Oxnard OKs Nonprofit Agency to Manage Arts Center

City officials have endorsed creating a nonprofit agency in the latest effort to revive Oxnard’s under-performing Performing Arts Center.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to direct a task force that had recommended sweeping changes in the way the facility operates to establish such an agency. The council further suggested the task force members become the new group’s board of directors.

“I welcome the proposal,” said Councilman Tom Holden. “Our experience with partnerships in the community has been a very positive one.”

City officials said they believe such a group could attract grants unavailable to the city and keep closer tabs on center operations.

The city will hold off spending $2.6 million to make further renovations on the center until the agency’s board is in place and it has drawn up a new business and marketing plan.

Mayor Manuel Lopez said the community is acutely aware that the 1,600-seat center has not lived up to its potential and that this may be a solution.

“I think all of us are aware of the problems we have with the Performing Arts Center,” he said.

The center task force was established last year in an attempt to draw more acts and larger audiences to the struggling facility.

The council’s action comes a year after a team of auditors uncovered sloppy financial record-keeping and unprofitable business practices at the publicly owned facility. The center had posted total losses of $1.5 million from 1995 through 1997.

Two years ago, the council voted to spend more than $625,000 to refurbish the aging Hobson Way building, which was constructed in 1968. That work, which included new paint, carpet, seating and additional restrooms, was completed in January.

Under a plan the task force force presented to the council Tuesday, the city was asked to spend another $625,000 for improved drainage, lighting, landscaping and parking. An additional $2 million was suggested for a new marquee, roof, parking, street signs, lighting and interior renovations and upgrading, according to a task force report.

But before that will occur, the council wanted a board of directors in place to manage and operate the facility.

“I think before taking on capital improvements we need to get that [board] in place,” Holden said.