Oxnard, CA

Oxnard ranked No. 8 on California's list of most financially at-risk cities among the state's 482 municipalities.

The California State Auditor’s Office released the list in October, which ranked the cities’ ability to pay bills based on 10 indicators from the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Oxnard officials blamed a technicality for the high ranking during the Feb. 21 meeting where the list was presented to the City Council, but remained optimistic about the city's financial future.

“I think we’re in really, really good shape,” Mayor John Zaragoza said earlier this month.

David Grau, president of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, wasn’t as positive about the news. He said last month Oxnard should take the ranking more seriously as it shows a downward trend.

Indicators used to create the list included general fund reserves, debt burden, cash on hand and future pension costs. Oxnard earned a "moderate risk" classification.

Other Ventura County cities fared better in the ranking. Camarillo was near the bottom of the list, indicating the strongest financial health among local municipalities based on the state's indicators:

An Oxnard staff report about the result pointed to the impact of a 2021 court ruling that forced the city to reimburse three enterprise funds about $36.5 million from the general fund for fees that were collected illegally. The infrastructure fees had been incorporated into a 2012 utility rate study later approved by the council, but were ultimately struck down in court after a legal challenge.

The city has three years to pay back the $36.5 million, but the state recorded the entire expense in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Staff said in the report the move brought down the score for the city’s general fund reserves, which accounts for 30% of the overall ranking.

If the impact of the reimbursement was removed from the equation, staff argued in the report, Oxnard would have ranked 69.

Zaragoza noted even though the enterprise funds must be repaid, the money will stay within city coffers.

Oxnard officials anticipate a much higher score on next year's list.

“There’s still a number of fundamental financial challenges that any city our size has, but we won’t be in the top 10,” assistant chief financial officer Mark Sewell said last month.

One of the city's challenges is a $323 million pension debt.

In March of last year, the City Council initiated a validation process with Ventura County Superior Court to determine whether the city could issue a bond to help pay down the debt.

The move brought a response by the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and Oxnard resident Aaron Starr, who made arguments during the litigation process.

Superior Court Judge Benjamin Coats ruled in favor of the city in December.

Katie Casey, an Oxnard spokesperson, said the city filed an order based on the ruling. When the court enters a judgment, the three parties involved in the lawsuit can appeal.

Grau, of the taxpayer association, said they will.

The city is being disingenuous by pointing to one cause for the low score, Grau said. Instead, it should look at the overall trend.

Since 2016, the city has fallen 93 places on the state’s list.

Grau said the low score could cause worry among residents over whether their city has the ability to pay its bills. The city may have to cut services or raise taxes to heal the city’s financial standing, he added.

Grau said the city can’t rely on raising its 9.25% rate.

“(The ranking) has to be taken seriously,” he said. “I think the City Council should be alarmed.”

Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at brian.varela@vcstar.com or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805.

The Dallas Cowboys have been called to apologize to residents in a seaside city northwest of Los Angeles, where the NFL team is holding its training camp over the summer.

Homeowners in Oxnard claim that the Cowboys have gone too far since coming into town this week for preseason activities, and building a tent that's more elevated than a brick wall separating homes from the gridiron at River Ridge Playing Fields.

What's more is that they claim to not have been warned about the tent's installment, as street view photos show that it's placed against several backyard fences of homes in the surrounding area.

Naturally, many inhabitants are looking into local privacy, safety, and property laws, as they assess whether to file a complaint to city officials.

'To wake up on a Saturday with you pajamas on and there's a whole bunch of men looking [in from] outside, that's very disrespectful,' Shalea Thompson - a resident by the fields - told KXAS.

Residents in Oxnard, California, are complaining about a Cowboys tent being built higher than the fence in their backyards

The Cowboys have trained in the small Californian city in recent years for preseason activities

The platform (seen without the Cowboys' tent built on it) does not usually go over the brick wall

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'My daughter and I were in our pajamas, and we had to run upstairs because there were a whole bunch of men peering into our house, maybe not on purpose, but still.

