ONE OF MY PET PEEVES are the Monday Morning Quarterbackers. The City of Ventura rarely makes a move without extensive feedback, transparency, numerous charettes, community meetings, Eblasts, newspaper articles, blog postings and agenda distribution.

Yet inevitably I hear somebody complain here or elsewhere about the decisions made in these public forums. So you'd think when the opportunity arises, citizens would be knocking down the doors to provide input. Not really.

At every single community meeting I attend, I see the same bunch of folks. Our little band of chronic city volunteers manages to get around. But we are lonely.

Sure there are the one-issue folks who get fired up for their pet causes, but at most city forums the attendance is pretty spartan.

So here's an opportunity for everyone that shouldn't be missed: Tomorrow the City of Ventura, in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, will be holding an Economic Summit to help chart the future of our community. The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall, 501 Poli St.

The event is free, and participants are asked to pre-register online at http://www.venturachamber.org or by calling 676-7500.

The culmination of the event will be 90-day, one-year and five-year work plans for the City Council to consider. Workshops will include ways to improve the city's bottom line, fostering smart growth, greening the city's economy, enhancing the local business climate, and retaining and expanding jobs and existing businesses.

It's also a way to get all those one-issue folks talking to the other one-issue folks. Like Wal-Mart? Come talk to those who hate it. Are you pro-growth? Share your thoughts with those who aren't. Do you think arts and cultural tourism are a smart economic investment in our future? Or do you think it's all a waste of money? Come prepared to talk it out. (But if you hate the arts, you might want to avoid me!)

I know it's early on a Saturday morning and you need to mow the lawn and attend your kid's baseball game.

But, to mangle a John Lennon lyric: A city is what happens when you are busy making other plans.

Please join us tomorrow.