Civil Municipal View Feb2023

83 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 MOORPARK , CAL I FORNI A a dog park and a skate park in the city. Throughout the region, Moorpark offers more than 1,000 miles of hiking and biking trails that connect to an array of open spaces in the partially mountainous region. Brown says Moorpark has been a “steward of the environment for decades” with numerous EV charging stations around the city that will only increase in numbers moving forward. Another major development with an environmental focus is the city’s new library, which the city council recently approved to be LEED certified, making it a fully sustainable building, saving money, improving efficiency, lowering carbon emissions, and creating healthier places for residents and guests. As further proof of this commitment, Moorpark’s strategic objectives include providing better air quality, engaging in water conservation efforts, and more. The Moorpark Unified School District is consistently rated among the top school districts in California with high graduation rates and plenty of opportunities for college courses, trades support, and more. Moorpark College is a highly-rated community college that has recently added four-year degree programs. It is rated among the top community colleges in the nation based on average GPAs and graduation rates. Along with offering well over 20 degree programs, Moorpark College partners with local employers and municipalities, including the City of Moorpark, to fill internships. Since it first opened in 1967, Moorpark College has been dedicated to a mission that embraces social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Its students come from a diverse range of backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages. Another partnership has been developed between the City of Moorpark and California Lutheran University, a private university in nearby Thousand Oaks. The city has worked with students studying public policy to complete a Capstone project researching student housing opportunities. Moorpark also supports area job fairs and job training programs with these colleges and in conjunction with neighboring municipalities. The Moorpark Chamber of Commerce is very active in representing the area’s business community, and along with the Economic Development Collaborative, ensures that business owners and entrepreneurs have access to a wide variety of training, consulting and financial assistance, marketing support, and more. The collaborative also supports the wider geographic regions of Ventura County and even neighboring Santa Barbara County, says Gagajena. He adds, “there are just so many resources available for someone or a group of people who want to open or grow a business here in the city.” Brown is also proud of the number of community