'No one knew there was going to be a structure built.'

Video from a resident's Ring camera shows over a dozen of Cowboys staff members and players walking up a set of stairs to get on the ten's platform deck, with a few of them looking into the properties nearby.

Several locals told The Dallas Morning News that the tent is also blocking their view, which usually one of the field and a golf course, close by, from their second-story windows.

A resident, in particular, told the Texas-based outlet that the Cowboys have 'crossed the line.'

Team officials have claimed that they secured all necessary building permits to set up the tent, which will be removed from the field once training camp comes to an end in August.

However, local inhabitant and representative Barry P. Goldberg has yet to see or find them on the online search portal for the city of Oxnard.

The Cowboys have previously trained in the area in recent years but aren't believed to have caused a disturbance other than this summer.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Dallas Cowboys for comment.

Training camps stars July 26, two days after players and coaching staff traveled out west on July 24.

If you're a student in Oxnard, California, or planning to move there soon, you're probably wondering where the best colleges are located. Fortunately, Oxnard is surrounded by top-notch colleges, each with its unique features and histories. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the best colleges near Oxnard, California, their addresses, what makes them unique, and their histories.

address: 4000 South rose ave., oxnard, ca, 93033

Distance from Oxnard: 0 miles

Oxnard College is the closest college to Oxnard, California, and is located right in the heart of the city. Founded in 1975, this community college offers over 80 academic programs in fields such as business, health sciences, and technology. What makes Oxnard College unique is its commitment to helping students succeed. The college offers a variety of support services, including tutoring, counseling, and career services, to ensure that students have the resources they need to achieve their goals.

address: 4667 telegraph road, ventura, ca, 93003

Distance from Oxnard: 6 miles

Ventura College is located just six miles from Oxnard and is another excellent option for students in the area. This community college was founded in 1925 and offers over 80 degree and certificate programs. What sets Ventura College apart is its focus on sustainability. The college has implemented several sustainability initiatives, including solar panels and a bike-sharing program, to reduce its carbon footprint.

address: 1 university dr., camarillo, ca, 93012

Distance from Oxnard: 9 miles

If you're looking for a four-year university near Oxnard, California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) is an excellent choice. This public university was founded in 2002 and offers over 30 undergraduate and graduate programs. What makes CSUCI unique is its focus on experiential learning. The university offers several hands-on learning opportunities, including internships, research projects, and community service.

address: uc santa barbara, santa barbara, ca, 93106

Distance from Oxnard: 36 miles

While it's not as close as the other colleges on this list, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is well worth the drive. This public research university was founded in 1909 and offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate programs. What makes UCSB unique is its location. The university is situated on a breathtaking stretch of coastline and offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, UCSB is home to several world-class research facilities, including the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Marine Science Institute.

In conclusion, if you're a student in Oxnard, California, or planning to move there soon, you have several excellent college options nearby. Whether you're interested in a community college or a four-year university, there's something for everyone in the area. From the commitment to student success at Oxnard College to the focus on sustainability at Ventura College, each of these colleges has its unique features and histories that make it an excellent choice for students.

The city of Oxnard and two nature conservancies will apply for national wildlife refuge status for Ormond Beach.

The move would turn over management of about 650 acres of coastal wetlands — owned by Oxnard, the California State Coastal Conservancy and the Nature Conservancy — to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Representatives for the three partners said at a meeting Monday the wildlife service is the most capable entity to manage the area, though neither side has agreed to a deal.

About 100 people attended the public forum virtually and in person. While the meeting topic was long-term management of the wetlands, residents were focused on planned improvements to public access and conservation.

“The balance of public access and the protection of nature is the crux of this project,” said Peter Dixon, project manager with the Nature Conservancy.

The Fish and Wildlife Service will undergo a thorough vetting process before a decision will be made.

