Oxnard Leadership Takes a Deep Dive Into the City's Infrastructure

​On Friday, September 18, the Oxnard Leadership cohort gathered for Public Services Day, an eye-opening journey behind the scenes of the critical systems that keep the City of Oxnard running every day. Participants spent the day touring essential water, wastewater, and waste management facilities.

The day began at the Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF), where Oxnard's Public Works Director Michael Wolfe welcomed the group and shared an overview of the department's day-to-day operations, major projects like the Rice Avenue bridge project and Campus Park, and biggest challenges, including a tight labor market, inflation, and finding constraints.

Next, Operating Manager Mike Love led a tour of the AWPF, explaining the GREAT (Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment) Program and showing how recycled water keeps the community sustainable.

From there, the group drove to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, which gave everyone a firsthand look at how the city safely manages and processes wastewater.

Next up was a visit to the Del Norte Regional Recycling and Transfer Station to learn about Oxnard’s current recycling programs, and the organic waste and composting rules under SB 1383. Afterward, a tour showed everyone exactly what happens to our trash and recycling after it leaves the curb.

The final stop was the Water Campus on Hayes Avenue where the cohort explored the interactive exhibits to understand how the City provides safe, clean and reliable water for residents and businesses, as well as the conservation efforts protecting our region's water future.