OXNARD : City to Consider Services for School

The Oxnard City Council will consider an agreement Tuesday that identifies what services the city will provide to a new high school under construction outside the city limits.

Under terms of the agreement worked out between a council committee and trustees of the Oxnard Union High School District, the city will provide routine police and fire service but charge a fee for extra protection.

The agreement is needed because of the district’s decision to build a replacement for Oxnard High School on Gonzales Road, west of the city’s boundaries.

The city’s elementary school district initially opposed the site, saying a new school there could spur residential development in the northwest community and increase demand for a new elementary school.

Under terms of its agreement with the city, the high school district will be responsible for extending Oxnard’s sewer and water lines to the school site as part of a $654,000 contract with W.M. Lyle Co. of Camarillo.

But the capacity of the water and sewer extensions will be limited to the needs of the school only, said Richard Canady of the high school district’s business office.

That decision was responsible for the elementary district dropping its opposition, said Supt. Norman Brekke.

Other terms of the tentative agreement call for the city to provide water, sewer and refuse services to the new school at the slightly higher rate established for customers outside the city limits.

When the site is eventually annexed to the city, the utility rates will be the same as charged other customers in the city.

The agreement also requires the high school district to construct a bicycle path to the school from Patterson Road and install stamped concrete on the median strip in front of the school.