Free Landscape Classes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2018
Spanish version below/Traducciòn al Español abajo
NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS: 
Carri Karuhn, Manager of Media Relations/Community Outreach
805-385-7593, carri.karuhn@oxnard.org

Standard and Poor’s Gives Oxnard Wastewater A Positive Outlook

Oxnard, California – Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings affirmed the City of Oxnard Financing Authority’s Wastewater Revenue Bonds rating of BBB and revised the financial outlook from negative to positive. The rating reflects the combination of a very strong enterprise risk profile and an adequate financial risk profile, according to S&P’s Global Ratings.

S&P Global Ratings also indicates that they “could take a positive ratings action — possibly multiple notches — if the city pursues its strategy to de-risk the wastewater system’s debt portfolio, or if the wastewater system is able to develop a track record of strong financial performance that we (S&P Global Ratings) believe is sustainable with no further interruptions to the normal rate-setting process.”

“This is great news for the residents of Oxnard,” said Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramirez. “It affirms that the City Council took the necessary steps to finance the many needed improvements. The financial markets are now responding positively to our action.”

Assistant City Manager Jesús Nava said: “An increase in our wastewater bond rating would be a great step forward after years of problems. It will show our residents and bondholders that we are correcting the situation, making improvements and investing in the future.”
The S&P anticipates stronger near-term performance, based on greater clarity on the potential outcome and impact of Measure M litigation and the city having completed the 2017 wastewater rate-setting process that established five consecutive years of City Council-approved rate increases.

“We anticipate that financial performance going forward will likely remain strong during the near term, but will likely be pressured beginning in the middle term,” the S&P stated. “The approved rate increases do not finance the significant capital needs just outside the five-year window, and increased leverage is likely to pressure financial performance as the city addresses regulatory requirements and deferred capital needs at the treatment plant.”

Summary: Oxnard Financing Authority, California Oxnard; Water/Sewer (PDF 351 KB)

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: 24 de julio, 2018
CONTACTOS CON MEDIOS INFORMATIVOS:
Carri Karuhn, Manager of Media Relations/Community Outreach
805-385-7593, carri.karuhn@oxnard.org

Standard and Poor’s da Las Aguas Residuales de Oxnard una Perspectiva Positiva

Oxnard, California – Los ratings globales de Standard & poor’s (S&P) afirmaron que la autoridad financiera de la ciudad de Oxnard tenía la calificación de bonos de impuestos de las aguas residuales de BBB y revisó las perspectivas financieras de negativo a positivo. La clasificación refleja la combinación de un perfil de riesgo empresarial muy fuerte y un perfil de riesgo financiero adecuado, según las calificaciones globales de S&P.

S&P global ratings también indica que “podrían tomar una acción de calificación positiva-posiblemente múltiples muescas-si la ciudad persigue su estrategia de desriesgo de la cartera de deudas del sistema de aguas residuales, o si el sistema de aguas residuales es capaz de desarrollar un historial de fuerte el desempeño financiero que nosotros (S&P Global Ratings) creemos que es sustentable sin más interrupciones al proceso normal de establecimiento de tasas. ”

“Esta es una gran noticia para los residentes de Oxnard”, dijo la alcaldesa Pro Tem Carmen Ramírez.” afirma que el Concejo Municipal tomó las medidas necesarias para financiar las muchas mejoras necesarias. Los mercados financieros están ahora respondiendo positivamente a nuestra acción”.

El asistente del Gerente de la ciudad, Jesús Nava, dijo: “un aumento en nuestra calificación de bonos de aguas residuales sería un gran paso adelante después de años de problemas. Mostrará a nuestros residentes y tenedores de bonos que estamos corrigiendo la situación, haciendo mejoras e invirtiendo en el futuro “.

El S&P anticipa un rendimiento más fuerte a corto plazo, basado en una mayor claridad sobre el resultado potencial y el impacto de la medida M litigios y la ciudad que completó el proceso de fijación de la tasa de aguas residuales 2017 que estableció cinco años consecutivos de aumentos de tasas aprobados por el Concejo Municipal.

“Anticipamos que el desempeño financiero en el futuro probablemente seguirá siendo fuerte durante el corto plazo, pero probablemente se presionará comenzando en el término medio”, dijo el S&P. “los aumentos de tasa aprobados no financian las necesidades significativas de capital justo fuera de la ventana de cinco años, y un mayor apalancamiento es probable que presione el desempeño financiero mientras la ciudad aborda los requerimientos reglamentarios y las necesidades de capital diferido en la planta de tratamiento “.

