Ventura Business District, CA

Promises of community donations, increased tax revenue and public safety were all made Monday as cannabis business hopefuls vied for the city of Ventura's attention.

Nine applicants for cannabis retail and distribution permits spent about 10 minutes each on public presentations to city staff and the public. More than 100 people watched from the community meeting room at City Hall and an overflow crowd formed in the nearby City Council chambers.

Ventura City Manager Alex McIntyre will make a decision on awarding permits in August or September, said Yesania Anderson, a Ventura management analyst in community development who ran the meeting. McIntyre was not at the meeting but will take into consideration the details presented and all related materials, city officials said.

The city can award up to three retail permits and up to 10 distribution permits. The nine finalists were selected by an outside consulting group using combined criteria of business ownership, neighborhood compatibility, community benefits, investment plans and proposed locations, according to the city.

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Supporters of cannabis businesses wearing shirts with company logos attended the meeting and gave public comments.

Presentations included one distribution applicant, Ventura’s Finest, to be located at 3037 Golf Course Dr. Suite #3.

The applicants for retail permits are:

• Shryne Ventura LLC, 1860 S. Victoria Ave.

• Haven #2 LLC, 1981 S. Victoria Ave.

• 805 Reefinery Inc, 4475 Dupont Court Suite #12 and #13

• MOM Ventura LLC, 3868 E. Main St.

• Responsible and Compliant Retail Ventura LLC, 1890 E. Main St.

• TAT Ventura LLC, 2835 E. Main St.

• ZASA LLC, 4591 Market St.

• Harbor Management Group LLC, 5801 Valentine Road

Tak Soto of Shryne Ventura said his retail company also manufactures its own products and controls its own supply chain to create a safe product.

Soto, who is president of Shryne Group and Stiiizy, said his stores generate on average $25 million a year and he expects the Ventura store to generate $35 million in the first year with $1.4 million in cannabis taxes going to the city. The company has 22 retail cannabis stores with the 23rd opening this weekend, he said.

"Safety is our No. 1 priority," Soto said. "Despite having by far the most stores in California, we've had zero instances of theft or robberies at our stores."

Ventura's Mike Marostica of Responsible and Compliant Retail Ventura also spoke about safety.

"Ultimately, we are committed to ensuring public health and safety...and meaningful public engagement in our hometown," Marostica said.

A local school district and some residents expressed concerns that the cannabis businesses would open near places where children congregate.

Ventura Unified School District board President Sabrena Rodriguez read from a letter written by the superintendent objecting to Shryne Ventura and Responsible and Compliant Retail Ventura due to their proximity to schools.

According to Superintendent Roger Rice, Shryne Ventura is close to Montalvo Elementary School and on a popular walking and driving path for students and on a highly visible street corner.

Responsible and Compliant Retail Ventura is near Ventura High School, Cabrillo Middle School and Ventura County Christian School, the letter said. The property is also on a popular walking and driving path and on a highly visible street.

"Regardless of how one feels about the legalization of marijuana, we should all agree that children should not be subjected to daily messaging that marijuana use is an acceptable activity for them," Rice's letter said.

Many businesses had local ties. Haven #2 local owner Peter Goldenring said his business is partnering with the Ventura County Arts Council for a new art center nearby.

The majority owner of MOM Ventura is Ventura resident Kevin Clerici, executive director of Downtown Ventura Partners.

Clerici said he understood the importance of "doing this absolutely right to make sure Ventura introduces cannabis to our community in the right way."

In November 2020, Ventura voters approved a ballot measure for the taxation of cannabis in the city. In February 2021, the City Council adopted ordinances to allow for commercial cannabis businesses in Ventura.

The city hired a consultant, Brea-based Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates, to help select the finalists, Anderson said.

To date, the consultant has been paid more than $114,000 for their services, Anderson said.

Originally, the city asked the applicants to give a presentation with slides at the meeting but because the projection screen did not work the applicants gave oral presentations instead. Anderson said those presentations will be made available online soon.

