Meeting Summary
Present: Gama, Lopez, Perez, Hernandez, McQueen-Legohn
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
Proclamations and Honors
- Council recognized Women's History Month and Tsunami Preparedness Week with formal proclamations.
- Chief Federico presented a proclamation to Bill Boyd for his work on the tsunami signage project.
Fuel Tank Replacement Project
- Staff confirmed the removal of an old single-walled steel tank due to state mandates.
- The City Manager explained that maintaining an on-site fuel station ensures emergency priority access.
- Council approved the disbursement for the new polypropylene glass tank expected in June.
Citywide Spring Cleanup Event
- Staff proposed a cleanup event for April 25, 2026, at three city locations with organic mulch giveaways.
- The event will accept regular and bulky trash but exclude hazardous waste due to liability rules.
- Staff agreed to include information about the Clean Harbors contract in event messaging.
Ventura Road Bicycle Lane Safety
- Staff reported safety deficiencies and non-compliant sections in current bicycle lane classifications.
- Council directed staff to prepare regulations for oversized vehicles and consider capital improvements.
- The motion to receive the report and update the municipal code passed unanimously.
Legislative Platform Revisions
- Staff presented revisions focusing on immigration reform, climate adaptation, and oil and gas safety.
- Additional language regarding social equity and resident confidentiality was included in the document.
- Council approved the revised legislative platform as presented.
Joint Use Agreement with Oxnard Union High School District
- Staff proposed a fee-free agreement for the City to use the high school pool and the District to use city baseball fields.
- The agreement includes a five-year term with each party responsible for their own maintenance and utilities.
- Council authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement after confirming insurance and background check protocols.
City Port Standing Committee Appointment
- Staff recommended appointing two Council members to the committee to maintain compliance with current agreements.
- Council voted to appoint the Mayor and Council Member Perez to the committee.
Sister City Presentation Scheduling
- The Council accepted a request to schedule a future presentation by the Hueneme Sister Cities Committee.
- Staff will proceed with scheduling the item based on consensus without a formal vote.
Closed Session
- No closed session report was provided in this meeting summary.
Full summary
Call to Order and Roll Call
- The regular City Council and Housing Authority meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026. Roll call was taken, and all members were present.
Inspiration and Proclamations
- Council Member Lopez delivered an address honoring Women's History Month, detailing the movement's history and contributions of women in public service. Subsequently, two proclamations were presented:
- Tsunami Preparedness Week: Council Member Gama read a proclamation declaring March 21–29, 2026, as Tsunami Preparedness Week in Port Hueneme. Chief Federico presented a proclamation to Bill Boyd of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services recognizing his work on the tsunami signage project.
- National Women's History Month: Council Member Perez read a proclamation declaring March 2026 as National Women's History Month in Port Hueneme.
Public Comments (Non-Agenda Items)
- Several members of the public addressed the council on non-agenda items:
- Greg Ross: Raised concerns regarding parking at the pier and lithium-ion battery fire risks at the Port of Hueneme, urging a review of fire protection information.
- Cynthia Luca (Gold Coast Transit District): Announced upcoming public meetings regarding proposed transit service changes for March 5 and March 11.
- Hueneme Sister Cities Committee (Joey Jimenez, Osvaldo Godina, Bobby Martinez): Provided updates on the partnership with Puerto Vallarta, including completed fundraisers, a student cultural exchange program involving Zoom sessions and prizes, and a request for a future agenda slot to present on the committee's work.
Approval of Agenda
- A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
Conflict of Interest
- No council members disclosed conflicts of interest regarding agenda items.
Housing Authority Meeting
- The City Council recessed to convene the Housing Authority meeting at 7:03 p.m. All members were present except Member Brown. No public comments were received. A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent calendar, which passed unanimously. The Housing Authority meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m., and the City Council reconvened.
City Council Consent Calendar
- Item 2 (M6 Consulting Inc.): Council Member Lopez requested to pull this item from the consent calendar for separate discussion.
- Items 1 and 3: A motion was made and seconded to approve Items 1 and 3. The motion passed unanimously.
Disbursements (Item 2 - M6 Consulting Inc.)
- Discussion focused on the fuel tank replacement project. Council Member Lopez questioned the presentation of costs, requesting a clearer picture of total anticipated funding and options such as above-ground tanks or fuel cards. Staff explained that the total project cost (approximately $500,000) and options had been previously presented. The City Manager noted that maintaining an on-site fuel station ensures priority access during emergencies and prevents misuse compared to fuel cards. The Public Works Director confirmed the removal of an old single-walled steel tank due to state mandates and stated the new polypropylene glass tank is expected in June. Council Member Perez requested that future staff reports on long-term projects include historical context, which the City Manager agreed to provide. A motion was made and seconded to approve the disbursement for Item 2. The motion passed unanimously.
