San Buenaventura (Ventura) meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Ventura Council approves $6.6M fire station contract, adopts zoning changes

The Ventura City Council approved a $6.6 million construction contract for Interim Fire Station No. 7 at its Aug. 18 meeting, along with related agreements and several zoning ordinances. The council also introduced a parking ordinance amendment and approved a traffic striping contract.

City Council

The council voted unanimously to award a $6,586,128 construction contract to AMG & Associates for Interim Fire Station No. 7. It also approved a $622,047 construction management agreement with Kitchell Corporation and an $86,710 engineering services agreement with RRM Design Group, both by unanimous votes.

In other action, the council adopted three ordinances:

• **Ordinance 2026-14** (all ayes) implements a housing element program for shelters and supportive housing.
• **Ordinance 2026-15** (all ayes) allows drive-through banking in the Victoria Avenue Corridor.
• **Ordinance 2026-16** (6-1, Councilmember Campos dissenting) allows general retail up to 140,000 square feet in the T5.3 zone of the Victoria Avenue Corridor.

The council also introduced Ordinance 2026-17, which would change parking lot regulations and create an employee permit program. The ordinance was amended to delete a street parking section; the introduction passed unanimously.

Finally, the council approved a $330,000 traffic striping contract with Interstate Striping & Signs.

Other recent meetings

• **Historic Preservation Committee (Aug. 13):** Held a public hearing on a design review for the Minnie P. Gales Residence at 793 Poli Street and a landmark designation request for 1057 Poli Street. No decisions have been published.
• **Director's Hearing (Aug. 17):** Cancelled. The next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 24.
• **Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee (Aug. 19):** Approved its June 17 minutes and received the 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report. No substantive policy decisions were made.
• **Planning Commission (Aug. 20):** Held a public workshop on draft objective design standards. No formal action was taken.
• **Parking Advisory Committee (Aug. 20):** Cancelled. Next meeting is Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. in the Santa Cruz Conference Room, City Hall, 501 Poli Street.
• **Economic Development Subcommittee (Aug. 20):** Reviewed Catalyst Project survey results and economic development updates. No formal action was expected.

Coming up

• **Director's Hearing (Aug. 24):** Will consider a use permit and design review for a day care at 1973 E Main Street, and an alcohol use permit, design review, and variances for a parklet at GiGi's Cocktail Lounge, 2493 Grand Avenue.
• **City Council (Aug. 25):** Will decide on the City Hall East boiler replacement, with options ranging from natural gas boilers ($564,074) to a delay for heat pumps. Also on the agenda: ordinances on Victoria Avenue Corridor uses and parking lot regulations, and a contract amendment with Cognizant Worldwide Limited for $145,800 (total not to exceed $590,130).
• **Planning Commission (Aug. 26):** Will consider a 19-unit apartment development at Lorretta Court, a Prohousing Designation application, and a continuance for a hillside addition at 1193 Colina Vista.

Ventura meetings: housing projects, code amendments on recent agendas; oversight committee meeting cancelled

Ventura Avenue Apartments among items on Director's Hearing agenda

A July 20 Director's Hearing was scheduled to consider several development items, including the Ventura Avenue Apartments mixed-use project at 624 N Ventura Avenue. The project as proposed totals 19,286 square feet with 20 rental units, 3 of them affordable. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so final outcomes are not confirmed.

Other items on the agenda included approval of draft minutes from June 29, 2026; a continuance to September 14, 2026 of the Planned Development Permit for the Ventura Reliability battery storage project at 4158 Transport Street; a planned development permit for a 2,970-square-foot home on APN 065-0-160-200 (Oak Grove Residence); demolition of the Chase Bank building at 2497 Harbor Blvd in Marina Village; and an alcohol permit for GiGi's Parklet.

Design Review Committee considers Oak Street and Alameda Avenue projects

On July 21, the Design Review Committee was scheduled to review two development proposals. The first, PROJ-25-0779, is a request for Coastal Development, Major Design Review, and Planned Development Permits for a project called The Lineup at 51 S Oak Street. The second, PROJ-23-0251, is a request for Major Design Review and a Planned Development Permit for a 44-unit multifamily building at 1931 Alameda Avenue. The committee was also set to approve minutes from its July 1, 2026 meeting. Minutes from the July 21 meeting have not yet been published.

Planning Commission to weigh Victoria Avenue Corridor amendments

The Planning Commission met July 22 to consider recommendations to the City Council on development code amendments for the Victoria Avenue Corridor. Proposed amendments would allow General Retail uses of 100,000–140,000 square feet in the Victoria Avenue Corridor Urban Center Zone, and would allow Banking and Financial Services to use existing drive-through facilities in the corridor.

