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Oxnard committee backs amendment to paramedic internship agreement with University of California
Summary
The committee recommended that Oxnard City Council approve a first amendment to the paramedic internship affiliation with the Regents of the University of California, clarifying an effective date of May 31 and describing training and capacity limits; the recommendation passed the committee 3–0.
On May 12, 2026, the Oxnard City Community Services, Public Safety, Housing and Economic Development Committee recommended that the City Council approve the first amendment to the affiliation agreement between the Regents of the University of California and Oxnard City for a paramedic internship program. Fire Chief Alex Hamilton told the committee the effective date will be May 31 if the council approves the amendment.
The amendment, introduced by the fire department as Item D1, is intended to expand local paramedic internship opportunities and reduce barriers for students who otherwise travel long distances or pay significant fees for internship seats. "This agreement serves to remove barriers many students face when forced to travel long distances or pay substantial fees for internship seats," one committee member referenced from the staff report. Chief Hamilton added that the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care will provide paramedic preceptor training for Oxnard Fire Department preceptors free of charge, which the department said lowers the city's training costs.
Chief Hamilton described the certification pathway: paramedic candidates complete a state-licensed program of classroom work (about five months), typically one month of hospital training, and up to three months of field internship. "They do 24-hour shifts and so they actually live in the stations with our firefighters when they're going through their internship," he said, and the department currently hosts one or two interns at a time because of station space limits. Committee members said local internships help recruit residents into emergency services and praised the department's effort to partner with UCLA and nearby colleges.
Committee members also used the meeting to recognize paramedic Brad Craig of Station 8, who was named Firefighter Paramedic of the Year by St. John's Hospital; the committee asked staff to schedule a formal recognition at a future meeting.
A motion to adopt the staff recommendation was made, seconded and passed by voice vote with a 3–0 tally. The committee forwarded the recommendation to the City Council; Chief Hamilton said staff will update the agreement language and present it at the council meeting on May 31.
The committee record shows no public speakers on the item. The recommendation now goes to the City Council for final approval.
