CSUN University News Clippings

CSUN plays a vital role in the area’s economy

(October 31, 2008)

By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Even with the country heading toward a recession, Camarillo remains financially sound, according to an economic analysis presented to city officials during a study session last week.

The study, largely optimistic, was presented by Dave Wilcox, a consultant with Economics Research Associates, a Los Angelesbased financial advisory firm.

Wilcox, who has given similar reports as well as financial advice to the City Council for 26 years, said that Camarillo created 16,355 new jobs between 2000 and 2008, jumping from 30,916 jobs to 47,271.

“I was really surprised at the number of jobs that have been created,” said Mayor Charlotte Craven, who has sat on the council since 1986.

The report also showed that the city added more than 4,000 jobs within the last year. Many of those new positions were created in the manufacturing, retail and service sectors.

Wilcox said that, although the numbers were largely positive, recent job losses at entertainment giant Technicolor and data storage company Imation mean Camarillo officials will need to focus on attracting light manufacturing businesses to town.

In contrast to the 53 percent job growth in the past eight years, Camarillo has seen a modest 15 percent increase in population—from 57,077 in 2000 to 65,453 in 2008.

“Many people see this town as the magic place to live,” Wilcox said.

The Camarillo Premium Outlets are a major reason Camarillo has survived the nationwide economic crunch.

“Our sales tax from the outlet center is significant,” Craven said. “After one of Mr. Wilcox’s reports in the late 1980s or early 1990s, he reported that an outlet center would fit a niche that nobody else in the county was filling. He said an outlet center would give the city a stable, long-term source of income.”

Foreign tourists, encouraged by a weak U.S. dollar, shop at the Camarillo outlets, generating a healthy sales tax revenue for the city.

In the first year it was built, the mall generated about $400,000 in sales tax, Craven said.

Wilcox said there is even more potential with the projected growth of California State University Channel Islands and the redevelopment of Old Town and the Camarillo Commons.

Although CSUCI has put a cap on new students at 500 per year, the university hopes to expand to 20,000 students in 20 years.

CSUCI has injected more than $107 million into the region, sustaining some 2,100 jobs in the past five years, according to the CSUCI website. Those numbers are expected to climb.

California State University Northridge, which draws around 30,000 students, generates nearly $700 million within Los Angeles County and accounts for about “12,000 jobs through direct employment or local spending,” according to CSUN.

The Old Town redevelopment has also given the city a strong sense of identity.

Wilcox urged city officials and council members to continue to cultivate the city’s identity by emphasizing its pleasant climate and relaxed, small-town atmosphere.

Councilmember Kevin Kildee found the report interesting.

“The economics are always changing. It’s always a moving target,” Kildee said. “When we hire these consultants, they do a lot of number crunching. . . . It gives us a kind of snapshot to not only the current economic business cycles but hopefully for the future.”

That future may involve attracting successful, cutting-edge businesses to Camarillo after the loss of Technicolor and Imation.

In the study session, Wilcox suggested the city “ride out the serious recession and maintain the essential economic balance” in 2009 and 2010. Retaining jobs and focusing on redevelopment are crucial.

In the next phase of his economic development agenda, from 2011 to 2014, the consultant suggested maintaining growth management, looking into funding the Springville Drive interchange and building affordable homes that match in-town jobs.

Long-term goals for the city, Wilcox suggested, should include accentuating Camarillo’s heritage and history, balancing more jobs in town with more housing, maintaining growth, defining segments of the 101 Freeway corridor, working better with local schools and keeping up with infrastructure.

“The city should focus more on districts of specialty and attraction,” Wilcox said. “It should be more diverse in who (Camarillo) is attracting and for what purpose.”

Wilcox also outlined nine key properties or projects for the city to focus on: Village at the Park, Springville Specific Plan, Camarillo Commons, Camarillo Promenade, Paseo Camino Real, Old Town, Flynn Road industrial areas, the roughly 120 acres west of the rail tracks near Old Town and the Camarillo Airport.

“There’s a whole variety of possibility (at the airport),” Wilcox said.

Craven viewed the study session as one of many important ways to find out the best way to manage a city.

“A city’s goal is to have a balance of jobs and places for workers to live and places for those workers to shop,” the mayor said. “That’s the ideal. . . . I think (Wilcox) gave us some good advice and insight, especially with how many jobs we’ve had and developed.”

Publication: Camarillo Acorn