Assistant City Attorney Elle McCarron told the Oxnard City Council on Nov. 3 that city staff recommends accepting a donated boat and authorizing the purchasing agent to dispose of it to avoid ongoing storage fees.

The vessel, identified on the DMV title as Fernway with hull number SERF6959A686, had been moored at the Seabridge Visitor Dock "since at least 09/15/2025," McCarron said. She said the boat was brought to the dock without the owner’s knowledge, sustained damage that rendered it inoperable, and had accumulated citations for extended mooring in violation of the dock’s rules.

McCarron said the city removed the boat at its own expense and towed it to a storage facility on Oct. 9, 2025. "The city is required to store the boat for 90 days and then pursue a maritime lien," she said. City-paid costs reported in the presentation include a $500 tow from the dock to the storage yard, a one-time $440 storage and basic hazard fee, and a storage rate of $117 per day (about $3,500 per month). McCarron said the city’s costs as of Nov. 3, 2025, were approximately $3,865 and estimated the city would incur at least $10,500 in costs if it must store the boat for the full 90 days.

Anthony Harris, the owner, signed a city-approved donation agreement and provided the DMV title. McCarron said the title lists the vessel’s value as $6,000, but staff "cannot estimate or approximate the value of the boat or the auction value." Staff recommended the council accept the donation agreement so the purchasing agent can "dispose of the boat through the most cost effective means, including auction as scrap or a junk sale," thereby stopping further storage charges and potentially recovering some expenses.

The presentation did not record a Council vote or formal motion. If the council accepts the donation in a later vote, staff said the purchasing agent would be authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of the vessel; if not, the city would retain the vessel in storage and may pursue a maritime lien after the 90-day holding period.