July 1, 2026 — REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Meeting Summary

This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details — verify against the official recording and the transcript.

At a glance

Proclamations and Accommodations

The 2026 Ventura County Fair poster was presented with details on concerts and safety policies.
A proclamation declaring July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month was adopted.
A proclamation commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States was accepted and adopted.

Agenda Reordering

The Council agreed to remove the First 5 lease agreement from the consent calendar for separate discussion.

First 5 Lease Agreement

Staff explained the lease rate covers operating costs rather than market rates for the Ruben Castro Human Services Center.
Council members confirmed no conflicts of interest existed regarding the three-year renewal.
The lease agreement with the Children's and Families First Commission was approved.

General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments

Staff requested a continuance of the public hearing to allow completion of the draft Downtown Specific Plan.
Two Council members recused themselves due to potential financial interests in the matter.
The hearing was continued to an uncertain date with no testimony received.

Villa de Arroyo Mobile Home Park Financing

Staff confirmed the City has no financial liability and will receive approximately $9,000 in issuance fees.
The Council adopted a resolution approving the issuance of tax-exempt conduit financing bonds.

Passed 5–0 · unanimous

City Manager Employment Amendment

A resolution was approved to amend the City Manager's agreement with a 3% cost-of-living adjustment.
A second resolution amended the salary plan to reflect the new base salary effective July 1, 2026.

Walnut Canyon Road Exclusive Negotiating Agreement

Staff presented an agreement granting a 12-month exclusivity period for due diligence on nine surplus parcels.
The Council approved the agreement and appointed an ad hoc committee to negotiate the subsequent disposition.

Moorpark City Library Children's Area Design

Staff and the Ad Hoc Committee presented conceptual designs that initially exceeded the original budget allocation.
The Council directed staff to refine elements to avoid construction delays and explore cost-saving measures.
A motion passed to proceed with specific design components under a maximum budget of $300,000.

2026 Parks and Recreation Maintenance and Improvement District

Staff presented a proposal for a new assessment district to address a projected structural deficit by 2029-2030.
Council discussion highlighted concerns that current support levels were marginal and timing was unfavorable.
The Council voted to reject immediate action and directed staff to return with the item in spring 2027.

High Street Entertainment Zone Ordinance

The Council considered Ordinance No. 533 to establish an entertainment zone in compliance with state law.
One Council member and the City Manager recused themselves due to potential conflicts of interest.
The ordinance was adopted as read following a motion to waive further reading.

Passed 3–0 · unanimous

Closed Session

Staff reported that there were no closed session items to be addressed.

Passed 2–0 · unanimous

Full summary

Item 4: Proclamations and Accommodations

Item 4A: The Ventura County Fair Director presented the 2026 Fair poster, detailing concert lineups, discounted admission days, and a new clear bag safety policy. No formal motion or vote was taken.
Item 4B: A proclamation declaring July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month was read. The Recreation Services Manager acknowledged staff and volunteers. The proclamation was adopted without a recorded vote.
Item 4C: A proclamation commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States was read and accepted by a representative of the American Legion. The proclamation was adopted without a recorded vote.

Item 5: Public Comment

Public speakers addressed the Council on various topics:
Colin Velasquez and Matt Xerxes requested the Council direct staff to reconcile historical records regarding improvement security bonds from 1988 before requiring a new deposit for a street vacation process at 476 West Los Angeles Avenue.
Daniel Politi requested Item 8G be pulled from the consent calendar for separate discussion due to concerns regarding lease rates, operating costs, and transparency, while also raising general concerns about fiscal patterns and compensation structures.
Greg Straklus announced a forthcoming sewer rate adjustment effective September 1, 2026, to fund infrastructure, labor, and energy costs.
Dan Burchfield requested approval to install a new plaque on Joel's Bridge to honor community donors.
Matthew Tobin urged the Council to align spending with recurring revenue and evaluate the cost-benefit of consultants versus in-house staff.

Item 6: Reordering of Agenda

The Mayor recommended pulling Item 8G from the consent calendar for separate discussion. The Council agreed to the reordering.

Item 8: Consent Calendar

General Consent: A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent calendar items excluding Item 8G. The motion passed via roll call vote.
Item 8G (Lease Agreement with First 5): The Council considered a three-year lease renewal with the Children's and Families First Commission of Ventura County for the Ruben Castro Human Services Center. Staff explained the lease rate covers operating costs rather than market rate, consistent with other nonprofit tenants. Discussion addressed the financial structure and potential conflicts of interest, with Council members confirming no conflict existed. A motion was made and seconded to approve the lease agreement. The motion passed via voice vote.

