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Measure X, water and CIP: council hears spending plan for homelessness, youth programs and a $485M five‑year water plan
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Summary
Assistant City Manager Michael Gossman reviewed the Measure X year‑ahead plan that uses fund balance for one‑time capital; staff also presented water and CIP plans including a five‑year water CIP totaling about $485 million and a proposed $90 million design‑build amendment.
At the April 15 Oceanside budget workshop, staff detailed how Measure X revenue is proposed to be spent next year and presented major utility and capital improvement plans.
Assistant City Manager Michael Gossman said Measure X — the city’s half‑cent sales tax renewed by voters in November 2024 — will continue to fund public safety, homelessness services, youth programming and capital projects. He said the proposed year‑eight spending plan anticipates $17,000,000 in net available revenue against $21,500,000 in expenditures, with the difference covered by fund balance for one‑time or capital spending. Gossman listed ongoing programs including a crime suppression team fully funded by Measure X and $1,100,000 for a community services officer program.
Gossman described new and continuing investments such as the navigation center operations ($1,500,000/year for 75 beds through Interfaith Community Services), a $5,000,000 set‑aside for the police training center (with another $4,000,000 proposed next year) and a shoreline restoration line initially budgeted at $550,000 with a planned 10% annual increase for the remainder of the tax term.
On homelessness response, staff explained the city is transitioning from a police‑led outreach model (HOTT) to a social‑worker and case‑manager model called HEART; the council will receive an implementation report April 22 and staff said positions would be established in May so the program could be operating before July 1.
Water and utilities staff presented large operating and capital plans. Water Director Fred Mayo described water operating projections: revenues of about $110,000,000 against expenditures of roughly $109,000,034 (projected surplus ~$970,000) and noted the Mission Basin desalter will be offline for about 24 months, requiring the city to buy surface water at roughly $1,000 per acre‑foot (untreated) and $1,500 per acre‑foot (treated). Water engineering manager Mabel Ueda presented a five‑year water CIP of approximately $485,000,000 (about $107,000,000 for water and $378,000,000 for sewer), with significant near‑term construction as multiple projects shift from design to build.
Development services’ Victor Velasco outlined a proposed citywide CIP of approximately $141,700,000 across transportation, traffic safety, drainage, parks and facilities; he warned falling developer impact fees increase reliance on general fund support.
Harbor Director Hamid Bahaduri reported improved harbor finances after a multi‑year recovery plan, including a forecasted slip rental revenue of about $8,800,000 (up roughly $2.4M from prior years) and tenant utilities and other adjustments that together boost harbor revenue and reserves for deferred CIP.
Council discussion covered traffic calming, crosswalk projects, timing for College Boulevard improvements, and options to consolidate coastal projects for stronger grant competitiveness. Several nonprofit and community speakers urged the council to identify recurring local funding for beach restoration projects such as the ReBeach pilot in order to leverage state and federal grants.
Next steps: council asked staff to take the Measure X proposed spending plan to the Measure X Citizens Oversight Committee on May 7 and to return April 22 with an implementation report on the HEART team and May/June items for CIP and water project resolutions.
