Camarillo Old Town
Strategic Plan
April 22, 2026
Why Old Town, why now?
Old Town needs a place-based strategy
because it is not managed like a single-
owner center.
Many private parcels, but City-managed streets,
sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, and parking shape
the visitor experience.
The EDSP pointed directly toward revitalization,
placemaking, hospitality, entertainment, and
district identity.
Community outreach included 700+ survey
responses, a town hall, direct stakeholder input, and
mobility analysis.
AB 2097 changed the parking context, making
access, wayfinding, and long-term parking strategy
more important.
What Council is considering tonight
This plan IS
Aspirational framework for future City
decision-making and implementation
Sequence for near-term priorities and
longer-term opportunities
Tool linking actions to readiness, funding,
triggers, and measures
Framework for stewardship, activation,
identity, and catalytic readiness
This plan IS NOT
Automatic budget appropriation
Project entitlement, acquisition approval,
or procurement authorization
Final policy for every future action
Commitment that every item proceeds
exactly as written or on the same timeline
Future actions still return through the appropriate public process when Council action is required.
Four strategic goals
Strengthen public
spaces and district
maintenance
Increase economic
energy and storefront
activation
Build a clearer identity
and destination
experience
Organize for catalytic
readiness and long-term
delivery
1 2
3 4
1.1 Cleanliness service standard
1.2 Lighting enhancements and maintenance
1.3 Wayfinding and park-once clarity
1.4 District maintenance and landscape stewardship
1.5 Bike racks and daytime access
Goal 1 - Strengthen Public Spaces and District Maintenance
Goal 2 - Increase Economic Energy and Storefront Activation
2.1 Ventura Boulevard frontage mix
2.2 Restaurant and small business readiness
2.3 Timed frontage parking later
2.4 Managed parklet framework
Goal 3 – Build a Clearer Identity and Destination Experience
3.1 Bandshell and special-events
sound policy
3.2 Public art on public property
3.3 Cultural district and SCIARTS
direction
3.4 Decorative lighting program
3.5 Dizdar Park activation
3.6 Marketing, branding,
and style guide
Goal 4 – Organize for Catalytic Readiness and Long-Term Delivery The plan organizes the City for larger opportunity sites and future district-management tools without presuming immediate implementation.
PVSD Site Courthouse Coordination Future PBID Exploration
4.1 4.2 4.3
What success looks like
By the end of the plan period
Old Town feels cleaner, brighter, better maintained
Visitors can find their way and stay longer
Ventura Boulevard has a stronger mix of active uses
Dizdar Park supports dependable rhythm of activity
Clearer identity and stronger long-term positioning
11 Recommendation:
1. Find adoption of the Camarillo Old Town Strategic Action Plan exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines; and
2. Receive the Camarillo Old Town Strategic Action Plan; and
3. Adopt the Camarillo Old Town Strategic Action Plan as an aspirational framework for future Old Town decision-making and implementation; and
4. Direct staff to return to the City Council, as appropriate, through the applicable public process for future implementation actions that require City Council consideration or approval.
12 Appendix
Readiness Categories
Actions are organized by readiness, not fixed dates, so they can move when the right conditions are in place.
Ready Now
Can move within existing
authority, ongoing operations,
or modest near-term planning.
Policy-Ready
Can advance once
standards, procedures, or
Council direction are formally
adopted.
Match-Dependent
Moves when external financial
participation is secured, such as
grants, sponsorships, or cost-
sharing.
Partnership-Dependent
Relies on formal partner alignment,
participation, or institutional
collaboration before it advances.
Control-Dependent
Depends on site control,
procurement milestones, outside
ownership decisions, or similar
conditions beyond the City's
immediate control.
Each action identifies one primary readiness category, with secondary dependencies described in the trigger, funding, or partner sections.
City Roles
Each action identifies the City’s role so responsibilities remain transparent and expectations stay grounded.
Deliver
The City is directly doing the
work or administering the
program.
Regulate
The City is creating,
applying, or enforcing
standards, rules, approvals,
or permit conditions.
Partner
The City is co-implementing
with others or relying on
shared execution.
Convene
The City is organizing
alignment among external
actors.
Advise
The City is providing
technical or process
guidance, but not leading
delivery.
Influence
The City is encouraging
voluntary uptake or
behavior it does not
control.
Not every action requires the same level of City involvement. In some cases the City leads; in others it creates structure, aligns partners, or influences activity it does not directly control.
Funding Tiers
The plan uses a disciplined three-tier funding structure so baseline responsibilities, targeted investments, and outside funding are clearly distinguished.
Tier 1 – City Baseline
Routine public maintenance, lighting, policy work, core stewardship responsibilities, and limited staff-level scoping or coordination that can be completed within existing resources.
Tier 2 – Targeted City Investment
Selected capital and enabling improvements, such as signage, lighting, wayfinding, acquisition, pre-development, and other public space or streetscape improvements advanced through the budget, CIP, or other Council-approved funding process.
Tier 3 – External or Future Partnership Funding
Above-baseline services or enhancements supported through grants, sponsorships, applicants, partner contributions, or future district funding tools where appropriate.
Some actions may move through more than one tier over time. Any future City funding request would still return through the appropriate public process.
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