Candidates' Answers to Question #9

9. How will you promote green business, so that a thriving economy and a thriving environment become one in the same?

Bill Fulton: In several ways. I believe the City can work with progressive companies such as Patagonia and others to become a national model for how to use sustainable practices in the business world. I also think we can create an eco-industrial park, designed for "green" businesses, in the North Avenue area near Brooks Institute. Finally, I believe we can become even more aggressive in promoting green building practices.

Doug Halter:I would seek to attract a vast array of green business and strive to offer green building information through City education and support. I would support both mandates and incentives for green building.

Christy Weir: The City government in Ventura is increasingly implementing green policies and is an example for businesses. It’s up to each citizen to support green businesses, and City Council members can staff can be examples in that area as well. The City currently offers expedited processing for green building projects and has developed a simple LEED-type checklist.

Carroll Dean Williams: Easy. I will support these issues.

Mike Gibson: I would do this by advocating for more environmentally-friendly companies, such as Patagonia, to come to Ventura. I would include this philosophy in the City's economic development strategy so that we, as City leaders, are always thinking about ways to attract green businesses to the community, with corporate leaders who have a sensitivity and strong commitment to the betterment of the environment in their business practices, production techniques, and the technology they use.

Carl Morehouse: I have helped with an idea that Councilmember Brennan has proposed for a long time, which is to convert areas on upper Ventura Avenue – most particularly the old Petrochem site – into a high tech industrial area with a series of linked industries that help supply each other with waste streams that become feedstock for each other’s product. Also, the City continues to recognize and support businesses that are working actively to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize their waste stream. This includes working with restaurants and retailers for their recyclable wastes as well.

Jerry D. Martin: If we manage Ventura with intelligent design, and use “green building” principles such as the new WAV project in West Ventura, we will promote a thriving economy and clean environment.

Lou Cunningham: There are many ways to do this, by promotion, by news letters, by field days, by talking business owners into carrying more green products. By setting codes on items like listed above in question #3.

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