By Mayor Nasarenko

The 150^th birthday of Ventura marks a crossroads for our city.

It is a time when we both look back to 1866, the date we became a city, and look ahead to the 150 years ahead us. As we do so, we have to acknowledge that Ventura is a little worn for wear and showing its age.

Still, it has a great future ahead, one that we need to begin preparing and planning for. What’s our responsibility to future generations, such as our children and their children?

What investments do we want to make now that will pay dividends in the future?

Ventura must chart a course of stable, local revenue for its future

We raise a lot of sales tax money in Ventura, but most of it doesn’t stay here in the city.  Of the $176 million raised in fiscal year 2014-15, only about $24.4 went to Ventura.

About six and a half of the seven and a half cents we pay in sales taxes goes to the county and the state.  Consequently, the vast majority of sales tax revenue we raise in Ventura doesn’t stay in Ventura. And, for every dollar in property taxes we pay, only 16 cents stays in Ventura

That is why I will ask my colleagues to place a sales tax revenue measure on the November 2016 to guarantee a local funding stream. The sales tax money we raise in Ventura, needs to stay in Ventura.

In other words, Ventura money for Venturans.

Local money for fire stations, police officers and paramedics.

Local money for drinking water, clean beaches and waterways.

Local money to prevent youths from entering gangs and getting addicted to drugs.

Local money to serve our elderly, bringing them opportunity and well-being.

Local money to address homelessness.

And local money to build our reserve fund, the rainy-day bank of the city.

Our reserve fund is at the bare minimum of $12 million for unforeseen needs and emergency expenses for about 45 days of operations.

But the industry standard is having funds available for 90 days of expenses, which would require $24 million.

But, in order to receive more local funding, you have to demonstrate that you are capable of managing what you have wisely and prudently.

Under the leadership of this council, city manager and staff, we are living within our means, balancing our budgets, and no longer borrowing from internals funds to cover shortfalls.

In fact, bond rating houses Moody’s and S&P rate our bonds Double A plus, among the highest of ratings, which allows us to achieve lower interest rates when we float bonds.

That means more money for the City, and less to big financial institutions.

The next 150 years in Ventura are bound to be great ones.

Let’s invest in that wonderful future to make it possible.

Thank you.

This is a portion of his address as our new Mayor made at the City Council meeting.

By Cheryl Heitmann

Has been an honor to serve as the Mayor for the past 2 years.
Has been an honor to serve as only the 3rd woman mayor in 150 years.
Has been an honor to serve as the smallest Mayor in 150 years.

I want to thank my fellow councilmembers for your support.  I am proud of the way we have worked together these past 2 years.  We might not always agree but at the end of the day I know we are all working for the good of our community.  We have tackled some tough issues these past 2 years but tackled them with respect.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge all of our employees.  Having worked closely with many of them, I can say with confidence and sincerity that we have a terrific group of employees. This is truly a group effort, council, staff and community.

I would like to especially acknowledge Anne Simmons and Kelly Flanders in the city manager’s office.  Their help and support has made these 2 years so much easier and efficient.  And Cindi Rodriquez who works so well with our council and tolerates those long motions. And of course, City Manager, Mark Watkins, always easy to work with. And I also want to thank Elena Brokaw for all her work on the 150th birthday celebration.

And finally to my family and friends, thanks for your support and patience when I have not always been available.

I have enjoyed meeting Venturan’s at the numerous coffees with the Mayor throughout the city, answering question, listening to concerns and suggestions.

According to our own 2014 citizen survey, 93% of our residents feel Ventura is a good place to live with 74% say we are headed in the right direction.

I would like to highlight a few of our accomplishments over the past 2 years .

Our wellness district continues to develop with the new hospitals at CMH and VCMC and the new parking garage for CMH which will help support the revitalization of that area.

With our newly hired economic development manager we are continuing our business visits and business development and have reviewed and adjusted our economic development strategy.

Core Services

All of our police officers now wear body cameras.

Due to the drought, we have asked our residents to conserve water by 20% and the state mandate for our city is 16%. Our cumulative water savings is  24%.

Establishing a new park on the Westside, which we refer to as Kellogg Park is a council priority.

Wanting to make our 2 downtown parks safer and more inviting for everyone, we have worked with the Downtown Ventura Partners to establish a Parks Ambassador program.

We have established a moratorium on the expansion and establishment of new massage parlors to help control some of the illegal activity operating in some of these establishments.

Adopted a no smoking ordinance for public places and asked the city attorney to bring back an ordinance on gun stores and ammunition sales.

We have established a Water Commission, and a Charter Review Commission

And supported the establishment of a Senior Council on Aging to explore issues important to our Seniors.

During this past year, the city adopted our first ever sister city with Loreto Mexico.

Ventura is a unique beach town, made up of people who care, care about each other and care about our community. we are a community that works together to accomplish our goals.

