Recap: Business Advocacy Committee's March Meeting

The Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee met yesterday (March 8) to address a plethora of issues. The BAC examines issues in depth and makes position recommendations to the Chamber Board when applicable. This month’s agenda included hearing about the Ventura County Airports master plan process, an update on Oxnard’s Navigation Center (homeless shelter and services), an update on the city’s cannabis permit processing, and a status report on the city’s 5-year priorities setting process.

Ventura County Airports
The County of Ventura Department of Airports in embarking on a master plan study of what should happen with the Camarillo and Oxnard airports. The planning project will take place over the next 12 to 18 months with plenty of input from the public. Ventura County’s airports contribute nearly $3 million to our economy every year.

Oxnard’s Navigation Center
The city of Oxnard is moving forward with the development of a 5-story Navigation Center in downtown Oxnard to provide services, shelter, and transitional housing for our homeless population. The city has owned the property at Second and B Streets for many years. Funding for redeveloping the site will come from a number our sources, but not from the city’s general fund.

Retail Cannabis
Last week, the city released the successful retail cannabis applicants list. There are 16 “winners.” Of the 16, three are local equity applicants. Each successful applicant will have one year to obtain their operating permit. The Chamber has been a strong advocate for the city to establish and maintain dedicated staff to process the cannabis permits as swiftly as possible. This will not only assure the retailers can commence business, but will benefit the city’s coffers as they begin to collect fees from those businesses.

Oxnard's 5-year Priorities
Finally, the BAC got a status report on the city’s 5-year priorities setting process. The city launched a survey for residents and businesspeople to complete. The results were shared with the city council at a special meeting on February 25. The council members added specific projects to the categories that were established. (see image below for results about economic development). The process will continue at the March 16 council meeting.
 
​Participation on the Business Advocacy Committee is open to all Chamber members. To receive meeting notices and the logon information, please contact Nancy Lindholm ([email protected]).

Results of the City of Oxnard's community survey showed strong support for the retention and expansion of business.