through December 2016, with the option of four, 1-year extensions to help facilitate their move.

As part of the City’s due diligence in determining the viability of the lease, the City was provided access to Brooks’ and its parent company’s (GPHomestay) confidential financial information. Based on that review it was determined that Brooks was solvent. As a longtime partner and contributor to Ventura’s thriving art scene, the City saw this as a business retention opportunity to retain 80 faculty jobs, 80 support jobs, and a campus for 350 students by facilitating Brooks’ move to the downtown.

On August 12, Brooks Institute announced it was closing and construction came to a halt. The loss of this tenant pointed out some weaknesses in the City’s internal process, namely that the security deposit of $27,572 and $32,038 in rent had not been collected in a timely manner within the deadlines of the lease. The City is conducting a through process review to determine what caused the delay to collect the amount due from Brooks. We will also be developing a better administrative process to prevent this from happening in the future. The City takes this issue seriously and we strive to promote transparency at the highest level.

The City did not contribute any funds to Brooks’ improvements. The contract with Brooks requires them to pay the full amount of the lease and complete renovations, and protects the City from default and any damages associated. Public property, unlike private property, cannot be liened. Additionally, since lien rights cannot be filed on public property, the City is not liable for the improvements that were made and the contractor cannot successfully file a lien against public property.

The City empathizes with all who have been affected by the decision of GPHomestay to close Brooks Institute. The closure has impacted students who must relocate to other schools, the faculty who have lost their jobs and the local contractors that were left unpaid. The City will assert its rights per the lease agreement and will aggressively pursue recouping owed funds from this project.

Chamber supports raising of sales tax

Chamber CEO Stephanie Caldwell supports the Board’s decision.

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce Board voted to support the City of Ventura’s proposed ½ cent sales tax increase during their Board Meeting on August 17. The 24-member board represents the Chamber’s 680 members who employ more than 25,000 employees.

“We felt it was prudent to support the City and support the modest tax increase that will allow critical funds to be collected for future operations,” states Stephanie Caldwell, the Chamber’s President and CEO, in a letter delivered to Mayor Erik Nasarenko, Ventura City Council and to all Ventura Chamber members. “The Chamber believes public safety is integral to our prosperity as a community, which means funding additional police officers, restoring the gang unit, and continuing to provide for the homeless task force. Additionally, it is important to secure long-term funding for Fire Station 4 which serves businesses and residents on the East End of Ventura.”

“The Chamber is committed to business growth, job creation, and new capital investments in the City,” says Caldwell. “With this in mind, the Chamber will continue to work with the City to improve our development process so that those willing to invest in Ventura have a smoother, faster, more welcoming experience. A smart approach to development creates jobs and generates tax revenue to support the City services we all care so much about.”

In particular, the Chamber intends to engage with the City on creating three revenue opportunities:

Focus Area 1. Expanding the Ventura Auto Center and attracting destination retail.

Housing solutions. Addressing the low vacancy rate and limited, high-cost housing.

Continued access. Increased opportunities for the Chamber to engage with City leaders and elected officials to enhance transparency and allow for continuous process improvement.

“The Chamber expects the City to faithfully steward these potential additional resources pursuant to its expressed plan for their use, regardless the individuals entrusted with the leadership of our City,” Caldwell adds. “The Chamber, which has been advocating for Ventura for nearly 100 years, will stay engaged with the City to ensure that the City spends any new tax revenues in the manner proposed.”

Green Street celebration

Mayor Nasarenko, Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann and future home owner Annie Dorrington learning about Green Street. Photos by John Ferritto

On Aug.27 community members and dignitaries gathered for a Green Street celebration and demonstration event on Hartman Dr. in Midtown. It was hosted by the City of Ventura’s Public Works Department and demonstrated the new storm water improvement project.

Using “curb cuts” and pervious concrete, the Green Street collects, stores and infiltrates stormwater runoff from the street, which helps protect our waterways and beaches from pollution and recharges our groundwater. Residents also learned about the new residential curb cut permit, which allows eligible homeowners to create their own bio-swale in their parkway – the area between the sidewalk and street.

As city staff demonstrated how the pervious concrete and bio-retention cells help collect, clean and infiltrate stormwater — instead of letting it flow to the ocean Mayor Erik Nasarenko told the crowd “ The Ventura Midtown Green Street project will capture stormwater runoff draining from Hartmann Street and parts of the adjacent parking lots.”

“The project uses 8 bio-retention cells to capture and infiltrate water runoff from the street. The project also uses pervious concrete in the parking lanes to capture additional runoff which also flows to the bio-retention cells.”

“As you probably know, stormwater often contains pollutants that are washed from our urbanized area, such as motor oil, heavy metals, and harmful bacteria.

