I THINK WE'VE HIT on a new form of representative government here in Ventura and I'm kind of amazed about it. The city's Economic Summit today, co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, brought out a wide cross section of the community armed with great ideas and passion.

Oh yeah, lots of passion.

After introductions by facilitator and Council member Ed Summers, who is chair of the city's Economic Development Committee, and a rather sobering look at the state's economy from Bill Watkins, executive director of the UC Santa Barbara Economic Forecast Project, I found myself mixed in with an eclectic group ranging from Chamber of Commerce folks to Wal-Mart boosters and busters to our very colorful arts crowd. Our task was to come up with 90-day, 1-year and 5-year plans to improve the city's bottom line and fiscal health.

We agreed, we disagreed and we reached consensus. In the end we came up with some decent suggestions about how to move forward in these difficult times and generate revenue for the city to fund the services we all enjoy. This process was being repeated throughout City Hall with four other groups and their respective program areas.

With lightning speed, city staff compiled the ideas, presented them to Council and after the usual pontificating from the dais, they voted to implement quite a few of them and directed staff to make it happen.

We did all this in less time than it takes them to go through a council meeting most nights.

THE BEST IDEA of the day came from my group and none other than perpetual City Hall critic Brian Lee Rencher, who proposed a Economic Development Commission of citizen volunteers, much like the Cultural Affairs Commission that I sit on. Also proposed was an ombudsman position to help guide businesses and developers through the planning maze, and a workforce education task force, among other ideas.

City Manager Rick Cole promised to move the ball ahead quickly with these ideas, and even quoted Yoda: "There is no try. There is only do."

Afterward I spent some time talking to people I don't normally converse with but have seen in action at City Council meetings. It was a great way to share ideas. I hope the city does more of these sorts of events and FOR ONCE I was very pleased with the turnout: nearly 130 eager citizens.

Sometimes Democracy works.