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Oxnard committee approves ordinance amending rules for disposal of confiscated property; vendors, propane risks cited
Summary
The committee voted 3-0 June 24 to recommend an ordinance amending Article 3 of Chapter 7 on disposal of confiscated, impounded and unclaimed property; staff described enforcement against illegal food vendors and cited injuries, removed propane bottles and civil citations.
The Oxnard City Community Services, Public Safety and Housing Development Committee on June 24 voted 3-0 to recommend that the City Council introduce an ordinance by title only and waive further reading to amend Article 3 of Chapter 7 of the Oxnard city code regarding disposal of confiscated, impounded and unclaimed property.
Discussion focused on public-safety risks and economic effects tied to unpermitted mobile food vendors. Carson Guthrie, Assistant Fire Chief, described a multi-agency task force known as the HERO program (Hazard Elimination Reduction Operation) that targets illegal food vendors. Guthrie said the fire department leads the task force while code enforcement performs much of the day-to-day work.
Andrew Dixon, co-compliance manager for the city, told the committee that the number of pop-up vendors observed in Oxnard has dropped from about 35 to four; three of those are part of an operation based in Los Angeles and one is local to Oxnard’s Colonia neighborhood. Dixon said the city’s compliance approach emphasizes education first and that some vendors have become licensed mobile food operators after contact with enforcement staff. “It actually, it makes your day when you pull up on a gentleman that you've dealt with over and over and you expect the worst and you are surprised to find he's got his health department sticker, he's got his business license from the city of Oxnard,” Dixon said.
Staff provided enforcement statistics: about 89 civil citations issued in fiscal year 2024–25, 111 propane bottles removed from sidewalks and 53 open-flame grills taken out of pedestrian areas. Dixon said the inspections average about five enforcement operations per month and that unsafe setups have caused burn injuries in the past — including one severe burn incident described to the committee.
Committee members expressed support for the ordinance and for continued emphasis on bringing vendors into compliance rather than simply shutting them down. The motion to recommend introduction to the City Council passed 3-0 with votes from Committee member Perallo, Committee member Perez and Chair MacArthur.
