Meeting Summary
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Officer of the Year Recognitions
- Deputy Andrew Powell received a certificate for his service as a Field Training Officer and development of training materials.
- Officer Alexander Rios was recognized for his leadership in DUI arrests and selection as a Field Training Officer.
- Both officers accepted the awards without any formal motion or vote being taken.
Public Works Week Proclamation
- The Mayor read a proclamation designating May 17–23, 2026, as Public Works Week.
- The proclamation honored the contributions of public works professionals to the community.
- The item was adopted without a formal motion or vote recorded in the transcript.
Museum of Ventura County Presentation
- Museum representatives detailed their four physical sites, digitized collections, and focus on free programming.
- The presentation traced local history from Chumash lands through the establishment of Moorpark.
- Staff requested council guidance on identifying community leaders for oral history interviews.
State of the Region Report
- The Ventura County Civic Alliance presented data on rising median age and declining school enrollment.
- Economic analysis highlighted the shift toward "No Party Preference" voters and housing cost disparities.
- Public safety statistics noted the county remains safe despite slight increases in domestic violence and juvenile crime.
Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Budget Amendments
- Staff proposed adjustments projecting a structural deficit beginning in fiscal year 2029–2030.
- The plan included a net revenue increase of $160,000 and $1.8 million in new budget amendments.
- The Council voted to accept the staff recommendation regarding the mid-cycle budget adjustments.
Parks and Recreation Revenue Measure
- Survey results showed support for a revenue measure at 54–55%, falling short of the two-thirds threshold for a parcel tax.
- Consultants advised that a benefit assessment is viable but requires a robust community education effort.
- The Council passed an amended resolution to initiate proceedings and directed staff to study General Fund expenditures.
Passed 5–0 · unanimous
Closed Session
- The Council voted to adjourn the meeting to closed session.
- No substantive discussion or decisions were recorded in the open session transcript regarding closed session matters.
Full summary
Item 4A: Presentation of Certificate of Recognition to Ventura County Sheriff's Office Officer of the Year, Deputy Andrew Powell
- The Mayor presented a certificate of recognition to Deputy Andrew Powell of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. The presentation highlighted Deputy Powell's service since 2013, his role as a Field Training Officer since 2020 where he trained 20 new deputies, and his development of training materials. Deputy Powell accepted the recognition. No motion or vote was taken on this item.
Item 4B: Presentation of Certificate of Recognition to California Highway Patrol Officer of the Year, Officer Alexander Rios
- The Mayor presented a certificate of recognition to Officer Alexander Rios of the California Highway Patrol. The presentation noted Officer Rios's service since 2023, his leadership in DUI arrests, receipt of a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award, and his recent selection as a Field Training Officer. Officer Rios accepted the recognition. No motion or vote was taken on this item.
Item 4C: Proclamation Declaring May 17–23, 2026, as Public Works Week
- The Mayor read a proclamation declaring May 17 through May 23, 2026, as Public Works Week, recognizing the contributions of public works professionals. The proclamation was adopted without a formal motion or vote recorded in the transcript.
Item 5: Public Comment
- Public comment was opened. One speaker addressed the Council regarding the budget and park assessment items, offering to meet with Council members to discuss details. No motions were made or votes taken during this segment.
Item 6: Reordering of Agenda
- The Council considered reordering the agenda. No items were pulled from the consent agenda. No motion or vote was recorded.
Item 7: Announcements and Reports
- Council members provided reports on meetings attended, including the Southern California Association of Governments conference and the Apricot Festival. Various city programs were announced, including preschool registration, teen game night, summer camps, youth and adult sports leagues, the Teen Council application process, and the AmeriCorps Lead for America Fellowship. No motions or votes were taken.
Item 9A: Presentation by the Museum of Ventura County
- A presentation was given by Mr. Royce and Alaina Brokaw, CEO of the Museum of Ventura County, regarding the history of the city. The presentation detailed the museum's four physical sites, its digitized collection of over 8,400 items, and its focus on accessibility and free programming. It included a historical overview of Moorpark's origins, tracing the area from Chumash indigenous lands through Spanish and Mexican eras to the establishment of the town by Robert Poindexter. The presentation highlighted the museum's initiative to collect oral histories from Moorpark residents and requested council guidance on identifying community leaders for interviews and soliciting photographs for the archives. Council members expressed appreciation for the historical context provided. No motion or vote was taken.
Item 9B: Ventura County Civic Alliance 2025 State of the Region Report
- A presentation was given by David Marin of the Ventura County Civic Alliance regarding the 2025 State of the Region report. Key data points included a rising median age in Ventura County, a decline in the population of children aged 0–18, and a decrease in school enrollment across the county. The report highlighted the economic significance of agriculture, the shift in voter registration toward "No Party Preference," and the disparity between high-paying professional jobs and lower-wage leisure and hospitality sectors. Housing data indicated high home ownership rates in Moorpark but also high rental costs and median home prices. The presentation also covered public safety statistics, noting Ventura County remains one of the safest large counties in the state, though domestic violence and juvenile crime rates have seen slight increases. Council members thanked the presenter. No motion or vote was taken.
Item 9C: Proposed Mid-Cycle Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Budget
- Staff presented a proposed mid-cycle budget adjustment for fiscal years 2026–2027. The presentation included an overview of revenue and expenditure changes, reserve fund balances, and a long-term financial plan. Key details included:
- Estimated total reserve funds at the end of FY 25–26 were projected at approximately $23.97 million, with an adjustment to the emergency contingency reserve resulting in a beginning balance of approximately $24.08 million for FY 26–27.