Alex Nguyen, Oxnard’s city manager, said the wildlife agency will first develop a land protection plan, which will take a year or more to draft. He said the partners have already begun working with the federal government on that first stage.

Following its completion, the draft plan will go through a year-long public input and agency review process.

Nguyen said it’ll be at least two years before the wildlife service could begin the process of acquiring land.

Home to rare species

The project area sits along the coast of Oxnard between Port Hueneme and Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu. It's home to more than 30 rare and endangered species, said Dixon, the Nature Conservancy official. More than 200 bird species nest in the area, including the California least tern and western snowy plover.

The three partners have worked together since 2002 to protect and upgrade Ormond Beach.

Improvements to the wetlands didn’t begin in earnest until the late 2010s, when a preliminary plan for the Ormond Beach Restoration and Public Access Project was issued.

The current phase of the project began in 2017 and built on a 2009 feasibility study.

The project would create trails and boardwalks while making alterations to the landscape to better preserve the local ecosystem.

“It’ll be great for the birds and animals,” longtime Oxnard resident Steve Nash said Monday. “Most of all, it will heal the soul of Oxnard and the people of Oxnard.”

Nguyen said Wednesday the three partners will still oversee the restoration project, though that could change if the federal government decides to take it on.

The restoration could take about five years, he said, but is dependent on funding and state regulatory agencies.

Residents noted the proximity of the Superfund site at the former Halaco Engineering Co. property and the Ormond Beach Generating Station.

The contaminated Halaco property has also been the site of multiple homeless encampments.

Some attendees said the two areas should be included in the restoration effort and potential refuge.

“There is a critically endangered species that doesn’t know the boundaries between city property and generating plant property,” Port Hueneme resident Joan Tharp said during Monday's meeting. “It’s a real concern that those two areas are left as islands.”

Nguyen, Oxnard’s city manager, noted the two properties are privately owned.

Separately, other plans are in play to rehabilitate the Halaco site and the power plant property.

Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at brian.varela@vcstar.com or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805.

An employee at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oxnard and a middle-school student in Palm Springs have been diagnosed with active tuberculosis.

An employee at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oxnard was recently diagnosed with active tuberculosis, the Ventura County Public Health Department announced Thursday.

Ventura County Public Health Tuberculosis Program personnel notified Amazon staff at the location on Monday and Tuesday of potential exposure, the department said.

Approximately 180 people were potentially exposed, according to the health department.

"There is currently no known danger to the public," the department said in a statement Thursday.

The specific date of diagnosis was not released.

Testing, symptoms, treatment plans and other information were offered to staff through the public health agency.

Free testing will be available next week for staff and close contacts, and the Ventura County Public Health Tuberculosis Program is continuing to monitor the situation and track the potential outbreak, the department said.

In Palm Springs, a middle school student was also recently treated for tuberculosis. The Riverside County Department of Health said a Raymond Cree Middle School student recently became ill with active tuberculosis. The child was hospitalized and is now recovering at home, the department said.

On Thursday the Palm Springs Unified School District notified parents and guardians of about 50 students who may have been in contact with the child. A testing clinic is planned for the campus next week.

In most cases, people infected with the illness won't see it develop into active tuberculosis, but will simply remain infected with the bacteria with no symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It will still show up on a skin test.

From the Ventura County Public Health statement:

"There is a difference between a TB infection and (active) TB disease. People with TB disease are sick from germs that are active in their body. Common symptoms of active TB include frequent coughing, feeling weak, having a fever, losing weight, coughing up blood, or sweating frequently at night.

"People with TB disease can give the infection to others through the air by those who frequently share the same air and are in close contact.

"Although quite common throughout most of the world, TB is relatively uncommon to acquire in the United States. The State TB Control Branch estimates that 16% of foreign-born people in the United States will have a positive blood test for tuberculosis."

For further information: California Tuberculosis Control Branch

KCAL-News Staff

The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com.

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