Oxnard City Manager Alexander Nguyen stated, “We’re excited for Brenda to lead the Housing Department. Her housing policy knowledge and years of service to the Oxnard community will be an asset in addressing two of the State’s most pressing issues—housing and homelessness, which remain increasingly vital as we face both federal and state budget cuts.”
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard joins the community in mourning the loss of former Mayor Dr. Thomas E. Holden, who passed away on May 26.
Dr. Holden served as Mayor from 2004 to 2012, following a decade of service on the City Council beginning in 1993. His leadership and dedication left a lasting impact on the Oxnard community.
OXNARD — Mayor Luis A. Mc Arthur is pleased to announce that the City of Oxnard along with members of the following organizations: Disabled American Veterans – Chapter 24, Knights of Columbus Council 750, Military Officers Association of America Ventura County Chapter, Port of Hueneme and the Channel Islands High School Raiders Band will jointly host a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, 2025, at Plaza Park (500 South C Street) starting at 11 a.m.
“Ms. Su’s extensive expertise in governmental accounting standards and financial oversight is an asset to Oxnard as we continue to add experienced professionals to our City’s financial team,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen.
“The importance of this project to our City cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety. We sincerely appreciate the continued efforts of our state legislature and agency partners, who are committed to collaborating on these important improvements in Oxnard,” said Mayor Luis Mc Arthur.
OXNARD — Housing Director Emilio Ramirez has left his position to serve as Chief of Staff to Riverside County Supervisor Jose Medina. City Manager Alexander Nguyen has appointed Assistant Housing Director Brenda Lopez as Oxnard’s Interim Housing Director while the City begins a formal recruitment process for the position.
Said Nguyen, “Emilio gave Oxnard nearly six great years of service. His intellect and creativity were outsized only by his heart. He left the Housing Department in a much, much better position looking towards the future.”
Since joining the City in April 2019, Ramirez has led the transformation of the Housing Department, improving the operations of the Housing Authority and beginning an Asset Repositioning Implementation Plan, which allows the City to preserve and improve its affordable housing stock by moving away from the traditional public housing model.
leading provider of transparent and independent credit ratings worldwide, upgraded the City’s Issuer Credit Rating from “A+” to “AA-” and the underlying City’s General Fund Lease from “A” to “A+.” S&P also raised the City’s Gas Tax Bond from “AA-” to “AA.”
“I’m pleased that S&P has once again recognized the City’s financial progress with these rating upgrades,” said Mayor Luis Mc Arthur. “This shows our ongoing commitment towards securing long-term financial stability and a stronger future for Oxnard.”
S&P credit analyst Krystal Tena stated, “The upgrade reflects the city’s improved financial position characterized by a trend of stable financial performance and improved reserve position, underpinned by strong financial management practices that we view as well embedded.”
OXNARD — A significant study commissioned by the Oxnard City Council and conducted by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC) that highlights the challenges and barriers facing young adults in Oxnard will be presented to the City Council during a special meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, from 6 – 8 p.m.
Utilizing federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, the City Council commissioned the UCLA CSRC to study the widening gap that was exacerbated by the pandemic between high- and low-income families, and the impacts to young people from lower-income and working-class backgrounds. Led by the UCLA CSRC Director, Professor Veronica Terriquez, the research draws on extensive data from the 2023–24 Thriving Youth Study (TYS), a youth-led initiative involving over 3,000 local residents aged 18 to 34.
“We’re very pleased Eric is coming back; he knows Oxnard, he knows City Hall, and he’s a proven executive leader,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “Eric will provide strong leadership, clear direction, and an abundance of support for the City.”
OXNARD — With warm summer days ahead, the City of Oxnard encourages community members to take advantage of the many free indoor activities provided by the City’s Recreation Department to stay cool and entertained.
Visit Oxnard Public Libraries
Oxnard’s Public Libraries are the perfect spots to escape the heat. Besides a vast collection of books and reading materials, the libraries host engaging activities for all ages—children, teens, and adults alike. Discover the exciting events planned for July!
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“Thanks to the policy direction of our Council and the hard work of City staff, we’re delivering a positive, balanced budget that will continue the restoration of infrastructure such as paving our streets and alleys and investing in community services throughout Oxnard,” said Mayor John C. Zaragoza. “We’re also supporting Oxnard’s long-term financial sustainability by using one-time surplus funds to make a significant payment towards long-term debt.”
OXNARD — Nineteen fire engine companies and four ladder trucks responded to a major fire in Oxnard that began on Tuesday, March 5 at approximately 10:30 p.m. at the former Sunkist packaging plant located at 245 E. Colonia Rd.
