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Port Hueneme joint committee directs remaining community benefit funds to economic development seed projects
Summary
The Port Hueneme City joint committee voted to allocate the remaining balance of this year’s Community Benefit Fund toward seed projects to implement the city’s Economic Development Plan, and asked city and port staff to return with specific proposals for use of the funds.
PORT HUENEME — The Port Hueneme City joint committee voted to direct the remainder of this year’s Community Benefit Fund toward seed projects for the city’s Economic Development Plan and asked staff to return with specific proposals for board approval.
City Manager James Vaka said the previously finalized list of projects totals $113,000 and that this year’s fund was estimated at $143,000, leaving roughly $30,000 unallocated. “We estimated that we have $143,000 in this year's fund, so each went back to our respective boards to get feedback on what the remaining $30,000 could be used for,” Vaka said.
CEO and Port Director Kristen Deas said the Port’s board discussed using the remaining balance either to seed the economic development strategy or to augment grant-writing capacity. Deas recommended that city and port staff develop a short list of implementable seed projects and bring them back to the joint committee and each full board for final approval.
Committee members discussed alternatives raised by their boards, including public-safety spending previously mentioned in committee conversations (including prior discussion of a K-9 program) and funding to support grant-writing. Several members cautioned against directing the funds to a single named project before an implementation plan is presented; one committee member suggested keeping the allocation general to cover early steps such as property appraisals or consultant assistance.
After discussion, a member moved to approve “the remainder of the Community Fund to go towards mutually agreed upon economic development projects.” The motion was seconded and carried with no recorded opposing votes; Vice President Ramirez was recorded absent. The committee did not specify a final dollar figure in the motion text; during the discussion speakers alternately referred to a remaining balance of $30,000 and $33,000, and staff said they would reconcile the exact amount when they return with project proposals.
Staff agreed to prepare a focused set of seed-project options and cost estimates and to return to the joint committee and the respective full boards for formal approval. The joint committee adjourned at 3:41 p.m.