Before this project was built, all of the water runoff that drained from Hartmann Street and these parking lots would carry these pollutants directly to the ocean that we swim and surf in.”

“Now, much of that water will be captured by this new Green Street project.

The bio-retention cells contain a layer of soil that helps filter many of the pollutants out of the water. Below the soil is a layer of gravel that hold the water and allow it to infiltrate into the ground to recharge our groundwater.”

“A special thanks to Public Works engineering staff Loree Pryce, the project manager, Adam Bugielski, the project designer, and Chuck Thrall, the primary project inspector. Also, a special thanks to the Parks Division for selecting the drought tolerant trees for the project and for watering the trees with reclaimed water during the drought, saving thousands of gallons of potable water.”

Attendees received a free bag of compost. Raffle prizes included compost bins, worm bins and rain barrels.

The Green Street project was undertaken by the City of Ventura as part of the settlement of an enforcement action by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.

More information is available at www.cityofventura.net/GreenStreet.

Businesses may sponsor and register now for Corporate Games 2017

All organizations in Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties–private and nonprofit businesses, schools, churches, service groups and government agencies–may sign up now for Corporate Games, SoCal’s ultimate business-to-business sports competition. Apply online at www.venturacorporategames.org or call 658.4738.

Companies who become sponsors receive discounts in entry fees as well as community recognition in print and social media. For more contact Laura Johnson at 677.3917 or [email protected].

“Every year, up to 80 companies of all sizes enter 10,000 employees of all ages and athletic abilities as players in 26 events held over six weeks–‘Just for the fun of it!’” states event coordinator and founder Eric Burton, Adult Sports Supervisor for the City of Ventura Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Partnerships, which hosts Corporate Games.

For more information contact Eric Burton at [email protected] or 658.4738 or visit Corporate Games website at www.venturacorporategames.org.

Wave goodbye to Brooks and our tax dollars

Guest Columnist
by Robert McCord, Editor in Chief- VREG

The news reported the closure of Brooks Institute. Everyone lost from this closure. The students hopefully will find other institutions to complete their education and their teachers may find other positions, but the Citizens of Ventura is again holding the proverbial bag.

In February the City announced that Brooks was coming to town. Councilwoman Heitmann led the parade extolling the prospects of increased revenue for the city.

Sites were leased; the largest was the two top floors of a 5 story city office building at 505 Poli, just behind City Hall. Tenants of those two floors were evicted.

City staff rushed to execute leases for the 505 Poli property. Brooks entered into a contract to demolish and build tenant improvements on the two top floors at a contract price of $1.2 million. Permits were fast tracked for demolition and tenant improvements. When hazardous materials were found, Building & Safety again fast tracked the work at an additional cost of $80,000. Demolition was completed and 2/3 of the tenant improvements were built. Then Brooks closed its doors and the project imploded.

Brooks Institute paid no money for rent, no money for a security deposit and no performance bonds or guarantees to the City. Reportedly, $70,000 in back rent is due. Future rents are lost. The tenant improvements have yet to be completed. The Assistant City Manager tells us that it will only cost our City $200,000 to complete those improvements. The facts have proven otherwise.

The contractor filed a lien against the City for $825,000 for the work they and the subcontractors performed on City property. Add lost rents, future rents, rents the evicted tenants would have paid and the cost swells to over $1.2 million. Then there will be the legal costs.

Brooks Institute, owned by a Chinese owned company named Gphomestay, has lawyered up with an LA firm. The citizens of Ventura deserve to know why the taxpayers are again facing a huge loss.

Dreams for healthy economic growth are wonderful, but must be tempered with economic reality and good business sense. When those are ignored the phrase “a fool and his money are soon parted” is apropos.

The City Council has a lot to explain. They were quick to ask the citizens of Ventura for more taxes in Measure O. They spent $140,000 of our tax money to convince 51% of the voters to vote yes on that Measure. Will they be as quick to take responsibility for another $1 million plus dollar loss?

Two candidates on the City Council are seeking reelection in November, Councilwomen Weir and Heitmann. They need to explain why they did not have the common sense to avoid the risk of leasing to a tenant who had demonstrated an inability to not meet their financial obligations. We must have representatives that are experienced and understand business.

We, as a community, cannot afford to hand another $270,000,000 over the next 25 years to an inept City Council. By this recent action, this City Council is not capable of managing our tax money. This was all foreseeable, based upon the financial condition and history of Brooks Institute.

VREG is continuing to investigate this transaction and will report our findings in subsequent issues as new facts are discovered.

