Santa Rosa Valley Wants Say in Decisions

Santa Rosa Valley residents could gain a little more clout with the Ventura County Board of Supervisors under a proposal that the panel will consider today.

The board will decide whether to approve the establishment of a five-member Santa Rosa Valley municipal advisory council that would review issues regarding planning, traffic safety and public health in the upscale, semirural community. The council would then advise the supervisors on what it considered appropriate actions.

“I think this is a great way for them to have better participation with their government,” said Supervisor Linda Parks, who proposed forming the council for the unincorporated area between Thousand Oaks and Moorpark. “It’s a large community that’s in transition. They are very desirous of remaining a wonderful community, but there are a lot of pressures from the cities around them.”

Improving traffic management in the valley--which includes horse properties, nurseries, pricey homes and small ranches--is a primary concern of residents, said Janis Gardner, vice chairwoman of the Santa Rosa Valley Community Assn.

“We don’t have a city council for protection. The municipal advisory council will afford us an official voice,” said Gardner, one of five initial nominees to the possible panel, along with a health consultant, a television producer, a teacher and a Realtor. The council would meet at least once a month.

Gardner said area homeowners plan to soon install three signs with images of horses and children to remind motorists along busy Santa Rosa Road to slow down and drive cautiously.

A long-term goal of the council, Gardner said, would be to encourage the county to install a landscaped median along the entire length of Santa Rosa Road, which has a 55-mph speed limit.

“We can’t stop the traffic, but hopefully we can calm it so it’s not so dangerous,” she said.

Ventura County has three other municipal advisory councils, representing El Rio, the Ojai Valley and Oak Park, which is also within Parks’ 2nd District.

Supervisor John Flynn, whose 5th District includes El Rio, said the councils have gotten more residents involved in local government.

“Anytime you can bring government closer to the people, that should be done,” he said. “It gives the supervisor of a district a good forum on different issues, because they discuss the issues and discuss them thoroughly.”