Lou Cunningham's Response
to the 2007 Environmental Questionnaire

1. How do you value city beaches, and what do you see as priority issues for them?

Lou Cunningham : I feel that the beaches are of great importance to us even though I don’t use them. My wife is a teacher and takes her class to the city beaches at least once a year. The problem we have is that we don’t keep them clean enough and that we don’t have enough beach frontage. Most of the beaches along Ventura belong to the state and they don’t take very good care of them.

2. How will you correct the current lack of safe north/south bicycle routs within the Ventura Avenue community, and the lack of connection to the ocean?

Lou Cunningham: The city has recently hired a consultant to look into bike routes throughout the city. Once we have this information a decision should be able to be made as to what we can do to provide a safe bike route from the west end to the ocean and beyond. Walking routes need to be added also.

3. The architecture “2030 Challenge”, which was unanimously endorsed by the US Conference of Mayors, calls for energy reduction of all new and renovated buildings incrementally over the next 25 years, until in 2030 they use no more energy to construct and operate than they produce. Should Ventura sign up to take the challenge? How could we begin to accomplish the goal of “carbon neutral” buildings by 2030?

Lou Cunningham: We need to put codes in place that would require builders and designers to have these areas covered in their plans before we approve them. We should require such things as better insulation, in-sta hot water heaters, and solar electric, solar pr-heating of hot water and air tight windows. We could also set codes in place for any remodels and repairs to meet the same goals.

4. What changes would you promote for the Victoria Corridor, and how do they tie into our natural environment and quality of life?

Lou Cunningham: I would leave Victoria alone. I would look hard at what we allow to be built there to keep it as “Green” as we can. One thing we can do is to synchronize the traffic lights better to keep the traffic moving in a better fashion.

5. What actions will you take as a city council member to ensure that the greenbelts and farmland surrounding the City of Ventura are protected in perpetuity, and that any future growth is accommodated within the city's existing footprint utilizing the principles of smart growth and sustainability?

Lou Cunningham: I have been a LAFCO commissioner for the last seven years and while such have committed to keeping our greenbelts and farm lands intact. I will continue to do all that I can within the laws of our state to do this.

6. Would the protection of the Ventura River benefit the City of Ventura? If so, how?

Lou Cunningham: The Ventura River is a vital part of our eco system and needs to be preserved at all cost. This area is home to many forms of wild life and plants. As a city council person I would do all that I could to protect this area.

7. Are you prepared for sea level rise inherent in continued misuse of fossil fuels? (This question was submitted by a youth organization.)

Lou Cunningham: At 63 I doubt that I will ever see this happen but I’m sure that some one will. We can only do the best we can and try to get others to join us in the crusade to stop the use of fossil fuels in hopes of stopping this.

8. The protection and improvement of environmental quality affects people from different economic strata in different ways. How will you bring together your vision of social justice and your commitment to environmental issues?

Lou Cunningham: By using common sense and building trust within the citizens of Ventura.

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

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.

10. Should the city of Ventura take affirmative steps to implement Community Choice so citizens can purchase locally generated renewable power? Why or why not? (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Choice_Aggregation)

Lou Cunningham: This sounds good to me but how does a small town like Ventura get this done? We would need to work with other local cities to bring this program together.

11. What is your attitude about the city collaborating with civic groups in substantial and meaningful ways on community initiated projects?

Lou Cunningham: This has been a big issue in my campaign. I do not feel that there is trust in the city government. I feel that the city goes out of its way to avoid working with groups that it feels causes problems. I also feel that when the city does meet with groups that it is just for show. We need a city council that will listen to the citizens of Ventura. This will build back the trust from the citizens and open up the dialog needed to keep this city great.

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