10/3/19: Oxnard Government Accountability and Ethics Act to be Considered by Council for the March 2020 Ballot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2019

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
City Manager Alexander Nguyen (805) 385-7430
Communications Manager Katie Casey (805) 816-4330

OXNARD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND ETHICS ACT TO BE CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL FOR THE MARCH 2020 BALLOT

Oxnard, Calif. – Following review of public sentiments in a recent Oxnard Resident Satisfaction and Priorities Survey, city staff have recommended a broad-sweeping City Hall accountability and ethics measure for placement on the March ballot to address the public’s desire to broaden and institutionalize good government practices.

“We join the community in wanting to continue to build confidence that our City, its elected leaders and staff are solely focused on putting the public’s interests first, above all others; and being accountable, transparent and fair in all of our efforts on behalf of local residents,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen, “The Government Accountability and Ethics Act I am recommending to the City Council would allow our Oxnard community the opportunity to institutionalize government accountability, ethics and transparency provisions through local voter action.”

The Oxnard Government Accountability and Ethics Act does not give the City any additional powers– but would impose broad-scale ethics, transparency and fiscally responsible practices. The provisions outlined in the Act, include:

1.) Prohibiting councilmembers and planning commissioners from accepting gifts from lobbyists and contractors;

2.) Eliminating the influence of outside special interests by imposing, for the first time in Oxnard, contribution limits to Mayoral and City Council candidates;

3.) Expanding transparency by posting all expensive City contracts and the City’s monthly financial reporting on the City website for public review; and

4.) Establishing a three-term limit for the City Council and Mayor, and changing the Mayor’s term from two to four years to be consistent with the City Council.

Said City Manager Nguyen, “We are pleased to do our part to put this proposal forward in response to recent feedback from the community. Doing so gives voters the opportunity to institutionalize good government practices so that future city staffs and city councils can also meet the high standards we pride ourselves on.”

 

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