Ventura extends Main Street dining program but permanent street closure could take years
Ventura officials voted to extend the closure of Main Street to vehicle traffic through July but an attempt to make the outdoor dining program permanent could take as long as three years.
On Monday, the City Council unanimously extended the outdoor dining program downtown, which was set to expire Jan. 7. Officials said the extra time will allow staff members to create a new special event permit to address parking and traffic concerns.
Ultimately, the attempt to make the program, called Main Street Moves, permanent could take up to three years because of the approvals and studies required, according to a staff report.
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"One of our goals needs to be accelerating Main Street Moves as part of our economic development," said Councilman Mike Johnson. "It shouldn’t take years."
The program turns five blocks of Main Street, from San Buenaventura Mission to Fir Street, to a pedestrian-friendly area closed to most traffic. One block of South California Street, between Main and Santa Clara streets, is also closed.
In the three years, it will take to make the street closure permanent, the city will have to conduct a traffic study, create a parking mitigation plan, perform an environmental analysis, obtain approvals from the Coastal Commission, send out requests for proposals and comply with the Pedestrian Mall Law.
The state law allows the closure of streets to create a pedestrian mall.
Interim Economic Development Manager Meredith Hart said the extension allows staff members to "fully immerse ourselves in this initial study phase" to focus on the impacts of traffic and parking, Americans with Disabilities Act access and sidewalk issues.
With the closure extended, the city expects to lose approximately $236,160 in parking fee revenue, according to the staff report.
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Councilman Jim Friedman said it hasn't been decided that the outdoor dining program will be permanent.
"I'm starting to see emails and more people checking in saying this is great for the restaurants but it's really not great for the retail," Friedman said. "We can't turn a deaf ear to that nor can we say it's a done deal because we have to have a lot more public discussion about that ... I'm not being negative about it. I'm being realistic."
In other news, the council discussed potential goals for the new year. The council previously discussed the goals on Nov. 15 and will meet again at the end of January.
Goal topics discussed on Monday included financial stability, staffing, housing and Main Street Moves.
City Manager Alex McIntyre said the city had a lot of deferred maintenance to tackle including streets, roads, curbs, gutters, trees, wastewater treatment plants, water treatment plants and city facilities.
"In my mind, we’d like to plant the flowers in the front yard while the roof is leaking," McIntyre said. "Can you do both? Sure … but the reality is the roof is leaking, and we need to fix the roof."
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura extends downtown dining program, permanent closure could take years