Brooks Institute Announces Closure After 70 Years

Soon there will be many unfinished offices in Ventura to lease.

by Richard Lieberman

Brooks Institute a visual and media arts school announced on August 12, it plans to shut down operations. The school has cancelled its fall semester and will cease all operations by October 31^st according to a letter sent to Brooks students.

The letter authored by Transition Officer Kristen Howard states, “Changes in economic regulatory conditions in recent years have had a significant, prolonged, negative impact on instruction, we have attempted to mitigate the problem through contraction, strategic planning and innovation, but with only limited success. Because we do not expect the adverse conditions to change in the foreseeable future, our only responsible course of action is to proceed to closure.”

The school also has announced it will continue to offer administrative student services, and support which will include transition services through October 31^st.

According to Kristen Howard, “We are working to identify other schools that may be able to take current on transfer, or to assist with a teach-out, so those who have not graduated as of Brooks’ closure will have the opportunity to complete their program or one similar to it. We will provide additional details regarding any transfer or teach-out opportunities as soon as such details become available. “

The school was originally founded as the Brooks Institute of Photography in 1945 by Earnest Brooks Sr. The original core curriculum was developed around economics, public speaking, and business management. Brooks Sr., turned over the operation of the school to his son Ernest Brooks II, who added portraiture, underwater and scientific photography, and motion picture production.

In 1999 the Brooks Institute of Photography was sold to Career Education Corporation (CEC). CEC expanded the school which included acquisition of an 8-acre site former movie production studio in Ventura in 2002, later becoming the Ventura Campus for consolidating the entire school. In 2011 Brooks Institute moved its programs and offices to the new Ventura Campus. In 2014 it moved to the Cota Street campus in Downtown Santa Barbara, before its final move to the Ventura Campus.

Brooks had been experiencing problems with declining student enrollment, accreditation and serious financial losses since CEC had taken over. Last year Brooks was acquired by Gphomestay which specializes in finding housing for students studying abroad.

The final decision to close was made last Wednesday, just one day after Brooks president Edward Clift was ousted. Additionally, a majority of Brooks Board of Directors members resigned last week.

City of Ventura officials, property owners, and downtown business owners had been anticipating the completion of Brooks move to 6 locations within the city. The school was in process of renovating the new locations and occupation of the sites was nearing, however late in July construction was halted.

Mark Watkins, Ventura City Manager commented “obviously on behalf of the city we were very disappointed on their decision to close we got word last week like everybody else so, everybody at the city was disappointed. Brooks has been a long time partner with the city, and we were looking forward to the opportunity for them moving downtown and bring to the community opportunities and we were disappointed. We haven’t heard back specifically from Brooks since their decision to close. They weren’t keeping us posted on their decision making process. That being said we do have a lease agreement with them for the space and it has many obligations that they must meet including rental amounts and also amounts for tenant improvements We put them on notice as soon as we heard that we fully expect them to meet all of their lease obligations. We fully expect them to meet all their obligations they have with the city.” Added Watkins.

Brooks currently owes the city more than $70,000 in back rent. They also have not paid a security deposit on the building behind city hall. That lease was executed last February.

Brooks had already begun renovations on the site and it will take substantial city resources in order to make the space rentable and once again available for lease.

Donna Granata, Founder/Executive Director of Focus on the Masters, who had to relocate to a different floor behind city hall told the Breeze, “The closing of Brooks Institute is heartbreaking on so many levels. The biggest catastrophe in all of this is the effect it will have on the faculty and the students. This event will reverberate for many years to come, not only in the hundreds of lives directly associated with the campus, but at a great cost to our community. Brooks decision to move the campus to downtown Ventura was a great idea in theory, but was so poorly executed without proper planning, financial viability and a lack of transparency. What was supposed to be an economic boon for the city of Ventura, became a financial disaster for all involved.”

Christy Weir, Councilmember, Ventura “We are extremely disappointed in the closing of Brooks. Their proposed move to downtown Ventura was highly anticipated to be an economic and cultural generator. Downtown property owners who were partnering with Brooks to create an urban campus will be impacted by their sudden closing. It is fortunate that we have a thriving, desirable downtown and we look forward to continuing to attract a variety of new and exciting long-term tenants in the future”

Marlyss Auster, Executive Director Ventura Visitor & Convention Bureau “I am so sad about the Brooks news, on so many levels. The excitement of having all the Brookies downtown in an urban campus our team embraced and celebrated. We remained hopeful when the construction was stalled, now the devastating news is all just sinking in.”

