Council May Study City Charter Option

Following Oxnard’s lead, Port Hueneme has become the latest Ventura County city to consider whether to draft a charter--a move municipal officials say would provide more local fiscal control.

The City Council will decide tonight whether to sit as a charter commission to study the idea. The issue could be put before voters as soon as November, said Tom Figg, acting city manager.

“The recent past has shown us we can’t trust the state and that’s really what has brought this to focus,” he said. “Fiscal vulnerability is what it comes down to: [unfunded] mandates and a grab of local funds.”

Port Hueneme suffered a budget crunch similar to that seen in other California cities earlier this decade when the state diverted money that had traditionally gone to municipalities to solve its own budget problems.

In Port Hueneme that meant budget cuts of about $1.2 million in fiscal year 1993-94, Finance Director Jim Hanks said. The loss of revenue forced officials to gut the community’s parks and recreation program and prompted them to consider contracting out for police services.

Oxnard has established a large advisory commission of residents to explore all aspects of becoming a charter city. But Port Hueneme’s focus will be narrower, limited to the financial advantages of such a move, Figg said. A seven-member commission would be established at a later date if the council approves moving forward, he said.

Charter cities, which essentially write their own constitution, are insulated from state dictums to a larger degree than general law cities. But since charter cities have greater independence, some people fear a lack of state oversight gives officials more power to enact taxes and take other action.

The council meets at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 250 N. Ventura Road.