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Promenade, street fixes on funding list
Ventura will probably defer proposal for pool on city's west side, mayor says
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More from Growth and HousingFresh pavement for miles of cracked neighborhood streets, seismic repairs to the historic Olivas Adobe and structural work on the aging Ventura Promenade are among the city proposals expected to receive funding in the next two years.
Meanwhile, a proposal for a long-anticipated pool in west Ventura likely will be deferred. City leaders haven't earmarked money to cover rising construction costs and some $560,000 in projected annual operating and maintenance expenses.
"It would be great to do the Westside Pool," Mayor Christy Weir said in an interview. "But I don't think we should be approving things that we don't have money to pay for and properly maintain."
The projects are part of a five-year citywide infrastructure blueprint that was to be presented to the City Council late Monday. The council will finalize funding for the first year of the work plan in June as part of its annual budget.
About $78 million of a projected $86 million anticipated to be spent from 2008 to 2010 would be on various street, water, sewer, facilities and drainage projects, according to the proposed Capital Improvement Project Plan.
Some $23 million alone would be spent during that time to improve treatment capabilities at the city's wastewater facility near Ventura Harbor, the plan shows.
Much of the work traditionally has been financed through bonds, with revenue coming from residents' water and sewage bills, state and federal grants, gas taxes and other one-time money, officials said. The infrastructure blueprint is separate from the city's $90 million to $94 million operating budget that pays for employee salaries, parks, street maintenance and other ongoing programs.
Areas of town expected to see street repavings in the next two years include hillside neighborhoods near Poli Street, Lincoln Drive and Buena Vista Street, as well as Main Street downtown and hillside areas off Hall Canyon Road and Sunset Drive.
The plan also sets aside money to repave Bayview Avenue, Mono Court and Nova Court; to add disabled access ramps around town; and to add slurry seal to cracked streets to extend their lifespan before they have to be repaved.
Last year, the council spent $500,000 to repair the ocean-facing Promenade, replacing several slab sections, removing damaged alcoves and reinstalling a hand rail. City staff is recommending an additional $1.5 million be spent on the decades-old tourist attraction.
Its aging foundation would be shored up and a sealant would be applied over the entire Promenade deck to protect against saltwater intrusion, officials said.
The city already has received a $1 million state grant to restore the Olivas Adobe. Matching funds from city bond revenues set aside for recreational facilities also will be used for seismic retrofitting of both the large and small adobes, development of the small adobe as an exhibit space, lighting improvements, a storage facility, improved restrooms, signage and landscaping, plans show.
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Posted by jjplait on March 18, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gee, they haven't even fixed the streets in MidTown yet and they already have plans for the Promenade.
Posted by shaver_one on March 18, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The city can charge $1.49 per person to use the sidewalks, and Promenade. They can attach this to the monthly water bills. They can call it a 'fee', and give residents a choice of either the monthly charge, or a per-use charge of $17.88 per person.
Posted by atroll2 on March 18, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Surprise, Surprise again the Westside Community is put on the back burner by our City. Geeze after years of asking and waiting and asking some more, we finally were given the opportunity to have a quality pool facility on the Westside. The Ventura Unified School District donated 3.5 million and the land, they partnered with the City to build this much needed and anticipated facility. The City held many community outreach meetings to talk about and bring a plan together. This was successful and it went through all the proper channels in the City and got thumbs up. It was my understanding that the City Manager said he was in full support of the Westside Pool Project that has been in the works for over three years. I thought that we had the Councils full approval to build this facility and that they would start this project in late 2007 and have our youth in the water in 2008 (I may have the timeline wrong). Now it seems to me that the City Council and the City Manager have know all along that there was a price to pay for the upkeep of this facility as they are fully aware of the cost of taking care of the Aquatic Center at the Community Park. Come on City Council and City Manager, find a way to fund the on going, day to day upkeep of this facility. Let’s get this facility built and then please come enjoy the sounds of joyful children and their families splashing and enjoying the pools. Do the right thing! Support the Westside because we are a very important part of the city. We helped elect you as you all ran saying you would represent all of Ventura. Please do not turn your backs on us. We do not ask for much, just what has been promised to us and we would appreciate it if it was in our lifetime! Kindly rethink your decisions of last night are put the Westside Pool Facility on the front burner and find the funding necessary to take proper care of this facility. It can be done, it must be done. It will be done if only you will give it the thumbs up you gave it before.
Sincerely,
Sharon
Posted by pkck on March 20, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wake up budget watchers. Ventura is going broke. It is time we begin to look like the reality of being victims of fiscal mismanagement and economic times with our no growth environment. No growth - no improvements. Stick to fire, police, and water and leave the tourist attractions to better times, if there will be any.
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