In case you missed it: WVCBA convenes 150 community leaders for 2022 Oxnard State of the City address

​Video is now available for those who missed Oxnard Mayor John Zaragoza's State of the City address on Friday, June 17, hosted by the WVCBA. In addition, below you will find the Mayor's answers to five questions he wasn't able to respond to during audience Q&A due to time constraints. In his address, he highlighted the city's second year of a positive budget, progress on its Five-Year Priorities, plans for funding received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and his focus on improving the gateways into Oxnard.

The Oxnard State of the City was covered by local news outlet Vida News. Read the article here.

Here are the Mayor's answers to five audience-submitted questions that he wasn't able to answer during the event.

1. The Oxnard Harbor District and the City of Oxnard have a long and rich history of
working collaboratively to better our community. In what new and creative ways
do you hope to see the City and the Oxnard Harbor District grow together?
With proper, comprehensive analysis and forethought about the South Oxnard
community.

2. How can the City process business permits faster for local businesses that need
them for expansion and projects that increase jobs? Without raising taxes.
The Community Development Department is increasing staffing and contract resources
in the City’s FY 22-23 Budget in both the Planning and Building & Engineering Divisions
to assist with the timely processing of planning permits and plan check submittals for
businesses seeking to expand.

In addition, we have also brought on new contract plan check resources that are able to
provide additional support to staff and provide much higher levels of service in the
processing and approvals of plan checks submitted to the City for review.

3. When will Measure E be terminated?
Measure E was approved by the voters without an expiration date.

4. How do we continue to keep the City on the right path despite the unpredictable
economic conditions?
On the macro level, we will do our best to be nimble and roll with the punches like all
sectors, public and private, must. Should there be a steep recession such as 2008, we
will be forced to recommend the City Council make cuts in programs and services.

5. How will the City’s investments in recycled water benefit the community?
The most important advancement needed is for the State Legislature to pass the law
allowing recycled water, which is ultra clean already, to be used along with/in the current
tap water system.

Investments in new sources of water, such as recycled water, provide benefits to the
community by allowing the City to create a diverse and more sustainable water portfolio.
New sources of water allow the City to be less dependent on existing sources of finite
water such as groundwater and imported water.

For example, during a drought when imported water may be limited for a few years, or after
a natural disaster that immediately cuts the City off from imported water, new sources of
water allow the City the ability to mitigate the temporary loss of imported water.

Additionally, water sources such as recycled water are flexible sources that can benefit
the groundwater basin.
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The City is actively constructing a pilot project that, if permitted by the State Water
Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water, will allow injection of recycled
water in the aquifer for later extraction as potable water. This will create and provide a
new, indirect source of water for the community.