Oxnard Golf Course Proposal

Re-purpose the cash-draining River Ridge Golf Course

Added by Citizen Reporter on May 7, 2015.
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Editorial By Steve Nash
 
The financial analysis provided by Mr. Dave Millican and the City of Oxnard Finance Department shows the City-owned golf course running a deficit for at least the next 10 years. http://oxnard.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=46&clip_id=3049
 

RiverRidgeGolfCourse

River Ridge Golf Course

This is not financially sustainable. It has not even been substantiated that the course is primarily utilized by Oxnard residents which might somewhat justify the City subsidizing the golf course through its general fund. The City is in no position to financially subsidize recreational amenities for non-residents.
 
There is no reason to expect that the overall number of rounds will increase enough to cover the operational and bond servicing costs of the golf course, that the greens fee can be increased substantially or that the current course operator will restructure their contract to allow for zero financial impact on the City’s general fund. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-05-23/golf-market-stuck-in-bunker-as-thousands-leave-the-sport
 
If there is no reason to believe our golf course can be operated in such a way for it to become a net asset to Oxnard then what are some other options? One possibility, something I casually mentioned at a closed session of the City Council, is to convert a portion of the course acreage to an energy campus where we might invite NRG to construct their proposed peaker facility and thereby remove it from the coastal zone which the City Council and much of the public is adamantly opposed to allowing.
 
Recent advances in storage technology also suggest a co-location of wind and solar on a portion of the land. I live adjacent to the golf course and I assure you, the wind is more often than not blowing right up the Santa Clara River from the ocean at a good clip. It would appear to be a fine location for these green energy facilities if it can pass all of the environmental and regulatory hurdles. Combine the energy production with energy storage and now we have a truly sustainable and resilient community. http://www.iflscience.com/technology/tesla-battery-heralds-beginning-end-fossil-fuels
 
The remaining portion of the golf course could now be converted to a true public use such as open space, walking trails that could be incorporated into the Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Master Plan, http://developmentservices.cityofoxnard.org/7/76/996/ and a botanical garden, such as proposed for the Campus Park site by the Oxnard Campus Gardens community group but on a much grander scale and in a much more beautiful location. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oxnard-Campus-Gardens/225314530855662?fref=nf
 
All it takes is a little vision, discussion and consensus and perhaps some of our most vexing problems can find solutions.
~~~
 
Steve’s previous relevant CJ articles …..

Suggestions to fix Oxnard’s sinking budget

Suggestions to fix Oxnard’s sinking budgetBy Steve Nash On the City of Oxnard’s budget problems just looking at the areas of shortfall as listed on page 4 of 15 of last night’s staff report Financial_Forecast_pdf_7.78_MB I would offer these following suggestions: Assessment Districts (AD): I live in an AD and I am not getting the level of service I should expect […]

May 5, 2015

Sunset at River Ridge Golf Course

Sunset at River Ridge Golf CourseBy Steve Nash Sunset at The 18th green, River Ridge, Vineyard Golf Course, River Ridge, Oxnard a beautiful, but underutilized city-owned facility in Oxnard. You can have a good time, socialize and help the city balance its budget by playing here.     http://www.riverridge-golfclub.com 805-983-4653___________ Steve Nash: Is a Planning Commissioner in the city […]

March 15, 2015

Recent Oxeeting can be viewed here:http://oxnard.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=46&clip_id=3049&meta_id=149627

Prior Citizens Journal articles on the Oxnard Budget Crisis: Here and Here

Steve Nash

Steve Nash

________________________

Steve Nash is a Planning Commissioner in the city of Oxnard.  He holds a B.A. in  Environmental Studies from U.C. Santa Barbara

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Steven Nash

Within 10 years, possibly 5, we will have the technology available and at a low enough cost where we can also take part of the parking lot, put up elevated solar panels/charging stations and contract with an autonomous electric vehicle provider (not even available yet . . . but they will be) to utilize the space as a distribution/storage area for their vehicles. The adjacent hotel can offer a few of the vehicles to their guests who would then have the opportunity to explore Oxnard and Ventura County in a driverless car (and, hopefully, generate sales tax revenue). The remaining vehicles become transportation for people who do not or cannot afford the luxury of a private vehicle (and this might include most of us once we start to analyze the true expense of owning an asset that is only utilized 5% or less of the time).

The City should already be exploring these options and seeking partnerships with Google, Uber, Tesla and SolarCity and, of course, NRG.

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