The two highest-ranking subtopics
of each subject were used to create a final list of items to be prioritized
at the end of the meeting. The prioritized issues will be used at
the third discussion tentatively set for the fall.
Data used from the discussion will be available for any group to use
in identifying needs and issues facing the area. Ways to use the data
will be presented at the third meeting, as well.
Subjects fell under the following categories: disaster preparedness
and hospital needs, affordable housing, recreation services, mass
transit and transportation, environmental improvements, community
improvement and connection and youth services.
After three hours of discussion, the topics set for final ranking
were:
• Improve our neighborhood ability to be prepared for disaster,
including a valley-wide Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program
• Improve communication during emergencies
• Create a valley wide recreation district
• Expand recreational programs, particularly for youth
• Improve public transit in and out of the valley
• Decrease car use within the valley by expanding the trolley/public
and use of other transportation alternatives
• Preserve existing open space in the Valley
• Develop an environmental plan to make the Ojai Valley a model
green and more sustainable community
• Develop community cleanup and beautification action plan
• Focus on graffiti prevention and cleanup
• Improve dialogue between groups of people valleywide
• Reduce gang activity/crime through valleywide meeting and
conflict mediation
• Youth center
Participants groaned a bit at the thought of having to prioritize
so many important issues. The top choices of each work group were
fed into the data system and the crowd waited for results.
A final glitch in technology delayed true results and had participants
questioning the accuracy. Bennett said that his staff would take the
hard copies submitted by each table, recalculate the data and have
final results as soon as possible. His office identified the top ten
issues by Monday as:
No. 1 - Develop an environmental plan to make the Ojai Valley a model
green and more sustainable community.
No. 2 - Improve our neighborhood ability to be prepared for disaster,
including a valley-wide CERT program.
No. 3 - Improve communication during emergencies.
No. 4 – Tie: Decrease car use within the valley by expanding
the trolley/public and use of other transportation alternatives; and
Youth center.
No. 5 – Create a valleywide recreation district.
No. 6 – Expand recreation programs, particularly for youth.
No. 7 – Preserve existing open space in the valley.
No. 8 – Tie: Improve public transit in and out of the valley;
and Improve dialogue between groups of people valleywide.
“I would like to say how inspiring it is to watch people come
in and work on important issues about this community they love,”
Bennett said while thanking the participants for their involvement.
The date for the third Ojai Valleywide Discussion is tentatively set
for November 4 of this year. Participants will then decide what to
d
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