Moorpark City Council

Questionnaires were distributed to candidates last month. Answers have been edited to fit the available space.

Ambulance Service

Q. Moorpark residents have complained about the service and response times of Pruner Ambulance Co., a county contractor whose facilities are several miles south of the city. Should ambulance service be improved?

Brown: The first paramedic service probably should come from the Fire Department since its response time is generally about five minutes or less.

Roberts: I would pursue talks with the current provider to see what can be done to increase response times, along with pursuing the idea of paramedics in our local fire stations.

Talley: The response times of paramedic service in Moorpark are unacceptable. The paramedic service should be in our local fire stations.

Planning Ordinance

Q. Do you support the proposed comprehensive planning ordinance, which would allow residents to vote on major developments requiring amendment of the city’s General Plan? Brown: I would prefer a more forthright approach, including public hearings--which are now a part of the process--and the opportunity for the general public to have a thorough briefing of all the issues involved.

Roberts: I don’t think voter approval of a General Plan amendment is a bad idea. However, I think some very careful thought should be given before something like this is implemented to make sure all residents are informed as to what exactly is entailed in the amendment.

Talley: I do not feel the comprehensive planning ordinance would accomplish what it is intended to do. I can see developers using it to persuade voters to allow excessive growth, or no-growth advocates using it to stop all future growth. Either would be detrimental to the city.

Slow-Growth Extension

Q. Would you support extending Measure F, the city’s slow-growth ordinance that expires in 1994? Brown: I believe that the measure might well be extended by the council, and I would support that.

Roberts: Right now, the city is not issuing the available permits under the current measure. When this comes close to expiring and we have a better idea of what growth might be coming, I certainly would consider this extension.

Talley: The city does need an ordinance to manage growth. An extension of Measure F or a similar ordinance would keep growth at an acceptable level.

Commuter Rail Service

Q. Should the city do anything to encourage the extension of commuter rail service in Los Angeles to eastern Ventura County when the service commences in 1992? Local transportation officials have said they do not have the funds to pay the estimated $500,000 in annual operating costs. Brown: I propose that a passenger loading study identify the residence of users so that neighboring cities might assist in the cost.

Roberts: The city of Moorpark needs to work closely with the county and possibly the state to make sure that Moorpark gets the money it needs to provide this service.

Talley: The traffic congestion in the east end of the county clearly proves that there is a need for commuter rail service. The city should work in conjunction with neighboring cities and the county to establish rail service.

Traffic Reduction

Q. Work is scheduled to begin in the next few weeks on the long-awaited connector link for the Simi Valley and Moorpark freeways. Will this adequately reduce the heavy truck traffic that passes through Moorpark? If not, what would you propose be done? Brown: The link will reduce traffic, but additionally, an alternative east-west route must be built. I believe that California 118 should not be used for long-haul trucks not delivering or picking up on the highway.

Roberts: Traffic is the No. 1 issue facing the citizens of Moorpark and calls for some extreme measures. Trucks are a major contributor to our traffic problems, and we need to have truck scales that are operated on a full-time basis. The city has to work with Caltrans and the county to make sure it gets the money it needs for road improvements.

Talley: The connector road will reduce truck traffic on the section of Los Angeles Avenue between College View Avenue and Spring Road. But there will be little difference on Los Angeles Avenue west of Spring Road and Moorpark Avenue until a secondary east-west route is built.

City Expansion

Q. Do you support expanding the city’s boundaries or establishing a sphere of influence (an area outside the city’s municipal limits over which it has some jurisdiction)? Brown: Every other city in the county has a sphere of influence. Moorpark does not and thus does not have the same input on land contiguous to the city that other cities do. For that reason, I support the sphere study.

Roberts: Our first concern should be the General Plan update. This process should be expedited, but at the same time, we should be prepared for what might happen in the natural greenbelts that surround our city.

Talley: If it is determined that it would be beneficial to have areas outside our city limits within our sphere of influence, then we should consider expanding.

Greenbelt Preservation

Q. Do you support the preservation of a “greenbelt”--defined as open space or agricultural land--between the cities of Moorpark and Camarillo? This has been proposed by the Moorpark branch of the Ventura County Environmental Coalition. Brown: The proposal made is in such broadly sweeping terms that it should be refined before consideration. I do support the preservation of viable, productive agricultural land.

Roberts: I will be a watchful custodian of Moorpark’s open spaces. I think greenbelts are a good idea.

Talley: Greenbelts are one of the major differences between Ventura County and our neighbors to the south. We need to continue to preserve and establish greenbelts between our cities so that future generations can enjoy the environment we are enjoying.

Low-Cost Housing

Q. Would you support more low-cost housing projects, such as Moorpark’s Villa Campesina project in which homes were built by the owners themselves? Brown: I heartily support the concept of self-help housing and have since 1946, when such housing was being built in my Moorpark neighborhood. The city needs more affordable housing, but not necessarily subsidized housing.

Roberts: I do support the idea that was made a reality in Moorpark at Villa Campesina. Affordable housing is a tough issue with no easy answers. Moorpark must work to solve this thorny issue by attracting affordable housing development.

Talley: The Villa Campesina project is a great example of how to establish affordable housing and pride of ownership. Moorpark needs affordable housing for both low- and moderate-income families.

Redevelopment

Q. City officials have long planned to redevelop Moorpark’s downtown area. Would you do anything to speed up the process?

Brown: Twelve thousand dollars was appropriated by the city at the suggestion of former City Council members Clint Harper and Eloise Brown to do some work in the area. I would encourage staff to proceed with the suggested work.

Roberts: The downtown plan not only has been long talked about, but a plan has been developed. One of the first questions I would ask would be why this project seems to be done in chunks and not as an entire project.

Talley: Whenever a redevelopment agency is established, other public agencies file suit over possible loss of revenue. We need to settle such suits so that the accruing tax funds can be used to start the renovation of downtown Moorpark.

CONTENDERS Eloise Brown, 64, is a former Moorpark council member, serving for four years. She was defeated for reelection in November by then-Planning Commission Chairman John Wozniak. While on the council, Brown served as an alternate member to the Ventura County Transportation Commission. She is a former editorial writer for a Moorpark newspaper.

John G. Roberts, 36, is a former parks and recreation commissioner. A project manager for a construction firm, Roberts is involved in a number of civic organizations.

Roy Talley Jr., 42, is chairman of the city Planning Commission, on which he has served for two years. An electronics engineer, he is past president of the Moorpark Junior Chamber of Commerce and has been active in various community organizations.