In a rebuttal letter to the Editor of the Star, Mayor Holden outlines how he and the City sees this situation with the pending vote on the lot at Gonzales and Oxnard Blvd, heretofore known as 'the sports park'.

Mayor Holden writes: 

First, I must say that I would like nothing more than to be able to develop the entire 25 acres at Oxnard Blvd and Gonzales Road as a sports park for our community. At the heart of the question is whether the city can afford to purchase and develop a sports park, or will it require some type of development to finance the cost. Centex Homes is proposing that in exchange for the right to develop 94 homes, they will provide a sports park that will include an aquatics center with Olympic sized pool, a little league complex with four fields under lights, snack bar, restroom facilities, and a passive park for recreation. These amenities would be provided turn key, with no cost to the city.

It is important to point out that historically, parks located within the City are not purchased, but are set-asides of land given to the City by developers who then dedicate the land to the City as part of their development. The collected park fees are then used to improve the park.

The original zoning for this parcel “sports park” was the desire of the council some fifteen years ago to reserve a site for a commercial sports facility that could accommodate the likes of a minor league baseball team, batting cages, etc. There was no method or plan on how to acquire this property for a community park.

In his argument against the Centex proposal, Mr. Flynn asserts that there are funds available to develop this park separate from any development. I am compelled to comment on these suggested strategies as they are misleading and jeopardize the financial stability of our general fund.

1.He suggests using our general fund reserves for this project. These reserve funds are critical in case of an emergency and/or an unexpected economic down turn. Eliminating these funds would have a devastating effect on the financial stability of our City and could bankrupt our City in the face of an unforeseen emergency or disaster. City Council has successfully built these reserves up from dangerous lows over the last ten years and depleting them now would be fiscally irresponsible.

2.Keep in mind, any type of financial commitment from the general fund will potentially delay or postpone other budget considerations such as much needed street improvements, the second phase of our community policing staffing, and increased youth recreation programs

3.Mr. Flynn suggests that there are 5 million dollars in park fees from the East and West Village developments that could be used to fund this project. Unfortunately, this is not true. Nearly 3 million dollars of this fund is committed to the new East Village Park. Also, taking park fees that are generated in one neighborhood and moving them to other neighborhoods, robs those residents from the benefits of the fees that were paid on their behalf.


4.He states that we should use the proceeds from the sale of golf course related land to fund this project. The proceeds from any sale of this property have been committed to pay down old golf course debt. Over the years, revenue which was designated to pay down the golf course debt was diverted to other areas. The reason the general fund continues to contributes over a million dollars a year to the golf course is precisely because of similar past practices.

5. He asks us to look at Ventura’s sports park as a model for this project. It is important to note that the property for their project was obtained for about $70,000/acre. Land cost for the Centex project would be $750,000 to $1,000,000/acre. Even with the low land cost, Ventura had to supplement a large general fund debt service with private fund-raising to complete their project.

6. There is no question that traffic is a concern in this area. This project will have minimal impact and certainly less impact than a regional commercial sports facility. This project provides an additional turn lane on Gonzales Road and future right of way for intersection improvements.

All of the above must be considered in the context of the following. After waiting some twenty years, the 75 acre College Park has not yet been built. The former Oxnard High school, a perfect site for soccer fields, sits empty and deteriorating, and Southwest Park awaits improvements. The total cost of these improvements is over 100 million dollars and funding has not been identified.

Meanwhile, generations of our youth come and go without the benefit of much needed park facilities. Needed baseball fields are not available for our little leagues. Soccer fields are overflowing with players. A community swimming pool is not available for our youth.

I have three young sons who all play baseball, soccer, and swim. Over the years I have traveled to other communities and have seen their recreational facilities. In a time when I see empty dirt lots or abandoned old high schools waiting to be new facilities, it is impossible for me not to consider a proposal that provides this type of sports complex at no cost to the city.

In closing I must say that regardless of my decision on this project I will keep my promise to the residents of Oxnard. First and foremost I will continue to ensure that our City is financially sound. There is no magic wand, only proper fiscal management. Secondly, I know we will not all agree on this difficult decision and others to come, but I will continue to make my decisions based on my commitment to improve the quality of life for our residents.

