[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6649880,"mediaKeyId","2510996-3973360ccc0292921d55dec1a688c9f7","parentId",2510996,"title","Oxnard approves allocation of federal and state asset-forfeiture funds for police programs and community microgrants","audioSeconds",160,"startMs",9258000,"endMs",9418000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510996-3973360ccc0292921d55dec1a688c9f7&start=9258&end=9418","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510996-3973360ccc0292921d55dec1a688c9f7/thumbnail_9258000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6649880/Oxnard-City/Ventura-County/California/Oxnard-approves-allocation-of-federal-and-state-asset-forfeiture-funds-for-police-programs-and-community-microgrants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649880-587351d69412886ceb90b04daa2739e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165424&Signature=ElU6eBDxCGBVyVf2hodSNJ3hLeeFnHxmqnsDkYlyPqYWV5G0pVJb~NANkcQvoQYqMKz6~f-TTln4VVHE-iIn1DnNDrg79TEW46jCJytGf2FSsowc7mU6~CuXABPI1chTRoC~pMes0t07d5mVwepK-e6TjakpMsGUvvmdhDWVV8F49e7TDsp~j9eLiC44ifoVehhuRnYS~dgIXszVaTkrPnGH1PLcjZ6nNbgjHFMWQKU13CI2pXh2swgTKzQSFops4JcRpIgcscsr2xu7ZefkSLD3lIrM299Gda~EP80-RmGUWJKs-rN4D8z0NmqpoOAMkZy4nDz~jRrY0Ca46sOCNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Oxnard, CA","date","2025-03-06T01:19:35.707Z","article","The Oxnard City Council approved March 4 budget appropriations to accept and allocate federal and state asset-forfeiture proceeds for use by the Police Department, and confirmed a program that makes a portion of state forfeiture funds available as microgrants to community organizations.

Council voted to appropriate the requested amounts and to use a set-aside of state forfeiture proceeds (15%) for community grants; the action passed unanimously. The police chief said the city issues a news release each December inviting community organizations to apply for microscale grants; the department then evaluates proposals and awards sums typically ranging from $1,000 to $2,000.

Why it matters: Asset forfeiture proceeds are derived from criminal investigations and joint law-enforcement actions. The council’s decision funds crime-prevention and department operations; one councilmember used the discussion to flag civil-forfeiture concerns around due process and the difficulty property owners sometimes face in reclaiming seized assets.

What the council approved: Staff requested and the council approved appropriations totaling the amounts listed in the March 4 agenda packet for federal and state forfeiture funds (specific line-item totals were approved by roll call). Police staff said the city has used a public call for applications and awarded microgrants in recent years to local nonprofits and community groups.

Discussion: Councilmember Starr expressed discomfort with civil-forfeiture practice nationally, noting studies that show many cash seizures are small and that property owners sometimes face difficulty recovering assets when no criminal charge follows. The police chief and staff said forfeiture actions typically result from joint investigations with federal partners and that a share of proceeds is allocated according to participating agency agreements.

Next steps: The Police Department will continue the outreach and public-notice process for community microgrants and implement the approved appropriation. The council received the staff report and approved the requested budget amendments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - March 4, 2025 - FULL RECORDING","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council approved budget appropriations for federal and state asset forfeiture funds to the Police Department and confirmed a plan to use a portion of state funds for community microgrants to nonprofits; council discussed civil-forfeiture concerns.","taxTitle","Oxnard City, Ventura County, California","taxId",3809,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6649885,"Oxnard wastewater plant notified state after primary-only discharge; city says permit not violated",92,9130000,9222000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510996-3973360ccc0292921d55dec1a688c9f7&start=9130&end=9222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510996-3973360ccc0292921d55dec1a688c9f7/thumbnail_9130000.jpg","/articles/6649885/Oxnard-City/Ventura-County/California/Oxnard-wastewater-plant-notified-state-after-primary-only-discharge-city-says-permit-not-violated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649885-76e83536299287e5a8cedbbdf5b339fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165424&Signature=H04EkH9XkSQMagPDoqKy6T~LE9cDFLGXxqi11Ldea6srw6R~X4IujxO7RwtnonqbrbsNH4f2mM2Eh4sPklnieeiXcyFW7YS49ogxUnZ6uQ3xFom9fD1ElCoas50F9YmXOd8NQwZBsE8oqLatdp6cKsK0DBGzxdGAyv~3zh7Ze0SUKzewg6q7Bsdmnd452a0rUxZ7qgJAeTIyxhcoJHi57FZaFDcchw8WuZYxsuiahTSu1-4zZzPl0uiIZukrz0tVjM-lnE3WjLuC2ko1mPG4Iquk57C0zpECyrkXcR-xwdvPZbY83QAq64ENF8A6RG6zaU2J1r1bqiIx~HzyjZz4eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City public works officials told the Oxnard City Council on March 4 that a recent operational error at the wastewater treatment plant resulted in partially treated effluent bypassing secondary treatment before ocean discharge but did not violate the plant’s discharge permit, and the state was notified.

