Oxnard Leadership dives into complex world of land use & transportation

​Last month, the Oxnard Leadership Class of 2024 spent the day learning first-hand about the intricacies and complexities of transportation and land use within the City of Oxnard. The incredibly insightful day started off in the board room at Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) with presentations from Dave Nafie and Jannette Jauregui from the Ventura County Department of Airports Administration, Martin Erikson, Executive Director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), and Cynthia Duque, Director of Planning & Marketing for GCTD, as well as a tour of the GCTD facilities from Planning Manager Austin Novstrup. ​In the afternoon, the program moved across town to the Oxnard City Council Chambers where both City of Oxnard Housing Director Emilio Ramirez and Planning & Environmental Services Manager Joe Pearson II went into detail about their worlds in relation to land use, with the day ending on a tour of upcoming development projects around Downtown Oxnard. 

Representing both the Oxnard and Camarillo airports, it was exciting to have staff from the VC Department of Airports Administration share how they are helping reduce the environmental footprint while, at the same time, being mindful of current noise issues by implementing the Oxnard Airport Fly Friendly Program. If you are interested in learning more about this and other programs their department is involved with, you can sign up for their newsletter at vcairports.com.
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Always looking at ways to serve the community more efficiently and effectively, both VCTC and GCTD talked about their partnership where youth and college students can now ride their buses for free, which encourages them use public transportation more often when they are older. GCTD also shared about ways they are thinking outside the box, which includes converting all the buses to electric as well as offering microtransit service and safe late-night rides.

As homelessness is one of the biggest issues facing our city, Emilio Ramirez and his team are focusing on creating places, like the currently under construction Navigation Center across the street from City Hall, that are affordable, clean and safe because housing saves lives and his key to a healthy community. With the increase of affordable housing* units in the city, their goal will soon be a reality for many individuals and families.

It was one thing hearing about these projects but another being able to walk around Downtown Oxnard with Joe Pearson II and see the progress of both the Navigation Center and Central Terrace, a project of Many Mansions, which will provide so much necessary housing for those in need. The City of Oxnard is putting a big emphasis on revitalizing downtown and Pearson pointed out four to five other sights that will begin development soon.

Land Use & Transportation Day would not have been possible without the stellar coordination of OLP Steering Committee member and Class of 2019 alum, Daniel Chavez Jr.

*Affordable housing = not paying more than 30% of earned income