Camarillo Draws Up Wish List for 1992

With one eye on the budget and the other on preserving Camarillo’s quality of life, council members and administrators met Saturday to come up with a wish list for 1992.

Within the limits of Camarillo’s 1991-92 budget of about $25 million, the council categorized six areas for its 1992 goals: transportation, public safety, more recreation and entertainment opportunities, long-term revenues, solid waste and the proposed California State University campus.

“We are concerned about the safety of Camarillo’s citizens and their access to a high standard of life,” Mayor Stanley J. Daily said in setting the tone for the five-hour City Hall meeting.

Daily said the council is in the process of picking a 25-member citizens committee to review the goals outlined by the council.

Daily said one issue that concerns him is the city’s transportation system.

“It’s not functioning the way it should,” he said. “It is not meeting the needs of the people, particularly the economically disadvantaged.”

Echoing the mayor, Councilman Ken Gose proposed that the city work toward a more efficient public transportation system by using smaller vehicles.

Daniel Greeley, director of engineering services, pointed out that the city has applied for a federal grant for three new mid-sized buses.

His department is also pushing ahead with plans to restructure Camarillo’s transit services, Greeley said.

As far as law enforcement is concerned, there are no plans for additional staffing, Police Cmdr. Ray Abbott said. “There simply is no money.”

But in light of the 35% to 40% overall increase in crime and a lean enforcement staff, significant emphasis will be placed on education and crime-watch programs, Abbott said.

A crime stoppers program, which will try to stem escalating burglaries and auto thefts, has been initiated, Abbott said.

“People are not security-conscious enough,” he said. “You can’t leave doors and garages open anymore.”

Gose expressed interest in opening the city to more cultural and entertainment opportunities, as well as a major shopping complex.

But Tony Boden, head of planning and community development, said the market-driven retail industry is not in a position now to make new location commitments.

On the subject of entertainment, Gose suggested as a long-term goal the development of a large sports complex, such as a stadium that could offer baseball, concerts and fairs. He suggested a 230-acre site near the airport as a possible location. However, Boden quickly reminded him that the airport’s proximity to such a complex might present a safety problem.

“There are not many locations left where this would work,” Gose said.