Oxnard, Ventura Reach Development Deal

Oxnard and Ventura officials gathered in a rare show of unity Tuesday night to announce a settlement agreement between the feuding cities that will end a long-standing dispute over a number of redevelopment issues.

“The two cities are reaching across the Santa Clara River and shaking hands,” is how John Zaragoza, Oxnard’s mayor pro-tem, described the reconciliation. Members of both city councils gathered at the 71 Palms restaurant in Ventura for a news conference on the settlement.

Since 1986, Oxnard and Ventura have traded lawsuits on development issues, including creation of an Oxnard Town Center, the expansion of the Santa Clara River Bridge, Ventura’s Midtown Corridor Redevelopment project and the Oxnard HERO redevelopment project. Most recently, Oxnard filed suit over Ventura’s including the San Buenaventura Mall in a midcity redevelopment project that Oxnard maintained must be in a blighted area.

Despite that lawsuit three weeks ago, members of both city councils continued working to reach a settlement.

Provisions of the settlement require that Ventura and Oxnard dismiss their individual lawsuits and work to resolve potential land use and other disputes between the two cities before initiating further litigation.

The cities also agreed to establish a joint committee to meet on a monthly basis to discuss current issues between them to resolve matters at the earliest opportunity.

As a member of the negotiating team, Ventura Councilman Sandy Smith said the key to the cities’ success will be in how they cooperate in the future.

“I saw how much we have in common and we should build on it, not fight it,” he said.

It is the first day of the rest of Oxnard’s and Ventura’s lives, commented Oxnard Councilman Bedford Pinkard.

“Whatever we do together will enhance the region,” he said.

Gary Gillig, Oxnard’s city attorney, said legal actions involving the HERO, Midtown Corridor Redevelopment project and the San Buenaventura lawsuits have cost the city more than $685,000.

Gillig said he and Ventura City Atty. Robert Boehm will begin preparing documents finalizing the settlement agreements.

“Hopefully, this settlement will set the precedent for the east and west counties and show that if we can work together, the east and west county can work together,” said Ventura Councilwoman Donna de Paola.