Dr. Thomas Holden
Mayor, City of Oxnard
 

The Mayor's article in today's paper demands a fight or flight response,
but that's for Councilman Flynn to decide.

Nonetheless, it is shocking to hear Mayor Tom Holden finally admit that
"the general fund continues to contribute more than a million dollars a
year to the golf course". But just a few years ago when he wanted to
move forward on building to new golf course he told the INCF that the
golf course was making money. I have the tape of his statements if you
are interested.

WOW! So did the City Council and staff lie to the Ventura County Grand
Jury when they kept testifying that the Oxnard golf course was making
money?!?!

According to Mr. Sotelo's testimony at federal court he fired me for
accurately telling the newspaper reporter that the City was subsidizing
the golf course each year. I was fired for telling the truth!!!!! How
do you like living in such a city?!?!? A City that fired staff for
telling the truth to the public!!!!!!! They have done that before and
will continue until you stop them.

Unless of course you want to be lied to???

Why did the City's planning commission (land use commission) change the
zoning from park to residential for Centex Homes on the corner of
Gonzales and Oxnard Blvd, thus increasing the "price" of the land just
before your City officials propose to buy that land from the developer?
Is anyone seeing the money from you taxpayers' cash box flowing out to
the developer?!?!? WHY vote to increase the price of land that YOUR
council will have to pay to the developer for purchasing that same land?

Why doesn't Mayor Tom Holden explain that throughout the City's recent 10
year history they have always clumped Quimby Act (park fund) money into
one large piggy bank from which they raided whenever they wanted to? Now
the Mayor claims to continue doing that is not right! Hypocrite is the
word that comes to mind. You may come up with a better definition.

Does anyone ask the Mayor:

1. How can we have $2,000,000 of general fund money every year for the
golf course but not for open parks?

2. How can we have $3,000,000 for Fry's and Wal-Mart to help them build
their stores but not have money for open parks?

3. How can we have $1,600,000 from the general fund each year for 25
years for the theatre project but not to build open parks?

4. How can we have $1,000,000 of general fund money to squander on the
Big League Dreams report (some report) but not have money to build open
public parks?

IF YOU DON'T KNOW I'll tell you. It is a matter of priority. Do you give
the citizens what they want, need and are asking for OR do you GIVE THE
DEVELOPER WHAT THE DEVELOPER WANTS?

They are YOUR council. YOU elected them. We need to make them understand
that!

Phil Molina ---

Edward Castillo read the fact file on the Sports Park as presented on the City's website for Tuesday's Council Meeting..... here is his take on what is up !!!

Edward M. Castillo

What will be the fate of this property at the corner of Gonzales and Oxnard Boulevard should the Council not approve the proposed Centex homes project it is about to review and vote upon?
In one pat answer - nothing will happen. 

Simply put - with the stated condition of the City's financial purse not being able to take on such a large additional outlay of  funds for the express purpose of buying this land for the City to turn it into a park, the Council has a hard decision to make when it decides the fate of this "L" shaped vacant lot.

The fact remains within City government that Parks located within the City are not purchased, but are set-asides of land given to the City by developers who donate the land to the City as part of their development deal so the City can convert the set aside parcel into a park.   This again, is the mode of proposal by Centex, however, Centex is sweetening the deal for Oxnard by offering to build an Olympic-sized pool and other amenities to offer recreation to the neighborhood, high school and city.

Currently there are only two million dollars in residual Quimby fees being held by the City from
West Village and this money does not come near the total purchase price of this land.  

Historically, the Sports Park designation was a result of former Councilman Pliski's effort to attract a minor league baseball team to the City of Oxnard.  That project was to be located at the corner in question.  The project fell through the cracks, the deals went south, and the Sports Park designation remained in place while the adjacent land turned from Lemon orchards into what is now West Village.  Unfortunately, with the Sports Park designation remaining while land was developed, new residents who moved into the adjacent areas were rightfully informed that the City had planned to put a Sports Park on this land and for years it remained a rough field suited for the growth of wild grasses and weeds.

