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Public commenter urges Oxnard to restore elected city treasurer; committee schedules Feb. 18 workshop
Summary
During public comment the committee heard a call to restore the elected city treasurer’s office and to follow a court ruling; committee members said a council workshop on Feb. 18 will address related issues and staff noted the court judgment has not yet been signed.
Doug Portello, a public commenter, urged the Finance and Governance Committee on Jan. 28 to restore the City of Oxnard’s elected treasurer’s office and provide the elected officer with staff and resources.
Portello recounted events he said began in 2018, saying an elected treasurer had been removed from office and that a later court proceeding found in the treasurer’s favor. He told the committee the appellate decision stated the city could not "unelect the office of city treasurer and defeat the choice of the voters," and he urged the committee to "give" the elected treasurer the staffing needed to perform the office.
"The very voters that put each of our city council on the dais are watching and waiting for the council to do the right thing," Portello said.
Committee members clarified next steps during the meeting. A member noted a City Council workshop addressing the matter is scheduled for Feb. 18. City staff added that the signed judgment from the court had not yet been received and that several issues related to the matter were scheduled for the Feb. 18 session.
No motion or vote on the treasurer matter occurred during the committee meeting; Portello’s remarks were taken during the public comment period and the committee indicated the topic would be addressed at the upcoming council workshop.
The committee held a moment of silence at the start of the meeting for a recently deceased police officer mentioned by Chair McArthur. That ceremonial item did not involve policy discussion.
