Our Involved Community
We're communicating more effectively with residents using better tools, partnerships and forums to engage them in the decision-making process about community issues they care about.
Community Partner
"It is so important for residents to become involved in our community. Through active participation in City projects and causes, we can truly make a difference ensuring that Ventura is an even better place to live and raise a family. The one million dollar fundraising effort for the Ventura Community Park is a perfect example of residents coming together to contribute time, energy and passion for a fabulous park that everyone can enjoy."
Worked to engage residents about neighborhood issues
- Engaged over 500 residents at 25 community meetings to transform one neighborhood, one project at a time
- Created a "Civic Engagement Toolkit" with step-by-step tips to help neighborhoods and groups get started to involve residents in issues of community importance
- Built new Community Media Center through CAPS (Community Access Partners) to give all residents access to technology to produce their own cable television programs
- Assisted VCCool's fi rst Townhall Meeting on Global Warming, attended by 250 residents who formed a grassroots "green activist" group
- Neighbors met police offi cers and the staff of our "mobile City Hall" at the fi rst Taking It to the Streets at Cemetery Memorial Park in August
Increased citizen input into public affairs through partnerships
- 43% of Venturans volunteer (versus State's 26% rate) and give over 50,000 hours each year to city programs alone
- Over 400 residents and 100 businesses raised $1 million for the Community Park
- 75 fourth graders learned about their City with the national award winning "What's Under the Manhole Curriculum" at Poinsettia and Pierpont Elementary Schools
- "I Vote I Count" campaign helped voter turnout in November 2005 increase by 144% over past elections
Used better communication tools to reach more residents and get their responses
- Created tri-annual My Ventura magazine, mailed to all homes, as a better way to communicate city news and recreation activities to our residents, which received national recognition
- Launched "Achieving Our Vision" e-news directly to residents to provide frequent updates on issues and projects
- Improved resident communication rating to 76% in 2006, 10% better than 2005 level
The Road Ahead
- Open a Citizen's Academy to encourage residents to participate in government decision making and community building
- Bring live and archived access to City Council and other public meetings to City website
- Conduct focused outreach to all members of the community - including youth, special needs groups and non-English speakers - to participate in City activities and initiatives