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Public commenters press Oxnard council on police accountability, sanctuary‑city policy and local parking concerns
Summary
During the Feb. 18 City of Oxnard meeting, multiple members of the public raised separate concerns including allegations of police misconduct, a request to declare Oxnard a longstanding sanctuary city in practice, large trailers parked along Oxnard Boulevard and a time‑sensitive venue request from a community organization.
Multiple speakers used the public comment period at the Feb. 18 Oxnard City Council meeting to raise a range of community concerns, including calls for police accountability, a formal sanctuary‑city commitment, continued community events and complaints about large trailers blocking traffic along Oxnard Boulevard.
Isaac Morales, who identified himself as a survivor of domestic violence and as a former city employee, told the council he believes the Oxnard Police Department has “protected and enabled” his abusers and that his efforts to pursue accountability have been rebuffed; he asked for “reform, transparency, accountability, and rooting out of corruption and misconduct within OPD and law enforcement in general.” The remarks were made during the public comment period and were not followed in the transcript by a staff response or a formal council directive.
Eileen Tolteca urged the council to take up a sanctuary‑city policy that she described as more than symbolic. “Declaring Oxnard a true sanctuary city is not just a symbolic gesture,” she said, framing the request as a measure to protect undocumented residents who she said make vital contributions to the city’s cultural and economic life.
Other speakers raised local quality‑of‑life items. Greg Runyon asked the city to find a vacant lot for large trucks and trailers that he said routinely slow traffic on Oxnard Boulevard and along Fifth Street. Roy Prince, speaking for El Concilio Family Services, asked the council to consider hosting that group’s 50th‑anniversary celebration on top of a downtown parking structure and asked for a city response by the end of the month because the date was time sensitive.
Several speakers praised city staff. Daniel Pinedo thanked parks staff and specifically named Carlos Ibanez Monterosa for responding quickly to a broken sprinkler and saturated field at Lemonwood Park. Council members said the city would follow up on time‑sensitive requests and on staff items raised during public comment.
Council members and staff also discussed other topics during the meeting that relate to items raised in public comment: the city manager indicated staff would return with an analysis about potential federal funding impacts related to sanctuary‑city enforcement directives and the city attorney said a formal report on a wastewater treatment plant discharge would be made at a future meeting.
No formal council action on the policing or sanctuary‑city topics was recorded in the provided transcript; speakers’ comments were entered into the public record and the council referred several items to staff for follow up or additional analysis.
