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Council approves new short lease for Teatro de las Américas with debt forgiveness and stepped rent
Summary
After sustained public testimony, the council forgave past-due rent and approved a three-year lease with escalating monthly payments and revenue-sharing triggers for Teatro de las Américas at 321 W. 6th St.; the motion passed unanimously (7–0).
The Oxnard City Council on Feb. 3 approved a three-year lease with Teatro de las Américas at 321 West 6th Street that forgives a portion of the group’s past-due rent and sets an affordable stepped rent schedule while preserving a revenue-triggered payment when the theater’s gross revenue exceeds set thresholds.
Housing staff presented the agreement that would authorize: (1) the mayor to execute a 3-year lease with two 1-year extension options at the city manager’s discretion; (2) a nominal $1 per year base annual fee with quarterly rent equal to a share of gross revenues (a defined threshold would activate quarterly payments capped at a stated amount), and (3) forgiveness of past-due rent (the staff report identified prior balances and a recommended forgiveness amount of roughly $15,690). The staff recommended a tiered approach tied to Teatro’s financial capacity and the city’s redevelopment considerations for that downtown block.
Dozens of community members, past volunteers and theater leaders testified in support of the theater as a bilingual cultural institution. Anna Van Hoven, Teatro’s executive director, said new leadership is committed to fundraising, grant-writing and programming to make the venue sustainable.
Council members debated accountability measures and whether the city should require minimum monthly payments, ask for grant-development commitments, or insist on updated nonprofit filings. After negotiating amendments on the dais, council adopted an amended motion that forgave the historic debt and established an escalator rent schedule (amended to $200 per month the first year, $400 per month the second, and $600 per month the third year) plus financial reporting obligations and revenue-triggered rent obligations. The motion passed 7–0.
The council also directed staff to monitor Teatro’s financial filings and revenue thresholds and to confirm nonprofit filing compliance as part of ongoing oversight. Housing staff said their recommended approach balanced the city’s interest in keeping downtown spaces active with the risks of leaving the building vacant or incurring demolition costs.
