Ventura · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ventura public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Main Street traffic policy
A resident complained that the downtown kiosks advertise 1.5 hours free, but parkers who hit 91 minutes get charged for the full time. The city manager said the issue goes to the parking advisory committee in October.
Williamson Act implementation within city boundaries
A speaker for the Taylor Ranch owner urged the council to adopt the Williamson Act (agricultural land conservation) within city limits, as the county has done since 1969, to help struggling farmers cut costs. She asked the council to direct staff to draft aligned language.
Ventura River intake structure pipeline removal
A $2.27 million project removes an exposed pipeline at the city's historic Foster Park river intake, tied to the Ventura River water rights physical solution.
Valentine Road supportive housing progress
The Valentine Road permanent supportive housing project now houses 91 of a planned 134 residents, including 21 people moved from the Motel 6 encampment — a success story for the city's homelessness response.
Measure D water bond presentation
United Water Conservation District presented its $350 million bond on the November 3 ballot, funding dam safety, the Freeman Diversion, and a seawater intrusion barrier — roughly $24 per $100,000 of assessed value, about $121 a year for the average homeowner.
Victoria Avenue retail size cap
The council voted 4-2 to have staff bring an ordinance eliminating the ban on retail stores over 100,000 square feet in the Victoria Corridor plan.
Water bill assistance for low-income households
Ventura Water is expanding its customer assistance program, adding 355 households through a Housing Authority partnership and a $35,000 budget increase, though about 600 households may still fall short of affordability targets.
Foothill Tech High School solar array concerns
Neighbors Randy and Marilyn Cook say the school district's $40 million solar project removed buffering trees, exceeds promised heights, has unshielded security lights, and raises fire safety concerns; they asked the city to push for transparency and an audit.
Street lighting assessments and safety
The annual street lighting assessment was adopted at roughly $31 per typical home. One speaker, reading a disabled resident's letter, urged better lighting funding as a life-safety matter.
District-based appointments and advisory board overhaul
Starting January 2027, each council member would nominate one member to each city board, replacing the public ARC interview process. The council also backed a new environmental standing committee and renamed bodies as commissions.
Jackalope event accountability and future city support
A resident described an altercation, safety failures, and credential problems at the 2026 Jackalope event and asked the council to require a formal review before supporting the event in 2027-28. The council approved support anyway but noted after-action reviews are underway.
Glue trap sale and use ban amendment
The council adopted the glue trap ban 4-2 but the county Ag Commissioner warned it could ban official invasive-pest insect traps, risking more pesticide use. Staff will bring back a clarifying amendment April 28, possibly as an urgency ordinance.
Arts staffing and cultural affairs manager
Speakers including the Ventura Arts Alliance pressed the council to re-establish a cultural affairs manager position, arguing it would pay for itself by capturing grants other cities currently get, consistent with the general plan's economic vitality priorities.
Public art funding from water ratepayer funds
The council moved to permanently end the 2% public art set-aside from water and sewer capital projects, citing rate affordability and Prop 218 legal risk — about $2.8 million would otherwise come from the Ventura Water Pure project. Arts supporters urged the council to keep the 30-year-old program alive for other projects.