Ventura City Council extends closure of Main Street. Here's what to know
The Ventura City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to keep downtown Main Street closed to vehicles at least through November.
Main Street has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic and was set to reopen at the end of June if the council did not extend the closure.
The pedestrian friendly program is centered on five blocks of Main Street, from Mission Basilica San Buenaventura to Fir Street. One block of south California Street, between Main and Santa Clara streets, is part of the program, too. The city decided to close the street to make the downtown core more pedestrian friendly and help struggling businesses.
In April 2022, the city extended the program through June 30, 2024, and directed staff members to study future options.
Staff members on Tuesday recommended the extended closure to give them more time to complete a study of long-term options and present them to council members.
During public comment, 36 people spoke, including property owners, business owners and residents. A majority of the business owners and property owners told the council they wanted Main Street to reopen to vehicles.
Mayor Joe Schroeder said he needed more data.
“I love going downtown, but I don’t want to go downtown on the backs of small business closures,” he said. “I’m not kicking the can down the road. I think we need to be in the position that when we get that data we act very quickly.”
Council members want to make a final decision on Main Street at their Nov. 12 meeting but said that could be delayed until an environmental analysis is complete.
In 2022, the city authorized Rincon Consultants, Inc. to prepare an environmental report to evaluate long-term options for the closure. Options include an analysis of possible permanent alterations to the area such as the installation of bollards, or thick posts. The report is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
On Tuesday, the council also directed staff to conduct a survey soliciting opinions from business and property owners about Main Street Moves and complete it by Aug. 30. Council wants the survey results sent to the Main Street Moves committee on the first Monday of October. The committee will present the results to council members on Oct. 22.
In March, a group of property owners, called Open Main Street, sued the city to reopen the street. The lawsuit alleges the ban on vehicles led to a loss of commercial tenants, an increase in vandalism and increased operating costs.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Downtown Ventura's Main Street to remain closed to vehicles
