Ventura · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ventura public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Wells/Darlow development gas station concerns
Residents pressed the council on the large gas station planned near new apartments in the Wells/Darlow project — citing CEQA, health impacts from being 100 feet away, and confusing traffic patterns.
$302 Million Wastewater Treatment Plant Rebuild
The council locked in the funding to finish replacing the 70-year-old treatment plant, reusing existing tanks to avoid $16 million in demolition costs. Ratepayers will fund it through low-interest loans and bonds — and one commenter warned loudly about water rates and PFAS concerns.
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.
Accessibility and safe crossings
Two speakers asked for street lighting from Palm Street to the State Beach In-N-Out, wheelchair-accessible buttons at downtown businesses, curb cutouts near Mound School, and repairs to Hill Road and Woodland Drive where a crossing guard was hurt.
Beachfront surplus land parcels
The city must run the state Surplus Land Act process before leasing the pier-adjacent parcel, which is deed-restricted to recreational use. Public engagement on what to build is legally deferred until the process completes — possibly August 2026 to early 2027 — frustrating residents who want input first.
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.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
The fire department drafted the city's first community wildfire protection plan and wants your input at workshops on Feb 18 and Feb 26, or via an online survey through Feb 27.
Proposed data center at Ventura County fairgrounds
Twelve speakers demanded the city ban data centers after the fair board rejected the GlobalStack proposal that morning. The council approved a letter of accountability and will take up a ban ordinance in early 2027.
Nuisance abatement cost recovery ordinance
A new municipal code chapter lets the city recover attorney fees when it must sue over persistent code violations — a cost-saving tool most California cities already have.
Development review process improvements (Matrix/grand jury)
The council weighed adopting a fast-track, no-public-hearing approval process for affordable housing projects required by state law. Delaying adoption until objective design standards are finished keeps some local control but risks state penalties for housing element non-compliance.
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.
Three-year parklet license terms downtown
The council adopted the long-term vision for the pedestrianized downtown — activity nodes, mosaics, a stage at California Street — plus a parklet replacement deadline and near-term ADA and furniture spending from ~$600,000 in rollover funds. Farmers market and merchants raised compatibility concerns.
Pro housing designation and affordable housing funding
Ventura Housing received a preliminary award of $1.37 million for 33 affordable apartments on Valentine Road, with 25 units reserved for people moving out of Santa Clara River encampments. Construction could start in early 2027.
City Hall East Boiler Replacement and Electrification
Staff wanted to replace 30-year-old gas boilers with new gas units, but a wave of climate advocates demanded heat pumps ($2.5 million vs. roughly $500,000). The council pulled the item and sent it to a reactivated environmental committee to explore heat pumps, grants and lifecycle costs before summer break.
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.
Police-Fire Headquarters Locker Room Renovation
Police officers described raw sewage in showers, one toilet serving the whole women's locker room, and 200+ facility failures — pressing the council to keep the headquarters project funded and on track for fall bidding.
Flock Camera Security Breach
A vendor configuration error let two out-of-state police agencies query Ventura's license plate reader data for months in 2025. The chief says pathways are now blocked and daily audits are running, but residents are calling for the contract to be revisited and a human rights commission created.
El Niño Storm Preparedness
Councilmember Campos said only about 10% of the unsheltered population got hotel vouchers during the Christmas Day storm and called for emergency shelter options like the fairgrounds.
Rivello Holdings / Vello Retreat Development Access Concerns
Westside residents warned the proposed 117-home development has only one way in and out via Cedar Street in a high fire hazard zone, and the proposed emergency exit onto School Canyon Road conflicts with an existing easement. The environmental document comes out soon; planning commission hearing expected in October.
Proposed GlobalStack Data Center at the Fairgrounds
Residents flooded public comment opposing the proposed AI data center, parking garage, and helipad at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, citing water use, noise, and emergency use of the fairgrounds. The council has already directed staff to bring a letter of opposition on September 15.
Rental Assistance Program Duration
A public speaker urged the council to extend the rental assistance program beyond three months, citing families facing deportation of breadwinners and impossible choices between rent and food.
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.
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.
Citywide Historic Resources Survey
The first-ever citywide survey — covering about 40,000 buildings with fewer than 400 potentially landmark-eligible — comes to the council for adoption next week. Preservationists are enthusiastic; owners got pink notices in the mail.
