Countywide : Ventura Issue What’s Best for the Pier?

The city of Ventura is planning to take over the 118-year-old Ventura Pier from the state and restore it to its original length. To offset the $140,000 annual cost of

maintenance, it expects to add some revenue-generating concessions. Some people say further development of the pier with these commercial enterprises makes

good financial sense. Others have concerns that the pier could lose its historical appeal and take on a carnival-like flavor.

Russ Smith

Executive director, Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau

“The logical way I would look at it as a taxpayer and as if I were in city government would be to develop enough revenue-generating sources not on the pier itself, but over the sand adjacent to the

pier. The profits from retail stores, restaurants, etc., would establish a revolving fund, if you will, for the annual maintenance which is so important for that pier. If you don’t maintain it each year, gradually it gets worse and worse. Then you have a storm, and you’re in the dire straits it’s in now. City governments are increasingly facing a shortfall of funding, and you can’t maintain present levels of existing services if you’re not at the same time generating funds to augment taxpayer dollars. The pier is traditional with Ventura, it’s important to Ventura for its residents and its visitors, so we should do what we can to make sure it’s usable.”

Russ Baggerly

Board member, Environmental Coalition of Ventura County

“The restoration is a very important opportunity to bring the beach back to our city. Planning should be done with the community in mind, not with the idea of bringing in people from Santa Monica or

San Francisco. The business uses of the pier should be planned with the people and the history of Ventura in mind. The pier has a long history. The city should insist on an element in the contract for restoration that a public historian should conduct research into the historical uses of the pier and at the base of the pier. An interpretive element could be incorporated into the best commercial uses identified from the historical information. This should not, however, turn out to be a theme park, but an honest attempt to bring back the flavor of Ventura for Venturans before the freeway cut us in half.”

Red Maurer

Fisherman

“The fishermen would sure like to see the pier restored, and so would I. If we had a longer pier, it would be a lot better. There’s more fish out there at the end of the pier. You get better-size fish out there.

In the summer you get mackerel, and all kinds of other good fish, halibut and sea bass out at the end of the pier. Restaurants and concessions won’t bother us at all. It won’t hurt us a bit. No way. Even the bait shop down there says they will get more business if there are more doings down at the pier. Lots of people like to walk on the pier, just to see the ocean. It’s a tourist trap right now. There is not enough room for all the fishermen at the pier now. It’s too packed. Sometimes you can’t find room for your pole. I’ve seen the pier repaired about five times over the years. I’ve seen waves go clear over the top.”

Ed Robings

Executive director, Ventura County Museum of History and Art

“The pier is important to the city’s economy. It’s also important historically. We’re part of the hospitality industry in Ventura County. We have many tour groups that come to the museum. I feel

that we need more tourist attractions and more things to entertain those people who visit our beaches and visit Ventura County. The best thing about tourists is they bring money with them and leave it behind when they go. It’s important to stress that improved facilities and amenities at the pier would not only be used by out-of-towners and tourists, but also by local residents. Restoration and improvement of the pier is an important thing to do. I don’t think of the pier the same way I do a very old house or the Ventura City Hall. I think of the pier as being in the ocean and subject to dramatic storms we have.”

Grant Phillips

Chairman of the steering committee for Alliance for Ventura’s Future

“When I was a youngster, my dad and I went down to the pier frequently for fishing. It’s a place to get away from the hustle and bustle, find some peace and quiet. It’s a good place for families to have

outings. I do have some concerns about the type of development they want to put on the pier. I would want to see the amount of development limited so it doesn’t end up dominating the pier. This is something that has not been spelled out, exactly what they intend to do. I would think things oriented toward supplying fish bait, fishing supplies, a restaurant, things of this nature, are very compatible. I would not want to see it become a carnival-type thing. I don’t think that’s the direction most people want it to go. I do have some reservations about the city taking over the ownership just by nature of the cost of the maintenance.”