MOORPARK : Business Improves for New Directory

A Moorpark business and community directory that was in danger of ceasing publication has attracted a wave of interest from city officials and has apparently been saved.

First produced in 1991, the annual 96-page guide is distributed free to all homes and businesses in Moorpark and is the only locally produced listing of city resources and area merchants.

But this year, Sandy Brown, who produces the directory under contract with the Chamber of Commerce, found it impossible to sell the $30,000 worth of advertising needed for production by the Oct. 1 deadline.

She suspended publication and sent a letter to a local weekly newspaper and city and chamber officials in which she attributed the death of the resource to the poor economy, “a business community in disarray” and “a Chamber of Commerce short on inspiration.”

The letter found its way to City Manager Steve Kueny, who, after consulting with Mayor Paul W. Lawrason Jr., had planned to ask the council Wednesday to give Brown $3,000 to meet her goal.

Councilman Bernardo Perez said the guide is a valuable asset to the local economy. “It’s tailor-made for Moorpark, and I think that’s the key,” Perez said.

Now it looks as if the city will not have to pitch in, Brown said Wednesday, since she has sold an additional $5,000 in advertising since late last week, bringing the total to $26,000 so far. And the advertising deadline has been extended to Oct. 16.

After Brown met earlier Wednesday with Kueny, chamber representatives and other city business leaders, who agreed to encourage local merchants to support the directory, she said she probably will not need any city funding.

However, Kueny said during a break in the council meeting that he would ask the council to commit as much as $3,000 to publish the directory if Brown needs the assistance.

“I am thrilled because the business community is pulling together and that is where we need to be,” Brown said.

About 11,000 copies of the 1993 directory are scheduled to be published and hand-delivered to residents and merchants by the second week of December, Brown said. Students from Moorpark Continuation High School will learn about publishing by assisting in the design, layout and production of the guide, which they will deliver. Brown said she will donate $2,000 to the school in return for the students’ efforts.