The Future of Oxnard reviewed at Economic Conference .................................
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BUSINESS BY THE BEACH UCSB
Economic Forecast Project |
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The
First Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast was held at the Courtyard
Marriott at
Dr. Bill Watkins,
Director of the
Tom Waddell, a local
business leader and State Farm Insurance Agent opened the program with
introductions of special guests, which included Oxnard City Councilmen
Dean Maulhardt and Bedford Pinkard, Dr. Irene Pinkard, candidate for the
Oxnard City Council and 35th Assembly District Candidate Bob Pohl, who has
been making daily rounds in
Steve Kinney, President
of the Economic Development Corporation of
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 Economic Development Corporation of Oxnard President Steve Kinney joins Oxnard leader Tom Waddell for a great meeting at Oxnard's Financial Plaza. [Bob Pohl can be seen as makes the rounds.] |
Dr.
Watkins opened his presentation with the powerful statement that, "
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Many
factors influence the economic landscape of
International politics, the biggest factor affects our manufacturing industries, especially when Watkins noted the transient nature of our housing market is impacted by the two local naval bases and it was noted that the bases were fighting their own war at home with the 2005 BRAC looming. The bases also have a large contingent of civilian workers who make Oxnard their home. |
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 Penny Boehm (right), Community Affairs Coordinator for Southshore "Hearthside Homes Oxnard, LLC" is joined by Mike Rafferty, President of Hearthside Homes; next to him is John LaRocca, of US Telesis. Not shown, but at Penny's table is Richard Bryan from the city of Oxnard, and Cindy Engen, US Healthworks. |
The highest paying jobs in the region are in the financial services markets and in durable manufacturing. The Oxnard City Council has done well in attracting new business and this economic forecast has shown the local business community where it needs to focus its attention to get higher paying jobs into the area.
Watkins said the most
pressing issue facing
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Dr.
Watkins made an interesting statement about the changing face of
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 Marc Charney (left) is a community leader and attended today to learn along with others about Oxnard's future. |
Of
all the Ventura County Communities used in comparison to
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As for family
demographics, Watkins made the attendees aware of some interesting facts
and trends. Our current population, being mostly baby-boomers is growing
wealthier, wider, and of course older.
Dr. Bill Watkins
concluded that
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 Overview of the attendees................................................ |
Matt Winegar,
If anyone knows what is
coming to town, Mr. Winegar reported, "When these projects are built out, the city will be pretty much built out."
In short review:
River Park will be miniature city with a school, 7 parks, a fire station which
will share space with the county fire department, and an innovative
reclamation project utilizing the sand and gravel quarry.
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 Oxnard Mayor Pro-Tem Dean Maulhardt joins Port Hueneme's Councilman Anthony Volante. |
Plans
call for integrating the harbor with boating access and beautiful
shoreline homes. Seabridge and
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 Oxnard City Councilman Bedford Pinkard discusses the program with Dean Maulhardt. |
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This being the first annual event prompted the participants to mark their 2005 calendars for the second annual economic outlook around this time next year.
A lot is happening in
Bill Winter Editor - Oxnard-Journal.com
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 Bill Winter - Editor of the Oxnard Journal |
Printable version of the article:
The First Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast was held at the Courtyard Marriott at Oxnard's Financial Plaza on September 15. Over one hundred guests comprising of local business leaders, politicians, and city government representatives arrived at 7:30 am for the breakfast and presentations.
Dr. Bill Watkins, Director of the University of California - Santa Barbara, Economic Forecast Project was the keynote speaker.
Tom Waddell, a local business leader and State Farm Insurance Agent opened the program with introductions of special guests, which included Oxnard City Councilmen Dean Maulhardt and Bedford Pinkard, Dr. Irene Pinkard, candidate for the Oxnard City Council and 35th Assembly District Candidate Bob Pohl, who has been making daily rounds in Oxnard.
Steve Kinney, President of the Economic Development Corporation of Oxnard introduced the keynote speaker and entertained the audience with some personal remarks that Oxnard locals could really enjoy and understand.
Dr. Watkins opened his presentation with the powerful
statement that, "Oxnard is creating itself right now." Dr. Watkins broke his
facts down into these categories: 1) Baby Boomers, 2) Building Oxnard, 3)
Economic Forecast. Being formerly a banker with what is now Mid-State Bank,
but formerly "four other names", as Watkins remarked, he worked at the bank
located at the corner of 2nd and A Street in Oxnard. Thusly, Dr. Watkins
has historical personal experience with Oxnard. Dr. Watkins remarked he
remembered the changes to A Street, first the open street, then the
closed street, then the curvy street and now back to the original street.
So Oxnard undergoes changes.
Many factors influence the economic landscape of Oxnard.
International politics, the biggest factor affects our manufacturing
industries, especially when China can produce at an extremely lower cost. Our
strong agriculture business is constantly challenged by foreign markets which
try to undercut US prices, but the quality of our produce and brand-loyalty
keeps our AG business alive and well. The AG business has changed over the
years. Oxnard, once famous for its lima beans is now impacted by fewer acres,
more farm workers and more valuable cash crops such as strawberries.
Watkins noted the transient nature of our housing market is impacted by the
two local naval bases and it was noted that the bases were fighting their own
war at home with the 2005 BRAC looming. The bases also have a large
contingent of civilian workers who make Oxnard their home.