Citywide Spring Cleanup Event
- Staff proposed a citywide spring cleanup event for April 25, 2026, coinciding with Earth Day. Locations were set at the Recreation Center parking lot, Beach Park, and Bulker Park. The event would include a giveaway of organic mulch and accept regular trash and bulky items, but not hazardous waste. Council Member Lopez noted the event was funded by the enterprise fund with no general fund impact. Council Member Hernandez inquired about staffing, which staff confirmed would be available. Council Member Gama asked about hazardous waste; staff explained that due to liability rules, the city does not collect hazardous waste at such events but has a contract with Clean Harbors in Camarillo for free disposal. Staff agreed to include disposal information in event messaging. A motion was made and seconded to approve the spring cleanup event. The motion passed unanimously.
Ventura Road Bicycle Lane Safety and Oversized Vehicles
- Staff presented a report on safety deficiencies and current classifications of bicycle lanes on Ventura Road. The report identified that northbound lanes are primarily Class 2, while southbound lanes are a mix of Class 1, 2, and 3, with non-compliant sections due to right-of-way constraints. Staff noted issues with oversized vehicles and shuttles encroaching on bike lanes and stated that current municipal code regarding oversized vehicles is outdated. Staff recommended updating the code to regulate oversized vehicles and exploring capital improvements to upgrade southbound lanes to Class 1 standards. Council members discussed vehicle locations, parking impacts, and accident history. A motion was made and seconded to receive the information report and direct staff to prepare oversized vehicle regulations and consider improvements in future capital improvement plans. The motion passed unanimously.
City of Port Hueneme Legislative Platform Council Revisions
- Staff presented proposed revisions to the city's legislative platform, incorporating prior Council directives and Citizens Advisory Committee recommendations. Changes focused on comprehensive immigration reform, environmental infrastructure and climate adaptation (updating "cap and trade" to "cap and invest"), and oil and gas infrastructure safety. Attachment B included additional language on social equity, environmental justice, public safety, and resident confidentiality. Council members discussed the content, noting some items were already covered while others were valuable additions. A motion was made and seconded to approve the revised legislative platform document as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Joint Use Agreement with Oxnard Union High School District
- Staff presented a proposal to formalize a joint use agreement allowing the City to use the Hueneme High School swimming pool and the District to use City baseball fields at Bubbling Springs Park without fees. The agreement stipulates that each party remains responsible for its own maintenance and utility costs, provides required insurance, and includes a five-year term with one five-year extension. Council members inquired about school activities, background checks, and liability insurance. Staff confirmed background checks are handled by Human Resources and required insurance is in place. A motion was made and seconded to authorize the City Manager to execute the joint use agreement. The motion passed unanimously.
City Council Appointment to City Port Standing Committee
- Staff recommended appointing two Council members to the Joint City Port Committee to maintain compliance with the current agreement. Council members discussed the necessity of the committee in the absence of a finalized new agreement. A motion was made to appoint the Mayor and Council Member Perez to the committee. An alternate motion was made to appoint the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem; this alternate motion failed. The original motion to appoint the Mayor and Council Member Perez passed.
City Manager Comments and Reports
- The City Manager provided updates on recent events, including a movie night, the upcoming "Egg Shravaganza," and a partnership ribbon-cutting. Awards were recognized for Police Dispatcher Nikki Scotti and Officer Zach Frum. The agenda for the March 16 meeting was outlined, including consent items, a public hearing for a planning permit modification, and business items regarding park reservations, the general plan update, and a mid-year budget update. Council members reported on attendance at regional meetings and discussed the need for proper disposal of hazardous materials found in the City Council office.
Public Comments and Administrative Announcements
- The City Clerk addressed concerns regarding the disposal of items found throughout the city. The Mayor provided updates on upcoming activities, including base RDP meetings, scholarship events, the Deputant Ball, Read Across America, Little League, and the Ports robotics event. Council Member Gama shared updates regarding a Rotary Club nomination. The City Clerk announced upcoming reading activities with the Lions Club.
Sister City Presentation Request
- A request was raised to add a presentation regarding a sister city to a future agenda. The City Manager explained that while individual members have a process for requests, the Council can collectively agree to add items without a formal vote. After confirming no opposition, the City Manager indicated staff would proceed with scheduling the presentation. No formal motion was moved, seconded, or voted upon; the item was accepted by consensus.
Adjournment
- The Mayor announced the adjournment of the meeting at 8:46 p.m. The next meeting was scheduled for Monday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m.