Part 2: S. Paula City Council
candidates address business,
streets, Measure F and audit

October 08, 2014
Santa Paula News

Attracting new business, Measure F, streets and whether the city should have a forensic audit were among the questions addressed by those seeking elected office at the September 24 Candidates Forum.

The six City Council candidates met with about 70 citizens at the Community Center for the forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters Ventura County and Chamber of Commerce.

Incumbent Councilmen Ralph Fernandez, an architecture instructor and Bob Gonzales, the city’s retired police chief, are seeking third terms; former two-term Councilman John Procter, Jenny Crosswhite a church pastor, John Demers, the COO of the Port of Hueneme and Ginger Gherardi, the retired executive director of the Ventura Transportation Commission, all fielded questions submitted by audience members during the 90-minute forum.

The six are vying for three seats: Mayor Rick Cook decided to step down from council service.

Attracting new business to Santa Paula could be tied in to rate structures for such things as connection fees and other charges that Procter urged be studied and compared to other cities.

Fernandez said “I think it falls back to the additional housing and additional people to shop,” and the city should “Look at what we can do to help business, not just in the downtown but in the entire community.”

The process, said Crosswhite, for opening a business should be examined as it is perceived there are “a lot of obstacles,” preventing enterprise that, if true, must be overcome. 

Identifying business “niches” that people desire would help make downtown a “vibrant area,” said Gherardi, who noted those related to tourism such as restaurants and other “funky” attractions appeal to business and visitors.

Demers said business must be welcomed; business owners believe they are “over-regulated, over litigated and over taxed,” and business should be helped to overcome the “layers of red tape” encountered from the state down.

“The community as a whole is doing pretty good,” on selling Santa Paula said Gonzales, but the city, chamber and developers should partner to hire an economic development director, find what merchants want as well as review regulations affecting business.

Measure F, the proposed 1 percent sales tax will also be on the November 4 ballot. If passed by the required 2/3 votes, Measure F will provide a projected $1.6 million annually to be split three ways. Police would receive 50 percent and fire and roads each 25 percent. If passed, the measure, which would sunset in 12 years, would make Santa Paula’s 8.5 percent sales tax the highest in the county.

Citizens for a Safer Santa Paula created the measure in the wake of 9 homicides that began in May 2013. Over the previous 9-year period, from 2003 to 2012 the city experienced only 8 homicides total.

Since about 2008 attrition has reduced the SPPD from 34 full time officers to a low of 20. The SPPD now has about 29 officers including five added upon their graduation from the police academy. 

Council candidates were asked their position on Measure F and Gonzales said he supports it as “We need more police, firemen,” and road fixes. 

He noted that he wanted the measure to also include fire and roads.

Demers said there are shortfalls that should be addressed such as $20 million in public works needs.

A sales tax “Can hurt the lowest income the most,” and there “appears to be a lack of transparency,” as a spending plan for tax revenue has not been addressed. 

Demers said the “biggest question” about the tax measure is its potential impact on business attraction; he believes there are better funding solutions that should be examined.

Gherardi said there could be an economic disadvantage to area businesses including car dealerships that could lose customers who mistakenly think if they purchase a vehicle out of town they would save the 1 percent tax.

They would not, as purchases that require registration would be charged the Santa Paula sales tax rate.

Gherardi also questioned the $620,000 allotted in the police budget for overtime and asked why that could not be cut to hire more officers; she also urged grants be explored.

Crosswhite said although she supports the measure “I want you to ask the questions,” and be fully informed on the measure. 

But if the measure does pass “It will not solve all the problems we face,” and with a 12-year sunset would have to be considered a “band aid but not a solution to the problem... “

Fernandez said he supports the measure although “it’s not the optimum solution... the state is not loaded with money so it’s up to the voters,” to hire police and fix streets.

Fernandez, the chairman of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, said if roads are not attended to people will soon “drive on dirt,” and a solution must be found; hopefully in the future state funding might return.

