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Community Development

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Community Development Performance Measures

Business Retention and Attraction

Why This Is Important

New and existing businesses contribute to the financial and economic vitality of the community and serve to help fund important existing and expanded public services. Great communities are prosperous communities. A successful city brings people, institutions, ideas and capital together in creative ways that enrich the lives of those that live and work there.

What Is Being Done

For the long term, Community Development will achieve growth targets by carefully implementing the City’s General Plan. Activities include, and yet are not limited to, working with businesses and housing developers to increase tax revenues, create jobs, and build work force and executive housing stock.  The Community Development’s Economic Development Team strives to attract, expand, and retain businesses through ongoing consultation and expertise to developers and business owners through the following programs:

  • Business Ombudsman
  • Business Assistance Program (BAP)
  • Business Enhancement Program (BEP)
  • Ventura Ventures Technology Center
  • Focused initiatives geared towards creating Green, High-Tech, and Creative jobs (New Economy).

About This Measure

This measure reflects the goals and objectives detailed in the General Plan, and the work plan developed in the Economic Summits and implemented via the Prosperity Council (City of Ventura, Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau, Downtown Ventura Partnership, and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce).

Contact: 
Jeff Lambert, Community Development Director, jlambert@cityofventura.net
Peter Brown, Community Services Manager, pbrown@cityofventura.net

Business Ombudsman - Assist in the retention, expansion, and relocation of new and existing businesses in the City of Ventura by building relationships, assisting with city processes, and supporting business activities.  Measure = Casual contacts vs. Actual Assistance

Targets:  10-15 business outreach interfaces per month

FY11-12

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Target

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

Actual

17

14

18

14

30

13

28

20

 

 

 

 

Variance

4

1

5

1

17

0

15

7

 

 

 

 

BAP (Business Assistance Program) Activity
Targets:

  • Micro-Loan Program (CDBG Funds) - Assist a minimum of 3 businesses with up to $50,000 each for business creation or expansion, and creating a minimum of six new jobs for low-income workers. Funds available: $170,000 for loans, $30,000 for technical assistance (EDC-VC).
  • Code Compliance (General Funds) - Assist 3 businesses with loans up to $25,000 each for mitigation of code compliance issues. Funds available: $25,000.
  • Commercial Rehabilitation (General Funds) - Assist 3 businesses with loans up to $50,000 each for rehabilitation of commercial buildings storefronts and/or interiors. Funds available: $100,000.

1st Quarter of FY 11-12 Results:

  • 2 Micro Loans closed – 2 employees hired
  • 9 Referrals
  • 2 Pre-Applications

2nd Quarter of FY 11-12 Results:

  • 2 Micro Loan funded

BEP (Business Enhancement Program) Activity -- Business Retention & Attraction
Targets:

  • Serving not less than 80 businesses in the City of Ventura per year
  • 20 new jobs created per year
  • $1Million in new capital infusion (that is beyond any City loan funds)

1st Quarter of FY11-12 Results:

  • 93 Clients served
  • 3 Loans closed
  • 13 new jobs created

2nd Quarter of FY 11-12 Results:

  • 34 clients serverd

VenturaVentures Technology Center
Target:

  • Maintain 50% occupancy rate to offset program cost
  • Graduate and retain one company per year

Annual Measure:  Average 65% occupancy for FY10-11

Focused initiatives geared towards creating Green, High-Tech, and Creative jobs (New Economy)

Locate and connect with two local or "outside" creative business/month -

 

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Target

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Actual

2

3

2

2

2

9

6

3

 

 

 

 

Variance

0

1

0

0

0

7

4

1

 

 

 

 

Locate and connect with three local/"outside" green business/month

 

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Target

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Actual

3

3

4

3

3

4

4

5

 

 

 

 

Variance

0

0

1

0

0

1

1

2

 

 

 

 

The following are Annual Measures we are establishing a baseline for in FY 11-12:

  • Increase film production by 2% (expansion) - measured by #'s of film permits issued annually
  • Increase total number of art jobs by 2% (expansion) - measured by annual Americans for the Arts data
  • Increase Green Companies by 2% - 5% (Based on Dunn & Bradstreet)
  • Increase High-Tech Companies by 2% - 5% (Based on Dunn & Bradstreet)
  • Increase total tax revenue from cultural events by 2% (expansion) - measured by DMAI event calculator data

 

Major Development Projects in the Planning Process

Why This Is Important

The City, through its Community Development Department, strives to plan and develop a vibrant, sustainable community and promote private sector growth to build a healthy economy. This map displays the significant, current private sector projects that illustrate the level of growth and investment across the City.

What Is Being Done

The City of Ventura works to anticipate, encourage, and manage new growth using a variety of planning, marketing, and other program efforts.  City Code Enforcement also recognizes that our neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and industrial zones desire to maintain their character and function.  Adopting a General Plan was the first step in realizing the City vision, establishing the character, and facilitating the function.  The City’s zoning and development codes implement the 2005 General Plan by identifying and regulating the City’s land uses.  Its purpose is to protect the public safety, aesthetics, economic viability, and general welfare of the City; to protect the character and stability of residential, commercial and industrial areas within the City; and to promote the orderly and beneficial development of those areas.