Item 9: Public Hearings

Item 9A (General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments): Staff requested a continuance of the public hearing to an uncertain date to allow for the completion of the draft Downtown Specific Plan. Two Council members recused themselves due to potential financial interests. The Council opened the hearing, received no testimony, and voted to continue the hearing to a date uncertain. The motion passed.
Item 9B (TEFRA Hearing for Villa de Arroyo Mobile Home Park): A public hearing was conducted regarding tax-exempt conduit financing for the refinancing and improvement of the Villa de Arroyo Mobile Home Park. Staff confirmed the City has no financial liability and will receive approximately $9,000 in issuance fees. Discussion addressed interest rates and loan costs. The Council opened the hearing, received testimony, closed the hearing, and adopted a resolution approving the issuance of the bonds. The motion passed via roll call vote.

Item 10: Presentation, Action, and Discussion

Item 10A (City Manager Employment Amendment): Staff presented a resolution to amend the City Manager's employment agreement to include a 3% cost-of-living adjustment effective July 1, 2026, increasing the base salary from $245,003.20 to $252,345.60, and a second resolution to amend the salary plan. Discussion addressed the city's compensation structure and the necessity of the adjustment for competitiveness. Two separate motions were made and seconded: one to approve the employment agreement amendment and one to approve the salary plan amendment. Both motions passed via roll call vote.
Item 10B (Exclusive Negotiating Agreement for Walnut Canyon Road): Staff presented a report regarding nine surplus parcels on Walnut Canyon Road, originally acquired for affordable housing. Following unsuccessful development attempts, staff negotiated an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with Mr. Gregorchuk. The proposed ENA grants a 12-month exclusivity period for due diligence, with an option for extension, and mandates purchase at fair market value determined by appraisal. Staff recommended approval of the ENA and the appointment of an ad hoc committee of two Council members to negotiate a subsequent Disposition and Development Agreement. Discussion addressed the rigor of the fair market value determination and the composition of the ad hoc committee. The Mayor moved to approve the ENA and appoint Council members Delgado and Castro to the ad hoc committee. The motion was seconded and passed.

Item 11: Children's Area Art and Design (Moorpark City Library)

Staff and the Marketing Ad Hoc Committee presented conceptual artwork designs for the new library's children's area, including themed reading cubby walls, a sculpted tractor, suspended butterflies, cloud-shaped lights, and murals. The estimated budget for the proposed elements ranged from $175,000 to $331,000, exceeding the original $350,000 allocation for the area. Discussion focused on cost-effectiveness, the necessity of 3D sculpted elements versus standard carpentry, safety concerns regarding the tractor, and the timeline for the October construction start date. Concerns were raised regarding "scope creep" and the high cost of materials. The Council directed staff and the Ad Hoc Committee to refine the artistic elements within the existing architectural structure to avoid construction delays and explore cost-saving measures.
Subsequently, a motion was made to proceed with the five-cubby concept, tractor, butterflies, cloud lights, and digital infrastructure, with a maximum budget of $300,000 for Studio Y design components. The motion included authorization for a not-to-exceed agreement of $16,000 with Studio Y for design development drawings and directed staff to obtain a proposal from LPA for architectural engineering services. The motion was seconded and passed via roll call vote.

Item 12: 2026 Parks and Recreation Maintenance and Improvement District

Staff presented an engineer's report regarding the formation of a new overlay assessment district to address a projected structural deficit in the General Fund expected around fiscal year 2029-2030. The proposal included maximum assessments of approximately $128.48 for Zone A and $77.09 for Zone B. Staff noted a previous survey showed roughly 54-55% support, meeting the simple majority threshold for a benefit assessment but not the two-thirds majority required for a special tax. Public comment addressed transparency and concerns regarding project cost overruns. Council discussion centered on the timing of the ballot measure, with concerns that the current level of support was marginal and that an upcoming gubernatorial election could create political noise. Arguments were made that delaying the measure until spring 2027 would allow for a more focused educational campaign and greater budget certainty. A motion was made to reject the staff recommendation to proceed immediately and to direct staff to return with the item for consideration in the spring of 2027. The motion was seconded and passed via roll call vote.

Item 13: Ordinance No. 533 (High Street Entertainment Zone)

The Council considered Ordinance No. 533 to establish a High Street Entertainment Zone in compliance with California State Senate Bill 969. One Council member recused themselves due to a potential financial impact, and the City Manager recused themselves citing state law presumptions regarding proximity to their residence. A motion was made to waive further reading, declare the ordinance read for a second time, and adopt it as read. The motion was seconded and passed via roll call vote.