9.11.2023 City Council Meeting

The City of Ventura City Council meeting was held September 11, 2023. Procurement discussions included approval of the fifth amendment to the RRM Associates professional-services contract for the General Plan update and related planning work, including the Climate Action and Resilience Plan. The total contract was described as approximately $3.2 million, and a speaker cited an amendment amount of about $215,613. Council approved the amendment 5–1, with one member absent, and directed that no further scope be added. Council also approved a $428,000 professional-services contract for design, bid support, and construction support for expanded and renovated police and fire locker rooms, including sewer-line and accessibility work. The city manager reported that construction had begun on the Ventura WaterPure ocean outfall project, with completion anticipated by summer 2024, and noted an open request for qualifications for artists to create public art at the future advanced water purification facility.

The council also discussed fire staffing funded through the SAFER program: 10 firefighter-paramedics were in training, with six additional candidates in background checks. The main General Plan land-use discussion drew extensive public comment, particularly over proposed industrial zoning changes; the council took some votes on Westside designations and continued the remaining deliberations to September 25. No other contract award or purchasing decision was clearly recorded in the transcript.