From wildfires to our controversial VenturaWaterPure project, there’s a lot to talk about here in Ventura. What is the current status of our most pressing issues, and what do our City leaders have to say? To find out, I sat down with Ventura County City Manager Bill Ayub for an interview.
If you'd like to watch the interview instead, click on the link!
VenturaWaterPure is underway, with a big asterisk
I asked Bill about VenturaWaterPure, a program that has been contentious from the jump. He began by explaining where our current water supply comes from and the risks we face relying on these sources.
“Our water supply is tenuous,” he said. “We have groundwater and water from the Ventura River, which flows into [Lake Casitas]. That’s it. We do not have a state water interconnect like most major cities do.” He shared that while we had plenty of rainfall in recent years to fill up our reservoirs, there is no guarantee rainfall will continue at the same level. Our region is prone to droughts which strain our water supply, and they can last for a decade at a time. He also emphasized that our current wastewater treatment plant is problematic. “You probably smelled it on the way here,” he said, “it’s decaying, the repairs are expensive, and if it fails we’ll all be in trouble.”
Well aware of the controversy surrounding the projects’ expense, Bill explained why city leaders pushed for it. “We had to balance investing tens of millions of dollars in fixing the plant, which would be a temporary fix for a fairly short period of time, or investing in a replacement,” Bill said. The town halls and council meetings will continue, but Bill said the city is committed to implementing the plan.
Much of the cost, however, will fall to residents in the form of higher water bills. “Costs are definitely going to go up,” he said. “By how much? That’s in flux.” He said it will depend on how much we end up receiving in grants and whether or not the project is completed on time. A major federal grant comes with a strict deadline for completion, and if Ventura doesn’t hit it the project could face fines and penalties. Bill said we are “dangerously close” to missing it and incurring fines, something that could raise water rates even more. Bill expressed that burdening residents with higher water costs—especially those living paycheck to paycheck—weighs heavily on city leadership.
Increasing urban infill and the “Ventura Vibe”
What are Ventura’s future prospects? What kind of city do we want to have in ten years? These are the questions that have prompted Ventura’s recent Urban Infill initiatives.
“We have an aging population and we have declining school enrollment, both at the high school and college level. We’re in essence seeing Ventura turn into a retirement community,” Bill shared. “Housing costs are high, there’s not a lot of inventory, and businesses don’t want to move to cities their employees can’t afford to live in.” Bill believes Ventura will not continue as a viable, sustainable city without new growth and development, and backs the idea of incentivizing urban infill. He sees the influx of condos and apartments as a boon to our economy.
But what about the Ventura Vibe? Many residents came to Ventura to escape densely developed, crowded streets. We want to enjoy open spaces, parks, and a small-feeling community. Some of the new multifamily buildings springing up have been criticized for their un-Ventura aesthetic, and concerns about preserving green space have been voiced.
Bill said that some of the buildings going up now were entitled years ago. Those designs have already been approved, but Bill agrees that new additions need to fit the look and feel that makes Ventura… Ventura. To that end, the city’s Design Review Committee has been tasked to ensure that new developments maintain the Ventura Vibe.
“In better shape than ever” for fighting wildfires
This December marks seven years since the Thomas Fire, so I wanted to ask Bill if he feels that the City of Ventura is prepared for the next major fire. His answer was a resounding “yes,” and he shared that the city has implemented upgraded power systems for water pumping stations and better helicopters to fight mega-fires. An updated evacuation plan is currently in the works, and will be posted on the city’s website in the coming months.
At the time of the Thomas Fire, Bill was our Ventura County Sheriff, and it was his job to oversee the Office of Emergency Services. As City Manager, he emphasizes that communication between emergency personnel and residents is one of the most important parts of combatting wildfire emergencies. Bill encourages all Ventura residents to opt-in to not only city but county-wide emergency alerts so that they can remain aware of what is happening in our region. You can opt-in to alerts from Ventura County at readyventuracounty.org.
Ventura Voices podcast and Ventura Vibes newsletter
To conclude our interview, Bill shared four “from the source” resources for keeping up with city news. These include the Ventura Voices Podcast, the Ventura Vibes Newsletter, the city’s weekly segment on KVTA at 7:40 AM every Thursday, and the official Ventura social media accounts (@cityofventura). Information on all of these outlets can be found on the City of Ventura website, www.cityofventura.ca.gov, and you can check out the City of Ventura’s general plan at www.planventura.com.
Thank you, City Manager Ayub, for taking the time to discuss these important issues! If you (Ventura residents) have thoughts on any of these topics, a suggestion for future updates, or questions about the housing market, give me a call or send me a text at 805.707.4121.
