Preparing for Ventura County's future

On the eve of September 11, I hope it isn't disrespectful to note that Americans are magnificent at responding to crisis. When it comes to preventing them, not so good.

Whether it is safety for Metrolink trains or the unfolding collapse of the banking system, we tend to ignore warning signs. It's only when natural or man-made disasters strike, scandals erupt or national problems grow too big to be ignored any longer that we scramble to respond.

That's one reason that auditoriums are usually pretty empty when citizens are invited to help plan for the future. Those who do come tend to be either people with a particular ax to grind or long-time civic leaders.

But when something controversial arises in their neighborhood, you can count on people suddenly coming out of the woodwork.

As the father of three kids, I know how busy people's lives are. But for everyone rushing to get the kids to the Saturday soccer game or huddled around the kitchen table helping with homework -- there is another important priority for our children's future: how we plan today for the communities they will live in twenty years from now when they have kids of their own.

Coming up later this month, a broad coalition of public agencies and the Ventura County Civic Alliance are working together to invite citizens to have a real say in planning our future land use, transportation and economic policies for the County and its ten cities.

An analysis of current plans shows that projected population growth will mean that by 2035 development might cover 20 new square miles of land, and global warming-related greenhouse gases might grow by 30 percent. The upcoming workshops will give citizens an opportunity to actively map-out where they think tomorrow’s residents might live, which areas should be kept undeveloped, where new workplaces and shopping centers might grow, and how people might travel about the County.

“There are no wrong or right answers at these meetings,” said Patti Walker, Mayor of Fillmore. "Over the next few decades it will be a challenge for all of us to maintain what we love about Ventura County while more people come. Our hope is to hear how residents would respond to this challenge.”

Based on the maps citizens make at these workshops, three computer-based simulations will be developed of what life might be like in 2035. These snapshots of the future will be the focus of a public discussion over the coming months to learn which ‘future’ residents most favor. This is all part of an effort to make a long-term, county-wide game-plan for growth that is part of an effort called the “Compact for a Sustainable Ventura County.”

There are a variety of venues at different times of the day across the County:

Ventura–September 21, 1:30 to 4:00 pm
Ventura County Government Center Multi-Purpose Room
800 S. Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009

Oxnard–September 21, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Traductores Españoles
Pacifica High School Student Dining Area
600 East Gonzales Road
Oxnard, CA 93036

Santa Paula–September 22, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Traductores Españoles
Santa Paula High School Cafeteria
404 North 6th Street
Santa Paula, CA 93060

Thousand Oaks–September 26, 9:00 to 11:30 am
California Lutheran University Lundring Events Center
60 West Olsen Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Simi Valley–September 28, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Simi Valley City Hall City Council Chambers
2929 Tapo Canyon Road
Simi Valley, CA 93063

Camarillo–September 29, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Camarillo Library
4101 Las Posas Road
Camarillo, CA 93010

The Ventura time is not ideal -- during the time when most people are working. But if the meetings around the County are well-attended, it will encourage the sponsors to schedule more to accommodate greater interest than they anticipate. I know they'd be delighted . . .