Oxnard Plans Downtown Revival, More Recreation

With a new face on the City Council--John Zaragoza--and a fresh agenda for 1997, Oxnard leaders hope to push forward with plans to spruce up the downtown district and beef up recreational opportunities while tackling familiar issues such as crime and tight budgets.

Every year, city leaders face the daunting task of finding enough money to pay for needed services. And next year could prove even more difficult with the passage in November of Proposition 218, which outlaws some local fees, requires a citywide vote on some existing taxes and makes it more difficult for local government to raise new taxes.

Next year could be a challenge.

“The biggest issue every year is to figure out how we are going to pay for services and generate revenue,” Mayor Manuel Lopez said. “Right now the question mark is 218 and how it is going to affect us. We know we are going to be losing some revenue. How much we don’t know yet.”

Nonetheless, Oxnard officials say they hope to find the money to make improvements such as revitalizing a moribund downtown and increasing recreational activities for youngsters.

By early 1997, Oxnard residents could see the long-awaited revival of downtown.

The City Council has allocated millions of dollars toward downtown improvements such as cleaning up Plaza Park, which residents complain is dark, dirty and full of panhandlers.

City officials also have promised to begin straightening out the meandering A Street and beautifying the streets with flowers and shrubbery by January.

But the jewel on their downtown crown would be a proposed 16-screen theater that would also house an entertainment center with shops and restaurants. City officials hope to break ground on the theater next year to attract throngs of visitors to the lifeless downtown area.

“We are extremely excited,” Councilman Tom Holden said. “As the improvements are finished, you have spaces that are more attractive. Hopefully that progress is contagious.”

But to attract the crowds, Oxnard must gain control of its gang violence problem.

This year, Oxnard tallied 17 homicides, compared with 11 last year. Though Oxnard has seen a decline in overall crime, the city had the highest homicide rate in the county this year.

The violence has mobilized neighborhood groups, church leaders and community activists to join peace marches and organize anti-violence programs. But police officials acknowledge that they will have to do more next year to combat the causes of teenage violence and crime.

Police Chief Harold Hurtt said he will continue to focus on gang sweeps and special investigations, but he hopes to dedicate more officers to intervention and prevention programs. Because budgets are tight and resources slim, Hurtt said he will continue to tap outside funding sources to supplement city money.

“I envision we will be spending more resources on the front-end, root causes,” Hurtt said. “We will expand the role of the Police Activities League, continue partnerships with schools, parents . . . to help foster positive relationships with authority figures.”

To involve more kids in positive activities, city officials have promised next year to increase the number of youth programs, recreation facilities and sports programs throughout the city.

A final version of the Youth Master Plan, which would outline programs and activities for Oxnard youngsters, is expected to be approved by the beginning of next year.

Another sporting activity Oxnard residents may see in their city is minor league baseball. Although the chances of the Suns, formerly of Palm Springs, playing in the 1997 season are slim to none, baseball fans may catch a glimpse of the players practicing at Oxnard College for 1998.

In addition, two former parks and recreation commissioners--who quit their posts in November, saying they were frustrated by the city’s unresponsiveness--are pressing for development of a soccer field in an open area of College Park.

Off the playing field, there will be several development projects to watch in the coming year. The city wants to expand the River Ridge Golf Course and turn 320 acres next door into a tract of houses.

Years ago, the plan stirred controversy among greenbelt activists who wanted the former farmland to be spared from development. Plans for the golf course and the housing project are expected to be finalized by the start of next year.

In addition, Southern California Edison--which has an energy plant adjacent to the environmentally sensitive Ormond Beach wetlands--has a plan to convert several acres of its property into a recreational vehicle lot, fish farm and “environmentally sound” golf course.

Details of that project will come early next year, city officials said.

Also near Ormond Beach, south of the Edison plant, a local business owner is hoping to build a automobile drag strip. Though no formal plans have been submitted, having a drag strip in that area could trigger yet another battle with environmentalists.

Another important issue facing Oxnard is the possibility of two anchor department stores in The Esplanade mall relocating to Ventura.

Oxnard has filed a lawsuit against the city of Ventura, and a trial is set for February, but City Atty. Gary Gillig said he doubts the issue will be quickly resolved.

If Sears and Robinsons-May abandon The Esplanade, the city would lose $600,000 a year in sales taxes, dealing a major blow to Oxnard. Even though that would be a major setback, Gillig said other businesses relocating to Oxnard and the freeway corridor shopping centers could help offset the loss.

“There would have to be a hard look at the city’s budget,” Gillig said. “That is a big chunk of tax revenue. But I’m optimistic; Oxnard is a great place to live. We are attracting business inquiries all the time from Los Angeles. That is a big plus for 1997.”