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Parvin appointed mayor pro tem for 2008
The mayor pro tem is second in charge, leading the council meetings and giving speeches when the mayor is absent. The position is rotated annually among the four council members. Parvin was recently selected to serve as president of the California League of Cities' Channel Counties Division. The league encompasses two dozen municipalities from Paso Robles to Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Simi Valley. "The experience gives me exposure to things going on all over the state, and I can get ideas on how other cities tackle problems like graffiti and traffic," Parvin said. Most cities have similar concerns, she said, and can learn from each other as they work to preserve local jobs, deal with open space issues and fight crime. Parvin also represents the city as an alternate commissioner on the Local Area Formation Commission and is a member of the Ventura County Economic Development Collaborative. As a businesswoman, Parvin said she's sensitive to the needs of local companies and concerned about the increased cost of housing, which makes it difficult for those companies to attract and retain good employees. "The city had some good business growth this year," said Parvin. However, she added, city leaders must continue to create an environment that will encourage new businesses to come to Moorpark to preserve jobs and increase tax revenues. Since most large companies in the county are downsizing, the City Council and city staff must help property owners make changes to accommodate shifts in the local economic environment, said Parvin. For example, the city recently approved a new parking structure for a building that was previously occupied by Countrywide. "The building would have been left empty if it hadn't been reconfigured to house smaller companies," said Parvin. Allowing the owner to add the parking structure will help to bring jobs back to Moorpark- a wise way to utilize existing space, according to Parvin. Parvin is also interested in public safety. She's been involved with the 118 Taskforce, which includes representatives from the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans, County Supervisor Peter Foy and other local leaders. The task force, created last year to improve safety on the rural highway, has already seen their work result in a reduction in the annual number of fatalities. The joint effort has also helped bring in additional funds from the state to pay for an extra CHP officer to patrol the area and to add a mobile weigh station in the area. New signs for the highway are also being worked on. "We have made some progress . . . and we will continue to keep tackling that," Parvin said. According to Parvin, improved rapport between the CHP and the Moorpark Police in recent years has also increased safety for residents. "Unified efforts have more impact," said Parvin. As the city continues to work on plans for the new Civic Center and the Human Services Center in the downtown area in 2008, city leaders, she said, should be the primary advocates for new projects that are environmentally friendly. "Building 'green' is something that everybody has to start doing," she said. Before becoming a council member in 2002, Parvin served on the Parks and Recreation commission and the planning commission. She chaired the Parks and Recreation panel for a year and the planning commission for two years. "She's never missed a meeting in 12 years," said husband Dale Parvin. The Parvins have been married for 33 years and have two grown children and two grandchildren. They are involved with the Moorpark Rotary Club's Civil War Reenactment, which raised $85,000 a t this year 's event. That money is given back to the community through scholarships and grants. When not working or representing Moorpark residents in governmental affairs, Janice Parvin, who is vicepresident of a local multilingual company, likes to spend time at the beach and she loves to read. |
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