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Council designates mayor for Washington lobbying trip to advocate for naval base and regional defense priorities; dredge remains central issue
Summary
Council voted unanimously to send the mayor to the Regional Defense Partnership’s Washington, D.C., lobbying trip March 23–27, using a councilmember travel stipend; councilmembers discussed dredging and sand replenishment as a top advocacy priority and directed staff to return with RDP appointment items and talking points.
The Port Hueneme City Council voted Feb. 4 to authorize the mayor to represent the city at the Regional Defense Partnership (RDP) lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., March 23–27, delegating the travel cost to an individual councilmember travel allocation.
Nut graf: Councilmembers framed the trip as an opportunity to press federal, military and agency partners on topics that affect the city — most prominently beach sand replenishment and projects tied to Naval Base Ventura County and Port Hueneme — and they asked staff to return with RDP appointment items and a list of desired talking points.
City staff explained the RDP trip brings municipal leaders together with military and congressional staff to advocate for base priorities and defense‑adjacent community needs. Council discussion emphasized sand‑restoration/dredging advocacy: members described the dredge program as essential to protecting coastal infrastructure and the local economy and noted recent shortfalls in sand deliveries.
"We form we are a coalition that advocates for the monies that support the dredging project," one councilmember said during the discussion. Several councilmembers and staff said the RDP coalition has been a useful forum for raising local needs in Washington.
Councilmember Perez moved to nominate Mayor McQueen LaJeanne to attend the trip; the motion carried unanimously. The city will use the individual councilmember travel allowance to cover the trip expense. Council also asked staff to prepare RDP appointment items for a future meeting and to provide suggested talking points for the Washington visits, with an emphasis on dredging, base‑related grant opportunities and other projects that can benefit Port Hueneme.
Ending: The motion to send the mayor passed unanimously (Gama: yes; Hernandez: yes; Perez: yes; Lopez: yes; Mayor McQueen LaJeanne: yes). Council asked staff to return to the March 3 meeting with RDP appointment options and talking points to prepare for the trip.
