VENTURA : City Plans Hearing on RV Park Dispute

The Ventura City Council on Monday agreed to hold a hearing to decide how long campers must wait between visits to the Ventura Beach RV Resort, which was flooded in February.

City officials and park owner Nancy Hubbard have different interpretations of a permit issued by the city. City officials say the permit does not allow anyone to stay at the park past 30 days, and after a visit, a camper cannot return for at least two weeks.

But Hubbard said the terms of the permit allow campers to stay for 29 days, check out and return in a day or two. She agrees that any visitor who stays for 30 days must leave and wait two weeks before returning to the park.

The council agreed to decide the issue at a later hearing.

Council members also were concerned that the RV park has not yet installed an early flood-warning system and will also discuss that issue at the upcoming hearing. The city cannot compel park owners to put one in, but owners are working with the Ventura County Flood Control District, officials said.

Storms in February flooded the RV park at 800 W. Main St., drowning a homeless man and damaging about 40 recreational vehicles. The storms raised city officials’ concern that campers are failing to maintain their vehicles so they can move quickly in case of a flood, said Everett Millais, director of community development.