Bill That May Aid Campus Plan OKd

The state Senate agreed Friday to place a $3-billion bond measure on the upcoming statewide ballot that could begin the development of a long-planned California State University campus in Ventura County.

The bill now goes to the Assembly, where it must win passage before it can qualify for the March, 1996, ballot.

Sen. Jack O’Connell (D-San Luis Obispo) said he was pleased his colleagues passed the legislation that includes school construction money for lower and higher education.

Last year, California voters narrowly rejected a $900-million bond measure targeted for construction at public colleges.

As written, the bill asks voters to approve $2.025 billion in bonds for public school construction and renovation and $975 million in bonds for college and universities.

Although none of the money is earmarked for development of California State University’s 260-acre site near Camarillo, O’Connell said the additional dollars would help the university system tackle more items on its long list of building projects.

“The passage of this bond measure is a significant step forward in developing a Ventura County campus,” O’Connell said. “The larger the amount of money available, the more likely we could move forward.”

In an unrelated matter, O’Connell said he has moved from Carpinteria to a house he bought in San Luis Obispo.

O’Connell said he wanted to find a site more central for his district, which includes western Ventura County and all of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

He said the new house is also more convenient for taking frequent flights to and from Sacramento.

Also, he said, his 9-year-old daughter wanted a dog and a bigger yard. “We got her a golden retriever, named Missy. You’ll see her on our next Christmas card.”