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 city's need to avoid "double-dipping" late-penalty dollars that are already included in cost-of-service analyses for individual utilities. City staff said they evaluate how much of the late-penalty revenue can be used for ratepayer assistance and are cautious not to create a funding level the city could not sustain.

Staff provided application details: applicants must be enrolled in CARE with Southern California Edison or SoCalGas, submit the city application and document participation. Yanez said applicants can call (805) 200-2202 or find the online application at www.oxnard.gov/finance/utility-billing/project-assist. The committee recommendation to adopt the resolution and fund Project Assist passed on a 3–0 vote.

Contracts and on-call professional services

The committee recommended council approval of a one-year agreement with Corolla Engineers for a biosolids master plan for the wastewater division. Staff described the master plan as a roadmap for solids handling, cogeneration and potential regulatory changes; the contract term runs May 6, 2025, through May 5, 2026, with an option for a one-year extension and a contract amount not to exceed $423,422. The motion carried 3–0.

The committee also recommended approval of multiple on-call agreements, each structured with a one-year initial term and up to four one-year extensions. For on-call professional environmental services, the committee recommended three agreements (Rincon Consultants; Dedek; Ultra Systems Environmental Inc.), each with a five‑year capacity not to exceed $500,000. For on-call professional engineering services the committee recommended three agreements (CSG Consultants; Encompass Consultant Group; Sumas), each with a capacity not to exceed $750,000. For on-call surveying services the committee recommended three agreements (Dedek; M and S Engineering; Omni Design), each not to exceed $500,000. Staff emphasized these on-call contracts let the city expedite specialized work (NEPA/CEQA, hazardous materials field work, hydrology/hydraulics, etc.) by issuing task orders to pre‑qualified firms; all motions carried 3–0.

Landscape and parks maintenance

The committee recommended multi-year service agreements with Green Coast Landscapers for citywide street and median landscapes and for general-fund parks. The street/median package includes three agreements (initial three-year term from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, with two one‑year extension options) with maximum amounts of $3,819,000; $4,294,000; and $3,527,000. Staff said the scope increases maintenance frequency from every two weeks to weekly service in all three regions, adds weekly trimming of reachable queen palms during visits, and includes on-call responses for significant weather events and seasonal weeds. Staff said inspection templates and supervisory oversight will support contractor performance; the contract package was recommended 3–0.

For parks, staff consolidated several existing agreements into four regional park maintenance agreements (three‑year initial term, same extension options) with not-to-exceed amounts of $913,000; $822,000; $1,827,000; and $1,008,000. Staff said routine landscape tasks will be performed by the contractors, freeing city crews to focus on reactive repairs, tree emergencies and playground or plumbing maintenance. The parks package was recommended 3–0.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (03/25/2025): motion carried 3–0. - D1: Adopt resolution for Project Assist (FY2025–26); authorize up to $25/month credit; fund by $270,000 in late penalties: recommended 3–0. - D2: Agreement with Corolla Engineers — Biosolids master plan; term 05/06/2025–05/05/2026 (option to 05/05/2027); not to exceed $423,422: recommended 3–0. - D3: On-call professional environmental services — three agreements (Rincon Consultants; Dedek; Ultra Systems Environmental Inc.); not to exceed $500,000 each (term 04/30/2025–04/29/2026 with extensions): recommended 3–0. - D4: On-call professional engineering services — three agreements (CSG Consultants; Encompass Consultant Group; Sumas); not to exceed $750,000 each: recommended 3–0. - D5: On-call surveying services — three agreements (Dedek; M and S Engineering; Omni Design); not to exceed $500,000 each: recommended 3–0. - D6: Green Coast Landscapers — citywide street and median landscape maintenance; three agreements with not-to-exceed amounts $3,819,000; $4,294,000; $3,527,000 (term begins 07/01/2025): recommended 3–0. - D7: Green Coast Landscapers — general-fund parks maintenance; four agreements with not-to-exceed amounts $913,000; $822,000; $1,827,000; $1,008,000 (term begins 07/01/2025): recommended 3–0.

What this means next

Each committee recommendation goes to the City Council for final action. Staff said Project Assist enrollment and contractor procurement documents are available online and staff will follow the city's procurement policies and cost‑of‑service analyses in implementing the programs and contracts.

(Reporting from the April 8, 2025 Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting.)