  • Planning Permitting
  • Land Development Permitting, Plan Checks and Inspections
  • Commercial/Residential entitlement process
  • Building Permits and Plan Checks
  • Construction Inspections
  • Neighborhood Preservation (Code Enforcement)

About This Measure

The map will display major projects currently under construction or in the entitlement process.   Major projects are defined as all residential subdivisions of 3 or more units, all new commercial and industrial buildings, and all commercial and industrial renovations that increase floor area. 

Contact: 
Jeff Lambert, Community Development Director, jlambert@cityofventura.net 
Dave Ward, Planning Manager, dward@cityofventura.net
Andrew Stuffler, Building Official, astuffler@cityofventura.net

Facilitating development processes and assisting with neighborhood maintenance.

Planning Permitting

  • Review for all ministerial permits and zone clearances at the public counter shall be acted upon within 10 working days. Action means approval, denial, or request for additional information in order to process the permit application.
  • All discretionary permits receive initial contact within 5 working days by their assigned case planner.
  • Discretionary permits receive a completeness determination by the case planner within 30 calendar days
  • Discretionary permits deemed complete and are CEQA exempt shall be processed to decision-maker based on the target timeline below.
  • Discretionary permits deemed complete and are CEQA non-exempt (require a ND or MND processing) shall be processed to decision-maker within 6 months.

Targets (Percentage of time processing times are met)

Planning Entitlements: (Days counted from completion date to first hearing)

  • Conceptual DRC – average of 30 days
  • Formal DRC – average of 60 days
  • Planning Commission – average of 90 days
  • Planning Commission preceded by design review – average of 60 days from final DRC action.
  • Administrative Hearing – 60 days

Projects with CEQA determination

  • ND/MND - PC/Admin - 180 days
  • EIR – PC –360 days



  JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
Number of Cases Filed 8 9 4 13 4 10 18 15        



  JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
Target 90% of the Time 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90%
% of Cases that met timeline 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%        
Variance 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10%        

Land Development Field Inspections completed per month







  Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Land Development Inspections 190 243 194 231 250 215 263 216        

Citywide Value of Building Permits Issued


Building Permit Valuation

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Commercial

$675,619

$852,711

$4,888,984

$466,944

$448,728

$4,738,580

Residential

$1,190,965

$1,402,124

$982,593

$890,840

$550,364

$8,576,330

 

Building Permit Valuation

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Commercial

 $1,092,488 $1,039,844        

Residential

 $681,634 $521,506        

Why This Is Important

The Community Development’s Construction Services Division is charged with the issuance of construction related permits.  Construction activity is a key indicator of the economic vitality of the City.  In conjunction with the number of permits issued, the value of the work is an important indicator of economic activity as well.  The information in the chart is separated by year.  Monitoring this activity will provide opportunities to evaluate construction activity throughout the City. 

What Is Being Done

The Community Development Department’s Construction Services Division strives to serve all customers.  We have implemented a procedure for plan review by appointment for tenant improvement projects.  This is an effort to streamline the plan review process for smaller, less complex tenant improvement projects that can be reviewed over-the-counter.  The City is offering Express Plan Review for the following projects that involve tenant improvements or alterations for:

  • Professional Business Office (B), except Medical/Dental Office uses
  • Retail Sales (M)
  • Offices associated with approved Existing Warehouses (S1) or Factories (F1)

About This Measure

The chart shows total valuation of building permits issues each fiscal year.  Those that would like to see the information broken down would click on a link to the Community Development Performance Measurements page that would provide the current years monthly information and would provide the information by building permit types.

Contact:
Jeff Lambert, Community Development Director, jlambert@ci.ventura.ca.us
Andrew Stuffler, Building Official, astuffler@ci.ventura.ca.us

Building and Safety

Code Enforcement City Response times by priority:

  • Priority 1 target timeframes 1 day average response from time reported.
  • Priority 2 target timeframes 3 days average response from time reported.
  • Priority 3 target timeframes 30 days average response from time reported.

                                                                        













  Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Priority 1 3 7 6 2 1 6 0 1        
Priority 2 27 19 32 14 5 46 82 3        
Priority 3 55 15 47 49 52 92 65 2        

Code Enforcement Owner Resolution times by priority

  • Priority 1 target timeframes 1 day average owner resolution time from response
  • Priority 2 target timeframes  3 days average owner resolution time from response
  • Priority 3 target timeframes  30 days average owner resolution time from response

 

 

 

 













 

 

 

 

  Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Priority 1 251 738 86 137 409 81 125 7        
Priority 2 30 675 549 589 678 496 225 20        
Priority 3 203 226 159 50 173 134 73 24        

Building Permits Issued



  Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Building Permits 232 275 241 268 247 185 302 292 0 0 0 0

Construction Permit Inspections Conducted




  Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Building Inspections 591 753 712 753 664 573 700 630