It has truly been a privilege to serve as your mayor these past 2 years.

By Rebecca Wicks

The future of development in Ventura is always a hot topic.  Most city officials and residents seem to favor controlled growth, as outlined in the 2005 General Plan, which details how the city prefers to grow.  This, according to City Manager Mark Watkins includes big and small development.

“Some of the little projects are the most exciting to me,” said Watkins, pointing to The Trade Desk refurbishment of an existing building downtown and the opening of the new Topa Topa brewery.  “That is what Ventura is really about – small business carry an economy – we don’t always notice it as much, but they are just as important.”

The process of starting a project – big or small – and the phases of reviews and approvals can seem complicated to an outsider.  From the time a project is conceptually introduced to the time of actual construction can stretch years and even decades in some cases.

With more than 50 projects on the City’s Pending Project List City Planning Manager Dave Ward admits shepherding projects through the process is not a simple one.

“It’s a delicate dance,” admits Ward.  “Projects go back and forth between the developer and City and when they are here on the City side we do our best to prioritize projects with the resources we have.”

More than two years ago the Breeze published “10 projects that will change the face of Ventura.” Since then a number of other initiatives have been further developed by City as well as new projects been made public.

“I’m personally excited about the Hilton Hotel project,” said Mayor Cheryl Heitmann of the proposed project across from the fairgrounds which includes a restaurant.

Another new project would include the possibility of building high-end apartments in the area where Joe’s Crabshack was.  The project, which had to be approved by the Coastal Commission is in its infancy stages with its developers just entering the concept review stages.

“The project is not in the downtown core, but it is part of the Thompson corridor and aligns with the City’s Infill First strategy,” said Ward who said the project has received some initial favorable reviews.

Other new projects include Kaiser Permanente building a large regional medical center off Market Street (see more in this issue).  The plans for the sizeable multi-story building are currently in design review but are seemingly on an aggressive track according to Ward.

Finally, with the closing of the Montalvo Wastewater Plant, the City’s initiative to revitalize the auto center area is poised to move forward.  Proposed projects for the area include the extension of Olivas Drive and Johnson Drive.  According to Watkins the City, owner and developer have a shared goal of the area including the likes of “destination retailers,” and other businesses that would bolster the auto mall itself.  The creation of a specific plan of the area is expected to take shape in 2016.

More than two years ago the Breeze published “10 projects that will change the face of Ventura.”  Last issue updates for numbers 1 through 5 were provided, here are updates on the final 5 projects on the list.

Number 5.  The Grove –  A project that began before the recession, the community includes between 198-250 townhouses, apartments, courtyards and open space.  Located on Telephone Road near the 101 and 126 Freeways across the street from Barnes & Noble, the project sits on 25 acres of farmland.  The project has finished the planning process and is now about 70 percent done with its environmental review, according to Ward.  Once this is completed, the document will be made available for public review and comment.  Ward expects the City and the developer to work through traffic, water and sewer elements in the summer months, and spend winter 2016 months responding to public and other agency comments.  Once this is completed, it will go through the Design Review Committee and the Council before the City will file to annex the land after which time the project will enter phase development.

Number 6.  JenVen Village/Ventura East Village:  JenVen Village, the housing portion of the project which includes 83 residential units at Wells Road and Darling Road is currently under construction.  And, with two other separate residential projects nearby in final planning phases, the area is likely to see more units breaking ground soon.  The commercial component of the project – Ventura East Village – which envisions a 14,000 sq. ft. market, 15,500 sq. ft. drugstore and a drive-thru restaurant has been all but stagnant in recent months.

Number 7.  Citrus Apartments and Citrus Place:  One block from each other in East Ventura near Wells Road and Citrus Road, these projects have been humming along.  The 54-unit Citrus Apartments have been completed and are already occupied.  The Citrus Place project has finished construction on phase one and two – 60 apartments and 60 townhomes respectively – and is currently in the final stages of phase three construction, which includes 59 single-family homes.  The Vince Daly Group has filed for two additional projects in the area including Citrus 2, which includes 78 additional apartment, and the 43-apartment Carlos Drive Project.

Number 8.  Island View Apartments:  Westwood Communities 155-unit apartment complex behind Montalvo Square is currently under construction.  The project which includes multiple buildings involves a good amount of grading and a fair amount of excavation according to Ward who expects the project to be under construction for most of 2016.

Number 9.  La Barranca: Ten “executive-style” homes on Foothill Road near Day Road are currently under construction.  The homes were touted as having the potential to bring higher-income and business owners to Ventura.

Number 10.  Marriott – Residence Inn:  The 128-room four-story hotel will sit on the sliver of land at 770 S. Seaward Ave. behind where Golden China currently resides.  The project has successfully finished their rounds of plan check review.  The final drawings are now done and the developer can begin to break ground as soon as it pulls construction permits.