City employee labor contracts
Several city employees and union leaders warned that rising healthcare costs and lagging wages are pushing workers out of Ventura. Firefighters, survey staff, housing staff, and water workers urged the council to offer a fair contract during ongoing negotiations.
Olivas Links golf course improvements
The consent calendar included the 30% design contract for Olivas Links upgrades — a small step golf advocates have waited 17 months for on a course that makes money for the city.
Housing Element Program 19 — shelters and supportive housing zoning
New zoning rules make room for emergency shelters, supportive housing, and group care facilities where state law requires them — mostly in industrial zones south of the 101 and limited downtown areas.
East Side to Midtown water interconnect project
Ventura is finally building the pipe to tap its state water allocation — better water quality, drought insurance, and emergency water-sharing with neighboring agencies. Construction starts fall 2026 and wraps in 2029, with noise walls and detours along the route.
City workforce vacancies and retention
The city's vacancy rate averaged 5.6% in 2025, but SEIU 721 flagged eight classifications above the 20% vacancy threshold, four-month average fill times, and 99 separations since 2023 — with contract negotiations coming this year.
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.
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.
Main Street Moves Closure Reconsideration
62 downtown businesses signed a petition asking the council to reopen Main Street, saying the closure is killing business. The council declined to revisit it before November, scheduling a full discussion for the first November meeting.
Technology disruption policy for public participation
A new state-required policy spells out what happens if Zoom or streaming fails during a meeting — a one-hour recess, restoration efforts, and a council finding before continuing without remote participation.
Historic Preservation Committee's future
The council decided to phase out the Design Review Committee once objective design standards are in place and Coastal Commission approval is secured, while keeping the Historic Preservation Committee in a limited role. Dozens of architects, historians, and preservationists warned that eliminating the expert committees could hurt the city's character and slow nothing.
FY 2027 city budget
The five-year outlook shows a projected deficit around FY 2029 tied to the SAFER grant match for 13 firefighter positions, and just $167,000 of FY 2027 general fund is unallocated without cutting services.
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.
Camino Real tennis court closure and court allocation
Tennis players packed the chamber demanding the city reopen and rebuild the closed Camino Real courts. The budget includes $840,000 for design work, with about $4 million available in the parks fund for construction in FY 2028. Some speakers asked the city to reopen the cracked courts or open school courts in the meantime.
SAFER grant for firefighter staffing
The fire department will apply for $6.6 million in federal funding to keep 11 firefighter/paramedic positions. Without it, the two paramedic squads launched in 2024 — credited with faster response times and big drops in overtime and fatigue — would face elimination.
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.
Proposed 1% sales tax measure for November 2026 ballot
The council fell one vote short of putting a 1% sales tax — roughly $36 million a year — on the November ballot. Supporters said streets, parks, and fire staffing need the money; opponents said the city must show budget discipline and an economic development plan first.
November 2026 municipal election for districts 1, 4, 5, and 6
The council called the election for four council seats; nominations open July 13 and close August 7, with a candidate info session July 13 at 6 p.m.
AB 1572 non-functional turf irrigation ban
A new state law bans watering non-functional grass with drinking water at businesses, HOAs, and government properties starting in 2027. Single-family homes are exempt; the city will fold enforcement into its water waste ordinance.
Water Quality
A resident repeatedly demanded transparency and answers about PFAS 'forever chemicals' in the water supply; the city manager said the water team monitors quality closely with PFAS as a major consideration.
Ministerial affordable housing permitting
The council weighed adopting a fast-track, no-public-hearing approval process for affordable housing projects required by state law. Delaying adoption until objective design standards are finished keeps some local control but risks state penalties for housing element non-compliance.
Potential half-cent sales tax ballot measure
A second survey shows 51-60% likely support for a general sales tax, just above the 50% needed. Streets and roads topped resident priorities, fueling debate over whether the tax should be general or earmarked.
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.
Monmouth Way sewer line repair
A gasoline-contaminated sewer line near Harbor Boulevard will be replaced starting mid-June, with lane closures, detours, 24-hour construction, and possible noise through late July.
Camino Real Park tennis courts closure
Residents pushed hard to reopen the closed tennis courts, calling it a failure of social infrastructure. The council referred the issue to the Parks and Recreation Commission and added $840,000 in the budget for new court design.
Main Street revitalization
The council adopted the long-term vision for the pedestrianized downtown — activity nodes, mosaics, a stage at California Street — plus a parklet replacement deadline and near-term ADA and furniture spending from ~$600,000 in rollover funds. Farmers market and merchants raised compatibility concerns.