Committee recommends Waterways Maintenance District assessment for 2025–26 despite member objection over voter approval, 2-1

The Oxnard City Finance and Governance Committee on May 27 recommended that the City Council, acting as the legislative body for the Waterways Maintenance District, hold the required public hearing and adopt a resolution to levy the district’s maintenance assessment for fiscal year 2025–26. The committee vote was 2–1; Committee Member Starr voted no.

During committee discussion Starr asked what would happen if the council did not adopt the assessment. City staff replied that if the council declined to adopt the resolution, responsibility for those investment and levy decisions would revert to the legislative body and the assessment would remain levied pending council action. Committee Member Starr said he intended to vote against the recommendation because “at no point have the registered voters in this district been given the opportunity to approve this tax in a general election.”

City staff presented the proposed assessment and confirmed there were no public speakers for the item. Staff did not provide a change to the recommended levy during the meeting; the committee then moved and seconded the recommendation to forward the measure to full council with a positive recommendation.

The motion carried 2–1 and will be scheduled for the City Council public hearing and final action. Committee members and staff noted that the legislative body retains authority to decide assessments if the council chooses not to delegate.