Due to the dangerous conditions within the building, firefighters maintained a defensive position around the plant to extinguish the flames, which did not spread beyond the property. As of 10 a.m. on March 6, fire department personnel remain onsite to put out the fire’s remaining embers. The building is considered a total loss.
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard has started its phased project to repair the pavement on Gonzales Rd. between Victoria Ave. to Rice Ave. Major activities began in mid-February and are expected to continue through the fall of 2024.
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard announces the appointment of Morgan Kessler as the new City Engineer with the Public Works Department effective December 18, 2023.
Kessler brings substantial experience spanning over 20 years overseeing large-scale civil engineering and construction management at the federal and city levels.
OXNARD —The City of Oxnard is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathleen Ashmore as the new Library Manager for the Oxnard Public Library. With a career spanning over 17 years in library services, Ashmore brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to community engagement to Oxnard.
“I’m thrilled to have Kathleen join the team in Oxnard. She brings a tremendous portfolio of skills and experiences, and I am fully confident that she will effectively shape the future of Oxnard Public Library for more success and inclusivity,” said Cultural and Community Services Assistant Director Renee Rakestraw.
Ashmore previously worked for the Lonoke County Library System in Arkansas, where she successfully established a teen department and programming, implemented teen and adult volunteer programs, and revitalized the adult programming department before moving into a management role. Her focus on excellent customer service, community involvement, and staff morale significantly improved library services.
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard is hosting a series of meetings (Nov. 15, Dec. 5, 13) for community members to learn more about the City’s Environmental Resources (ER) Division, which protects public health and the environment by safely and efficiently disposing of trash and recyclables, and ensures compliance with local, State and federal laws relating to trash disposal and recycling.
Oxnard’s ER services include collecting, sorting, processing, and disposing of waste six days a week for 34,154 residential properties and 16,378 commercial customers, which includes apartment buildings. The division handles approximately 294,938 tons of waste annually and recycles approximately 12,918 tons of material and 14,177 tons of organics, which includes green waste and food scraps. Combined, this weight is almost as heavy as the Empire State building.
OXNARD — In an effort to make its special events and programming more equitable and accessible, Oxnard Recreation is proud to debut its new Sensory Tent during the upcoming Fall Festival.
The Sensory Tent initiative is led by the Oxnard Special Populations (OSP) program in conjunction with Oxnard City Corps (OCC), who work closely to provide high quality recreational opportunities for those with disabilities. The Sensory Tent includes games, fidgets, soothing sounds and comfortable seating, creating a welcoming and relaxing environment for those who need it.
OXNARD —The City of Oxnard announced the appointment of Jeff Pengilley as Oxnard’s new Community Development Director.
A longstanding and committed Oxnard public servant, Pengilley joined the City in 2000 as a Plan Check Engineer and has held various key positions related to engineering services and building regulations. He most recently served as the Community Development Department’s Assistant Director for the past four years.
“Jeff brings extensive knowledge and experience within Oxnard to this leadership role,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “I am confident that he will continue to steer the department towards implementing solutions that bring greater efficiency and results for Oxnard residents and businesses.”
OXNARD —The City of Oxnard announced the appointment of Rob Ruben as Oxnard’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective Sept. 5, 2023.
With more than 20 years of industry experience leading large-scale project implementation and overseeing diverse operational teams, Ruben brings a wealth of expertise to his role in shaping Oxnard’s technological future.
“We’re excited to promote from within an experienced professional like Rob to lead our IT Department,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “I look forward to him providing secure, efficient, forward-looking IT solutions for our organization.”
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard will receive $16.5 million in funding for critical infrastructure initiatives as part of the 2023-24 California State budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
“With the support of Assemblymember Steve Bennett, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, and Senator Monique Limón, Oxnard has secured significant funding to build and repair essential infrastructure that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our community,” said Mayor John C. Zaragoza.
During the West Ventura County Business Alliance Mayor’s State of the City address on June 16, Mayor John C. Zaragoza spoke about Oxnard’s positive and balanced budget, the City’s steady progress in restoring infrastructure and services, and the economic and social impacts slowing down city-wide restoration efforts.
The event was held by the West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA) at Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach in front of nearly 200 attendees from the Oxnard business community.
“All of us at the West Ventura County Business Alliance sincerely appreciate the collaboration between the City of Oxnard and the business community. We certainly embraced the positive report Mayor Zaragoza rendered,” says Nancy Lindholm, President & CEO of the WVCBA, the chamber of commerce serving Oxnard and Camarillo.
