Oxnard council adopts FY2025‑26 budget and related measures; summary of votes and contract actions

The Oxnard City Council on June 17 approved the city’s fiscal year 2025‑26 operating and capital budgets, related administrative resolutions and a package of contracts and assessments. Several measures were adopted after public hearings and committee review; a small number of items drew divided votes.

Key outcomes (what the council approved) - Budget package: The council adopted the FY2025‑26 operating and capital budgets and related resolutions: (1) operating and capital budget; (2) full‑time equivalent positions; (3) classification and salary schedules; (4) financial management policies; (5) the appropriation limit; and (6) the master fee schedule. Several votes recorded showed a single dissenting vote from Councilmember Aaron Star on items tied directly to the general fund (Star voted no on the overall budget resolution number 1 and on several accompanying personnel and policy resolutions). - Community Facilities Districts and assessments: The council adopted the special tax rates and assessments for several community facilities districts (CFDs). Council separated CFD 5 (River Park) for a standalone vote; CFD 5’s proposed levy was approved unanimously after neighborhood outreach. - Maintenance and landscape assessment districts: The council held public hearings and adopted assessments for waterways and landscape maintenance districts. Several district items passed; one motion related to a particular assessment passed 6–1 with Councilmember Star dissenting and two councilmembers recused on specific parcels they identified as conflicts. - Contracts and procurement actions: The council approved a one‑year professional services agreement for safety training with EHS International and other consent items. A notable vote amended an existing contract for Tyler ERP (TG Consulting Services) to extend the term and increase the amount; that amendment passed 6–1 (Councilmember Star voted no amid concerns about using a former city employee as a sole consultant). - Public‑safety pension levy: The council adopted the annual property‑tax rate for voter‑authorized public‑safety pension obligations. The measure passed 6–1. - Homelessness and shelter funding: The council approved cost‑sharing agreements with Ventura County for a permanent year‑round shelter (vote outcome recorded in the meeting) and later discussed a Mercy House operating agreement; the shelter funding and operating measures are in the packet and were moved forward for the coming year.

Votes at a glance (selected formal actions taken in the meeting record) - Appointment to Cultural Arts Commission: Mayor’s appointment of Melia V. So to the Cultural Arts Commission (District 5) — carried 7–0. - Consent agenda (other than pulled items): carried 7–0. - K2: Agreement for publication of legal notices — carried 7–0. - K4: Third amendment to TG Consulting Services (Tyler EPL licensing module) — carried 6–1 (Star no). Motion increased contract and extended term through 11/30/2025. - K6: Safety training agreement with EHS International — carried 7–0. - L1 (Waterways maintenance district assessment): adopted — carried 6–1 (Star no). - L2 (Landscape maintenance district resolutions): Recommendation 2 carried 6–1 (Star no; recusals noted for specific parcels where councilmembers had conflicts); Recommendations 3 and 4 carried 7–0. - M1 (CFDs): CFD 5 (River Park) carried 7–0 separately; the remainder of CFD resolutions passed 6–1 (Star no). - M2 (Public‑safety property tax assessment): carried 6–1 (Star no). - M3 (FY2025‑26 budget package): the operating & capital budget adopted 6–1 (Star no); FTE positions adopted 6–1 (Star no); classification & salary schedule adopted 7–0; financial management policies adopted 6–1 (Star no); appropriation limit adopted 7–0; master fee schedule adopted 7–0. - M4 (Third amendment — county cost share for permanent year‑round shelter): carried with council majorities recorded (see staff report and minutes for roll call on specific line items); one member voted no while recusals were in effect for a councilmember who declared a conflict of interest on the item.

Notable debates and concerns raised - TG Consulting Services amendment (K4): Councilmember Star objected to extending and substantially increasing a contract with a sole‑proprietor consultant who is a former city employee, saying the rate and the decision process were concerning; other council members and staff said the consultant had unique subject‑matter expertise needed to complete the Tyler EPL implementation and that the amendment was the least‑cost path to finish the project. - Budget votes and debt financing: Councilmember Star opposed the budget package on philosophical grounds, arguing Oxnard should not use long‑term borrowing for capital projects without voter approval and urging tighter spending; other council members and staff noted the fiscal constraints, deferred projects from prior litigation over bond issuance and the policy tradeoffs between cash funding and issuing debt for large multi‑year capital projects.

Next steps and implementation risks - Several adopted measures rely on continued staff implementation and, in some cases, external approvals. Completion of the Tyler EPL licensing module remains dependent on consultant support and staff stability; staff described this as a final, time‑limited amendment to finish implementation. - A pending appellate and Supreme Court petition in the city’s bond litigation remains a risk to future debt issuance (staff advised plans assume no new bond issuance until the litigation is resolved).

Where to find details - The council packet and staff reports filed with the city clerk contain the full text of each resolution, contract amendment, the FY2025‑26 proposed budget and the enacted classification/salary tables. For specific roll‑call votes and the exact wording of motions, consult the official meeting minutes and audio available on the city’s website.

Ending: The city adopted its budget and a package of administrative resolutions for FY2025‑26, moved forward several maintenance and district assessments after public hearings, and approved contract amendments and homeless‑shelter cost‑sharing; one councilmember registered repeated dissent on budget and assessment items, and a few items drew recusals and requests for staff follow‑up.