Written Public Comments
Submitted by the 3pm deadline
(Instructions for Public Comment are provided on the first page of the meeting agenda.) From: Johnny Garcia Vasquez
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2025 10:58 AM
To: Council WebMail
Subject: City Council Public Comment Item 9 Dec 1, 2025 Good evening, City Council:
Thank you for adding this item to the agenda. The staff report provided here is shameful, as it compares the implementation cost to that of the City of Oxnard.
Yet the size and population of Oxnard and Port Hueneme do not even mirror each other.
I request that the Council ask staff to revisit the drawing board to provide a more comprehensive staff report analysis that captures a proposed ordinance and policies directly tailored to Port Hueneme and the current represented population of tenants.
Additionally, provide the Council with policies and enforcement measures that would result at no cost to the city. For example, having current code enforcement staff cite violators for uninhabitable living conditions and harassment ( which would then provide the city revenue) and allow code enforcement to investigate such claims. Then, turn such an investigation over to the police department for further criminal investigation and charges.
Since speaking during public comment to request that this item be considered, I have been illegally and retaliatory evicted from Park Madera in Port Hueneme.
The staff provided me with falsified rental term violation notices, as I have previously reported public health and safety issues to local code enforcement and sought ongoing repairs to their buildings.
This comes after being a victim of hate incidents and speech as harassment and retaliation by Gardner Management LTD staff members Kat Ross and Emmanuel Garcia, as well as some of their long-term tenants ( who are friends of theirs) that reside at Park Madera Apartment properties. These incidents have been captured on my Ring camera and reported to the Port Hueneme Police Department.
Housing advocates, legal aid organizations, and tenants have shared similar reports of landlords engaging in harassing or coercive behavior to force tenants out of their homes. These actions include refusing necessary repairs, abusing access, issuing false eviction notices, intimidation, and retaliation against tenants who report violations. These experiences are not unique to Ventura County; they are shared by other community members and me.
California State Law prohibits landlords ( or their relatives, agents, or other tenants) from harassing or retaliating against tenants for asserting their California tenant rights, including requesting that a property management company address uninhabitable living conditions.
However, Gardner Management LTD staff continue to engage in these illegal practices here locally, despite having state laws on the books and an antiharassment policy that they have neglected to enforce.
In response, I am advocating for the Council to adopt and pass a local Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance at no cost to the city.
This ordinance should be more robust than the current state law, like that of the City of Los Angeles and other jurisdictions that have taken decisive action to protect tenants by adopting comprehensive ordinances. This ordinance should clearly define harassment, establish mechanisms for enforcement, and impose both civil and criminal penalties to deter unlawful conduct at no additional cost to the city.
The swift actions of Council to adopt a similar policy will send a clear message to their constituents, who elected them: housing, civil rights, public health, and safety are of utmost importance, surpassing the profit motives of local landlords and property management companies.
Best regards,
Johnny Garcia Vasquez, M.A, M.Ed.
Ed.D Doctoral Candidate
Fielding Graduate University
Mobile: (
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From: Sharon Voigt Damerell
Sent: Monday, December 1, 2025 1:50 PM
To: City Clerk
Subject: City Council Public Comment Item 9
I strongly support the City of Port Hueneme in adopting an Anti-Landlord Harassment Ordinance.
I am urging the Port Hueneme City Council to prioritize and enact this policy to safeguard residents, promote housing stability, and ensure that every tenant in Port Hueneme can live free from fear, coercion, or abuse in their home.
As a resident of Oxnard, I care about what happens to my neighbors.
Thank you for your attention,
Sharon Voigt Damerell (she/her)
From: Jeffrey Scarberry
Sent: Monday, December 1, 2025 1:58 PM
To: City Clerk
Subject: City Council Public Comment - Agenda Item #9
City Council,
Please strongly reject consideration of this proposed ordinance. Creating such an ordinance would spend money we don’t have on an ordinance we don’t need. This item is being pushed and endorsed by the highly partisan Greater Oxnard Organization of Democrats which operates based on a political agenda that doesn’t take into consideration our City’s budget and how our resident’s tax dollars should best be spent. It’s easy to spend other people's money but you have a duty to do it wisely. State laws already covers this issue so please just let that be. Also, please do not give too much weight to comments by people that don’t even live here. I’ve noticed that certain agenda items seem to generate a lot of repetitive input from outside entities whose primary motivations may not be based on Hueneme's best interests.
Thank you.
Throwing shade at our City Manager? He's doing a great job.
From: Miguel Lopez
Sent: Monday, December 1, 2025 2:16 PM
To: Council WebMail
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: City Council Meeng, December 1, Public Comment Item 9 December 1, 2025
Honorable Mayor McQueen-Legohn and Members of the Port Hueneme City Council,
Having grown up in South Oxnard, a graduate of Hueneme High with friends and family that have lived in Port Hueneme for generations, I am a supporter of the Port Hueneme community, Greater Oxnard and our beautiful central coast. I am also writing on behalf of our local Democratic GOOD Club, representing over 700 members in Greater Oxnard, Port Hueneme, El Rio & Nyland Acres, for which I serve as President.
