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Business owners press for Main Street beautification; council asks staff to seek funding options
Summary
Downtown business owners urged the council to include Main Street streetscape renovations in the five-year CIP now that the street is car-free; staff recommended seeking grants and council requested a report on funding strategies ahead of the March 24 Main Street vision presentation.
Downtown business owners and community members urged San Buenaventura to move quickly on Main Street streetscape renovations now that council has approved an indefinite car‑free status for the street. Speakers said city investment would leverage private upgrades and urged placing the Main Street project (ST26‑1291) into the FY2027–2031 Capital Improvement Program so staff can identify funding and begin design.
"If the CIP is how we communicate what matters, then leaving this project off the list, unfunded, and inactive, sends the opposite message to the small businesses and stakeholders who are now investing in downtown," Alyssa Gutierrez told council.
Public Works Director Charlie Ebling reminded the council the CIP is a planning document — not a funding guarantee — and that staff had flagged Main Street Moves as a potential grant candidate and planned a formal Main Street vision presentation on March 24. Ebling said the city can add projects to the CIP at any time and recommended staff pursue grant opportunities while working with the Parks and Recreation Commission to identify additional needs.
Council members from across the ideological spectrum urged staff to prepare options for council review, with Council Member Compos asking for a staff report on funding strategies and a timeline to avoid leaving the street unmaintained while private investment occurs. Multiple speakers also urged permanent improvements (planters, benches, barriers and signage) rather than temporary fixes.
Other CIP-related public requests included a call from Council Member Mangon and staff for adding Ventura Keys dredging to the potential grant list; staff reported active work with federal and state grant channels and that sediment studies and permitting are underway.
What’s next: Staff will present the Main Street vision plan on March 24 and return with funding options and potential grant opportunities for CIP inclusion; council indicated it wants staff to explore city funding options as well as grants.
