Council Putting $118-Million Wish List in Order

What does this city really need most? A skateboard park for its youth or a face lift for a crumbling old building? Bathrooms for its Seaward Avenue beaches or a sturdy sound wall for an eastern Ventura neighborhood?

Those were the questions before the Ventura City Council on Monday, and council members debated late into the evening how to ration $118 million set aside for capital improvement projects in the next six years.

Collected from gas, utility, sewer and other taxes, capital improvement funds are typically used for long-term projects that maintain or improve the city’s infrastructure, such as roads, parks and other services.

Among the big-ticket items under consideration are $12.9 million for the extension of Olivas Park Drive and $13.1 million for street maintenance citywide.

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But it was the flashier projects, such as $500,000 for the long-neglected Peirano’s Market and money for a skateboard park, that dominated the discussion Monday.

Preservationists want the city to restore the historic Main Street market to its original facade. At 119 years, the boarded-up building needs upgrading to be earthquake safe.

“What is your commitment to the history of this city?” asked John Wagner, a resident who named Peirano’s one of the top 10 historic sites.

But because the request for funding came just two weeks ago, city officials did not include money for Peirano’s in the budget.

Some council members support setting aside money for the long-neglected building.

“The last three councils have tackled this and come up empty-handed,” Councilman Jim Friedman said before the meeting. “I really think it is time we do something with the Peirano’s building once and for all.”

But other council members have said they were leery of earmarking funds for an ill-defined project that could take money away from more-valid proposals.

During the meeting, about 10 speakers urged the council to set aside money for a variety of projects, including street improvements on the city’s west side and new restrooms for the Pierpont beach area.

“We are asking your support to fund the staff recommendation for [Ventura] Avenue area improvements,” said Lauri Flack, president of the Westside Community Council.”

Betsy Clapp, a business owner on Seaward Avenue, asked the council to fund new restrooms near the beach. “Now it is a source of embarrassment when we have to direct visitors to dirty outhouses on the beach.”

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Eastern Ventura residents also sought funding for a sound wall on Lafayette Street to buffer them from traffic noise on nearby California 126. And supporters of the flood-damaged bike path along Surfers Point also requested a piece of the money.

The council must adopt its six-year $118-million capital improvement budget by April 1.

Another hot-button topic was the debate over a skateboard park.

The issue started with discussions of whether the city should earmark $370,000 in capital improvement funds for the construction of a skate park.

The concept has been embraced by some council members who see a park not only a valid recreational facility, but also as a way to keep skaters from tearing up curbs and park benches.

The city’s Community Affairs Commission also supports the idea but recently recommended that the council allocate no more than $100,000 for construction.

After Monday’s budget deliberations, the council was scheduled to discuss building a skate park at either San Buenaventura State Beach or on Ventura school property.

The council was also scheduled to discuss a proposal to ban skateboarding in some parts of the city.