City Manager Alexander Nguyen is pleased to announce the appointment of Javier Chagoyen-Lázaro as Oxnard’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Chagoyen-Lázaro brings a wealth of financial expertise in both the public and private sectors and will play a vital role in overseeing the finance department and ensuring the City’s fiscal sustainability.
As the CFO, Chagoyen-Lázaro will oversee the City’s financial operations, including budgeting, purchasing, general accounting, and financial reporting. His experience will contribute significantly to the City’s long-term financial planning and decision-making processes.
Mayor John C. Zaragoza is pleased to announce that the City of Oxnard, along with members of the following organizations: Disabled American Veterans – Ventura Chapter 24, Knights of Columbus Oxnard Council 750, Gold Star Mothers, Military Officers Association of America Ventura County Chapter, Port of Hueneme, Ben Moreell Sea Cadets Color Guard, Oxnard High School Air Force Jr. ROTC, and the Channel Islands High School Raiders Band, will jointly host a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 29, 2023, at Plaza Park starting at 11 a.m.
Regular reviews of utility rates are an industry-wide best practice and are typically conducted every 3-5 years. Since Oxnard’s Water Division has not raised rates since 2017, the City engaged an independent consultant to create a Water Rate Study (Water Cost of Service Study).
Based upon the study’s findings, the City is considering proposed rate increases starting in 2023 to keep pace with the rising costs of providing safe, reliable water and to continue making investments in the City’s water infrastructure. The Oxnard City Council will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, to consider proposed rates for water services.
The City Council will hear and consider oral testimony and written materials submitted regarding proposed rate increases at the Public Hearing in the Oxnard City Council Chambers, 305 W. Third Street. The City Council will consider protests and comments prior to adjusting or adopting the proposed rate increases.
VENTURA — After being held virtually for the past three years, the annual Fall Prevention Forum – co-hosted by the Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition, the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, and the City of Oxnard – will return to an in-person gathering at the end of September.
The 2023 forum – “Fall Back to the ‘70s” – will be held on Friday, September 29, at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (800 Hobson Way). Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and the program will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is free to attend.
A Spanish translation service will be made available upon request. A free lunch will be provided.
As a testament to Oxnard’s strong financial footing, Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings (S&P) upgraded the City’s Issuer Credit Rating from “A” to “A+” on October 26, 2022. The report also revised its long-term rating on the City’s lease revenue bonds from “A-” to “A”, the City’s Gas Tax Bond from “A+” to “AA-” and assigned a “stable” outlook to all three.
The City has made steady progress improving its ratings in recent years. The new S&P ratings mark Oxnard’s 5th upgrade by S&P in just the last 12 months. As shown in the table below, ratings were also increased by one notch on the wastewater fund earlier this year, and the outlook on the water bonds was moved to “positive” from “stable.”
The City’s Community Relations Commission (CRC) announces that nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Community Recognition Awards Program. Since 1989 the CRC awards program has recognized deserving individuals and groups that have furthered human relations in the Oxnard community.
“We look forward to celebrating the individuals and organizations that represent the best of Oxnard – acceptance, courage, and a determination to highlight the good in our community,” said CRC Chair Adam Lopez.
The public is invited to nominate youth, seniors, individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations that have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in the Oxnard community.
The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, September 9, 2022 by 5 p.m.
Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza and the City Council welcome the Dallas Cowboys back for their 16th training camp in Oxnard. The City has hosted America’s Team nearly every year since 2001 for all, or a portion of, its annual training camp.
“We’re always excited to host the Cowboys, and we welcome all of the visiting fans to Oxnard. Whether it’s your first time here, or your 16th, we know you are going to have a great time,” said Mayor Zaragoza.
The Cowboys Training Camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields (2501 Ventura Rd., Oxnard) is free and open to the public. The action starts with the Cowboys first practice on Wednesday, July 27 at 11:30 a.m. Fans are invited to all practice sessions that are open to the public, with the final one scheduled on Wednesday, August 10.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 13 announced a $48 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Oxnard, California, to support its Aquifer Storage Recovery Project. With this WIFIA loan, EPA is helping to expand the city’s recycled water supply to help secure a climate-resilient and reliable water service for over 200,000 people.
“Communities across the west—including in Oxnard, California—are facing sustained water challenges as a result of climate change and the worst megadrought in a millennium. This challenge calls for using multiple tools, including recycling our water to get more use from every drop,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “EPA is proud to provide this $48 million loan to help Oxnard expand water reuse. We are working to bring the benefits of water infrastructure investment to communities from coast to coast with $50 billion in through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
With Amazon’s new Oxnard fulfillment center officially open for business, the City of Oxnard highlights how its partnership with Amazon ensured local residents got hired.
