Oxnard Will Eliminate 5 Departments

The Oxnard City Council agreed Tuesday to slice five departments from city government, a cost-cutting measure designed to help the city balance its budget.

But council members refused to endorse further cuts that would have eliminated the elected positions of city clerk and city treasurer.

The reorganization, approved unanimously, is expected to result in a $584,000 savings in the fiscal year that starts July 1 and should produce an annual savings of $1.6 million in subsequent years.

The council’s decision will shrink the number of city departments from 16 to 11. In addition, the reorganization will eliminate 11 high-ranking positions. The council already agreed to do away with 12 1/2 other positions.

“I appreciate all of the efforts that everyone has made to bring this about and all the sacrifices they will have to endure,” Councilman Tom Holden said. “It’s not an easy task.”

The savings are intended to help council members make up for an expected revenue shortfall in the city’s $60-million budget. City officials already have approved $2 million in cuts to municipal services, and may have to slash an additional $2.6 million from the budget to absorb cuts handed down by state lawmakers.

City Manager Vern Hazen said savings achieved by the reorganization could be followed by more economies once the departments are merged and the effects on city services are examined.

“When it comes to the finances of the city, we’re kind of out of time,” Hazen told the council. “We’re still too expensive and not competitive enough. This is an attempt to get us leaner and more competitive.”

Under the reorganization plan, the city’s Personnel Department would be absorbed by the Finance Department, and the Fire Department would be teamed with police in a new Public Safety Department.

Despite pleas from patrons and supporters of the Oxnard Public Library, the council also agreed to merge library services with a newly created Recreation and Community Services Department.

In addition, services provided by the city attorney and the Economic Development Department will be done by private contractors.

“I am very aware that services provided by the city have been affected,” Mayor Manuel Lopez said. “I wish it weren’t so, but you can’t make the kinds of changes we have made without affecting services.”

The council stopped short of endorsing a proposal to reduce the duties and pay of the elected city clerk and city treasurer. Those positions could only be eliminated if a majority of Oxnard residents agreed to do so.

And Hazen warned that any changes in the two elected positions could be viewed as political tampering without an election.

Nevertheless, Councilman Michael Plisky asked his fellow council members to look into the idea of eliminating the posts. And he questioned whether Lopez could vote on the matter because the mayor and City Clerk Daniel Martinez are cousins.

“If there is an impropriety here, I think it should be shaken out now and brought into public view,” Plisky said.

Lopez said he did not believe his relationship to Martinez constitutes a conflict of interest.

“I should point out that the issue of conflict here is something that has been longstanding,” said Lopez, referring to Plisky’s marriage to former City Clerk Mabi Covarubias Plisky.

Martinez defeated Mabi Plisky for the City Clerk’s position in the Nov. 3 election.

“Whether the city clerk has a job or not has no impact on me,” Lopez said. “There is absolutely no conflict here.”