Ventura ad hoc’s plan to remake advisory groups draws preservationist pushback

The committee on committees reviewed an ad hoc report that would rename most advisory groups as commissions, move many bodies to district-based appointments and change meeting frequencies — proposals the ad hoc members said would streamline staff time and strengthen council-commission ties. Staff presented slides proposing some changes to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and recommended that the Design Review Committee (DRC) and Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) be folded into the Planning Commission once objective design standards are adopted.

Preservation advocates and several public commenters said the changes would weaken technical oversight and reduce transparency. "If your objectives and goals today are bad design, less transparency, less public input, less accountability, or historic property degradation, then disbanding DRC and HPC are a step in…