Ventura City Council Votes Unanimously to Relocate Father Junipero Serra Statue

The Ventura City Council unanimously voted to remove and relocate two statues of Father Junipero Serra at a special public meeting on July 15, 2020.

"In recent weeks, the City of Ventura received thousands of emails, phone calls, and public comments about the Father Junipero Serra statue. Last night, the City Council reached a peaceful resolution to remove and relocate two Serra statues," commented Ventura City Manager, Alex D. McIntyre.

The decision will allow the bronze statue of Father Junipero Serra, located on public property in front of City Hall, to be put in storage with the goal of moving it to Mission San Buenaventura. The City Council also approved the removal of a wooden statue of Father Serra from inside City Hall and asked that it be moved into storage until an appropriate site is identified.

The Council voted 6-0 to remove the statutes with Mayor Matt LaVere absent. The Mayor recused himself from the public meeting to ensure that the community discussion was conducted free of bias after signing a joint statement in support of safely moving the statue with the Barbareño/ Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash) and the Mission San Buenaventura.

City of Ventura Announces that the Statue of Father Junipero Serra to be Moved to Non-Public Location

News release from City of Ventura on June 18, 2020 regarding statue of Father Junipero Serra in front of City Hall:

Dear City of Ventura Residents and Community Stakeholders,

In the last few days, we have seen a groundswell of support from some members of the community requesting that the City of Ventura remove the statue of Father Junipero Serra from its location near City Hall. To that end, Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere organized a meeting with representatives from the Barbareño/ Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash) and Father Tom Elewaut of Mission San Buenaventura. This meeting resulted in a friendly, collaborative, and honest dialogue where everyone recognized that the time for action is now.

The three of us are confident that a peaceful resolution regarding the Father Junipero Serra statue can be reached, without uncivil discourse and character assassination, much less vandalism of a designated landmark. As stated by Julie Tumamait Stenslie, the Tribal Chair of the Barbareño/ Ventureño Band of Mission Indians: “True conversation starts with an open heart and mind. Change comes when there is no judgement or assumptions. To listen to and to be heard is crucial.”

We have listened and we have heard the calls from those in the community and believe the time has come for the statue to be taken down and moved to a more appropriate non-public location. But a historic decision such as this must involve the Ventura City Council, the voices of the Chumash tribe and residents of Ventura. It is our priority to be receptive to community concerns and provide an environment where all voices are heard and respected. To honor the cultural heritage of Ventura and its earliest residents is our ultimate goal.

We all believe that the removal of the statue should be accomplished without force, without anger, and through a collaborative, peaceful process. This process has already commenced through our initial meeting and we look forward to continuing the discussion with the community to help guide further action on this.

The public will be invited to engage in this process and share their input. When a community discussion has been scheduled to discuss the Father Junipero Serra statue, this information will be shared openly and transparently by the City of Ventura.

The letter was signed by Matt LaVere, Mayor of Ventura, Father Tom Elewaut and Tribal Chair Julie Tumamait Stenslie.

www.cityofventura.ca.gov

City of Ventura to Allow Passive Use of Beaches Beginning Friday, May 29th

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the Ventura City Council unanimously voted to ease limited closure restrictions of Ventura's beaches and parks. The City's decision provides access to its parks, beaches, the Promenade, Pier, public restrooms and select parking lots.

For the last several weeks Ventura’s parks and beaches have been open for active recreational use, such as walking, jogging, swimming, and surfing. Beginning on May 29, these areas will also open for passive use, such as sitting and sunbathing as long as the public maintains a safe physical distance of six feet and avoids congregating in large groups outside of their immediate household.

Group activities such as volleyball, football, soccer, and other contact sports are not allowed.

Bathrooms and parking lots will also gradually reopen at parks and beaches throughout the City, starting with the Harbor Boulevard parking structure at the Pier. Public bathrooms will be cleaned daily with high touch surfaces properly disinfected regularly.

