POLITICAL JUNKIES LOOKING for more drama won't have long to wait if they live in the City of Ventura. In less than a year they will be faced with at least two ballot measures and a slate of council candidates in the off-year municipal election.
In a unanimous vote last night, the Ventura City Council failed to adopt Stop Wal-Mart Ventura Coalition's anti-big box initiative and it will instead go on the ballot in the fall of next year. It will join the Ventura Citizens' Organization for Responsible Development (VCORD)'s view initiative for a full vote of the citizenry.
Council members all agreed the measure should be left to the voters to decide. "There are so many implications with land use, our tax base and the future of retail in our city. It's something that we need to let the citizens weigh in on. It could affect retail uses 20 years from now," Council member Ed Summers said.
The City Attorney's analysis of this amendment to the municipal code found it sound for the most part, with the possibilities for legal challenges only coming from its exclusion of wholesale discount stores and its retroactive clause.
It is one of the most tightly written anti-big box measures to go on a ballot. The ordinance would prevent a major retail project that sells goods and merchandise -- primarily for personal or household use -- and whose total sales floor area exceeds 90,000 square feet and which devotes more than three percent of the sales floor area to the sale of non-taxable merchandise such as food.
Wholesale club stores like Costco would be OK. Other stores such as IKEA or an electronics store, both on wishlists for Ventura, would also be allowed. Another Super Target would not and the ordinance could affect the ability of the existing one at the mall to expand.
Das Williams, a legislative analyst for CAUSE, explained that the exclusion for wholesale membership stores was in response to economic development concerns raised by city staff when they were first presented with a draft of the proposed ordinance. Costco is a store Ventura is one day hoping to attract.
Economic analysis from the city on the measure proved inconclusive. While it could discourage one set of investors, it might encourage another. It will serve to limit some consumer choices in the city and could drive shoppers to travel elsewhere.
THE COALITION RECENTLY PAID for its own study by two economists which concluded the city will not gain new sales tax revenue from a Wal-Mart and it will only cannibalize an existing retail market which is already saturated. "A major new retail facility has the potential to negatively impact current business owners since community needs are already being met," the study concludes.
Another anti-big box measure was soundly defeated by nearly 70 percent of Atascadero voters on Nov. 4. However, that city, which is struggling financially and now operating on its reserves, has less local retail available than Ventura within its city boundaries. It is also a staunchly conservative area, Williams said. It is not known yet exactly how much Wal-Mart invested to defeat the Atascadero measure, but "there was a decent amount of money spent," Williams said.
A poll conducted by the Stop Wal-Mart Ventura Coalition found that a majority of Venturans were not in favor of the retailer coming to Ventura. About 8,600 signed the petition to put it on the ballot.
Williams predicts a battle next fall. "It's going to take a lot of organizing for us. But I've operated a lot of signature campaigns in the past and I've never seen volunteers come out like they did in Ventura."
Finally the City Council does something correct!
By putting this in front of the voters the PEOPLE can speak for themselves. It will be interesting to see what retail in Ventura is like in 6 months when the campaigns really get started.
Already we have lost Mervyn's and 'Linens and Things'. What's next?
The study that the coalition paid for is probably moot now that 2 large retailers are disappearing from the Ventura landscape.
I love the fact that Membership Warehouse clubs are excluded. If I were Wal-Mart, I'd tear down the K-Mart building and build a Sam's Club.
Bring on the Vote!
The city's own upcoming codes for that site will prevent anything bigger than 100,000 square feet from going up in the Victoria corridor. But a Sam's Club could open elsewhere.
What do the CURRENT codes say?
If Wal-Mart went to the city tomorrow with a plan for a new large building with plenty of parking to house a Sam's Club, what would the city do?
I know, they'd stonewall the developers until they gave up and opened up business in some other city.
Face it: This City council has recently NOT been business friendly. The City has told business owners who want to OPEN BUSINESSES in this city (that provide jobs, and tax revenue) that the City doesn't want their kind here. It makes me sad to think that the bozos in the city council are truly clueless when it comes to image.
