VENTURA : Council Reviews Its Links With Panels

Following up a workshop held earlier this year, Ventura City Council members met before Monday’s regular meeting to review proposals for making the process of local government more effective.

During the 75-minute session, council members discussed establishing better communication between committees--each usually made up of three council members--and the full City Council.

Councilman Gary Tuttle said too much time is wasted by committee members directing staff to review proposals that will probably not receive approval from the full council.

He cited a request by the traffic committee last year to consider reopening Poli Street near Ventura High School after the council elected to keep it closed during school hours.

“That was a dead-end,” Tuttle said before Monday’s study session. “I’m looking for committee members to have a better feel for how the whole council feels before they go off on a wild goose chase.”

City Manager Donna Landeros said department heads need clearer rules on how committees handle business, what authority they have and when plans should come before the council or a committee.

“It’s a little bit catch as catch can, so we need to agree on procedures and get them down on paper so that everyone is following them,” she said.

A weekend workshop held last winter prompted council members to rethink the committee process. Landeros said she would draw up specific recommendations from Monday’s session to be considered later this spring.