Council extends golf‑management contract to June 30, 2025 and approves midyear budget adjustments

The Oxnard City Council on Dec. 17 authorized a four‑month extension of the golf course management agreement with American Golf Corporation (AGC), extending the contract through June 30, 2025, and approved midyear adjustments to the golf enterprise fund to reflect higher‑than‑expected revenue and several unanticipated expenses.

Public‑works staff said the extension would allow staff to finish negotiations on a new agreement rather than rushing a replacement procurement mid‑season. Assistant Public Works Director Steve Howlett explained the staff recommendation and answered council questions about revenue and expense drivers. The staff report identified $353,550 in additional projected golf revenues and requested appropriation of up to $662,890 from the golf enterprise fund balance for fiscal‑year 2024‑25 expenses. The higher expense request reflected three unplanned items the department had not budgeted for: post‑closure landfill monitoring and topography work related to the site (the course is on a capped landfill), an unanticipated failure of a golf‑cart bridge that required repair, and damage to the irrigation control system and satellite stations caused by third‑party electrical work (Southern California Edison activity) that required replacement of irrigation equipment and incurred turf maintenance and revenue loss while the system was repaired. Staff said the irrigation equipment replacement work and related costs would be the subject of a claim to SCE.

Members of the public asked clarifying questions about the enterprise fund and whether the course still requires a city “subsidy” or ongoing cash injections. Staff and council said the golf course is operated as an enterprise fund: revenues are collected to the golf course operating fund controlled by the city and staff monitor revenues and expenses; early in the contract operation there was an initial cashflow arrangement to get operations underway, but the ongoing enterprise accounting keeps revenues in the golf enterprise fund rather than the general fund. Councilmembers asked for clearer reporting and more detail about working capital practices; staff said a revised agreement and additional reporting language would be provided to the council for review before a final contract is approved.

Council approved the extension and the budget adjustments in a unanimous vote. Staff will continue negotiations on the successor agreement and return to council with the new contract and proposed terms prior to the end of the extended term.