Final Vote Expected on Baseball Plan

Officials of the Pacific Suns minor-league baseball team go before community college district trustees tonight seeking final approval to play at Oxnard College this season.

The team is asking Ventura County Community College district trustees to approve an environmental study on the ballpark proposal.

The study, approved by the Oxnard City Council earlier this month, concludes that Suns games at the campus ballpark won’t cause any problems that cannot be offset. Last year, district trustees gave the plan tentative approval on a 4-1 vote.

Tonight’s vote was to be the last hurdle facing the Suns on the ballpark issue. But last week, Oxnard resident Dennis Ralph sued the city, charging that the ballpark study needs further review. He worries that the Suns will bring traffic congestion, noise and glare from stadium lights. Ralph’s request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the team from using the ballpark goes to court Feb. 2.

Team spokeswoman Karen DiCarlo, wife of owner Don DiCarlo, said Monday that the Suns do not consider the lawsuit a problem because the environmental review was routine and proper.

“It’s not a threat,” she said. “It’s frivolous.”

Western Baseball League officials said they were not aware of the legal challenge. But the league has included the Suns in 1998 scheduling, because the team has followed all necessary stadium planning requirements thus far, said Tom Kowitz, Western League executive director.

Tonight’s meeting starts at 7 and will be held at the Cowan Conference Center in Camarillo, 550 Airport Way.