[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6651815,"mediaKeyId","2497458-51a6c66243441c14c7f24a6c1b5ad15e","parentId",2497458,"title","Oxnard council adopts ordinance shifting some treasurer duties after appellate decision; debate centers on due process and staffing","audioSeconds",1692,"startMs",6610000,"endMs",8302000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497458-51a6c66243441c14c7f24a6c1b5ad15e&start=6610&end=8302","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497458-51a6c66243441c14c7f24a6c1b5ad15e/thumbnail_6610000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6651815/Oxnard-City/Ventura-County/California/Oxnard-council-adopts-ordinance-shifting-some-treasurer-duties-after-appellate-decision-debate-centers-on-due-process-and-staffing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6651815-4e7005166053bae5eed8e458af6ac5c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614537&Signature=O4ce~97RBW0RMTBJKumfUtwkPPEHg9g3ecL8Hb-6i0b2eqfkl1ahPWGjm4JpkH-LslJ1nb5X4upyOU9NEWystw~3qrEcBFE~dk2xWK1TgUBt-u6iCb0hjgxlN0gWXqmatuPahVFiwc1aszN5-~vjNFFvLIxSZdetT-FMbDZkBv7C-UyDxELm5RotMdEaIYJay7AnExxKaenvl-OZKVOHZ6J~hCqUOuZ4ZxrJJIlJJdn137k6KPisSQQVufp8SbX46KHgdz73-kc3kk1-P-Sf3L2fBtjHdpGSiIZC7jWa2Aa9ryN1Tk79gdZ2-W8BJIsz-iucWPYGptMKT7n9oHVDKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Oxnard, CA","date","2025-03-05T06:31:27.25Z","article","The Oxnard City Council on March 4 adopted an ordinance that moves certain duties involving the collection of fees and taxes and some payment-processing responsibilities away from the elected City Treasurer and toward city staff and the police chief, saying the change implements aspects of a court of appeals decision. The ordinance passed on a 6-1 vote.

City Attorney staff presented the ordinance as an implementation of an appellate decision concerning the scope of duties reserved for the elected treasurer. The attorney told the council the ordinance \"makes no more or less changes than the appellate court said the city council was allowed to do\" and that adopting the ordinance would not remove the treasurer from office.

City Treasurer Phil Molina testified at length during the council discussion. Molina said he still needs access to records, staff and training to carry out the treasurer\u0017s statutory responsibilities and said he does not currently have the resources required. \"As of this time, that's correct,\" he said when asked whether he lacked access to necessary resources. Molina described duties he believes remain with the elected office and requested the ability to examine deposits, postings and financial transactions to perform monthly reporting to the legislative body.

Opposition from some council members centered on procedural fairness and the investigative record that led to the ordinance. Councilmember Starr said the process had \"circumvented the court\" and raised concerns about denying an elected official the same cross-examination protections that would exist in a criminal proceeding. He said he would vote no.

The city attorney noted that the investigative materials included written declarations signed under penalty of perjury and that multiple former and current staff had reported conduct they described as inappropriate. Some council members and speakers said the ordinance was necessary to protect employees and preserve the integrity of the city\u0017s finance operations.

Public comment before the vote included staff and community speakers on both sides. A representative for the petitioners and private citizens urged the council to uphold the court\u0017s guidance and adopt the ordinance; others argued the council was effectively sidelining a voter-elected official and urged caution.

The ordinance transfers enumerated collection duties and certain check-payment functions to the assistant city treasurer and designates the police chief (or the chief\u0017s designee) as the listed collector in city code. The city attorney told the council the action, if adopted, would place the city in compliance with the appellate ruling within 30 days.

Molina said he and city staff are discussing what additional access, training and staffing he would need to perform the duties that remain under his statutory authority. Assistant City Manager Eric Sonstegard said staff will work with Molina to provide necessary materials and identify training.

The final roll call on the ordinance: Parralo (yes), Perez (yes), Rodriguez (yes), Mayor Pro Tem Turan (yes), Basua (yes), Mayor MacArthur (yes), and Councilmember Starr (no). The motion to adopt was made and seconded on the record before the vote.