The highest paying jobs in the region are in the financial services markets and in durable manufacturing. The Oxnard City Council has done well in attracting new business and this economic forecast has shown the local business community where it needs to focus its attention to get higher paying jobs into the area.
Watkins said the most pressing issue facing Oxnard in the housing realm is the availability of Farm Worker housing. Supervisor John Flynn has made this a top priority and is actively working with local developers and land-owners to create new and better housing for the economically-challenged farm worker families. With AG being the most competitive business, according to Watkins, cost is always a factor and sometimes the workers have to accept lower wages but more hours to keep competitive and active in the workforce.
Dr. Watkins made an interesting statement about the changing face of Oxnard's overall housing market, by noting that high-end housing is now the new focus and the demographics of Oxnard will be changing over the next decade. New homes for a different socio-economic group is the motivator of Oxnard city planning as Oxnard's character changes in the future. What this means for poorer families who want to stay here in Oxnard was not discussed. Dr. Watkins did note that Oxnard has the largest Hispanic population per capita between Los Angeles and San Jose. This composition must be factored into decisions the Oxnard Council faces in the coming years. Watkins did note that the overall Hispanic population in Oxnard was seeing a decline. This fact stunned some, but those who have been following housing developments will know the factors that drive this statistic.
Of all the Ventura County Communities used in comparison to Oxnard, Port Hueneme is the only community with negative growth.
Oxnard is the youngest community in Ventura County with a median age of 29.4 and the median overall income for all of Oxnard is $52,744.oo.
Thousand Oaks beats out Oxnard only due to AMGEN being located there.
Oxnard beats out San Buenaventura in retail sales so Dr. Watkins asked Oxnard
to quit fighting and declare a truce with Ventura over future mall-wars and
store fighting.
Watkins used Circuit City as a prime example of a store that can't make up its
mind which side of the Santa Clara River it wants to be located on.
Oxnard needs to look at creating new commercial and
retail opportunities in its downtown sector, especially to fill the many
vacancies that exist there.
One factor affecting commerce, according to Dr. Watkins is that much of the
Oxnard workforce leaves Oxnard to go to work everyday.
As for family demographics, Watkins made the attendees
aware of some interesting facts and trends. Our current population, being
mostly baby-boomers is growing wealthier, wider, and of course older.
Children who grow up in Oxnard tend not to stay here but go off to college and
career and at some point in their lifetime, they may return. Retirees are now
gaining large sums from home sales and the market for this group is focusing
on fun and quality of life pursuits such as hobbies, travel, and leisure
activities. The marketing of health products also does well in this growing
market.
Dr. Bill Watkins concluded that Oxnard WILL BE a different place in 10 years.
Matt Winegar, Oxnard's Director of Development Services
gave an overview of
"What's on the Drawing Board for Oxnard". If anyone knows what is coming to
town,
Matt is the man.
One striking fact Matt presented is that "There is no vacant piece of property
in Oxnard that is not under development or in planning." Mr. Winegar spoke on
the following big projects about to transform Oxnard:
River Ridge II, Mandalay Bay, Wagon Wheel, Power/Sakioka, Ormond Beach, Teal
Club, and the Downtown.
Mr. Winegar reported, "When these projects are built out, the city will be pretty much built out."
In short review: River Ridge will be miniature city with a school, 7 parks, a fire station which will share space with the county fire department, and an innovative reclamation project utilizing the sand and gravel quarry. Mandalay Bay will be a new development at Oxnard's harbor
Plans call for integrating the harbor with boating access and beautiful shoreline homes. Seabridge and Westport are the prime sections. Wagon Wheel will be completely renovated with the major focus being on an "Inter-modal" transportation center to serve bus and metrolink connections. River Ridge II and the northwestern communities will benefit most from this improvement. The lodging which currently is on site consists of former military barracks which Martin V. (Bud) Smith bought for the Wagon Wheel. Historic preservation is a crucial component of this redevelopment and keeping the large and familiar "Wagon Wheel" signs is top on the list of preserved historical fixtures Mr. Winegar wants to see kept and maintained as a local landmark. Power/Sakioka is located at Del Norte and the 101. This land (500 Acres) will be zoned for commercial and industrial - currently the plans are in the early stages for this development.
Ormond Beach. Citing the sensitivity of the environmental importance of these last remaining California wetlands, the Ormond Beach project will be co-located on both sides of Hueneme Road and include residential and light industrial. The California Coastal Conservancy will be main stakeholders for the precious wetlands and coastal zone where endangered species of birds make their homes and nests. Teal Club is a project proposed for the block of land between Patterson, Doris, Ventura Road and Teal Club; with a residential component, these homes will mirror Strawberry Fields on the opposite side of Doris. The Downtown is by far the most aggressive project targeted by the city and will be subject to "significant transformation over the next five-to-ten years. The City is, according to Winegar, leveraging its resources...which means the city is looking to sell off some of its property holdings to benefit Downtown growth.
This being the first annual event prompted the participants to mark their 2005 calendars for the second annual economic outlook around this time next year. A lot is happening in Oxnard and the future looks bright.
Bill Winter
Editor - Oxnard-Journal.com