Bill expands county transportation commission

A bill by California state Assemblyman Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) to expand representation on the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) was recently passed by the legislature. Gov. Gray Davis has 30 days to act on Assembly Bill 773.

Testifying in support of the bill were Thousand Oaks City Councilmen Dennis Gillette and Andy Fox. At previous hearings, several local officials expressed support, including Ventura County Supervisor John Flynn and Moorpark City Councilman Keith Millhouse, currently chairman of VCTC.

"Every city in Ventura County gets a vote on important transportation decisions with Assembly Bill 773," Strickland said. "It will expand local representation."

The commission develops and implements transportation, policies, projects, funding and priorities for projects that involve highways, bus services, bicycling and bike paths, aviation, commuter and freight railroads and other transportation issues in Ventura County.

Currently the commission is comprised of two members of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors; three members from the 10 incorporated cities in Ventura County, who serve on the board on a rotating basis; two citizen representatives and one nonvoting representative of the governor. AB 773 will allow all county supervisors and all cities to have a permanent vote on the Commission, eliminating the current rotation process.