The ordinance did not specify a change in salary or removal from office; those remain as provided by state law for elected officials. The council directed staff to proceed with implementation steps described in the ordinance and to coordinate with the treasurer's office on access to records and training needed to perform remaining statutory duties.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - 3/4/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council adopted an ordinance to transfer certain collection and payment-processing duties from the elected city treasurer to city staff and the police chief, citing a court ruling; the item drew extended public comment, testimony from City Treasurer Phil Molina and a 6-1 council vote.","taxTitle","Oxnard City, Ventura County, California","taxId",3809,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6651818,"Oxnard council directs attorney to challenge county approval of Shoals battery project",0,6561000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497458-51a6c66243441c14c7f24a6c1b5ad15e&start=6561&end=6561","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497458-51a6c66243441c14c7f24a6c1b5ad15e/thumbnail_6561000.jpg","/articles/6651818/Oxnard-City/Ventura-County/California/Oxnard-council-directs-attorney-to-challenge-county-approval-of-Shoals-battery-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6651818-59bf4116902327722bdaaacbdb303b0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614537&Signature=MdydDqInRShx3JhxFOkwC8e-mvBBB2-ZmiduiNOER33swWEKcWAiVAWyQQlo-8buNZLqBh-PSuxAdNMuNyrV3qpQokLE~4merudjdLZQ3BelPOwKALCOohVx6Wvk0LZEwtU7DGVDTF1OlusPhX4XAFg2FmNRRHNi03YNSvBxHl87nnMALxPEGRVEEAuglWw-ycmkCBJyXb0dDhB1MorRX34RPteOWleu0lRL-IRVHFPaZ-Skx4451VUzSRzrSzj~U1i0JgfvNAgWhHVqWWkZBuQZzfI82X6~8FXmqxQ36xW2qswq5jf7~2KvhQ-i19cGZ88ftm7qYG9SDEUgfuFifw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oxnard City Council voted 4-3 on March 4 to direct the city attorney to initiate legal action challenging the Ventura County Planning Commission\u0017s approval of a proposed battery energy storage project known as the Shoals project.

The move, announced publicly after the council returned from closed session, was explained by the city attorney as a direction to \"initiate an action to challenge the approval by the Ventura County Planning Commission of a battery storage system project known as the Shoals project proposed by Wellhead Power Solutions LLC\" (County Of Ventura Permit Number PL24-twenty4). The council split on the motion: Mayor MacArthur, Councilwoman Rodriguez, Councilmember Perello and Mayor Pro Tem Turan voted in favor; Councilmember Starr, Councilwoman Basua and Councilwoman Perez voted no.

The issue drew public comment before the council recessed into closed session. Hal Dittmer, president of Wellhead Power Solutions and the developer of the Shoals Energy Project, urged the council to delay any lawsuit while project proponents continue permitting work. \"Given the recent publicity about battery fires... I get it that you want to take a special look at this,\" Dittmer said, adding that the company is proposing \"to build a very large $500,000,000 project\" that he said would improve local energy reliability and produce property tax revenue for schools. He told council members he and his team were continuing to work with county planners and the Oxnard Fire Department and asked the council not to initiate litigation immediately while lenders are being lined up.

Council members who voted to authorize the legal action emphasized deference to public-safety and land-use concerns raised during the council\u0017s closed-session review and regulatory review of the county approval. Those who opposed the action said they were not yet convinced litigation was warranted and expressed interest in additional conversations with the developer and county staff.

The Shoals project, as discussed in public comment, is proposed on agricultural land south of Gonzales Road and about a half-mile west of Victoria Avenue in unincorporated Ventura County. According to remarks made from the podium, the developer has characterized it as a large-scale energy storage facility sited on county land; the project is not within Oxnard city limits but is within the region the council said it seeks to influence because of safety and regional reliability concerns.

The action directs the city attorney to commence a legal challenge; the announcement did not include a timetable for filing. The city attorney will handle next steps and any filings in the appropriate court. Dittmer said the project team had been talking with lenders and local permitting agencies and asked the council to allow negotiations and further technical review before pursuing litigation.

The council\u0017s 4-3 direction to the city attorney follows months of public attention to battery storage safety and county-level planning actions. The city\u0017s announcement did not indicate whether the challenge would seek to overturn the county decision, delay project construction, or advance other remedies.

The matter is expected to generate further legal filings and public updates as the city attorney proceeds.","By a 4-3 vote the Oxnard City Council directed the city attorney to initiate legal action to challenge the Ventura County Planning Commission’s approval of the Shoals energy storage project; the decision followed public comment by the project developer and drew divided council votes.","actionData","errors"]

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Oxnard council adopts ordinance shifting some treasurer duties after appellate decision; debate centers on due process and staffing

Oxnard council directs attorney to challenge county approval of Shoals battery project