Committee recommends private-parking ordinance to let large shopping centers run on-site parking enforcement

The Oxnard Community Services, Public Safety and Housing Development Committee on May 13 recommended that the City Council adopt a private-parking ordinance allowing commercial property owners to hire private operators to issue parking citations and manage enforcement on private lots.

The measure, proposed by the Community Development Department, would add a new Division to Chapter 8 of the Oxnard City Code (proposed Sections 8-60.1 through 8-61.11) to authorize private parking operators to implement on-site citation and appeals procedures. The committee voted 3-0 to forward the ordinance to the City Council.

Why it matters: Supporters told the committee that better turnover in prime parking spaces preserves customer access to downtown and shopping centers and supports local businesses. Bob Power, president and owner of Park Smart, said the company helps “put parking programs together to create better turnover of parking spaces.” City staff and private vendors said the law makes enforcement more predictable and formalizes signage and appeals procedures.

What the ordinance would do: According to staff, provisions include minimum sign sizes and placement, required language on citations (including a ban on using the city logo), an appeals and arbitration process, and standards the city would review as part of an application. Staff said towing rules and the right to impound vehicles remain governed by state vehicle code and existing towing contracts; the ordinance does not change the substantive towing law.

Key clarifications and limits discussed at the meeting: Jeff Bengelli, Community Development Director, said the city would charge an application fee limited to staff time to review plans and would not collect fine revenue. Bengelli described the fee as a “fee for service” to recover planning review costs and said the planning hourly rate is about $134; the final fee will depend on the amount of staff time required. Staff said permitted parking enforcement would be voluntary for property owners, intended for larger commercial lots (a threshold of about 200 spaces was discussed), and operators would be required to present signage, towing information, and dispute-resolution plans for city review.

Protections and prohibitions: The proposed ordinance includes a section on prohibited business practices. Staff said operators may not immobilize vehicles, report or threaten to report unpaid parking citations to credit bureaus or the DMV as a collection tactic, or issue citations that could be mistaken for a City of Oxnard citation. Businesses may, however, pursue unpaid citations through judicial action and then report to credit agencies if ordered by a court.

Support and scope: Staff said they received letters of support from the West Ventura County Business Alliance and a security company serving local shopping centers. Staff said the ordinance was developed in response to Assembly Bill AB 451 (2016), which allows local jurisdictions to adopt rules permitting private parking citation programs tailored to local needs.

Next steps: The committee voted to recommend the ordinance to the City Council by a 3-0 vote. If Council approves, property owners who opt in would submit an application, including signage and dispute plans, for city review and the city would retain the right to inspect and revoke approval if operators do not comply with their approved plans.

Ending: Committee members asked staff to encourage advance notification to employees and the public before any enforcement begins and to consider bilingual signage as part of review plans. The staff presentation and public comments noted the program’s voluntary nature and stressed the city’s limited role in citation issuance and fine collection.