City Departments Pitch Budget Proposals

OXNARD — Several city departments gave the City Council their wish lists for the next fiscal year’s budget Tuesday, asking for money to establish Neighborhood Watch programs and to hire a private contractor to clean and reopen park bathrooms.

A final budget with specific funding for each department should be finished within two weeks, city officials say.

Unlike the past five years, no department will face drastic cuts or additional funding under the fiscal 1997-98 spending plan, being called a “status quo” budget, city officials said.

Tuesday night’s session concludes the first round of budget discussions, which began two weeks ago with presentations from police and fire officials.

Henry Lenhart, the Fire Department’s interim chief, asked the council for $291,900 to hire three additional firefighters and an administrative chief. Since the early 1990s, fire officials have complained of being short-staffed.

Assistant Police Chief Tom Cady asked for seven new patrol officers, one dispatcher, one sergeant and $75,000 in overtime pay for major crimes investigations. Jim Faulconer, Oxnard’s community affairs manager, proposed the creation of a fund for each of the city’s 39 neighborhood councils. Each group could use up to $2,000 to buy flashlights, radios and cellular phones for Neighborhood Watch patrols, he said.

Council members said they liked the idea, but that the details of allocating money should be refined.

Michael Henderson, director of the city’s parks and facilities department, told the council that hiring a private contractor to clean park bathrooms would cost about $85,000 for six months or $300,000 for year-round services.

Because of cutbacks dating to 1991, most of Oxnard’s park bathrooms have been closed and the neglect has led to unsanitary conditions.

Every year since then, Henderson has pleaded with the council for more money.

Councilman Tom Holden said the current bathroom situation is untenable. “I don’t think we can tolerate this anymore,” he said.