The 'Wal-Mart is Bad' folks want us to shop locally. Tell me which local Mom-n-Pop store should I buy my toilet paper from? Which local Mom-n-Pop store should I buy my underwear or diapers from? I do know which local Mom-n-Pop store sells CDS that I buy (Salzer's).
My wife is a 'Wal-Mart is Bad' folk and has had to go to Wal-Mart in Oxnard to find certain items over the years. As much as she hates to admit it, Wal-Mart serves a purpose.
Hopefully when the truth comes out before the election all of the 'Wal-Mart is Bad' folks will realize that there isn't a local Mom-n-Pop store now to buy their toilet paper, or their underwear or diapers. Beacuse of this they will come to the conclusion that maybe (just maybe) Wal-Mart isn't the devil.
An important consideration is that this proposed ordinance does not prohibit Walmart (the ordinance never even mentions Walmart.) Neither the City Council nor the voters can prohibit a specific legal business from operating. What the proposed ordinance does is attempt to prohibit a Walmart Superstore (one that sells a significant amount of groceries.) In the process, it would also prohibit a Target or other similar store that sells a significant amount of groceries (although not a Costco or Walmart-owned Sams Club because the proposed ordinance exempts membership stores.)
As to the issue of a Walmart. The General Plan adopted back in 2004 does prohibit new big box stores on Victoria (partly out of concern for traffic, partly to instead encourage future office development for higher paying jobs.) Under the rules that apply to Victoria, Walmart has had the option of re-occupying the existing (vacant) K-Mart building or building a new store of 100,000 square feet or less.
The City Council and City staff have consistently reminded supporters and opponents of Walmart that Walmart will be treated the same as any other applicant -- no special favors granted, no special barriers imposed.
For those, like John Doe, who like to say the City is "anti-business," they need to wake up and realize that in Ventura there are diverse and passionate views in this town. Those who don't get their way are happy to go out and collect signatures and then insist, "The people have spoken." Trying to fairly and consistently legislate in this environment is a challenge. But the City Council and staff follow the 2004 General Plan that puts high priority on both promoting high-wage, high value jobs and ensuring a "well-planned and designed community." That is a tough balance and one which reasonable people can have different perspectives on.
Rick Cole
City Manager
Rick Cole says:
"But the City Council and staff follow the 2004 General Plan that puts high priority on both promoting high-wage, high value jobs and ensuring a "well-planned and designed community." That is a tough balance and one which reasonable people can have different perspectives on."
That explains why the owner of the 5 points car wash was told that he couldn't open an oil change location next door (in the abandonded gas station).
That explains why the gentlemen who wanted to open a martial arts studio in Mid-Town was told no.
Both of these individuals were ready to provide JOBS and TAX REVENUE NOW (not later) but the city said no thanks.
When are these "high-wage, high value jobs" going to come? Where are these "high-wage, high value jobs" going to come from? How long are we (the citizens) supposed to wait for these "high-wage, high value jobs"?
Combined with the fact that 2 major retailers are leaving the city, where does that leave us?
Wake up! We need jobs and tax revenue! We can wait (forever?) for "high-wage, high value jobs" or we can allow individuals who want to provide jobs and tax revenue to proceed NOW.
Perhaps a review of the general plan is in order, seeing as how we are facing a near-certain depression.
I think a bit of protectionism is also in order. Ventura should consider scrip programs or look into alternative currency systems which promote the well-being of the city.
The Wal-Mart BOD and shareholders do not care one iota about Venturans. They only want to sell lots of cheap Chinese junk to you and pay employees junk wages in order to maximize the Walton family profit. Yes, folks, your discretionary income flows to the most successful capitalists via the trickle-up theory, and guess what...they don't care about you, your kids, your town, or even your country. They will take what little you have and not look back.
Locally-owned businesses deserve our money first and foremost. We need to wake up now or else be content with traveling well down that road paved with good intentions.
