Board hears status updates on successor-agency properties in Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura

City officials updated the Ventura County Consolidated Oversight Board on Oct. 22 about the status of remaining successor‑agency properties for Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura and outlined next steps for appraisal, negotiation and surplus‑land procedures.

Fillmore: Kevin McSweeney, planning and community development director for the City of Fillmore, said three parcels remain under the city’s successor‑agency control. Two adjoining parcels are under agreement with Mini Mansions, a nonprofit developer, for a $1 sale approved by the Fillmore City Council in September 2023; the developer’s yield study indicated the site could accommodate about 50 units. "Since that time, they've conducted a yield study and determined 50 units can fit on the property, and they submitted an application in April 2025, and paid all fees," McSweeney said. McSweeney said remaining fees and expenses on that parcel would be borne by Mini Mansions going forward. He said a different, local for‑profit developer has expressed interest in the third site and that the city has begun negotiations; the site is about 10,000 square feet. McSweeney told the board he could not recall the last appraised value and that the city obtained an appraisal but would follow up with the amount. Board members asked about soil and liquefaction issues; McSweeney said soils work had been done and that the site faces complications with an adjoining unreinforced masonry building and some liquefaction risk.

Moorpark: Jessica Sandifer, deputy parks and recreation director for the City of Moorpark, said the city still holds one surplus parcel of about 2.25 acres that sits adjacent to the Arroyo Simi. Erosion has reduced the usable area to roughly an acre, Sandifer said, and a newly seated city council member has requested a workshop to review all city properties. "November 5, we're having a workshop to sort of get that direction, and then we'll move forward from there," Sandifer said. She said options under consideration include maintaining the parcel as city open space or developing it as a trailhead or other park amenity; she said staff will return with council direction in January.

Oxnard: Annie Jensen of the City of Oxnard reported that Oxnard inherited 51 properties at dissolution in 2012 and now has no physical successor‑agency properties remaining. Jensen summarized the remaining financial obligations, noting five bond obligations and three developer disposition agreements (DDAs) that extend through 2036 and 2038 for the final items. "At this time next year, one of our bond obligations will be complete. That'll be done. And then we have a little longer for the DDAs," Jensen said.

Ventura: Heather Bowling, senior management analyst for the City of Ventura, reported on Site 7 — a downtown parking‑lot property comprised of four adjacent parcels — and walked the board through the surplus‑land disposition steps required under state law. Bowling said Ventura requested updated appraisals for the successor‑agency parcels both individually and combined; the appraisal was expected within a week. She outlined the steps the city must take: declare the property surplus, issue notices of availability to public entities, notify affordable‑housing entities, solicit notices of interest, conduct good‑faith negotiations, and then set sale or lease terms. Bowling also said the city is prepared to continue operating the site as free public parking (with a four‑hour limit) or extend an existing lease if disposition does not move forward. "As soon as we get that appraisal, our next task will be to go to council, to request that they declare the property as surplus land," Bowling said. Board members asked for the appraisal and lease documentation and requested an update at the board's January meeting.

No formal board actions were taken on property dispositions during the meeting; staff said they would return with appraisal figures, council actions and additional documentation in January.