Resumen: Autoridad Financiera, California
Oxnard; Agua/alcantarillado (PDF 351 KB)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 5, 2017

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Main City Contact:  Rosemarie Gaglione, Public Works Director, rosemarie.gaglione@oxnard.org,

805-263-3494

Alternate City Contact:  Sujin Beck, Project Manager, sujin.beck@oxnard.org, 805-200-5293

Channel Islands Harbor Water Quality Is Safe and Improving

Oxnard, California.  Dissolved oxygen levels are improving daily according to the data collected by the City. There are twenty-six sampling locations that are being tested on a daily basis, and of the twenty-six test sites, four sites have low dissolved oxygen levels. These areas are concentrated in the Seabridge Public Marina, Westport, and northern section of Mandalay Bay.

The public can view the test results at https://arcg.is/08ifCO on a geographic information system (GIS) map. The map contains the location of all the sampling sites and the data collected at those sites. The map also has a legend under the “Test Parameter” button to indicate what a normal range should be for each of the parameters that are being tested. Staff is working quickly to upload as much information as possible. At this time, the dissolved oxygen content, salinity, water temperature, and pH is available. The bacteria information will be up by Thursday, July 5, 2018.

Along with the GIS map, the City is also releasing a Frequently Asked Questions document to address the most pressing questions being asked by the public.

The City Council will hold a Special City Council Meeting on Thursday, July 5, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. to award an agreement to Aquatic Bioassay and Consulting Laboratory, Inc. in the amount of $72,650 for water quality sampling and analysis services.  A verbal update report on the city’s work to date will also be provided to the City Council.

Residents are encouraged to report any odor or discoloration in the Harbor waters by calling 805-797-7598 or emailing Sujin Beck at sujin.beck@oxnard.org.

Follow us on social media at www.twitter.com/CityofOxnard (@CityofOxnard), www.facebook.com/CityofOxnard and www.vimeo.com/cityofoxnard.

###

Jesús Nava, Interim City Manager, jesus.nava@oxnard.org

City of Oxnard, CA

Channel Island Harbor Water Quality

Frequently Asked Questions

July 3, 2018

1. Is it safe to go in the water?
   Yes, water testing was completed by the City of Oxnard and test results confirmed the water in the Channel Islands Harbor is not hazardous to human health.
2. Why is the water brown?
   The water itself is clear. When you look into the water, what you are seeing is brown algae, giving the appearance of brown water. A Marine Biologist is being hired by the City to review the test results and conduct additional testing and analysis to determine the root cause.
3. How are the oxygen levels? When will test results be released to the public? How often is testing being done?
   Please refer to the interactive maps which include daily logs by test location.  Daily monitoring Monday thru Friday is occurring and measurements are being taken near the top and the bottom of the water’s surface.
4. Is there a pump in Seabridge that was installed as a backup plan if the power plant closed? Is it running and if not, why?
   The pumping vault infrastructure is set up to house an aeration system at two locations within the Seabridge CFD. There is no pump currently installed in the vaults.
5. There has been a video circulating in which dead fish are shown. Where is this at? What is the City doing to rectify the situation?
   This video was taken at the Seabridge public marina. The City has formed a task force and is adding a Marine Biologist to the team to assist in testing and analysis. Additionally, aerators are being purchased to conduct a pilot study within the Seabridge public marina to determine if aeration will improve this oxygen deficient area. However, the City will continue to perform detailed water sampling.
6. How often did the NRG pumps operate previously?
   The City has made a public records act request to obtain the facts as there is a great deal of conflicting information.
7. Why can’t the City turn the pumps back on at the NRG plant until a resolution is reached?
   NRG ceased operations and discharges to surface waters on March 29, 2018. On June 5, 2018 NRG requested the Regional Water Board discontinue coverage under the NPDES permit program because the facility operations and discharges of wastewater to surface waters have ceased. There is a public hearing on September 13, 2018 with the Regional Water Board in Ventura to consider the tentative order which will terminate the requirements in the NPDES permit. For more information or to submit a comment letter, please click here.
8. What is the County’s role?
   The County owns and operates the Channel Islands Harbor, which jurisdiction ends at the Harbor Blvd. bridges over the channels. Mandalay Bay, Seabridge, Westport, Harbour Island, the NRG plant and all land north of the bridges is within the jurisdiction of the City of Oxnard. In speaking with the County, they moved up their quarterly testing schedule. They tested in three locations: the west channel, the east channel and the main turning basin. All locations tested well below acceptable limits for bacteria and heavy metals. Dissolved oxygen levels were above the acceptable threshold, although a bit lower than usual in the west channel.