The city will accept general comments about the cannabis business selection process through July 29.

For more information or to submit public comment, visit CityofVentura.ca.gov/Cannabis

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

The Ventura City Council extended the closure of downtown Main Street to vehicles through June 2024 as it explores ways to make the street dining program permanent.

Jim Friedman, one of the councilmembers to approve the extension Monday night, said he wanted more input from the businesses on the barricaded five blocks of Main Street.

Friedman said the future of the program, dubbed Main Street Moves, depends on the willingness of the property owners to pay for using public right of ways and other city costs.

"That's important data we need," Friedman said.

Friedman said the information would help the council determine the costs of an environmental impact report, which could range from $75,000 to $500,000. If an entire street is shut down instead of remaining open with patio spaces, the review process would cost more.

The program started during the pandemic to make a portion of the downtown street pedestrian-friendly and is centered on five blocks of Main Street, from San Buenaventura Mission to Fir Street. One block of South California Street, between Main and Santa Clara streets, is also closed.

Some restaurants and bars have created a dining patio on the street.

The city will conduct an analysis of a full-closure model for Main Street from the 600 block to the Mission and California Street between Main and Santa Clara streets reopened with patios. Officials said will evaluate the entire program with input from businesses along the closure route.

The city will also consider establishing fees for businesses so that the street can be permanently closed.

A long-term program will incur ongoing costs to maintain the area to a standard of "attractiveness, commerce and safety," according to a staff report. Ongoing costs include maintenance, slurry seal on streets over the six blocks and costs of new public facilities such as portable toilets.t. The costs can add up to over $100,000 a year, according to the report.

The hope is that an environmental review, which can take 12 to 18 months, will be completed by 2024, said Meredith Hart, the city's economic development manager. A full street closure 7-days-a-week triggers the need to create a pedestrian mall, which falls under the Pedestrian Mall Act of 1960. The act requires an environmental review.

The city is also merging into the studies requests from the Downtown Ventura Partners, the area's business association.

The association requested the city to start the process of charging restaurants on June 1 and signalized intersections and other safety measures as soon as possible. The association currently pays for barricades, some signage, portable bathrooms in the summer, maintenance and lighting.

"There would be some clarity for all of us over the next year to see who chooses to participate," said Kevin Clerici, executive director of Downtown Ventura Partners. "It's a start. The fees that are being proposed would graduate to a higher rate if and when the program ultimately took effect with a license agreement...The intent is for everything to be reinvested right back into the program."

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As drought conditions continue to affect communities across the state, California American Water announced the implementation of one-day-a-week-outdoor watering for its Ventura County District customers in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and Camarillo. Customers in the El Rio water system will follow separate rules allowing up to two-days-a-week-outdoor watering.

“California American Water recognizes the severity of the drought and its effect on our local water supply. Imposing these restrictions is unprecedented but necessary. We are committed to educating our customers on the importance of conservation and ways they can reduce their water usage”

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This action follows The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Calleguas Municipal Water District’s declaration of a Water Shortage Emergency for State Water Project dependent areas that requires water utilities and their customers to immediately cut water use by June 1, 2022.

California American Water, in accordance with the water shortage emergency, the Governor’s emergency drought declaration and California Public Utilities Commission’s Rule 14.1, calls upon its Ventura County customers to restrict all non-essential water use. The CPUC authorizes water utilities to implement mandatory conservation measures when the utility determines that water supplies may be insufficient to meet customer demands.

Due to the significant statewide drought conditions severely reducing water supplies to Southern California, California American Water is calling on all consumers to immediately reduce their water use and follow their respective updated watering schedule.

On June 1, 2022, California American Water’s Ventura County District customers should follow the below watering schedule.

Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Camarillo Customers Watering Schedule

El Rio Customers Watering Schedule

“California American Water recognizes the severity of the drought and its effect on our local water supply. Imposing these restrictions is unprecedented but necessary. We are committed to educating our customers on the importance of conservation and ways they can reduce their water usage,” said Jessica Taylor, Southern California director of operations. “California American Water joins the Governor, regional water suppliers and other local agencies in asking customers to immediately limit their outdoor water use and help protect the state’s supplies and our local environment in the face of the extreme drought conditions.”

California American Water continues its initiatives in improving environmental sustainability and conservation by encouraging all consumers to take immediate common-sense steps to reduce water use in their homes and businesses. Additionally, California American Water will implement a district wide drought communications plan to support the water use reductions and urge all its customers to meet the water use reductions.

To learn more about the emergency conservation measures, free conservation programs and services or read CPUC Rule 14.1, customers can visit California American Water’s website at www.californiaamwater.com. Customers can also call their local Conservation Hotline (805) 454-0909 to sign up for a free Water Smart Home Survey or receive more information about conservation services, devices, and rebates.

About California American Water: California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to more than 725,000 people. Information regarding California American Water’s service areas can be found on the company’s website www.californiaamwater.com.

About American Water: With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

Outside the doors of Ventura Unified School District's board room, Daniel Flores and Ricardo Pinedo, a pair of teachers from Will Rogers Elementary School, were raising a ruckus.

The duo rhythmically pounded on a tambourine, cowbell and a hand drum while a crowd of teachers – all dressed in red – waited for the Tuesday night board meeting to start.

"This is the drums of change," Flores said.

The school district has made little progress in contract talks with its teachers and classified employee unions, both of which have been jointly negotiating over the past few months.

The stalemate must hit several benchmarks, including more rounds of bargaining and failed mediation, before the unions are able to initiate a strike, a bridge Ventura Unified Education Association President Dan Nelson said he hopes is not crossed.

"If we can't close the gap, we will continue to lose excellent educators," he said. "I have faith the board will do the right thing."

Even so, the spiking cost of living in Ventura has teachers and school staff up in arms over the district's offer: a 1% permanent raise with an extra 4% for this school year only.

California's consumer price index, a measure of inflation, increased more than 5% between December and June.

"It's a slap in the face," Marisa Burrier, a fifth-grade teacher at E.P. Foster School, said while she waited outside the board room. "It feels like we're not valued."

Union officials estimated more than 200 of their combined 1,600 members attended the meeting.

Read more:Ventura County needs more high-paying jobs, economists say

The district will return to negotiations later this month with new financial data, published Monday, that includes an extra $15.81 million over its June projections, or 8.7% more than last year's base funding.

Anna Campbell, the district's fiscal director, told the board Tuesday the extra increase came courtesy of state legislation that didn't take effect until Aug. 31.

Sabrena Rodriguez, school board president, said in a Wednesday interview that some of the new money came with stipulations that "staff is still learning about," but might yet make a difference.

"Given that the financial landscape has shifted with the new funds, I'm hopeful we'll be able to make a different offer soon," she said, later adding, "We have to be thoughtful."

Rodriguez declined to discuss the specifics of further offers, citing bargaining law.

New Superintendent Antonio Castro gave the meeting a rundown of the current offer.

"We want to see our employees compensated as highly as possible," he said.

From the corner of the room, a teacher hollered back: "Then give us a raise!"

The board room, packed tight with red T-shirts, grew noisy. A chant emerged.

"Help us help kids!"

The room hushed at the Rodriguez's request, but outside, dozens of teachers who weren't able to squeeze into the room had already picked up the refrain.

"Help us help kids!" they called to the rhythm of a tambourine, cowbell and hand drum.

Beth Borer, a 25-year veteran teaching at the district's continuation school Pacific High, took the microphone near the beginning of public comment to tell the board how she had to move to Santa Paula because she couldn't afford Ventura rents.

The federal fair market rate for a two-bedroom apartment in the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura metro area stands at $2,218 a month, a 27% increase over the past five years, and will jump another $200 next year.

