Oxnard City Council votes 4–1 to oppose new federal offshore and public‑lands oil and gas leases

The Oxnard City Council on Jan. 20 adopted a resolution opposing new federal oil and gas leases on public lands and off the California coast, a measure proponents said was intended to register local opposition ahead of a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management comment deadline.

“Opening new public lands and offshore areas to drilling moves us in the opposite direction” of California’s climate goals, Councilwoman Julie Perez said when she introduced the resolution. She told the council the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s draft program would include parcels off California and across inland public lands and that local governments should record opposition as the state phases out certain onshore extraction activities.

Speakers during public comment urged adoption as a preventive step after past spills and local air-quality impacts. Abra Stewart of Climate First and other speakers cited the 2015 Refugio spill and local vulnerability to wildfires and air pollution as reasons to oppose new leases.

Council debate mixed symbolic and practical arguments. Councilman Starr said he regarded the measure as largely symbolic and questioned whether federal decision-makers would heed a city resolution; he voted against the measure. Proponents said it would formalize Oxnard’s position and be distributed to relevant federal and state offices.

The resolution passed 4–1 (Yes: Perez, Perillo, Rodriguez, Mayor Pro Tem; No: Starr). Councilmembers noted the vote would be forwarded to federal agencies and regional elected officials as part of the public-comment record.

No new local regulatory authority was created by the resolution; staff and council described it as a policy statement to accompany written comments submitted to federal agencies and elected representatives. The council did not vote on any binding local ordinance related to offshore development during the meeting.