A Crossroads, Not a Crisis, for Agriculture Preservation

Create a working group of diverse interests to review agricultural preservation, to explore the development of a more effective agricultural preservation policy for Ventura County, including a set of multifaceted strategies to preserve and enhance agriculture as a continuing, prosperous economic asset.

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With the Board of Supervisors’ approval of that recommendation, brought by myself and Supervisor John K. Flynn barely one year ago, the Agricultural Policy Working Group formed and began the often arduous task of analyzing what strategies would ensure the viability of Ventura County’s No. 1 industry: agriculture.

The working group’s effort culminated Tuesday when its 25 members, who brought to the table a wide range of diverse opinions and backgrounds, reached consensus on a report that does, indeed, include detailed principles and “a set of multifaceted strategies to preserve and enhance agriculture as a continuing, prosperous economic asset.”

Based on the working group’s studies, public input and eight town hall forums held throughout the county, the report recommends the cities and Ventura County implement by initiative or legislation a moratorium on expanding urban uses beyond designated growth areas, until the completion of a study (not to exceed two years) to determine appropriate urban spheres. Upon conclusion of the sphere study, it urges adoption of Urban Growth Boundaries by voter approval. The report also recommends adopting a greenbelt program to strengthen the six existing greenbelts and to form five new ones.

In addition, it recommends regional public education programs focusing on the issues and challenges of farming in an urban county as an integral part of succeeding with all of the above. As envisioned, the education program would include a conference every two years to discuss the status of land use, with an emphasis on agriculture. It recommends the development of a database to help analyze the “health” of agriculture as an industry and the production of educational materials for all age levels.

To bring such varying viewpoints to consensus on a subject as complex and emotional as this one required the participants to often set aside some core beliefs for the good of the whole.

Consider the importance of city officials, who rely on growth to ensure adequate funding to provide the services their residents want, agreeing to look at limiting urban sprawl by placing boundaries around their cities. Those boundaries could be changed only once every 10 years.

Consider the added value of county officials agreeing to establish greenbelts between cities and counties by ordinance, and to eliminate incompatible land uses within greenbelts that could conflict with agriculture.

Consider the significance of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, whose members cherish their property rights as much as their occupation of farming, drafting the blueprint from which these principles and strategies were developed

Environmentalists, farmers, farm worker advocates, developers, taxpayer advocates, public activists and elected leaders reaching consensus and moving these recommendations to the next steps of implementation is truly a contribution to our community. Working group members are to be commended for their hard work, dedication and willingness to see this process through.

Ventura County agriculture does not face a crisis but a crossroads.

The working group stood at that crossroads, received a lot of directions, and from those directions decided on the road it considered the most appropriate to recommend.

The question now before the 10 cities, the Board of Supervisors and the public is, “Is this the correct road for us to follow as well?”

The message from the public was loud and clear. The public is very interested in preserving agriculture and intends to take a more active role in making that happen. The working group report is a challenge to the elected leaders of the 10 cities and the county to bring this agenda forward in their own communities.

The Ventura Council of Governments, which includes representation from the Board of Supervisors and each of the 10 city councils, will hold a special meeting on this topic this month. I intend to bring the document forward to my policy board, the Board of Supervisors, as soon as the ink is dry. I would encourage city leaders to do the same.

The town hall meeting format was a valuable educational tool during this process, allowing for two-way communication. I would encourage each community to consider this format for discussion of the working group report and the proposed programs.

The Agriculture Policy Working Group report is not an end point, it is a starting point. If we don’t take the next steps, we will never get there.