In October 2020, when Amazon announced it was building a new fulfillment center that would create more than 1,500 new, full-time jobs with industry-leading pay and benefits, the City began to work with Amazon to notify and prepare Oxnard residents for these much needed jobs. Through this collaboration over the past year, about 60% of Amazon’s new hires at the fulfillment center are from the City of Oxnard.
The City of Oxnard collected more than 206 tons of bulky trash over four weekends in March as 1,432 Oxnard residents took advantage of the free Neighborhood Bulky Item Drop-Off Day events. Hosted in partnership with Caltrans, the community events help prevent the illegal dumping of furniture and other trash in Oxnard’s streets, parks and alleyways.
The new Neighborhood Bulky Item Drop-Off Day program created four regions for drop-off events that allowed every neighborhood in the City an opportunity to dispose of old mattresses, damaged furniture and other large, bulky items for free throughout March.
As many cities throughout California struggle to address the State’s $160 billion total unfunded pension liability that accrued prior to the 2013 California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA), the City of Oxnard is proactively considering issuing a Pension Obligation Bond (POB) to tackle its portion.
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard is reopening its facilities for in-person services starting Monday, February 14, 2022.
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OXNARD – – La ciudad de Oxnard reabrirá sus instalaciones para servicios en persona a partir del lunes 14 de febrero de 2022.
Due to continuing spread of COVID-19, the City of Oxnard is extending the temporary closures of City facilities and programs until further notice.
Community Resources
City employees will be available to address questions via phone, email and virtual appointments during regular business hours.
Senate Bill 1383 regulations went into effect on January 1, 2022. The regulations aim to divert 50% of organic waste from landfills below 2014 levels by 2020 and 75% by 2025. CalRecycle is implementing the regulations and has established an additional target to ensure edible food that is fit for human consumption is recovered and not disposed of in landfills by 2025. SB 1383 also requires that jurisdictions conduct education and outreach on organics recycling to all residents, businesses (including those that generate edible food that can be donated), third-party haulers, solid waste facilities, local food banks, and other food recovery organizations located within the City of Oxnard.
The City of Oxnard won a $7.1 million grant for improvements to Durley Park as part of Governor Newsom’s “Outdoors for All” initiative to enable all Californians, regardless of zip code or income, to access parks and open space.
The California State Parks’ grant funding will allow the City to invest in restorations to the current Durley Park space and add amenities such as a new area for a bike pump track/skate park, a community track for walkers and joggers, and much more.
“Revitalizing our parks is very important to our community,” said Mayor John Zaragoza. “From Oxnard’s seniors to our youth, everyone’s quality of life improves with access to open-space and recreational opportunities.”
“We’re excited that the State recognized the potential of Durley Park,” said Mayor Pro Tem Bryan MacDonald, whose District 4 includes Durley Park. “With this grant funding, the City is able to add amenities, from picnic areas to athletic fields, that will benefit the whole community.”
Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced today the final election results for the November 2, 2021 City of Oxnard, District 2 Special Municipal Vacancy Election with 100% of precincts reporting.
A total of 2,257 ballots were cast in this election. Final results for this election yielded a 12.57% voter turnout.
The City of Oxnard announces the appointment of Helen Miller as the new Information Technology (IT) Director. With more than 25 years of business-technology experience in both the public and private sector, Miller brings significant experience deploying modern technological solutions that will benefit both Oxnard community members and City employees.
“We’re excited to have recruited a talented professional who also happens to be an Oxnard resident,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “We look forward to Ms. Miller modernizing the IT Department.”
The City of Oxnard Cultural and Community Services Director Terrel Harrison announces the appointment of Renee Rakestraw as Assistant Director to the department.
Rakestraw has served the Oxnard community for over 19 years in various capacities and emerged as a leader within the department. She began her career as a Recreation Leader and later became a Recreation Coordinator before being named Recreation Supervisor in 2017. Most recently, she was appointed as the Cultural and Community Services Manager in 2019.
The City of Oxnard announces the appointment of Michael Wolfe as the new Director of Public Works. Wolfe, a prior Oxnard resident and graduate of E.O. Green and Hueneme High School, joins the City with more than 20 years of experience serving communities at the federal, county, and city level. He most recently served as the Assistant City Manager – Development Services, Director of Public Works and the City Engineer for the City of Moreno Valley, Calif.
“Mr. Wolfe is the leader Public Works needs now,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “His experience from similar-sized cities will be an asset for us. We welcome his expertise as we continue to focus on City Council priorities, make Measure E investments, and utilize the one-time funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, as well as managing Oxnard’s annual Capital Improvement Program.”
