,,The Oxnard Journal
August 2oo6,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,  You are Reader #

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The Top 10
Issues facing the
2007-2008 City Council
List as compiled by e-mail traffic to the Ox Jo for the past six months.
 
1



 		 • Growth - Housing density - Parking - Over-Crowding in single family homes -

Multiple Families living in homes not large enough for the number of occupants, they all have cars, cars need parking, and much of the compact living design of the newer developments will force a new look at development approvals in 2007.
 
2
 		 • Traffic - Lack of vision and planning to handle TMC (Too Many Cars).
 
3



 		 • Spending - Putting more value on a Golf Course than a Sports Park and more green space for the citizens.  By majority, more citizens play football (futbol)(soccer) over golf.  By sheer numbers, the citizens of Oxnard would be better served with more park space instead of more holes and greens for the 100-thousand a year plus crowd......
 
4
 		 • Spending - how appropriations of funds are arranged and handled. 
 
5






 		 • Interpretation of laws and codes - most e-mail traffic the Ox Jo handles on this involves compliance with city codes (un-even enforcement issues) or Police problems with tickets.  Some correspondence is referred to attorneys, most to city staff who have answers to solve these problems - most are resolved to a satisfactory end.

Some issues still need to be addressed by the Council, such as cut-aways and use of private property for parking and access to property from the street.
 
6

 		 • Neighborhood Issues - the City needs to do a lot more to promote its City Services and provide mostly a clear and easy to understand directory. 
 
7






 		 • Image:  Oxnard has been the "red-headed step child" in the eyes of the rest of the County, according to Steve Buratti, long-time resident who was active in the local political scene and spent most of his time having to explain the obvious.  Steve provided a long list of issues and our image around the rest of Ventura County is not all that positive.   The City Council, to its credit has created a renewed and active downtown center and the Mayor has met with local media heads to see how they can help. Until Oxnard gets a handle on its image it has to reconnect with its vision.
 
8


 		 • Schools - even though the City Council does not have any jurisdictional sway over how the School Board operates, it can be pro-active and help the school system in its considerations of development, housing, land for schools and parks.
 
9


 		 • Public Safety - in addition to the ever constant need for more fire and police personnel, equipment and facilities, the Council will have to find money to get some of added extras it is seeking.  Public Safety plays a big role in how voters vote.
 
10





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 		 • General Make up of the Council - around election time, you get a number of voters who come to fray and yell "Throw ALL the bums out!!!" - implying that no one individual who currently sits on the Council is worthy of the seat.  How not true that is. When council people assume their seats, they do so with integrity, at least when they start.  It is up to the interpretation of each voter to decide whom they feel worth the vote based on any number of reasons. 

Political landscapes change at election time - This current City Council in whatever iteration you chose to see it as is pretty much the same group of people who have been in place since 1992.  Certainly gives an interesting new meaning to the term "2020" plan.  Interestingly enough, both Mayors Holden and Lopez are eye doctors and they like "20/20".  

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