Ventura City Council votes 6-1 to maintain the street closure known as Main Street Moves
Tracy Lehr
VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) The debate over opening or keeping Main Street closed in Ventura heated up during a marathon meeting on Tuesday night.
Out of nearly 80 speakers, only one public speaker spoke in favor of the city reopening Main Street to cars.
At least 74 urged the city council to vote to keep it open to human beings and the community including Ventura resident and State Assemblymember Steve Bennett.
“My stance is we should definitely keep it, the potential if we really work is for this to be bringing us to a whole other level,” said Bennett.
People shook their hands in the air as a way of quietly clapping.
The city named the closure, that began during the pandemic Main Street Moves.
There is a giant photo op heart at the heart of it by the intersection of Main and California below city hall.
After a hours of public comments and debate the council voted 6-1 to maintain the street closure and provide feedback on the Draft Vision Plan.
The people who stayed for the duration of the meeting erupted in applause.
Community members also saw renderings for the first time of what the closure could look like.
The RRM Design Group is behind those plans.
Councilmember Jim Duran was the only no vote and walked out after the vote to take a break.
Duran shared concerns about the lawsuits and threat of lawsuits that may take months to play out. He had hoped to see it reopen by November 3.
Deputy Mayor Doug Halter and Councilmember Liz Campos were the first to rave about Main Street Moves and the people who turned out to voice their support.
The Ventura City Council Meeting was moved to the Ventura College Wright Event Center due to construction in their council chambers.
The space allowed more people to watch the meeting.
The issue had been the last item on the council agenda but it was moved up due to the public interest.
Supporters of Main Street Moves took part in a Street Fair on Sunday and urged people to attend.
Happy Place Eatery provided plenty of pizza outside on the lawn where the overflow watched the meeting on a laptop.
Ventura is facing lawsuits over the closure from two groups including one called Open Main Street.
They want to be compensated for losses that they believe are linked to the closure.
Other business owners told the council they benefit from the closure.
Aaron Duncan, who owns Fluid State on the corner of Fir and Main, said business has been booming.
“And we have seen the influence of Main Street Moves has had on our business, our business is up considerably since 2019.”
Sky Sunner, who owns Happy Place Eatery got emotional each time he spoke about the closure.
“I have a business right down on Main Street called Happy Place Eatery and we are in full support of Main Street Moves of what is has done to our community as a local I love it, as a family man I love it, my son loves it wife loves it,” said Sunner.
He said it makes everyone in his family happy and customers happy.
Some people believe the debate pits businesses owners against property owners who consider land more valuable when located on open streets.
But Mark Hartley, who has invested and improved a number of properties downtown for decades seemed to have a change of heart.
“They are gathering together and they are making a statement and so I am really hoping that the city, if they will keep this closed, will put in the investment to make it better, make it safe, make it more beautiful,” said Hartley.
It could be like the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado.
A number of speakers mentioned similarities to Santa Barbara’s closure that is now permanent.
They recommended the city follow Santa Barbara’s plan when it comes to providing ways for people who need better access to get around.
Unlike Santa Barbara, the six blocks of Main Street Moves do not allow members of the public to ride bikes through the area.
Councilmembers asked the staff to continue to help the Majestic Ventura Theater’s with parking because the closure barricades block the concert venue’s ten space lot.
The staff also told the council that a new Oak Street parking structure will provide 391 spots.
The council directed staff to wait on requiring new and improved parklets until the lawsuit are resolved.
For more information visit https://cityofventura.ca.gov