Analysis:California school districts have spent little of COVID funding to address learning loss

Rodriguez said Wednesday she "absolutely" worried about attracting and retaining teachers amid rising costs.

"We may not be able to give paychecks that make it affordable, but there are other strategies we can use," she said, noting the district hoped to redevelop some of its properties into teacher housing.

Paula Barone, a special education aide at Cabrillo Middle School, said she was working four jobs to support her family.

"If I was a waitress and you put a 1% tip in front of me, I'd spit in your food," she said. "I can't retire."

Carol Peek, president of the Ventura Education Support Professionals Association, said she'd worked hard over her tenure to gain respect for education support professionals, a group that includes custodians, bus drivers, teacher aides and the like.

"That 1% took us a million steps back," she said.

Isaiah Murtaugh covers education for the Ventura County Star in partnership with Report for America. Reach him at isaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.com or 805-437-0236 and follow him on Twitter @isaiahmurtaugh and @vcsschools. You can support this work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America.

Sears, Kmart, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Gymboree, Teavana, Crocs, Payless ShoeSource, Bebe: The list of retailers that have closed stores this year stretches on and on.

The closures have cities that depend on sales taxes looking at ways to maintain or grow that source of revenue. All agree that big-box retailers such as Walmart or Target or a major department store will no longer be at the center of it.

Read more:Sears is closing 30 more stores -- is yours on the list?

It’s got small-business owners developing models that offer much more than racks of clothing within brick and mortar. Some are changing their model to incorporate services and experiences to lure shoppers increasingly apt to buy online.

“When you look at it from the big picture, the fact is there’s too many stores and too many malls,” said Michael Timmerman, a writer with Clark.com, a personal finance website.

The next generation of shoppers isn’t interested in going to the mall.

“It’s more work,” he said.

For a few years, cities have been discussing in earnest what changing shopping habits mean for them. For some, the sales tax is the biggest revenue generator; for most, it’s second only to property taxes.

It’s been a frequent point of discussion, said Bob Biery, vice chair of the League of California Cities' revenue and taxation policy committee.

“In the past, a lot of the sales tax generated in cities came from big-box stores,” he said.

Online shopping has obliterated that.

“I can’t imagine that any city is thinking they might have opportunity for their sales tax to increase. A lot of us will just be happy if we can hold on to what we have now,” Biery said.

Biery, who is city treasurer of Westlake Village, said the city is projecting flat sales tax revenue this year and next. The city is built out, he said, which will make growing sales tax revenue difficult.

The league’s policy committee has debated a tax on services, but the discussion has yet to go too far. Legislation introduced last year stalled and nothing was on the table in 2017, Biery said.

Other states put a tax on services such as haircuts or massages, but California does not.

In the spring, Fillmore Mayor Carrie Broggie and other city officials traveled to Las Vegas for the International Council of Shopping Centers.

The typical strip mall with a grocery store and other smaller shops may be a thing of the past, she said.

“It appears that shopping centers are going by the wayside,” she said. “You don’t just run into a mall. It has to be more than that.”

Over and over, conference attendees heard the story of the millennial, Broggie said.

Millennials often seek shops that are locally owned, they buy more consciously and many more buy online. They increasingly want an experience.

Officials began looking at ways to incorporate in Fillmore some of what they had heard in Las Vegas.

The city wants to make its shopping experience more experiential, adding music or art to downtown and perhaps utilizing pop-up stores in vacant spaces, she said. That would temporarily activate the space while allowing a small-business owner the opportunity to try out a new venture at a lower cost, Broggie said.

A recently formed arts commission is also looking at ways to make visits downtown more attractive to locals and they’re encouraging restaurants to add outside dining, she said.

Ventura City Council member Christy Weir has been thinking along those lines for a while now.

“The commercial development that’s succeeding is more experiential, like restaurants and nail salons, hair salons, massage places,” she said.

