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Words from the Wise
CITY OF OXNARD'S POSITION ON OPEN SPACE DISTRICT.
I had the honor to sit on the Open Space
District Committee. I was asked to participate on this committee at
the request of County Supervisor John Flynn; therefore allowed me to
serve representing the 5th District.
The strong caliber and expertise of the many
individuals who sat on this committee was just overwhelming. It was
indeed a privilege to work such individuals. Individuals from the
Farm Bureau, State Conservancy, County Planners, Ventura County
League of Women Voters, are just a few organizations that participated.
The City's report is correct. There is one
meeting left that will conclude our work, which should include a
final report. The number of hours and meetings that took place was
amazing for the size of the committee. The consultant did an
excellent job keeping everyone focused and the Chairs of the
committee performed with strong leadership and dedication.
I personally believe it would have made more
sense for the City to wait until the final meeting/report took place
before taking it's position. At least, Council typically doesn't make
a move to the left or right without all information available.
Maybe a presentation by the Chairs of the
Committee would have given a more balance presentation to the City
Council as it relates to the purpose and goals of the Open Space
District Committee.
Regardless of ones position on this matter, we
all have a social responsibility to preserve our environment and
protect the open space that remains, including wetlands.
And just a reminder; the idea of having an Open
Space District did not come about in a back room or just something to
do. This was actually a bill that was passed in Sacramento and was
authored by Assemblywoman Hannah Beth Jackson.
Respectfully to the Citizens of Oxnard,
Eddie Castillo
former Oxnard City Planning Commissioner |
Well,
it looks like Martin Prevailed and our City is Safe from a Theatre
Debacle at least for the immediate future. City Hall watchers are
surmising that the City Council may make a move to settle this case
out of Court ---which said resolution thereof would be the holding of
proper public meetings, public review and a chance to question why
the tax paying citizens must foot the majority of this bill for
paying for a movie house and Subway/Starbux franchise center.
A good first run movie theater in
Camarillo folded recently (PLV Road / Santa Rosa Rd. @ the 101)
""The
theater that closed in Camarillo was paid for by the theater
owner/operator. When the theater closed, I called the City Manager of
Camarillo to ask how much the theater had cost the Camarillo citizens.
The City Manager stated that
Camarillo had not put any money into the theater or guaranteed any
profit. Why does the City of Oxnard guarantee 1.6 million a year for
a theater?""
----- Martin Jones
So the financial forecast for
Motion Picture Houses is not all that good----------- Plasma Big
Screen TVs and DVD rentals at BlockHeadBuster and Hollyweird Video
are great inducements to stay home, especially when Dominus Pizza
throws some enhanced dough product in with the remaining
carbohydrates. Yum Yum.
For Oxnard to survive, it needs to
make something that people are going to want to go to. Was a
feasibility study done on the Theater Project - YES - But the results
did not guarantee the promised revenue the City anticipates - as a
mater of fact, the study foretold of a blackhole where all the city
dollars were sucked into the nothingness - ne'er to return.
The Whole project is good in
concept - but hard to swallow in reality and that is what Martin
Jones is trying to do - to save us from choking on the repayment debt
that this project has in store for the Oxnard residents --- should it
go thru as it now is prepared and planned. ALL the winning candidates
got election contributions from the developer so you know where their
heart is - it certainly is not with it's citizens, unless you want to
send them $500.oo they may start to listen to you.
. . . . Back-grounder - N E W S :::::::
Martin Jones's Case v. Oxnard will have a
hearing on 02 JUNE 2003...and the Judge will decide if Martin's
claims legally hold water and so far his ship is not listing.
If the judge rules in favor of Martin and his
Lawyer, then there will be a case adjudicated...if dismissed, Oxnard
will go on making sweetheart deals behind closed doors and feeding
the citizens whatever the Council wants.
Life goes on ---- no watchdogs like Roy
Lockwood around - except for Martin Jones.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The LONE RANGER - or -
the LONE STRANGER . . .
Larry Stein's one man battle for the single
decimal point.
Mr. Stein has been making every attempt
possible within his means to get answers from the City and responses
to his Queries. To date: Nada.... I have a long history of E-Mails
from Larry, but this latest is a keeper....
I spoke with Stan Klienman The City of Oxnard's
Finance Manager regarding receiving a response to my questions. He
said "It's budget time - I don't have time to answer your silly
little questions"
I spoke with Ed Sottelo, the city manager. He
said he did not receive a copy of my letter (May 20th) even though I
gave it to him via the City Clerk during Public Comments of the
regularly scheduled City Council meeting. He did acknowledge
receiving the copy of the letter and the City Clerk's response to my
letter that I delivered May 27th. He is willing to meet with me and
discuss these questions.
Assistant City Attorney Alan Holmberg has been
asked by the City Finance Department to offer an legal opinion has to
what the Finance department has to provide. When
I spoke with Mr. Holmberg, he agreed that I was not asking silly
little questions.
In as much as it is budget time, a response to
my questions prior to the release of the proposed budget would allow
me and other membes of the public to ask additional question at the
city council meetings.
On the agenda, under close session, two more
properties are being sold by the city. I think it is important for
the public to know what properties are available for resale so the
general public can also bid on those properties.
: : : : From
Larry Stein - Silly
Little Questions : : : :
See
Larry's May Request:
As many of you know, I have made
several inquiries into the finances of River Ridge Golf Course. I
have asked for such items such as the income staement and balance
sheet. I get partial responses such as there is no income statement,
here is the balance sheet, by the way, we do have a schedule of
revenue and expenditures. Last Tuesday night, I presented a list of
questions for which I wanted answers. Please note the attached list
of questions.
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