Oxnard committee backs Project Assist expansion and approves multiple service contracts

The Public Works and Transportation Committee on April 8 recommended that the City Council expand its utility ratepayer assistance program and approved a series of professional and maintenance contracts to support infrastructure and parks work across Oxnard.

The committee recommended adoption of a resolution to fund Project Assist for fiscal year 2025–26 and to provide a monthly credit of up to $25 on residential utility bills for eligible customers, funded by $270,000 drawn from late-penalty receipts. The committee also recommended council approval of a one-year agreement with Corolla Engineers to prepare a biosolids master plan for the wastewater division and approved multiple one‑year on-call agreements for environmental, engineering and surveying services. In separate votes the committee approved multi‑year landscape maintenance contracts with Green Coast Landscapers for city medians, street landscapes and parks.

Project Assist expansion and eligibility

Assistant Public Works Director Brian Yanez told the committee the Project Assist program is funded from late penalties collected on utility accounts and that the city uses the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) enrollment with Edison or SoCalGas as the eligibility screen. The staff recommendation would increase available funding to $270,000, enabling up to 900 participants to receive up to a $25 monthly credit on solid waste (refuse), water and wastewater utility charges. Yanez said the program began in fiscal year 2017–18 and that the city budgeted $241,500 this past year, which allowed 805 participants if each signed up for 12 months.

The committee discussed the program mechanics and the…