At the time West Village was proposed, locals in the area were against the development of another tract of residential housing on what was pristine orchard land, and still to this day, some residual feelings crop up among longer-term residents who wonder what is all the
hub-bub about filling this remaining plot with additional homes.

So, if the City Council on Tuesday night opts to not approve this project, (and it will be only by one  NO vote from the Mayor or either Councilmembers Maulhardt or Hererra) the trustee land holders of this land will be forced to go back to the bargaining table to find another developer who will afford the even higher purchase price and again, we'll be looking at endless Planning Commission meetings and more City Council scrutiny of yet again, another development project.

Be it ever true, the City needs more park lands, however, with parks the City implements improvements such as landscaping, rest-rooms, fields, athletic and play equipment and of course,. recreational programs.  All this takes money and at this time, the City has to critically look at it's projected financing and put these wishes and desires for more parks into the future in-box of Councils to come. 

Should the Council approve this project, it will take heat for its decision.  Interestingly enough, the votes that appear to be approving this project will come from members who will be asking the voters to select them for re-election this November.  It is always a hard decision for our leaders to make a choice that may ruffle many advocates of the park plan and if we can come up with a solution that makes sense and pays the bill to purchase this entire land plot for the City to use for parks, then we may have a solution to the cry for a Sports Park.   

So bring your ideas, your petitions, your reasoning to the City Council on Tuesday, July 18th.
But, be ready for what may be the inevitable, the approval of the Centex Homes project.

With the project will come the promised recreational assets.  It will be the job of the City Council to ensure we do get all that Centex is offering and that no corners are cut in delivering this addendum to their development.

On July 18, 2006, the City Council will be voting on whether to approve the Sports Park at Oxnard and Gonzales.

For over 12 years the City has designated this privately owned property as a public park and Centex has committed to building it, along with 94 new single family homes.

The Sports Park will include an aquatic center featuring an Olympic size pool which will allow for competitive swimming, water polo and a full range of aquatic programs.

The rest of the park will include 2 multi-use baseball fields with lights for night time use, basketball courts, a tot-lot area, and several picnic areas with BBQ’s, benches, and tables all connected by walking trails throughout the park.

Centex has committed to not only build this park without any taxpayer
money, but it will also donate land to expand the existing park at
Entrada and Martin Luther King Streets.

At the City Council meeting on July 18, you will have an opportunity to
let the Council know how important this park is to all the residents of
Oxnard. We encourage you to turn in a speaker card in order for you to voice your support.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact J. Salcedo
directly at (661) 799 1344. Please feel free to introduce yourself prior to the start of the meeting at 7:30 PM at City Council Chambers, located at 305 W. Third Street, Oxnard, CA 91355.
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message of Support and Agreement.....................

For what my two cents are worth, I completely agree with Ed not only for all of the reasons he recites but also because this project represents the terrible (but typical) manner in which these decisions are made behind closed doors with the only objective being the highest possible profit for the landowner and developer. None of the concerns of the community are factored in and the council accepts reality defying EIR’s that say the project will not impact the community.

As to the political manipulation that goes on to give away these benefits to developers, as will soon be reported in the Star, you will see yet another example of the machinations used by a council member to save the Centrex project.

No one in your group or the average citizen in Oxnard has any friend on the council other than Tim Flynn and on occasion, John Zaragoza. It is discouraging to see that anyone would support this project at any level.
 

Fred Rosenmund

Friends,

The point being made by us all is how do we get this City Council to do the right thing? How do we get them to listen to the people of our community instead of developers?

We are being told by Mayor Holden that there simply isn't enough money in the City to build parks. That we "may need to have a citywide assessment"
for parks.

Hmmmmm!