Mayor John Zaragoza announced the creation of the Mayor’s Gateways Task Force, a group of five everyday residents that the Mayor has appointed to lead the effort to create gateways into the City of Oxnard.
As part of the City Council’s 5-year priorities, the Council committed to restoring proper maintenance of parkways and medians, tree trimming cycle, and cleaning up the gateways to the City. Thanks to the voters’ approval of Measure E, residents are starting to see the landscaping restoration efforts throughout Oxnard over the past two months.
The Mayor’s Gateways Task Force will work collaboratively with City staff, community members and the Mayor to identify and create gateways to Oxnard that complement the City’s restored landscaping efforts.
The City of Oxnard announced the appointment of Betsy George as the Finance Department’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She is joined by the City’s Budget Manager Beth Vo, who has been appointed to serve as Interim Assistant CFO, and new Assistant CFO Mark Sewell to round out the department’s leadership team.
“It’s great that we are adding experienced professionals to lead our Finance Department, while also promoting one of our most dedicated, hard-working team members into a leadership role,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “I look forward to the continued progress of the Finance Department under Ms. George’s leadership.”
City Manager Alexander Nguyen announced today that Oxnard’s Chief Financial Officer Kevin Riper is headed to the City of Long Beach, Calif., to become their Director of Financial Management.
During his time in Oxnard, Riper helped revamp the Finance Department after several challenging years when the City had to address 158 audit findings that had accumulated since 2014 and was also facing a multi-million dollar operating deficit in the General Fund.
The Oxnard City Clerk’s office announces the upcoming nomination period of July 12 through Aug. 5, 2021, for Oxnard residents seeking candidacy for the special election of District 2 Councilmember.
The special election will fill the one-year term remaining since former Councilmember Carmen Ramirez was elected County Supervisor in November 2020. Councilmember Gabe Teran was appointed by the City Council to serve District 2 until the special election is held on November 2, 2021.
The Oxnard City Council and Housing Authority adopted a Fiscal Year 2021-22 Operating and Capital Improvement Budget of $632,752,937 on June 30, 2021, which includes the General Fund group, landscape maintenance and community facilities district funds, special revenue funds, assessment district funds, enterprise funds, internal service funds and Housing Authority funds.
The City’s General Fund revenues for the budget year are projected at $201.2 million. This is 30 percent greater than for Fiscal Year 2020-21 due to revenue from Measure E, which will support basic City services such as public safety, parks, community development, cultural and community services, road maintenance and administration provided through the General Fund.
Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza delivered the 2021 State of the City address on Thursday, June 17, hosted by the West Ventura Business Alliance Chamber of Commerce serving Oxnard and Camarillo.
The event highlighted resiliency during the pandemic and outlined the restoration of various programs and services the Oxnard community will soon see thanks to voter approval of Measure E.
City facilities reopened to the public on June 15, 2021 for in-person services during regular hours of operation. When visiting City buildings, community members must wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols. Masks will be available for visitors.
Mayor John C. Zaragoza will present his first annual State of the City address at a virtual event hosted by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, June 17, 2021, at 1 p.m.
“While we have endured many challenges over the past year, I am excited for the future of Oxnard,” said Mayor Zaragoza. “Thanks to the voters’ approval of Measure E, we will have our first positive budget in more than a decade. We are beginning our first year of restoring many services that our community needs and deserves. Together with my City Council colleagues, we established our 5-year priorities, which provide a roadmap for continued progress.”
A superior court judge denied a request from Oxnard City Treasurer Phillip Molina demanding unredacted versions of an investigator’s personnel report into employee complaints against Molina. Molina also sought transcribed statements of witnesses interviewed by the investigator, the City of Oxnard reported in a media release on May 5.
The judge stated that the information Molina seeks is not discoverable in this action and issued monetary sanctions of $1,050 to be paid by Molina. Molina’s lawsuit challenges the ordinance and resolutions adopted unanimously by the City Council in May of 2020, removing the Treasurer’s administrative duties.
On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, the Oxnard City Council will consider a resolution condemning racism, xenophobia, violence, and hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
“We are mourning for the victims of these senseless crimes that we have seen increasingly throughout the pandemic, and we stand in solidarity with the Asian American community during these difficult times,” said Mayor John C. Zaragoza.
“It is vital that we take a stand against any act of hatred or violence towards the AAPI community. In Oxnard, we remain committed to celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our diversity is our strength, and we must commit to breaking down any barriers that separate us from each other.”
