West County Issue / Outlook for...

Charlotte Craven, Vice mayor

Decreasing revenue is the city’s big problem. Sales tax, new construction and home sales are all down. We have to look at all our programs and services, and then figure out where we can cut back with the least impact on the public. One thing we will look at is not adding staff positions approved in the last budget. As other positions become vacant, we probably won’t fill them either. Another big problem for the city is crime. Last year, property crimes rose 44% in Camarillo. The city has to work with the Sheriff’s Department to make people more aware of the rise in this sort of crime. Stopping graffiti is an issue I am personally interested in. Our city has a policy of removing graffiti as soon as it is discovered, but that cost us $12,000 in December. I am going to work with the California Board of Realtors on an initiative calling for a heavy surcharge on spray-paint cans. If each can of spray paint was noticeably more expensive, fewer kids would be able to buy it, and graffiti would go down.

Stanley J. Daily, Mayor

The issue most likely to affect Camarillo’s future is locating a California State University campus adjacent to the city. We want to do everything possible so the university is the best it can be. Another major goal we have for the upcoming year is to develop a strategy to deal with the economy. We need to look at our short-term problems and, at the same time, work toward developing a stable, long-term revenue base. The safety of our people always has to be utmost in our minds, so we should either relocate, or at least update, our current police facility. It is woefully out of date. Transportation is another issue we should focus on. We need to improve the current system. It is my hope that we have a better one in place sometime this year. Camarillo is not just a community of people, it is a family. To make decisions as a family you have to get people more involved, and that is why we recently formed a citizens committee of 25 people to work on the city’s new General Plan.

Shirley F. Carpenter, Superintendent, Pleasant Valley Elementary School District

The greatest issue facing our district is providing adequate facilities for our schoolchildren from a continually dwindling money pot. Tied to that is our concern over the possible financial impact the voucher system could have. I am opposed to this particular voucher plan, especially because it is being presented by its supporters as educational choice. This is a false representation of the issue, and I urge anyone who is tempted to vote for the proposal or sign a petition to put it on the ballot to first research it fully. Most of our decisions will be impacted by these two problems. It unfortunately appears that we might be making decisions based on financial issues, or the lack of facilities, rather than solely looking at what is in our students’ best interests. We will not be attempting to pass a school bond this year. After trying twice in 1991 and barely failing each time, the timing is just not right. I imagine we will give it another go in 1993.

Annette Okamura, Member, Save Our Kids’ Music

My big issue is the school district’s instrumental music program, which we almost lost last year. I hope we can raise the money to continue having a totally functional music program in our schools. Everyone benefits when we provide artistic education--the arts and academic excellence go together. It is a sad sign of the times that people do not realize the need to develop the arts in our children. I see wonderful things on the horizon with the City Council’s continued sponsorship of concerts in the park. I think we need to bring the arts to as many people as possible, especially through more children’s concerts. Another way to foster interest in the arts would be if big business adopted artistic programs for children, underwriting costs and getting their employees involved. This is being done to a large extent in the Los Angeles area, and it has had a tremendous impact on the community.

Joe Gaynes, Ventura County senator to the California Senior Legislature

The major issue we have at this time is setting up a transportation system that will provide quality service and meet the needs of the senior citizen community. The cost of transportation here is hard to believe. I don’t want to see people taking chances driving their cars because there currently is not a good public transit system. I’d like to see the city create a system with enough vehicles to provide for all the needs of not only seniors but all people with physical limitations. These sort of systems are already set up all over the country. Our immediate problem is getting the ball rolling here. The other issue we are facing is the lack of affordable nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Seniors are in need of facilities that provide a supportive and understanding environment and serve us effectively. The city should actively lobby the county and statewide agencies that can take action on this issue.