Let us recall the current facts as depicted in the City's own audited annual financial reports:

1. The City has made commitments to pay $1,600,000 each year for 25 years for the theatre in Oxnard.

2. The City pays $2,000,000 per year for the "old" golf course and Hotel parking lot with your tax dollars.

3. The City has already paid almost $1,000,000 for the Big League Dreams report. Some report.

4. Future commitments to build the new golf course $9.5 million. You don't think the "new" golf course will be able to pay that loan back do
you!

Well, let us see how much money this really is:

25 years of $1.6 million = $40,000,000.00
last 10 years at $2.0 m = $26,000,000.00
New golf course = $ 9,500,000.00
Big League Dreams so far = $1,000,000.00

All total that amounts to $76,500,000.00.

Just a little more and it will be real money. What would YOU do with this money? Is the Council giving away YOUR FARM? What will your kids do when all the money is spent and no one wants to go to the theatre, or to golf? Oh yeah how many of you golf? You better learn because you have paid and will be paying for the golf courses for a very long time.

You apparently pay your water, sewer and garbage bills, which are too high, so that the Council can use that money to build a golf course. Hmmmmmm!!!!!

Creative but is it legal?

 

SUNDAY
JULY 16 ^th
1-3 P.M.

CORNER OF
OXNARD BLVD
&
GONZALES RD

PEOPLE OF OXNARD WILL EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT TO BUILD A SPORTS PARK AT THE CORNER OF OXNARD AND GONZALES.  CENTEX HOMES WILL ASK THE OXNARD CITY COUNCIL TO CHANGE THE EMPTY PARCEL FROM A SPORTS PARK ZONE, TO A HOUSING ZONE ON TUESDAY, JULY 18^TH 7PM.

WE NEED YOU!!!!!!!

PLEASE CONTACT JOSE MARTINEZ WEST VILLAGE CHAIR @558-8085 FOR MORE INFO.  SEE YOU AT THE RALLY
 

PASS OUT THE WORD TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. 

WE NEED TO UNITE AND CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE.

.................................................In Unity

       Everything Oxnard - that is Hip and Happening is on
                                                                             The Oxnard File

 -- LEGAL NOTICE --

CANADA                                                                              SUPÉRIOR COURT

PROVINCE OF QUÉBEC                                                            (Family Division)

DISTRICT OF TROIS-RIVIÈRES

NO : 400-04-006442-069

CODE :  AV 8964                                                                 

ANNIE BEAUDOIN,

                                                                                               Plaintiff,

                                                                                               -vs-

                                                                                               FRANCISCO SANTANA,

                                                                                               Defendant,

                                                                                               -vs-

                                                                                               ANGÉLIC BEAUDOIN-SANTANA,

                                                                                               -vs-

                                                                                               DIRECTEUR DE LA PROTECTION DE LA JEUNESSE,

                                                                                               -vs-

                                                                                               DIRECTEUR DE L’ÉTAT CIVIL,

                                                                                               Mise en cause.

                                                                                               ___________________________ 

ASSIGNATION

_____________________________________________

BY ORDER OF THIS COURT :  

-                     Francisco Santana 

IS hereby ordered to file a written Appearance within a of thirty (30) days from the date of this publication, either personally or by attorney, at the Clerk’s office, at the Trois-Rivières Court House, 850, Hart Street, in the City of Trois-Rivières, Province of Quebec, G9A 1T9.

 Notice of delay or extension of appearance must be filed with this Court within the THIRTY day notice of this publication

A copy of the Motion to Institute Proceeding in a Loss of parental rights and Notice to Defendant has been left at the Clerk’s office. Notice of publication to be forwarded to the Clerk of the Court.

Trois-Rivières, this june  29th 2006

/s/ Me Nancy Sylvestre

________________________________

CLERK OF THE SUPERIOR COURT

All information published online by the Oxnard-Journal.com is subject to change without notice. The Oxnard-Journal.com  is not responsible for errors or damages of any kind resulting from access to its internet resources or use of the information contained therein. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of  this Notice and is presented as factual; however errors may exist. Persons concerned are directed to countercheck facts when considering this notice.  This notice serves as official notification/publication within the County of Ventura and the City of Oxnard The Oxnard-Journal.com is not responsible for the content of this notice and is solely serving as Agent of Service in publication of this Notice.

