Ventura County Grand Jury
• 2003-2004
Ventura County2003-2004 GrandJury FinalReport Oxnard Community Redevelopment
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 10 findings
F01
More than 40 years ago the CaLfornia State Legislature delegatedto cities and counties powers to be used by local redevelopment agencies to eliminate blight from designated urban their communities. areas in
F02
RDAS have broad property management powers, including the authority to acquire property, sometimes by eminent domain, and to sell, lease, clear or develop real property the project area(s). in
F03
The Brown Building is either within, adjacent to, the CCRP project and the or HERO project ofdevelopment and revitalization. The building is located areas in what is referred to the Central District Business Zone, which is as now 2 Oxnard Community Redevelopment Ve,ztura County2003-2004 GrandJury FinalReport undergoing extensive expansion and development causing property values in the area to rise rapidly.
F04
According to plans reviewed by the Grand Jury and statements made by the community development director before city council meetings and to the press, ofthe allowable for the building include restaurants, financial i some uses institutions, galleries, bookstores and funeral home. a
F05
The by which the CDC is considering offers from interestedinvestors means I who will purchase and develop the property through the ofExclusive I is use NegotiationAgreements (ENAs). These ENA responses from prospective investors must include specific development plans that include blueprints, drawings, specifications and the exact ultimate usage for the Brown Building. All materials produced to be presented to the commission for consideration must be preparedby the investor(s) at their own expense. II
F06
On November 20, 2002, the CDC received offer from AI Barkley ofBarkley an Insurance Agents & Brokers. On July 14, 2003, Mr. Barkley withdrew his offer.
F07
On July 8, 2003, Strand Cinemas, developerofthe 14-screen Plaza Cinema and Shopping Complex currentlybeing built approximately four blocks from the Brown Building, was given an ENA for the building that was scheduled to last for 90 days, and possibly extended to 270 days. On August 22, 2003, Strand Cinemas withdrew its offer for the purchase and development ofthe Brown Building.
F08
In July of2003, the ofRuby's Cafi Santa Barbara, California, owners in were denied a special use permit by the city's planning commission to open a i restaurant at 9th andA Streets near downtown Oxnard thatwould serve alcoholic beverages. Reasons for the denial the lack ofparking and the were Oxnard Police Department's opposition to the permit due to the existence of several establishments the that have liquor licenses. The department's in area that another business with liquor license the might view was a in area increase crime.
F09
On August 23, 2003, the CDC instructed its director to enter into ENAwith an the ofRuby's Cafi for the BrOwn Building. On March 23, 2004, the owners chairman ofthe CDC executed the ENAwith the ofRuby's Cafi vice owners for the purchase and development ofthe Brown Building.
F10
As ofthe end ofApril 2004, sale ofthe Brown Building has been finalized, no and remodeling renovation work the structure has begun. no or on Conclusions C-01. Community Development Commission and Community Development Department staffcontrol agency agendas and recommend actions. Commission members, who also elected city council members, tend to rely are staffdecisions than their judgment. Though simple on more on own in principle, redevelopmentis sometimes presented too complex for as some ordinary officials and citizens to understand. (F-01, F-02) Oxnard Community Redevelopment 3 Ventura Coumy2003-2004 GrandJury FinalReport C-02. Because ofthe proximity ofthe Brown Building to already developed projects like the Transportation Center and future projects such the Plaza Cinema as (Strand), the value ofthe building will most probably go up. However, the lack ofsale ofthe building and its long-term vacancy have resulted in the loss of to the city. (F-03, F-04, F-10) revenue C-03. The use ofENAS to come to terms with potential investors interestedin surplus property and property available for resale well within the laws and is rules the Community RedevelopmentAct that is being utiLzed by governing the city under the CDC. The ENAprovides the necessary controls on who the owner or tenant will be and the ultimate use ofthe property, assuring that the property's usage will conform with the rest ofthe development in the area. (F- 05, F-07, F-09) C-04. Even though the ofRuby's Cafi denied permit for owners were a use a restaurant that would serve alcoholic beverages in one area ofthe city, and being considered potential and operators of restaurantin now are as owners a the Brown Building in another part ofthe city, there appears to be no conflict special interest in the decision. What becomes ofthe Brown Building the or is sole, exclusive choice ofthe CDC and the Oxnard City Council, which have members. (F-08, F-09) common Recommendations
Recommendations 1
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R01The CDC and the Oxnard City Council should provide information the more on general workings ofits and RDAS through the continued of commission use televised commission/councilmeetings and the circulation ofarticles and publications the subject to better educate the public how redevelopment on on works. I I R-02. In the event the ofRuby's Cafi do not have their ENA approved owners or extended, withdraw their offer, effective should be used to or a more means solicit buyers and developers from wider ofpotential candidates a range interestedin entering into ENA for the purchase and development ofthe an building. To avoid confusion for potential interestedparties and the public, when the CDC enters into ENAS with investors, it should the "For remove Sale" sign from the building. I Responses Reconunen &. g 2ii a 1 %?i4 i. 1 %i& i%f i - li, l $ s il 1l :f i ll i 4 " 1 i Res nsesRe ired From: o u Oxnard Cit Council X X Ma ofOxnard X X or Res Re uested From: onses Oxnard Plannin Commission X X I I I I I I I I 4 Oxnard Community Redevelopment I Ventura County2003-2004 GrandJury FinalReport
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 3C-01. Community Development Commission and Community Development Department staffcontrol agency agendas and recommend actions. Commission members, who also elected city council members, tend to rely are staffdecisions than their judgment. Though simple on more on own in principle, redevelopmentis sometimes presented too complex for as some ordinary officials and citizens to understand. (F-01, F-02) Oxnard Community Redevelopment 3 Ventura Coumy2003-2004 GrandJury FinalReport C-02. Because ofthe proximity ofthe Brown Building to already developed projects like the Transportation Center and future projects such the Plaza Cinema as (Strand), the value ofthe building will most probably go up. However, the lack ofsale ofthe building and its long-term vacancy have resulted in the loss of to the city. (F-03, F-04, F-10) revenue C-03. The use ofENAS to come to terms with potential investors interestedin surplus property and property available for resale well within the laws and is rules the Community RedevelopmentAct that is being utiLzed by governing the city under the CDC. The ENAprovides the necessary controls on who the owner or tenant will be and the ultimate use ofthe property, assuring that the property's usage will conform with the rest ofthe development in the area. (F- 05, F-07, F-09) C-04. Even though the ofRuby's Cafi denied permit for owners were a use a restaurant that would serve alcoholic beverages in one area ofthe city, and being considered potential and operators of restaurantin now are as owners a the Brown Building in another part ofthe city, there appears to be no conflict special interest in the decision. What becomes ofthe Brown Building the or is sole, exclusive choice ofthe CDC and the Oxnard City Council, which have members. (F-08, F-09) common
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Oxnard
City