City of Oxnard, Ventura County at odds over Channel Islands Harbor Upkeep

OXNARD—Trouble is brewing on the waters of Channel Islands Harbor, as the city of Oxnard has apparently stopped maintaining areas on the waterfront it is responsible for maintaining. The lack of maintenance has purportedly cost Ventura County an estimated $500,000. In July 2018, Oxnard city officials stopped providing maintenance work for its areas of responsibility of the harbor, such as public parks, parking lots, restrooms, lighting, green area watering and landscaping, and more. Harbor Director Mark Sandoval, in a recent letter to the Board of Supervisors, stated harbor staff had immediately assumed the responsibility of harbor maintenance and upkeep following the city’s declaration to no longer do the work. “We could have sat on it, but it would be a disservice to the public,” Sandoval said. At a Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting in February, Sandoval laid out the cost of the upkeep since the city has abandoned its duties. The cost was $500,000, which was covered by a $9 million reserve fund set aside for capital projects at the harbor. Money from the fund, however, was never intended for ongoing maintenance costs. Sandoval also pointed out the city of Oxnard receives funds through tax revenues for ongoing harbor maintenance and upkeep. Channel Islands...