Cheryl Heitmann, Councilmember commented “I met a young Brooks student today who told me he had only one semester left before graduation. And I think that is part of the disappointment I feel about Brooks closing. To make this decision so close to the start of classes seems so unfair to their students. Of course, it is a loss for our downtown. I think the vision of a downtown campus had real merit, especially for an arts school. “

The school has indicated that this week students will receive more information on the school’s closure, including Brooks’ obligations to their students. The school is opening a transition office to meet individually with each of the 350 current students to help them with the next steps in their education goals.

Help for students is also available from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education which can offer information on similar programs, information on federal loan forgiveness, and the tuition recovery program. The recovery program will reimburse students if their school closes before they have graduated.

Carl Morehouse will not be seeking re-election

Ventura to get at least one new councilmember.

“I am announcing that I will not be seeking re-election this Fall. I am honored, humbled and grateful for the confidence voters have had in my ability to help guide this amazing city we call home since I was first elected in 1999. However, seventeen years is a long time and I wish to take a break. I am now the second longest serving Council Member behind Jim Monahan; not a record I imagined when I started this rewarding adventure. I have enjoyed my tenure on the City Council but, at this point, I am looking forward to spending time traveling with my wife and addressing other priorities that are on our “bucket list”.

“When I think back over my years as your Council Member, I am proud of the things that this community has achieved. Among those are:

The purchase and beginning of both the Community Sports Park on Kimball Avenue, and the more recent start to Kellogg Park on the West Side.
The development of an integrated paving program, wherein we evaluate the conditions of all of our streets in conjunction with the evaluation of our underground utilities, so that when we repave a street, we do it, literally from the underground up, including curbs, gutter and sidewalks and street trees.
That we now have better public noticing of projects with signage at the location of the proposals so that all of the community is aware of them.
We now have public art on utility boxes; a program that I instigated.
We made progress on dealing with plastic bags, although state law has trumped those efforts.
We undertook efforts to restore Surfer’s Point; a project I was proud to help support.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to have used my position as Mayor to aid the development of farmworker housing by bringing Kris Kristofferson to perform two benefit concerts.
And, most recently, I am proud of that the fact that the current Council has finally taken a positive step forward to deal with the homeless issue.”

“Perhaps even more than these local achievements was the opportunity to represent Ventura for over 15 years on the regional and statewide level. I have been honored to be President of the Channel Counties Division of the League of California Cities (Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties), which lead to the opportunity to serve on the state Board of Directors of the League for three years – a body looking out for city interests versus State and Federal laws. It also afforded me the opportunity to serve for 11 years on the League’s Housing, Community and Economic Development Policy Committee (which reviews pending legislation affecting cities’ Planning concerns), including chairing that important committee in 2012.”

“I have also had the honor of serving as Ventura’s representative on the Ventura County Transportation Commission for 9 years, and the Gold Coast Transit agency for 5 years, including chairing that body as it legally transformed into a District in 2014. These bodies are crucial to good transportation planning and transit opportunities in Ventura County. “

“Additionally, I have had the pleasure of serving for the past 9 years on the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) (which oversees annexations by cities and district formations), including chairing that body this year. And I have served as the city’s representative to the Ventura Council of Governments (VCOG) for 15 years, including as chair in 2007.”

“Finally, and most honorific, my Council seat afforded me the opportunity to serve as President of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) during 2014 – a seat never held previously by a Venturan in SCAG’s 50 years of existence — after having been on that body for 15 years, including chairing one of their important policy committees. This body is the largest transportation planning agency in the U.S., representing 39,000 square miles of Southern California, six counties, 190 cities and 18 million people. This truly was an honor.”

“And in all of those capacities, I have been proud to represent Ventura and to protect our interests as both a charter city and in a regional context. For all of that, I feel a bit guilty pulling the plug because it takes a great deal of time to build those relationships and earn the respect of my peers, many of who I know in those organizations who are still begging me to stay.”

“There are many things still to be done. Most regrettably, I’m sad that we did not make better progress on capping the freeway. But, as that is a long term project, I am committed to remain active however I can to take the next steps in that direction. And the continuing refinement of our growth/no growth issues, including development standards and process refinement will proceed, although this will deprive me of a vote on that issue. I’m also saddened that we couldn’t have found a more sensitive way to deal with medical marijuana issues than simply criminalizing everyone. But state law may soon define that for us as well.”

“But that being said, I will be taking a slight break from politics for a while to refresh myself and enjoy quality time with my wife. This doesn’t mean I’m going away, or becoming any less interested in politics or Ventura’s future, but it does mean that I will have far fewer staff reports to read every week, and more freedom in my schedule to actually travel and not worry about missing meetings.”

Again, thank you all who have endorsed me and voted for me in the past. I will still be with you on those causes that are important to this city, just not right out in front. It has truly been both an honor and a privilege to serve both as your Mayor and as a Councilmember. Peace.

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