I know our mayor is working on something with the Chamber of Commerce to promote shopping locally.
This holiday season, especially, we should all think about this. Downtown is freshly spiffed up. The street paving is done. New lights and holiday banners are being hung and we have some new retailers down there, including American Apparel.
OK whalderman:
What local Mom-n-Pop store should I go to for my toilet paper? How about my underwear or diapers?
BTW: Wal-Mart is a publicly traded company. Are you sure NONE of your investments are with them?
Rather than a blanket ban based on size which is a clumsy tool, I would rather see design requirements for any buildings that large. The requirements in my wish list would include:
1. A minimum of two or three storys to minimize the building footprint.
2. Underground parking (preferable) or two or three story parking structure.
3. Outdoor landscaping plan that encourages a "street scene" such as outdoor eateries.
4. Design features that encourage the use of alternatives to the automobile, such as enhanced bus service, bike and walking paths, and paid-parking.
This would actually enhance the environment and would fill the city's coffers with sales tax revenue. It would be a place that draws people in from other shopping areas.
Isn't that the plan Wal-Mart came up with for Ventura awhile back? A multi-story design with underground parking and an outdoor area?
In response to John Doe: My guess is that whalderman and others are unhappy with Wal-Mart's status as a less-than-stellar corporate citizen. Target sells your toilet paper and diapers but doesn't have a black eye for its corporate ethics.
A frequent criticism of WalMart is that their products are made in China, where there are worse working conditions and human rights.
Does Target get their products in some other way? Is the defense of Target based only on how they treat American workers?
whalderman says: "Locally-owned businesses deserve our money first and foremost. We need to wake up now or else be content with traveling well down that road paved with good intentions."
and:
"They only want to sell lots of cheap Chinese junk to you and pay employees junk wages in order to maximize the Walton family profit."
Hmmm says:
"My guess is that whalderman and others are unhappy with Wal-Mart's status as a less-than-stellar corporate citizen. Target sells your toilet paper and diapers but doesn't have a black eye for its corporate ethics."
Wal-Mart is a publicly traded company that ended the day (11/26/08) @56.69 (up 2.01 / 3.68%). Certainly the Walton family profits from that. But who else does as well? Do any of you have mutual funds? Betcha you've got some Wal-Mart stock somewhere.
whalderman wants me to buy locally. That's great and I do when I eat out and buy music from Salzers. But I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what local Mom-n-Pop store should I go to for my toilet paper? How about my underwear or diapers?
The made in China statement is pretty useless since most products in any store are made in China,
This is one reason why our economy is in the crapper because American business can ship the manufacture of US products over seas for a fraction of what it costs to make in the US.
That means less jobs for Americans.
This also the main reason that we are discovering lead and other unhealthy chemicals and contaminants in these products from China.
So much for pride in the "Made in the USA" Slogan.
Hey Marie, we haven't had a good discussion for a long time, I see the City Manager is promoting your blog on his tax funded city blog contrary to his own rules about promoting web sites or blogs that are not on the cityofventura.net.
I have an idea for the anti-WalMart group, instead of working to keep WalMart and other big box stores out of Ventura they should work to exclude Chinese made products from our area. If they were successful in that they would automatically exclude any of the big box stores since most of their products are from China. This would also go a long way to improving our economy because we would be buying American.
You wrote: I know our mayor is working on something with the Chamber of Commerce to promote shopping locally.
The problem with this is that the Gang in the Ivory Tower is constantly spending our tax money on "out-of-town" consultants to the tune of many hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the present time they are spending thousands of dollars on new street light poles from an out-of-town company when we have a company right here in Ventura that manufactures the same light poles.
Rellis Smith
Hello my old "friend"
Yes, I saw that Rick linked to my blog from his blog. He often links to outside sources, as do I. Not a big deal. I wrote a pretty thorough report and he probably thought it easier to link than rehash. So he saved taxpayer dollars in blogging time. :-)
I agree that shopping locally should also apply to our city government's purchases.