Sidewalks, walking paths, trails, and tracks within all public parks continue to remain open for active recreational use, including walking, hiking, jogging, running, or biking. Please follow public health guidance in the " Stay Well at Home " order, set by the Ventura County Health Officer.

Playgrounds, pools, courts, indoor facilities like museums and visitor centers, and sports and recreational fields will remain closed until further notice. If a park or beach becomes overcrowded or difficult for safe social distancing to be observed, the Ventura Police Department may order the area to be closed.

City signs will be posted to remind the public to continue to practice physical distance of six feet or more and abide by the County's " Stay Well at Home " order to limit the risk of exposure to the virus.

For the latest updates on impacts to the City of Ventura, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/COVID19 . For public health information and updates happening in Ventura County, visit www.VCEmergency.com .

Ventura area beaches compiled at THIS LINK.

Ventura City Council Vote to Re-Open Parks and Beaches On a Limited Basis

Tonight, the Ventura City Council voted to re-open parks and beaches in the City of Ventura on a “limited closure” basis.

What this means is that parks and beaches will be open for active use only. Walking, running, hiking, cycling and other recreational uses with proper 6 foot social distancing and participants in these activities do not linger in any location.

The Promenade, pier, sidewalks, walking paths, trails and tracks within all City of Ventura beaches are open for use by the public so long as gatherings are socially distanced and no more than 5 people (under the most current VC Public Health Order).

Large group gatherings and picnics will not be allowed at this time to abide by current Ventura County Stay at Home orders.

Parking lots, playgrounds, restrooms, pools, sports/recreational fields and picnic areas will continue to be closed.

Failure to comply with these rules could result in closures as necessary. Parks and beaches can be shut down when overcrowding becomes an issue.

More details at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21039/12A

City of Ventura Closes All Parks and Beaches in Response to COVID-19 Emergency (Reopened April 20th)

UPDATE: City of Ventura beaches were reopened for active use only on April 20th.

Effective April 1st, all parks and beaches in the City of Ventura will be closed until further notice in order to support the urgent need for physical distancing during the COVID-19 emergency period. This includes the Promenade, Pier, and Wastewater Treatment Plant wildlife ponds.

The County’s modified Stay Well at Home order asks community members to stay inside their homes, limiting all outside movement beyond what is necessary to take care of essential needs and ordering all non-essential businesses to close. Those orders also include restrictions against non-essential travel and gatherings.

www.cityofventura.ca.gov

Farmers' Markets to Continue Operating in Midtown Ventura, Downtown Ventura and Thousand Oaks

The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA) is committed to maintaining its four farmers markets as a vital food facility and local food source during this time of uncertainty with the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the VCCFMA announces that all four markets will remain open for the foreseeable future in Midtown Ventura, Downtown Ventura, Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita.

In order to provide the safest operations possible, the VCCFMA is modifying its systems by implementing more stringent cleaning and disinfecting protocols at the markets, which include increased sanitization of the equipment and frequently touched areas. Additional hand wash stations and sanitizing products are also available at the markets’ Information Booths. All sampling practices are being discontinued as well as the elimination of cooked foods.

The move of the Thousand Oaks Market scheduled for March 26 to the Front Northwest Outdoor Lot at the Oaks Shopping Center has been postponed during this chaotic time. The market will remain at the East End Parking Lot on Wilbur Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard until the market operations become stabilized. A new move date, projected for May, will be announced once the site has been approved.

Shoppers can assist with safety by utilizing the hand washing stations, washing hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before eating or drinking and washing again thoroughly after using the restroom. Products will be limited, and shoppers are asked to observe social distancing as well. All food products need to be thoroughly washed when taken home. It is also advisable not to touch ones’ face, hair, body or clothes. Keeping these tips in mind will help ensure everyone’s safety at the markets.

Current updates will be available on VCCFMA social media channels – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For more information, call 805-529-6266, or visit the website at www.vccfm.org.