                                                                 Date of Publication: 13 JULY 2006 - Executed in Oxnard, California.

Print this notice as Separate Page

View the June 2005 Oxnard Journal issue with story concerning
             Sports Park -- (( Scroll Down to view Story ))             
 

EDITORIAL::::::::::::::: OXNARD DOES NOT NEED 100 MORE HOUSES............... On June 20th,  the Oxnard City Council will accept or decline the offer of Centex Homes to develop and build 100 houses on top of land the City has zoned and declared a SPORTS PARK for the past two decades. With a promise to the residents of Oxnard, and in particular, to those who recently bought new homes in the West Village neighborhood, the City has set aside this land for a sports park.  Even a park similar to the one that resides across from the Oxnard Airport on 5th Street is all the citizens are asking for. We just ask for open space and an area where we can play soccer and enjoy our community. Centex, a major home developer is pushing all sides of the envelope to have this project approved.  Centex has developments in more than 25 states in the continental US.  A few extra units put up in Oxnard is not going to break the financial back or future outlook of Centex - but - putting houses on this lot where our community was PROMISED and ZONED a sports park will break the collective will of our residents and ruin our future outlook as a community that is focused on the better life which so many have come to Oxnard to enjoy and live. A warning goes out to any Councilmen who approve this - that your Centex will come to you in November 2006 or 2008 - whenever your next election is.  Because the 100 extra votes you cram into Oxnard's north end will not override the thousands that will come from voters who will not forget your breaking of a promise. The City of Oxnard does have the money to buy this land for our use - it is just the leadership does not have the will to approve a park over the special interests of a developer --- so --- please join your fellow residents on Tuesday at City Council and send them a message..... Editorial - Oxnard Journal.

Mr. Winter, this is another news article
that the Ventura Star will not print.
It isn't long, but tells a news story that needs to be printed.

It is the position of the Oxnard Journal to say openly, at this point in time, that the Ox Jo supports Mayor Holden in his bid for a second run and re-election to the office of Mayor.  Thusly stating, it is in our interest to promote our current Mayor when he officiates well and conducts business that is pleasing and beneficial to the people of Oxnard.  The majority of residents contacted in daily business feel that Mayor Holden is the right person for the job.

Editorially,  it is not in our interest to remove or redact any pages which were created during the 2004 election as they will remain a part of the Ox Jo website as an historical record of that race.

In retaining these archival pages, the Ox Jo means no detriment to our current Mayor. 
In fact, in reviewing the pages which were submitted for political reporting in 2004, there was only one page which was removed from the server as that page was considered to be a tad bit harsh in criticism against our current Mayor.

Again, it is the stated position that the Oxnard Journal supports our current Mayor and will do all it can to uphold Dr. Holden's position as our Mayor for the City of Oxnard.

The Editor
Bill Winter

Oxnard Mayor Holden with Oxnard Journal Editor -                           Photo:  Franz Lopez

From MO Mosely,

 ILP Graduation Party:

As you know, Work Training Programs is planning a big bash for the foster and
probation youth who are graduating an educational program this year. 

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The 04-04-04 OxJo

Leo Medina

Javier Ambriz, 23 years, of Oxnard

ColonOx

Injunction Junction

Located in the Former
Marie Callendar's Restaurant on South Oxnard Blvd. & Statham  -
CITY BUFFET IS NOW OPEN and serving a tremendous selection of seafood, fried and a tasty Mongolian style plate that you pick your ingredients COME EXPERIENCE THE ALL YOU CAN EAT TREATS.

Take your family and guests -- there is plenty of room and plenty of good food................

City Council
AGENDA
-------------------
Planning Commission
Agenda

The Oxnard City Council meets
this Tuesday.

Planning Commission
meets
every other Thursday

ALL Meetings
start @ 1900  (7 p.m. )
ALL Meetings
are televised
CABLE Channel 10 or 17

FRANK's COLUMN

A monthly (or more frequently) column of local Oxnard observations - Stand-by
-----------------------------------------