First, thank you for your time and service. I am writing to respectfully urge the City Council to adopt a strong, cost-free Anti-Landlord Harassment Ordinance that protects tenants, promotes housing stability, and ensures all residents can live safely and free from intimidation in their homes.
Sadly, and unfortunately, too many residents across our region, tenants continue to experience documented harassment, retaliation, and coercive conduct that threatens their well-being and disrupts stable housing. We are all grateful Port Hueneme has long been a leader in prioritizing public safety and community wellness for residents, and here is an opportunity to extend those values to housing protections.
Thank you to your colleague for bringing this constituent concern to staff attention. This is democracy and civic engagement at work. And, in doing so, we were able to reference what the city of Oxnard, a city we - and staff - recognize is 10-TIMES in population, and different economies of scale, as well as Los Angeles, even more so.
I urge you to adopt an ordinance that serves as a baseline and floor, that includes:
Clear definitions of landlord harassment, so tenants and property owners alike understand what is prohibited.
Strong protections for tenants who report harassment or retaliation.
Civil and criminal penalties for violations — a cost-free but effective deterrent that communicates the city’s commitment to safe and fair housing.
Mechanisms for enforcement and remedy, ensuring tenants have realistic options when facing unlawful harassment that can be aspirational for when the city can revisit and prioritize.
As local governments face significant economic and budgetary uncertainty in the coming year, this is an opportunity for Port Hueneme to take a principled and fiscally responsible stance: establishing a baseline of what is safe, habitable, and acceptable for all residents without adding financial strain to the city.
Every resident deserves a home free from fear and abuse. I hope we can all agree on this base standard. By passing this ordinance, Port Hueneme reaffirms its commitment to protecting families, seniors, educators, law enforcement and first-responders, veterans, and long-time community members.
Thank you for your leadership and for considering this essential policy. I strongly urge you to prioritize and enact a comprehensive Anti-Landlord Harassment Ordinance that strengthens the health, safety, and stability of the hard-working and retired community in Port Hueneme.
Respectfully,
Miguel Lopez, Ph.D.
President, Greater Oxnard Organization of Democrats (including, Port Hueneme)
rom: Rob Leatherwood
Sent: Monday, December 1, 2025 2:49 PM
To: City Clerk
Cc: Hernandez, Laura D.; McQueen- Legohn, Martha; Perez, Misty; Lopez, Jess A; Gama, Steven A.; Vega, James
Subject: VCCAR Comments - Dec. 1, 2025 (Item #9)
A achments: Port Hueneme an- harassment VCCAR le er.pdf Good afternoon, Ms. Alvarez.
I hope you had a relaxing holiday and your week is off to a great start.
Please see attached for VCCAR comments for Item #9 on this evening’s agenda.
Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for all you do! December 1, 2025
City Council of Port Hueneme
cc: James Vega, City Manager
250 N. Ventura Rd.
Port Hueneme, CA 93041
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers,
On behalf of the Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS® ( VCCAR), thank you for your continued engagement on the important issue of tenant protection. We share the City’ s commitment to ensuring all Port Hueneme residents have access to safe, fair, and harassment- free housing.
California already provides renters with strong legal protections against landlord harassment, including the right to peaceful enjoyment, protection from retaliation, and legal remedies through the courts.
These laws are enforceable today and apply equally in Port Hueneme. Given this foundation, cities typically only pursue local anti-harassment ordinances when there is clear evidence of systemic problems and a capacity to fund robust enforcement.
Port Hueneme, by contrast, has received just a single public complaint. The staff report acknowledges the absence of a broader body of evidence and confirms the City lacks the resources— up to an estimated $ 500,000 per year— to support implementation and enforcement. Proceeding without community engagement, stakeholder collaboration, or a fiscal plan risks undermining public trust and diverting energy from more constructive solutions.
Just two years ago, Councilmember Hernandez and the full Council expressed support for an educationbased approach, aimed at improving awareness of tenant and landlord rights. Although staff never acted on that direction, VCCAR was there then and remains ready to assist. In fact, we’ ve since launched a no-cost, City- approved education program in Ventura that begins early next year— and we would be thrilled to bring the same program to Port Hueneme.
Education is the most effective, least adversarial tool available to prevent harassment and ensure compliance with housing laws. It empowers both renters and housing providers with knowledge, fosters collaboration, and addresses issues before they escalate. We urge the Council to reaffirm its earlier commitment to education and community- based solutions before pursuing additional regulations.
That said, we respect the Council’ s role in determining the best path forward. Whether you decide to pursue an ordinance, prioritize education, or explore a hybrid approach, VCCAR is committed to being a constructive and collaborative partner. We stand ready to support the City with technical guidance, outreach, and policy development— whatever the Council deems most appropriate.
Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your continued service to the Port Hueneme community.
Sincerely,
Rob Leatherwood
Director of Government Affairs