Santa Paula designated local authority dissolution finalized after unanimous vote

The board overseeing the Santa Paula designated local authority voted unanimously to accept staff recommendations that finalize the DLA’s dissolution.

Joy Otsuki, special counsel to the Santa Paula designated local authority, told the board the DLA “has now met all of the requirements for dissolution.” Otsuki said the DLA “has disposed of all its assets, it’s not involved in any litigation, and it’s turned over all funds to the county for distribution to the taxing entities.”

The action followed a staff update in which Clay, a board staff member, said the cities of Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura asked for additional time to answer questions from a prior meeting; staff requested those agencies provide status reports in September rather than October. Clay also outlined upcoming meetings, including an organizational meeting on September 23, a conditional review of administrative budgets in October, conditional budget approvals on October 28, and a January 27, 2027 meeting to consider the RoPS for 2728.

After Otsuki finished the presentation, a board member moved to accept staff’s recommendation; another member seconded. Ken moved the motion aloud and the board voted in favor, 5-0. The chair then adjourned the meeting.

The board’s vote makes final the prior initial resolution (adopted, according to Otsuki, in March of the prior year) and ends the DLA’s separate operations; staff reported the remaining funds have been transferred to the county for distribution to affected taxing entities. The board did not report any ongoing litigation connected to the DLA.