- The estimated fund balance at the end of FY 26–27 was projected to be approximately $21.42 million, representing 80.5% of general fund expenditures.
- Revenue assumptions included a 2% increase for property and sales taxes, while expenditure assumptions included a 3% cost of living adjustment for salaries and a 6% increase in health insurance benefits.
- The long-term financial plan projected a structural deficit starting in fiscal year 2029–2030 if expenditure growth continues to outpace revenue growth.
- Specific adjustments included a net revenue increase of $160,000 and expenditure adjustments totaling $6.4 million, of which $4.6 million represented rollovers of park-related capital projects. The actual new budget amendments totaled $1.8 million.
- The General Fund projected surplus was reduced from $1.3 million to $400,000 due to capital improvement project rollovers and other operational adjustments.
- The TDA 8A and gas tax funds were projected to be depleted by the end of the fiscal year, and the TDA 8C transportation fund was operating at a deficit.
- Discussion focused on the structural deficit and the need for prudent financial planning. A motion was made to accept the staff recommendation regarding the budget amendments. The motion was seconded. The motion passed.
Item 9D: Parks and Recreation Revenue Measure Feasibility Survey Results and Resolution to Initiate Proceedings
- Staff presented the results of a feasibility survey regarding a 2026 Parks and Recreation Maintenance and Improvement District. The survey utilized a split-sample methodology with 400 total interviews, testing two potential rates: $188 (representing a parcel tax) and $98 (representing a benefit assessment). Results indicated that 80% of voters feel the city is moving in the right direction, and 91% rate the quality of public parks positively. However, awareness of a need for additional funding was low, with only 6% indicating a "great need." Support for a revenue measure was found to be approximately 54–55% among the general voter population for both rates, which is below the two-thirds (67%) threshold required for a parcel tax. Support among homeowners, the electorate for a benefit assessment, was approximately 51%, hovering near the simple majority (50% plus one) threshold required for that mechanism. The survey indicated that providing additional information regarding the need for funding resulted in only a marginal increase in support, while a generalized opposition message caused support to drop. Consultants advised that while a parcel tax is not currently viable, a benefit assessment is on the "bubble" and could potentially succeed with a robust community education effort.
- Historical context regarding the 1999 park assessment and the current subsidy of park maintenance by the General Fund (51–67%) was provided. Analysis of two options included a property owner benefit assessment (estimated at approximately $97.42 annually for single-family homes, generating ~$1.2 million) and a parcel tax (estimated at a higher rate, generating ~$1.9 million).
- Discussion centered on the timing of the measure, the adequacy of public education, and the potential consequences of failure. Staff confirmed that to include the measure on the property tax bill for Fiscal Year 2027–2028, formation documents must be approved by December 1, with ballots mailed by August 24. This timeline requires the engineer's report to be finalized by mid-June for the July 1 council meeting. Staff noted that delaying the measure would result in a loss of revenue collection for the following year and would require updating the engineer's report, budget, and other documents. Council members expressed concern that the public might not be sufficiently informed about the specific impacts of passing or failing the measure, particularly regarding potential service cuts or park closures. Concerns were raised about the compressed timeline and the risk of a failed vote requiring a two-year wait before re-proposing the measure. Some members suggested deferring the decision to allow for more comprehensive analysis of the General Fund and broader budget cuts before asking the public for additional revenue. Public speakers urged the council to delay the decision to gather more information and clarify the survey data, arguing that the current results were fragile, while others supported the timeline but emphasized the need for transparency regarding costs and the outreach effort.
- A motion was made to adopt Resolution Number 2026, initiating proceedings for the formation of the 2026 Parks and Recreation Maintenance and Improvement District and directing the preparation of an engineer's report. The motion was amended to include a direction to staff to return with a general fund expenditure study. The motion, as amended, was seconded. The vote was taken, and the motion passed. Staff indicated they would return to the Council on July 1st with updated budget considerations and a revised plan.
Passed 5–0 · unanimous
Item 10D: CTAC Appointment (Consent Calendar)
- Cameron Gill addressed the council regarding his appointment to the CTAC. He thanked the mayor and council for the appointment and the city clerk for the efficient process. Gill discussed the importance of substantive community participation on advisory boards to connect constituent voices with the decision-making process, specifically regarding transportation improvements and regional connectivity. He acknowledged fiscal challenges within the transportation system but emphasized the value of the CTAC in providing informative constituent input for the annual unmet needs assessment. No formal motion, second, or vote was recorded in this transcript segment.
Public Art Agreement (Studio Y Creations)
- A public speaker addressed the council regarding an agreement with Studio Y Creations for public art at the library, valued at not to exceed $280,000. The speaker argued that the item should be removed from the consent calendar due to the waiver of purchasing requirements and the lack of a competitive call for artists. Concerns were raised regarding the breakdown of costs, including shipping, taxes, and a contingency fund, as well as contract terms regarding ownership of the art designs and liability for customs delays. The speaker requested a detailed explanation of the procurement waiver, a list of firms considered, and a cost reconciliation before approval. No motion or vote was recorded in this transcript segment.
Item 12: Adjournment to Closed Session
- A motion was made to adjourn the meeting to closed session. The motion was seconded. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned to closed session.