Santa Paula said Procter is in “dire straits” with public safety salaries so low it has become an expensive training ground for those who then leave for other agencies.

Although he agreed the measure is a “regressive tax” it might benefit low-income households “more proportionately... and we’re on our own and have to fend for ourselves,” in providing services.

The state of the roads was also questioned. 

“I  think that one of the problems we have,” said Gherardi, is there is not a qualified engineer running the public works department.

In addition, “I believe some of our funds were misused,” at a time when the city should be devoting funds to streets and crossings.

“More importantly,” Gherardi said the city needs “a plan to show how they’re going to take care of all the streets in the city,” and garner funding for same.

“I think,” said Gherardi, who as the VCTC leader had a strong reputation for finding funding sources, “I’m more than capable on that one... “

Outside funding said Procter often targets arterial streets and those are the main drags must have funding for repair.

Funding streets is tricky as well as complicated with scheduling that often can dovetail off other work: “We have to have a well organized schedule,” said Procter.

“My neighborhood street is literally crumbling,” said Demers, who noted that city streets have not been regularly maintained - which is much less costly - that has led to deterioration and big replacement bills.

Streets, he noted, now must be done “From the ground up, much more expensive if they had just been maintained in the first place.”

Fernandez said streets have been “A huge priority for me since I’ve been on the council... it’s not a Santa Paula problem it’s a state problem,” of funds cut.

There have been ongoing complaints about eroded teeth-jarring railroad crossings that Fernandez said the repair of has been delayed due to the ongoing lawsuit between VCTC and Fillmore & Western Railway, but VCTC said the crossings, he noted, “should be done shortly.” “Staff is doing a pretty good job, the best they can,” said Gonzales who read a list of streets that have been fixed over the years.

“... a lot of work has been done,” he noted, “you just can’t see it. And I think the people in charge of the money are doing the best they can, same with public works.”

“We need to have a schedule, we need to be doing maintenance on our streets,” and Crosswhite said any money “borrowed” by the state from the city must be repaid.

“Even if Measure F passes,” she noted, “we’d have only $400,000 a year to work on 56 miles of city streets... “

When it comes to housing Gonzales said, “Santa Paula is so poor we can’t afford affordable housing,” which has dominated local building over the years. 

The city has met its state mandates and Gonzales said the emphasis now is on providing housing for seniors including those considered low-income.

More higher income housing must be built said Demers, who noted it is “an admission of defeat” by those except seniors and others on fixed incomes who continue to occupy low income housing.

“We need all types of housing in Santa Paula,” said Gherardi ranging from upscale to low income. “Our population is very mixed and we need to accommodate all of them... “

Housing must be considered on a “project by project basis,” said Crosswhite but “At the end of the day we need to raise our property tax base,” for the betterment of the community overall.

Local low-income housing is being occupied by those who move to Santa Paula rather than present residents said Fernandez. 

A continuing problem with low-income housing he noted is, “There’s no place for kids to play and they provide a source for crime,” and future development must provide for all such needs.

There’s a misconception of what low income is said Procter who noted that a household income for a family of four in Ventura County of $70,000 - 80 percent of the median - is considered “low income... that’s firemen and policemen,” that Procter said should not be “painted with a broad brush” of perception of what affordable housing actually is.

Five of the candidates addressed a question on city audits.

Fernandez said thecity already has audits but should have an independent review while Gherardi said more financial oversight is needed.

“Rumors are rampant in town,” that funds are missing or being misspent: “I doubt it,” she noted, but she wants to ensure city money is “being spent wisely... “

Crosswhite and Procter said an audit must be conducted, “To see,” noted Procter, “where the bodies are buried,” and to get a base accounting of city finances.

An audit, said Demers, “Only shows if money is being spent,” adhering to general accounting principles and not “effectively and wisely,” which requires deeper examination.

The forum can be viewed on the city website and on Time Warner Cable Channel 10; check the cable station for the schedule.





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