About the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA)
The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association is a non-profit farmers’ cooperative that has been in existence since 1986 and serves the communities of Ventura, Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita with their four weekly certified farmers’ markets.

First Phase of Waterfront Mixed-Use Development Portside Ventura Harbor Completed

View fullsize

First phase of the Largest Waterfront Mixed-Use Development of its Kind on West Coast Completed

Portside Ventura Harbor begins leasing first 56 of the 270 apartment homes

Developers of Portside Ventura Harbor, the largest mixed-used waterfront development of its kind on the West Coast, have released the first 56 apartment homes for lease. The culmination of nearly two decades of planning, at buildout in April 2020, the 27-acre Portside Ventura Harbor fronting Ventura Harbor and the Pacific Ocean will feature 270 apartment homes, 30 live/work units and 22,000 square feet of community serving retail.

Portside Ventura Harbor distinguishes itself from most other mixed-use developments by adhering to the new urbanism principles that are behind the successful communities of Seaside, FL and Santana Row near San Jose, CA. This ultimately helped the Portside Ventura Harbor project gain approval from the California Coastal Commission. Often referred to as “villages,” new urbanist projects place an emphasis on low-impact development with walkable streets, housing, public spaces and shopping all in close proximity to one another.

Created around a large public plaza, Portside Ventura Harbor residents can walk or bike to the community’s town center, 22,000 square feet of retail, pool, spa, tennis court, and pet park. To encourage enjoyment of the waterfront by the community, the developers also dedicated two acres for a public park as well as a new pedestrian promenade bordering the harbor.

The Mission Colonial architecture of Portside Ventura Harbor was designed by Togawa Smith Martin, Inc. with a very low-density ratio of 11 units per acre. All of Portside Ventura Harbor’s studio, one-, two-, three-bedroom apartment homes and live/work units averaging over 1,000 square feet – with 10 percent of the units set aside for low- and moderate-income earners — face the street to activate the sidewalks.

Portside Ventura Harbor also includes the first new marina in Ventura Harbor in more than 30 years. The Marina will feature 104 boat slips to accommodate vessels up to 80 feet, as well as a 90-foot public paddleboard dock.

The developers have engaged family-owned E&S Ring Management Corporation to oversee residential leasing and the Ventura County office of CBRE the retail leasing.

Learn more at portsideventuraharbor.com.

MidiCi The Neopolitan Pizza Company Opened in Downtown Ventura This Month

MidiCi The Neopolitan Pizza Company opened earlier this month at 512 East Main Street, Ventura (formerly occupied by Tipps Thai).

This new eatery features a variety of Neopolitan style pizzas, salads, small/shared plates , wood-fired calzone, pasta, desserts and more. mymidici.com

Thanks for the heads up, Keith R!

Denny's Opened New Location on Telegraph Road in Ventura a Few Months Ago

A rare moment indeed. A brand spanking new Denny’s recently opened in Ventura at 4095 Telegraph Road (cross street Ashwood) in what was previously a Coco’s that closed in Aprll 2015.

It’s not often that an older restaurant opens a new location like this. Kudos to Denny’s. www.dennys.com

About Denny’s (why not):

Harold Butler and Richard Jezak opened a donut stand in Lakewood, California in 1953 and called it Danny’s Donuts. Butler’s stated promise was “To serve the best cup of coffee, make the best donuts, give the best service, offer the best value and stay open 24 hours a day.”

After Jezak’s departure from the now 6-store chain, Butler created and changed the concept a year later from a donut shop to a coffee shop with store #8. Danny’s Donuts is renamed Danny’s Coffee Shops and changes its operation to 24 hours in 1956.

In 1956, Butler changed the name to Denny’s Coffee Shops to avoid confusion with Coffee Dan’s in Los Angeles. Denny’s Coffee Shops became Denny’s in 1961.

The “Grand Slam” was introduced in Atlanta in 1977 in homage to Hank Aaron.

Today there are over 1,700 locations worldwide.