The commission was also scheduled to review Major Design Review for a 19-unit apartment development at Lorretta Court; Major Design Review and a Coastal Development Permit for a 3-unit development at 349 Poli Street; and a draft application for the state Prohousing Designation, which is intended to accelerate housing production. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **August 3, 2026 — Measure O Citizens Oversight Committee:** The regular meeting was cancelled. The cancellation notice was posted July 30, 2025 at 9:00 AM in the City Clerk's Office, on the City Hall Public Notices Board, and online.
• **August 5, 2026 — Design Review Committee:** The committee will approve minutes from its July 21, 2026 meeting and review draft objective design standards (ODS) for Ventura, providing feedback. Public comment is available in person or via email before the meeting.

Note: All three recent meetings listed above are marked as "agenda only" — minutes have not yet been published, so the items described reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed decisions. Readers should check the official city records for final outcomes.

Ventura approves $900,000 encampment cleanup agreement, historic landmark designations

The Ventura City Council approved a $900,000 agreement for encampment cleanup services at its July 7 meeting, the largest single spending item among recent city decisions. The contract with Woods Maintenance Services, Inc. passed on a unanimous vote.

City Council — July 7

The Council approved all consent items unanimously, including appointments to the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Arts & Culture Commission and a legal services amendment for the case Padilla v. City of San Buenaventura.

Two historic landmark designations received approval: the Walter M. Jones Residence and a Mills Act contract for the John P. McGonigle Residence. The Council also authorized advertising for bids on the Santa Paula Branch Line – Rails with Trails Project.

By a 6-0 vote, the Council directed staff to hold three public workshops on a proposed Tree Protection Ordinance.

City Council — July 14

The Council approved a $315,000 agreement (Agreement 2026-109) with the 31st District Agriculture Association for security and traffic control at the 2026 Ventura County Fair.

Several contract amendments passed:

• $226,000 for architecture and design services for permanent structures at Olivas Links (Agreement 2026-106)
• $140,000 in amendments to professional services agreements with Rincon Consultants and MNS Engineers (Agreements CD2025-05.1, CD2025-06.1)
• $275,395 amendment to the NovaCoast contract for Tanium Platform services (Agreement 2021-028.3)
• $72,735 amendment to CDW-G cooperative purchasing for Cohesity data management (Agreement 2026-108.1)
• $307,227 amendment to the General Services Agreement for on-call pier repairs (Agreement P2023-085.5)

The Council adopted Resolution 2026-46, supporting Opportunity Zone nominations for census tracts 06111002302 and 06111002400. It also received and filed the final 2026 Comprehensive Water Resources Report.

Commissions and Subcommittee

The Parks & Recreation Commission approved its June 10, 2026, meeting minutes on a 5-0 vote with one abstention. No substantive decisions were made on the commission workplan.

The Arts & Culture Commission approved its June 11, 2026, minutes (5-0) and approved a public art design rendering for a utility box at N. Palm Street and E. Main Street (5-0).

The Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee approved its June 17, 2026, minutes with all votes in favor. The committee received and filed the 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program Closeout Report. Members discussed the draft Prohousing Designation Application and gave feedback to staff. The committee also received a presentation from the Patrol Task Force.

The Historic Preservation Committee met July 9 to consider a letter supporting the Citywide Historic Context Statement and Survey for presentation at the July 14 Council meeting. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published.

The July 16 Parking Advisory Committee meeting was cancelled. The next regular meeting is scheduled for September 17 at 3:00 p.m.

Coming up

• **July 20 — Director's Hearing:** Items include a planned development permit for an Oak Grove residence, demolition of the Chase Bank building at 2497 Harbor Blvd (Marina Village), and the Ventura Avenue Apartments mixed-use project at 624 N Ventura Avenue (19,286 sq ft, 20 rental units, 3 affordable units). A continuance to September 14 is proposed for the Ventura Reliability battery storage permit at 4158 Transport Street.
• **July 21 — Design Review Committee:** Review of The Lineup redevelopment at 51 S Oak Street and a 44-unit multifamily building at 1931 Alameda Avenue.
• **July 22 — Planning Commission:** Proposed development code amendments for the Victoria Avenue Corridor, including allowing General Retail uses of 100,000–140,000 sq ft in the Urban Center Zone and allowing banking and financial services to use existing drive-through facilities. Also on the agenda: Major Design Review for a 19-unit apartment development at Lorretta Court and a 3-unit development at 349 Poli Street.

