Airport Service and Leases Are Praised

The department that oversees Ventura County’s two airports has improved customer service and made significant progress in leasing vacant property, but can do more to improve airport management, according to a county audit released Thursday.

Airport Administrator Rodney Murphy, who took over the job in May, is credited with several improvements made at the Oxnard and Camarillo airports, says the report by Auditor-Controller Thomas O. Mahon.

For instance, customer service was greatly enhanced by expanding parking at the Oxnard Airport, establishing a noise complaint hot line and increasing involvement in annual public open houses at both airports.

The audit also praised the Department of Airports for its recent success in securing four long-term leases of vacant airport property.

But the report found several areas where improvements could be made. For example, the audit found that the department, which has an annual budget of $7.1 million, has been lax in collecting overdue lease payments and lacks a policy to charge airport tenants for hazardous waste cleanup costs.

More oversight is also needed in collecting various airport fees, monitoring capital improvement projects and submitting claims for state and federal grants, the audit found. In addition, the audit recommended that the department impose a $3 passenger fee--already approved by the federal government--to help pay for airport improvements.

Murphy could not be reached for comment, but Mahon said corrective action is already being taken in each of these areas. He said that improving airport management is vital to the county’s efforts to lure additional businesses and industry to the area.

Oxnard Airport serves 92,000 passengers a year through three commercial airlines and is home to 120 privately owned aircraft. Camarillo Airport is a major provider of business transportation with 575 privately owned aircraft.