OXNARD : Tourism, Economic Changes Approved

The city of Oxnard has officially eliminated its economic development department, agreeing instead to fund a nonprofit Greater Oxnard Economic Development Corp. that will open its doors next month.

In a separate move aimed at boosting tourism in Oxnard, the city has also agreed to provide funding for a Greater Oxnard and Harbors Tourism Bureau. The new tourism bureau replaces the Oxnard Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, which ceased operations in 1991 when the city stopped subsidizing it during budget cutbacks.

On Tuesday, the Oxnard City Council approved a contract with the new economic development corporation and agreed to provide $266,000 for the five-month start-up period.

“The creation of a private development corporation is a natural evolution,” said Mayor Manuel Lopez. “It bodes well for us.”

Steve Kinney, Oxnard’s economic development director, will resign from his position with the city to direct the new agency, which will operate from the Gordon House in downtown Oxnard’s Heritage Square.

The council named Councilmen Andres Herrera and Michael Plisky to serve as city representatives on the corporation’s board of directors.

The council also approved spending $211,000 to fund the first five months of the Greater Oxnard and Harbors Tourism Bureau. The council will later seek a 1% increase in the city’s transient occupancy tax to provide for future funding.

As part of the agreement, the visitors bureau will have to obtain $37,500 of its start-up funds from the private sector.

Kinney said the new bureau will sponsor “a full range of activities to get Oxnard back on the tourist’s map.”

Councilman Bedford Pinkard lauded the decision to create the new tourism bureau. “Oxnard’s a well-kept secret, and we can’t keep it secret any longer.”