Public Works Director Michael Wolf explained that a partially closed gate allowed wastewater to pass through primary treatment but bypass secondary treatment; the mixed effluent was discharged to the ocean but staff said the plant did not exceed its permitted limits. \"We had to make notification to the state agencies,\" he said, adding staff identified and corrected the closed gate, added signage and retrained personnel to prevent recurrence.

Why it matters: The city operates under a state permit that controls offshore discharge of treated wastewater. City staff said the incident did not violate the permit and no fines were issued. Council members asked that the public be informed and recommended a fuller report at a future Public Works committee meeting.

What happened: Public Works described the sequence as an equipment/operations problem in which an internal gate did not open, allowing primary-treated wastewater to mix with properly treated flow before discharge. Staff said they discovered and fixed the gate, notified state regulators and documented corrective steps including signage and staff guidance.

Follow-up: Council asked for a brief public summary and for staff to consider a short report to the Public Works and Transportation Committee with more details. The city manager said staff had already circulated information to council and would post facts on the city website.

Public reassurance: The director said the plant has a state permit to discharge treated effluent offshore and staff took immediate corrective and reporting steps; he said there was no permit violation and the city was not fined.","City public works staff told the council that a partially closed gate at the wastewater plant allowed primary-treated effluent to mix with fully treated effluent before ocean discharge; staff notified state agencies and said the permit was not violated and no fines were issued.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6649890,"Council adopts ordinance narrowing city treasurer duties after appellate ruling; vote 6-1",1050,11220000,12270000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510996-3973360ccc0292921d55dec1a688c9f7&start=11220&end=12270","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510996-3973360ccc0292921d55dec1a688c9f7/thumbnail_11220000.jpg","/articles/6649890/Oxnard-City/Ventura-County/California/Council-adopts-ordinance-narrowing-city-treasurer-duties-after-appellate-ruling-vote-6-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649890-1f7f1a7607638cc66c7bbfc7c5a0d498/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165424&Signature=Q6D69p8G0V86~YKmvD9dM44WVJUWOWIeF6Lh7mSyE2sM-lHqmSq~1FFLdBam7GfqHGXCngdS9azP8NIu5cgMTxReyELrR6lVOiZK5WRJxs7BCkAFg4~C09iP1NB2Wdv9iFzOlHoRxLtcJe8rIb6wP1XAQzZFCLg2qqCUJBcrXpS3vJp5tYsa6I~kz6IEWmBhaRL7uQj16iNRLSOhODGjdv-eOr2C-oNVkmhmqEaTQxEIYELvIsIhcH3GLzJ3gUy7DTIzYLfSehH7WYBOmaAPqchUBef2VfudambNu9Myu87okQWaCYBUa4R2092ItlLnFojOOmSLKhtjkCQKpk6Juw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oxnard City Council adopted an ordinance on March 4 transferring specified collection and payment duties previously performed by the elected city treasurer to city staff and the chief of police, a move the council says complies with an appellate court decision. The ordinance passed 6-1, with Councilmember Aaron Starr voting no.

Why it matters: The change alters the practical responsibilities of a locally elected official and follows prolonged dispute and litigation over the treasurer’s role. Supporters say it aligns the code with the appeals court’s narrow ruling; opponents and the treasurer say it removes oversight and was unfair.

What was adopted: The ordinance amends local code to move duties “relating to the collection of fees and taxes” and certain payment procedures away from the city treasurer and to allocate those duties to the police chief or assistant treasurer and other staff as described in the ordinance. City staff said the change is meant to implement the appellate court’s direction while keeping the treasurer’s statutory duties intact.

Debate and public comment: The item drew sustained debate and multiple public speakers. City Treasurer Phil Molina spoke at length, saying he lacked current staff access and systems to perform the remaining statutory duties and that he was considering legal options. “No. I do not,” Molina said when asked if he currently had the access and resources required to perform the remaining treasurer duties; he then listed specific statutory duties, such as monthly reports and custody of receipts, and the resources he said he needed.

Supporters of the ordinance, including the city attorney and other council members, said the ordinance implements what the appeals court allowed and does not remove the treasurer from office. The city attorney said adopting the ordinance “makes no more or less changes that the appellate court said the city council was allowed to do.” Speaker Deirdre Frank, an attorney, urged adoption, saying the city must protect employees and comply with the court order. Opponents argued the process did not give Molina adequate opportunity to challenge evidence in personnel investigations and said the measure undercuts a voter-elected officer.

Vote and outcome: The ordinance passed on the second-reading action recorded at the meeting with a 6-1 tally: yes — Mayor MacArthur, Councilwoman Rodriguez, Councilmember Perillo, Mayor Pro Tem Turan, Councilwoman Basua, Councilwoman Perez; no — Councilman Starr. Councilmembers present recorded the roll call after debate.

