Pushing for the Best Site for Campus

* In the Sept. 26 story on my campaign for reelection to the Ventura City Council, it was reported that I opposed the university at Taylor Ranch on environmental grounds.

This is incorrect. I did not oppose the Taylor Ranch as the future university site; on the contrary, I wanted it openly evaluated so all interested parties could be certain of having the best possible university site.

I argued that hard and fast positions should be withheld until required studies revealed the feasibility of the site for a campus and the attendant benefits and impacts.

This stance was consistent with my 1989 election position: “We all need to know the impacts and the benefits now, not after the state purchases the site. I strongly urge the state to prepare a comprehensive EIR immediately.” I believed such a study would address the claims of opponents and proponents and allow the state to determine the feasibility of locating the campus at Taylor Ranch given the ardent opposition of the landowner and such factors as suspected earthquake faults, oil field facilities and water and sanitation services.

This process was under way when the state suddenly and unilaterally announced that the site was being withdrawn from consideration.

This unexpected action was not at the city’s request nor mine as a member of the state’s Community Advisory Panel. In fact, I publicly challenged the decision on the grounds that the state had already selected the site based on a preliminary evaluation and so it should not be removed from consideration before the process was concluded.

In conclusion, I did not oppose a university campus at Taylor Ranch, but I did want the state to proceed through the required assessment process and select the best possible site. The state chose another site in the end.

TODD COLLART

Ventura