Ventura upholds 75-unit Thompson Court Apartments; council approves $900,000 encampment cleanup contract

The Ventura City Council denied an appeal and upheld approval of the 75-unit Thompson Court Apartments at 1655 E Thompson Boulevard, the most consequential land-use decision in the past two weeks of city meetings. The project includes eight very low-income units. The council voted 5-2, with Mangone and Campos opposed, to uphold the Planning Commission's earlier approval.

Thompson Court Apartments

The June 30 City Council vote means the multifamily project at 1655 E Thompson Boulevard can proceed as previously approved by the Planning Commission. The project totals 75 units, eight of which are designated very low-income. Councilmembers Mangone and Campos voted against denying the appeal.

Also on June 30, the council unanimously adopted Resolution 2026-44 determining reasonable efforts for public participation in meetings, and unanimously authorized a side letter agreement with the Ventura City Firefighters' Association on ocean rescue pay to align with CalPERS. Closed session produced no reportable action on three litigation items (Nunez, Kimball, Seawright).

$900,000 Encampment Cleanup Agreement

On July 7, the City Council unanimously approved a $900,000 encampment cleanup services agreement with Woods Maintenance Services, Inc. The same meeting included several other unanimous consent actions:

• Approved a legal services amendment for Padilla v. City of San Buenaventura.
• Approved Parks & Recreation Commission appointments and reappointments.
• Approved Arts & Culture Commission appointments and reappointments.
• Authorized advertisement for bids for the Santa Paula Branch Line – Rails with Trails Project.
• Approved a Mills Act contract for the John P. McGonigle Residence.
• Approved a historic landmark designation for the Walter M. Jones Residence.
• Directed staff to conduct three public workshops regarding a Tree Protection Ordinance (6-0).

Ventura Ninja Academy Use Permit Approved

A Director's Hearing on June 29 approved Resolution No. CD-2026-35, granting a use permit for Ventura Ninja Academy, an indoor sports and recreation use at 4450 Dupont Ct. The approval included a minor variance reducing required parking from 38 spaces to 15. Revised Condition 19 sets operating hours at Monday–Friday 3–8 PM and Saturday–Sunday 8 AM–5 PM, with intermittent extended hours for special events.

City Hall East Boiler Project

On July 1, the City Council Committee Reviewing the City Hall East Boiler Project voted 2-1 to recommend that the full City Council proceed with a heat pump option for boiler replacement, with funding reallocated from the Police and Fire Headquarters Capital Improvement Project.

Commission Appointments Recommended

The Appointments Recommendation Committee on June 29 made unanimous recommendations to fill vacancies. For the Parks & Recreation Commission: Patty Overley (appointment) and Tanner Shelton (reappointment). For the Arts & Culture Commission: Laura Mullen (appointment), Friday Treur (appointment), and Rafael Perea de la Cabada (reappointment).

The Parks & Recreation Commission on July 8 approved minutes from its June 10 meeting (5-0, one abstention). No substantive decisions were made on the commission workplan.

Design Review and Historic Preservation Items Pending

The Design Review Committee on July 1 considered a 36,870-square-foot industrial building with a 5,730-square-foot mezzanine at APN 084-0-132-365, along with continuances of the 44-unit Alameda Avenue Apartments at 1931 Alameda Avenue and The Lineup redevelopment at 51 S Oak Street, both to July 21. Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published.

The Historic Preservation Committee on July 9 was scheduled to consider a letter supporting the Citywide Historic Context Statement and Survey for presentation at the July 14 City Council meeting. The Arts & Culture Commission on July 9 was scheduled to review a public art design for a utility box at N. Palm Street and E. Main Street. Minutes for both have not yet been published.

Coming Up

• **July 13 — Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee:** Discussion of the draft Prohousing designation application, filing of the 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report, Emergency Rental Assistance Program closeout report, and a Patrol Task Force presentation.
• **July 14 — City Council:** Consent items include Dahlin Group architecture services for Olivas Links Golf Course up to $248,600; security and traffic control for the 2026 Ventura County Fair up to $315,000; Jilk Heavy Construction pier repairs increase of $307,227; ZENON Environmental membrane replacement at Avenue Water Treatment Plant up to $690,500; and Camino Real Park tennis court rebuild added to the Capital Improvement Program.
• **July 16 — Parking Advisory Committee:** Meeting cancelled. Next regular meeting September 17 at 3:00 p.m.