Cities used to compete for big retailers, she said.

“Now the story has changed, and we are trying to figure out the future,” she said.

Officials have long eyed the area behind Ventura’s Auto Center for business expansion. The city plans to extend Olivas Park Drive to Johnson Drive and in the past had thought of a big-box retailer for the vacant space. That may no longer be in the cards, Weir said.

It might be industrial instead, she said, pointing to the city's low vacancy rate there.

Ventura’s downtown is offering the kind of retail experience people today want, she said. You can grab a coffee or a pastry while browsing shops with personalized customer service.

“I think that’s where we’re heading. I think our downtown will be fine ... steady as far as its success," she said.

Ventura’s downtown has a lot going for it: It’s near the beach; there are ample restaurant, beer and wine offerings; more than 90 percent of the establishments are locally owned; and many of the physical spaces are small.

“Those spaces are still attractive and viable for small business,” said Kevin Clerici, executive director of Downtown Ventura Partners, the business improvement district.

Clerici said he gets calls all the time about businesses looking to open or relocate downtown, where the vacancy rate is low.

“The mix that we have now is complementary. The stores that we’re seeing are providing an experience more than just traditional retail,” he said.

Retail isn’t easy, but it’s far from dead, he said. What needs to come next is residential development, he said. Several hundreds of units have gotten the green light to be built downtown.

About three weeks ago, Wooden Nickel Home opened on Oak Street. It is lightly decorated, minimalist, catering to a shopper looking for a simple look.

The store is more than that though, explained owners Michele Caples and Courtney Kittner-Rascoe. It offers interior styling to “dress your home,” Kittner-Rascoe said.

And soon, there will be in-store classes for woodworking, candle making, natural dying or other artisan skills. Kittner-Rascoe’s husband, Matthew, also offers custom pieces.

“We felt like it was something Ventura didn’t have,” Kittner-Rascoe said.

The retail industry can be difficult, she acknowledged, “but we can’t let fears from stopping what you want to do.”

Earlier this month, Hey Beautiful! Boutique moved from midtown to 337 E. Main St. in Ventura. It is beauty bar, blow-out-bar and retail shop and offers Girls Night Out parties. Though successful in midtown, owner Deena Clevenger was looking for more foot traffic to help boost sales.

Plus, it’s next to the Star Lounge, where she is a co-owner.

Clevenger said it helped to get started and get a following from her location in midtown, where she was "known for having cute things and affordable things."

Mary Livingston used to own a shop in downtown Ventura. Lavender Blue sold refurbished "shabby chic" furniture and home accessories, distressed or antiques. She began seeing sales fall — in the days of “Flea Market Flip,” “Design on a Dime” and countless other TV shows, everyone became a DIY'er — and instead of buying, customers would just browse.

She decided to move out of her pricey downtown spot and operate out of a warehouse off Callens Road.

“Here we are. This is the new thing,” she said from her new location. There, along French soaps, organic milk paints and other American and European pieces for sale, Livingston offers home and personal design classes.

She's working to get a bigger online presence and expand the reach of her classes, which she first began teaching two decades ago.

Livingston has no qualms about the changing nature of retail. She's an online shopper herself. And she's glad to see a return to creating things, buying less stuff and supporting things that are good for the environment and local economy. She thinks shopping districts in industrial areas will start taking off.

“I'm probably going to have to expand. People have been so beautiful and supportive,” she said.

Timmerman, from Clark.com, said in the long run what will work are stores that offer affordability with quality. That's why stores such as T.J. Maxx, Ross and Marshalls are finding success.

“You just pull right up, walk in, and the other benefit, the prices are really good,” he said.

And what's happening with those buildings that used to be home to large stores? In Santa Barbara, a 141,000-square-foot former Macy's store is still empty.

But across the country, malls have been repurposed, for medical centers, mixed-use developments or colleges and universities, Timmerman said.