Implementation and next steps: If adopted, the ordinance takes effect after the statutory waiting period; city staff said they would provide access, training and reporting formats to the treasurer to enable remaining statutory duties. The treasurer indicated he was evaluating legal options and had previously indicated the possibility of further court action.

Background: The change stems from a series of investigations and litigation that examined workplace conduct and city practice around the treasurer’s office. An appellate court ruling narrowed the treasurer’s authority; the council and staff say the ordinance implements the court’s direction. The transcript shows earlier closed-session work on related litigation and personnel matters.

What remains unresolved: The treasurer and some members of the public questioned whether staff would give him sufficient access to financial systems and records needed to perform his statutory responsibilities. City staff said they would work to provide training and access to the treasurer’s office and its deputies.

","The Oxnard City Council voted 6-1 to adopt an ordinance reallocating certain collection and payment duties away from the elected city treasurer, following a court ruling and months of dispute; the vote sparked extended debate and public comment.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6649895,"Oxnard council votes 4-3 to authorize legal challenge of Shoals battery project approval",5883,812000,6695000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510996-3973360ccc0292921d55dec1a688c9f7&start=812&end=6695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510996-3973360ccc0292921d55dec1a688c9f7/thumbnail_812000.jpg","/articles/6649895/Oxnard-City/Ventura-County/California/Oxnard-council-votes-4-3-to-authorize-legal-challenge-of-Shoals-battery-project-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649895-06f2d19bc8b03ecc05606081132d0362/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165424&Signature=Oj0LCJXTKWxyf8RWImV0ppc-EensvMkwGw0UU50rlhnsYK00R1KISlQ17XdqCqk7kcJex37CjRzRzmQuq2ZHWwYGt4YKdM0oFmHCq6~Ch-KVFaLZuoKH5770Oxm~uLC0lR3Q96tcPfaTyClaIivIeKY-HP4L-LcD~j68do~-6d0nWNn97XI983zuj4vvrqii0uX0QGQ-nmG~RNE1WSBI7ImzjkN5OCy2J84GLL8XW7stdr~gGBRFJ7LTvoaRlc~BkgUAkBoALXv-LeSmGGRPXOldjxNAY21HXsuy69ZeLhX5Oy45HCz3U8S0U2cMJMB8DVdycEAphZDH4s8cN3m11w__&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’s approval of the Shoals energy storage project proposed by Wellhead Power Solutions LLC.

The vote, announced at the meeting’s start after the council returned from closed session, instructs the city attorney to challenge the county’s approval of the proposed battery storage facility on agricultural land south of Gonzales Road, about a half mile west of Victoria Avenue. The motion passed with Mayor MacArthur, Councilwoman Rodriguez, Councilmember Perillo and Mayor Pro Tem Turan voting to proceed; Councilwoman Starr, Councilwoman Basua and Councilwoman Perez voted no.

Why it matters: The action will move a local land-use dispute into court and could delay or alter the project’s timeline if litigation proceeds. The developer has said the project would be a large investment in regional energy infrastructure and property tax revenue for schools.

Developer Hal Dittmer, president of Wellhead Power Solutions, spoke during the meeting’s public comment on the matter and urged the council to continue conversations rather than sue. “We’re proposing to build a very large $500,000,000 project,” Dittmer said, and urged “don’t file a suit yet because frankly the project is in right at a time where we are talking to lenders.” He also told council members to “insist on outdoor storage in certified ... UL containers” and emphasized “proper battery chemistry.”

After closed session, the City Attorney announced the council’s direction: “The city council by a vote of 4 to 3 ... has directed the city attorney 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,” the attorney said, adding a site description and the county permit reference.

What council members said: The record shows a split council. Supporters of the litigation argued the county approval raises local safety, land-use and community concerns and described litigation as the available legal remedy. Opponents said other remedies or additional review might be preferable and cautioned about the risk of litigation.

Next steps: The city attorney will prepare and file legal papers. The avenue identified in the public announcement is a court challenge to the county’s approval; the project is currently identified in county records as permit PL24-24. The city’s statement said the action is being taken “to challenge the approval by the Ventura County Planning Commission.”

Community context: The Shoals site and battery projects more broadly have drawn public attention for safety and land-use questions. Wellhead Power Solutions has said the facility would add storage capacity and claimed it would contribute substantial property tax revenue for schools.

A copy of the county permit number (PL24-24) and the city attorney’s formal complaint, when filed, will be public records and posted per the clerk’s usual procedures.

The council’s vote means the city will become a litigant in the challenge unless the council later changes course.

","After public comment from the project developer, the Oxnard City Council directed the city attorney to file suit challenging Ventura County Planning Commission approval of a large battery storage project proposed by Wellhead Power Solutions, with a 4-3 vote split along the council.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Oxnard approves allocation of federal and state asset-forfeiture funds for police programs and community microgrants

Oxnard wastewater plant notified state after primary-only discharge; city says permit not violated

Council adopts ordinance narrowing city treasurer duties after appellate ruling; vote 6-1

Oxnard council votes 4-3 to authorize legal challenge of Shoals battery project approval