Downtown VenturaDowntown Ventura
ABOUT · DOWNTOWN VENTURA PARTNERS

The voice of Downtown.

The Downtown Ventura Business Improvement District — d.b.a. Downtown Ventura Partners — has served Ventura's historic core for over 14 years. We step in to address needs above what the City can do, and the success of our Downtown is built on partnership.

14+years serving the historic core
2029district funded through Dec 31
$2.19M2025 operating budget
11member board of directors

What we do.

In July 2019, Downtown property owners voted overwhelmingly to renew and nearly double the size of the District, continuing a dedicated funding stream for enhanced clean and safe services, place-making and economic development programs through Dec. 31, 2029. We eagerly serve as the voice for downtowners and play a vital role in the growth and vitality of our evolving urban core.

The last couple of years brought a global pandemic and times of economic challenges and uncertainty. But also, innovation and creativity, including our Main Street Moves street closure that continues to reimagine 6 blocks of our central core into an enhanced public space filled with outdoor dining and unique human connections. The City and community is now discussing its future and evolution.

We are rolling up our sleeves and jumping in.

Enjoy our City. — Kevin M. Clerici, Executive Director

To make Downtown as clean and safe and economically viable (and fun) as possible.DOWNTOWN VENTURA PARTNERS · OUR MISSION

What we're working toward.

The district we are building, block by block.
Clean and safeA clean, safe, well-lit, and inviting appearance, both day and night.
Storefronts worth stopping atAppealing storefronts occupied with an eclectic variety of inviting and interesting retail and service businesses.
Things worth turning up forHigh-quality activities and events that will attract and benefit area residents, businesses and visitors.
Buildings that stayHistoric architecture preservation and support of adaptive reuse that offers visual unity and quality experiences.
A healthy mixA healthy mix of retail, restaurant, entertainment and service businesses, and a reputation for welcoming and supporting new businesses.
Places people return toCreative and lively places where people will live, work, shop, enjoy, remember and return.
Connected to the coastImproved connections with our natural resources, from our beaches and state parks to the Ventura River to the Ventura Botanical Gardens and public spaces.

How a PBID works.

Downtowns, new and old, frequently rely on a skilled management firm like Downtown Ventura Partners to navigate economic changes.

A Property-Based Business Improvement District, or PBID, is a designated area in which property owners choose to assess themselves to create funds that supplement baseline city services for the benefit of property owners, merchants, businesses, workers, visitors and residents. The model is strong and flexible.

The model in Ventura

Property owners within the established footprint of Ventura's PBID pay an annual assessment based on the square footage of both their underlying parcel as well as any building on top of it.

An 11-member board of directors oversees the organization's work. Seven must be real property owners who pay into the district. The Ventura City Council appoints one council member to the board. The remaining seats can be filled with business owners or nonprofits in the district.

Over the past 25 years, PBIDs have benefited more than 1,000 communities across the United States, in areas as diverse as Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica.

Where the money goes.

2025 budget · $2.19M, up from $1.1M in 2019

A budget is a statement of one's values and priorities. Funds derive from two major sources: PBID assessment fees paid by property owners, totaling $1,112,112, and contracts, sponsorships and building revenues totaling a projected $1,069,304.

70%$778,478Clean & SafeThe district's core commitment — street cleaning, steam-cleaning, safety ambassadors and street outreach.
20%$222,422Economic enhancementsEvents, the newsletter, and business recruitment and retention programs.
10%$111,211Advocacy & administrationOutreach, administrative expenses and advocacy at City Hall and other agencies.

2025 priorities.

The goals DVP set for the year.
  1. Continue to emphasize district-wide safety and cleanliness, particularly steam-cleaning.
  2. Expand street outreach and peer support services to our unhoused neighbors, strengthening collaborations with medical and mental health staff at CMH and VCMC to provide street-based care.
  3. Advocate for greater public restrooms, including installation of a Portland Loo in the California Street mini park.
  4. Advance district-wide parking goals, including fully functioning City meters, a new parking structure, and solutions for the deteriorating Harbor Blvd. garage.
  5. Continue to engage all existing and new stakeholders, and strengthen the relationship with the City of Ventura and other partners.
  6. Promote and market Downtown as an authentic and activated cultural and retail space, and an increasingly residential hub of the community.
  7. Continue stewardship of the expanded Park Safety Ambassador Program, with greater evening hours in summer.
  8. Work with the City on the evolution of Main Street Moves as a flexible, welcoming public space, and chart a stakeholder-driven course for the future of Main.
  9. Assist with rollout of the newly formed Parklet Design Guidelines and advocate for attractive, removable bollards.
  10. Champion a General Plan update that reflects Downtown's history, character and emerging residential offerings.
  11. Partner with Code Enforcement to clean up derelict or abandoned properties.

The office.

Direct liaisons for our small business community.

Contact us to request action related to cleaning, safety, navigating permits or City Hall, or any host of other issues impacting you within our nonprofit Business Improvement District. If you are a current or new business owner, property owner, resident, or simply someone who cares about our Downtown, we want to hear from you.

Kevin ClericiExecutive Director
Steve CaramihaiOperations Manager
Ashley SmithOffice Manager
J VazquezClean & Safe Team Lead
Megan HookSocial Media Manager
Heather Legere & Danielle QuillanEvents / Activations Team
Veronica RodriguezStreet Outreach Coordinator
Olga HamraStreet Outreach Coordinator
Patricia HamptonStreet Outreach Coordinator

Board of directors.

2026 board, as of May 2026 · three-year terms

★ Property owner · ◆ Business owner · ● Appointed by City Council

Meetings are open.

All board and committee meetings are open to the public.
Board of DirectorsFourth Thursday of each month at 9 AM, in the board meeting room at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel when available. The board meets in early December to avoid the Thanksgiving holiday.
Promotions CommitteeEvery third Tuesday at 9:30 AM at the DVP offices, 420 E. Santa Clara St. Works on advertising, retail promotions, special events and marketing campaigns.
Restaurant SubcommitteeEvery first Wednesday at 9:30 AM, at rotating restaurants.
Finance SubcommitteeEvery third Thursday at 10 AM at Smith-Hobson.

Get in touch.

PHYSICAL ADDRESS420 E Santa Clara StVentura, CA 93001
MAILING ADDRESSP.O. Box 1414Ventura, CA 93002
PHONE(805) 641-1090
We want to hear from you.Business owner, property owner, resident, or simply someone who cares about Downtown — get in touch.Email the office