Lopez, Luly <[email protected]>
Comments about items not on the agenda for the City Council meeting of May 5, 2026
3 messages
Steven Nash <[email protected]> Mon, May 4, 2026 at 12:16 PM To: City Clerk <[email protected]>, Steven Nash <[email protected]> Please forward this email to the Council members prior to their May 5, 2026 meeting. Thank you.
These are comments I have about some members of the Oxnard City Council not adhering to the protocols of the Procedures Manual of the City of Oxnard City Council. “By developing and agreeing to adhere to the following guidelines and procedures, the effective administration of City Council affairs will be greatly enhanced.” (Pg 5) Comment: By swearing an oath to accept the duties and responsibilities of the office, a council member cannot unilaterally change the rules of the game, choosing which protocols to follow and which to ignore. “1. Obtaining the Floor: A member of the City Council or staff shall first address the presiding officer to gain recognition.” (Pg 13)
Comment: the presiding officer frequently chooses not to enforce this protocol. “If a Councilmember has questions on an agenda item, that member should preferably contact the City Manager prior to the meeting in order to allow the City Manager to direct staff with enough time to research a response for the meeting.” (Pg 14)
Comment: for a council member to wait until the actual meeting to ask questions of a technical and complex nature, he is not showing the staff and his colleagues professional courtesy.
Voting Procedures, “When present, all Councilmembers are to vote unless prohibited by law or conflict of interest. Unless a Councilmember states an intention not to vote, the City Clerk shall record silence as an affirmative vote.” (Pg 14)
Comment: when a council member abstains from a vote, without mentioning a conflict of interest, the remaining members should demand his vote, either “aye” or “nay” as stipulated by this section of the Procedures Manual. This is to provide a record for the abstaining member’s constituents who have a right to know their council member’s position.
Thank you.
Best,
Steve Nash
2211 Laurel Valley Place
Oxnard, CA 93036