Ventura Council Approves Spending Plan

The City Council’s new budget package paves the way for a long-awaited public swimming pool and sports park, doubles the size of the downtown library and commits $1.9 million to spruce up the city’s aging trees, curbs and sidewalks.

In unanimously approving the more than $172 million in operating, capital improvement and redevelopment budgets for the 1998-99 fiscal year Monday, city leaders said they were able to overcome a $1.5-million deficit and still afford the very visual and politically popular projects.

The deficit, which rests in the city’s $112.8-million operating budget, was closed by downgrading seven positions, most of them vacant, to lower salaries and reducing workers compensation, telecommunications and supply costs, officials said.

It was caused, city budget analysts said, by a combination of lagging tax proceeds, necessary employee raises and a council-ordered end to the city’s annual reliance on interest income to support city programs.

“I commend the council for having the courage to once and for all put an end to that unbelievably destructive habit of spending [reserve fund] interest to balance the operating budget,” Mayor Jim Friedman said before Monday’s meeting.

Meanwhile, the council has suggested it may return to tweak the budget in September to find $1 million sought by the city’s Cultural Affairs Commission.

The commission is creating a plan for a cultural entertainment district in downtown Ventura.

City officials say that despite the deficit and the increased spending for the E.P. Foster Library, sports park and maintenance projects, the city will maintain current programs and service levels.

The city will use $4.2 million set aside several years ago to build an Olympic-size community swimming pool.

The pool would be inside the Ventura Community Sports Park, a joint venture between the city and school district planned for a 40-acre parcel at Telephone and Kimball roads.

The proposed sports park, which would include the pool and some combination of a large skateboarding park, soccer, field hockey, softball and baseball fields, is projected to cost just over $19 million.

The spending plan approved Monday sets aside $5.5 million for the first phase of the project, the specifics of which have yet to be developed by the city.

Although city officials say the project is at least three years from being built, representatives of several youth soccer, football, softball and swimming clubs urged the council’s approval.

A sports park, many said, could one day draw regional competitions that would fill area hotels, shops and restaurants.

“This is the right project for this community at the right time for the right reasons: to benefit youth and families, and generate revenue for this city by hosting state and county sports tournaments,” said Loretta Merewether, Ventura YMCA board chairwoman.

The money for the park was originally part of an $8.6-million fund set aside in 1987 to build a convention center at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Referred to simply as “The Money” around City Hall, the fund has been eyed for everything from the convention center to an aquarium to a minor league baseball park over the years.

But in a conceptual vote last March, a majority of the City Council instead decided the money would best be used for what many city residents say they really want: better maintained neighborhoods, a spruced-up E.P. Foster Library, a community pool and more parklands.