OXNARD : Council Cuts Staff of Visitors Bureau

The Oxnard City Council voted Tuesday to reduce the staff at the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau from six to two full-time employees.

The reduction was made after city officials were told that hotel and motel owners in the city are unwilling to pay for the bureau’s budget through an increased fee.

During budget hearings in June--with the city facing a $2.8-million deficit--the council voted to halve the bureau’s $398,000 annual budget.

A month later, the council voted to support an assessment district that would increase the fees for room rentals at all hotels and motels in the city by 2%. The increase would have generated about $360,000 a year for the bureau.

However, earlier this month several hotel owners told city officials that they would oppose a fee increase. Under state law, if the city receives written protests from hotel and motel owners who would generate 50% or more of the fees, the city cannot form the district.

Assistant City Manager John Tooker said a majority of the hotel owners oppose the fee increase. The city now charges a 9% fee, which generates about $1.6 million annually.

The council decided Tuesday to reduce the staff and require the bureau to operate until the end of the fiscal year on the funds it has remaining. In the meantime, the council directed staff members to try to negotiate with the hotel and motel owners.

Robert D. Varley, bureau executive director, said the hotel and motel owners he has talked to said they will support an increased fee if the city agrees to fund half the bureau’s budget.

He pointed out that the city has raised the fee three times in the last 14 years.

Tooker said that even if the hotel and motel owners agree to a lesser fee, it will take the city about four months to establish an assessment district.

Mayor Nao Takasugi said he strongly supports the bureau because it attracts tourists who spend greatly needed money in the city.

“If we close it, we are going to lose sales taxes,” he said.