May 2026 Newsletter

Council Update

We had two Council Meetings and our Budget Workshop in April, these are some of the items we took action on:

• Staff recommended the City Council take actions prior to July 1, 2026, to implement updates to the Brown Act pursuant to Senate Bill 707.
• Amended Motion: Direct the City Clerk to bring back options for live Spanish translation services at City Council meetings at a later meeting: Joyce. Second: Figueroa. Approved: 5-0.
• Motion: Approve staff's recommendation with Option 1 for public comments, and direct staff to look into Spanish translations for staff reports and elimination of the group speaker policy: Weiss. Second: Robinson. Approved: 5-0.

• Staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended the City Council approve naming Park Site 1 at El Corazon (as Kiyam or Supul Park) and the skate spot at John Landes Community Park (as Shane Hidalgo Skate Park).
• Motion: Name Park Site 1 at El Corazon as Supul Park and name the skate park at John Landes Park as Shane Hidalgo Skate Park: Figueroa. Second: Sanchez. Approved: 5-0.

• Staff recommended that the City Council designate the Brooks Street Swim Center, Phase IIA Trail at El Corazon, and the sensory garden at El Corazon as facilities for which it will accept naming applications; waive the investigation and hearing requirements and designate Cesar Chavez Park for renaming; and waive requirements to expedite the naming and renaming process.
• Motion: Designate Brooks Street Swim Center as a facility for naming and accept applications for naming: Robinson. Second: Weiss. Failed: 2-3 (No: Sanchez, Figueroa, Joyce).
• Motion: Direct staff to look into options on how to honor Chief Ray Duncan: Sanchez. Second: Figueroa. Approved: 5-0.
• Motion: Designate Phase IIA Trail at El Corazon as a facility for naming and accept applications for naming: Robinson. Second: Joyce. Approved: 5-0.
• Motion: Designate the sensory garden at El Corazon as a facility for naming and accept applications for naming: Joyce. Second: Figueroa. Failed: 2-3 (No: Sanchez, Robinson, Weiss).
• Motion: Designate Cesar Chavez Park for renaming and direct staff to hold community meetings, with the process as a collaboration between the Parks and Recreation Department and Neighborhood Services Department: Joyce. Second: Figueroa. Approved: 4-1 (No: Robinson). *I voted no on this item due to my belief that input should be gathered from the entire city, not just the local neighborhood.*
• Motion: Direct staff to revisit Council Policy 100-55 and include input from the Parks and Recreation Commission: Joyce. Second: Sanchez. Approved: 5-0.

 Budget Workshop Update

• The City Council received presentations on the FY 2026-27 budget from various departments at the Budget Workshop in April, covering the General Fund, Measure X Budget, Utilities (non-CIP), Capital Improvement Project, and Harbor Budget. The following motions were made:
• Motion: Direct staff to bring back options to restore $26,000 for senior programming: Sanchez. Second: Robinson. Approved: 5-0.
• Motion: Fund legal aid program regarding tenant protections: Figueroa. Second: Joyce. Failed: 2-3 (No: Sanchez, Robinson, Weiss).
• Motion: Approve staff's recommendation for the FY 2026-27 General Fund, Measure X Budget, Utilities (non-CIP), Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Budget, and Harbor Budget: Weiss. Second: Robinson. Approved: 5-0.

Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, May 6th at 5:00pm.

For summaries of all City Council meetings, please click here.

Reveille!

Updates regarding military/Veterans affairs in Oceanside

Join us in honoring the brave men and women of our military at the Armed Forces Day Operation Appreciation on Saturday, May 16th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheatre! Now in its 24th year, this beloved community tradition hosted by the Chamber of Commerce brings thousands of active duty servicemembers and their families together for a day filled with free food, live music, and a kids' fun zone, all as a heartfelt thank you from our community to those who serve. The event is free for active duty military and their dependents (military ID required for food and fun zone), and open to the public with tickets available for purchase. Free parking is offered at the Civic Center and Transit Center parking structures. Come show your support and be part of this meaningful day of recognition! Click here for more information.

The Veterans Association of North County (VANC) is hosting their 8th Annual Car Show on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the VANC building (1617 Mission Ave). From gleaming classics to modern rides, this free event promises a day packed with extraordinary vehicles of all years, makes, and models! Plus live music, great food, and trophies awarded across multiple categories. I will be the presenter for this event, so come ready for a great time! Car owners can kick off the morning with a pancake breakfast at 8am before the show floor opens. Spots are limited to the first 110 registrants, so don't wait, early bird registration is just $30 through June 11th. Best of all, every dollar raised goes directly to supporting America's veterans, military members, and their families. For more information or to register, please visit the event page here.

May Community Events

 Getting Out in the Community in April

I attended the 2026 State of Tri-City event, where Tri-City Medical Center President and CEO Dr. Gene Ma presented an optimistic outlook on the hospital's future to an audience of government representatives, public service members, and North County residents. Dr. Ma highlighted the hospital's growth from its 1961 founding to its current scale of nearly 400 beds and over 500 medical staff, its three Gold Level Awards for Heart Attack Care, and ongoing improvements including a newly opened Psychiatric Health Facility and advancements in robotic surgery. The centerpiece of the event was the announcement of a planned long term partnership with Sharp HealthCare, which would bring expanded oncology, infrastructure, and women's health services to North County. If voters approve Measure H on the June 2026 ballot, the facility will be renamed Sharp Tri-City Medical Center. I strongly support the approval of Measure H, this partnership represents a critical investment in the future of healthcare for Oceanside and all of North County, and I encourage residents to vote yes in June.

I had the privilege of attending the Oceanside Chamber's Rising Star 2026 Scholarship Breakfast. The Rising Star Program recognizes high school seniors from five Oceanside high schools who have overcome significant life challenges while remaining committed to their education. Each month from September through March, students are selected as their school's Rising Star of the Month and invited to share their personal story at a monthly breakfast. The culmination of the program is the scholarship breakfast, where students are surrounded by family, friends, mentors, teachers, business leaders, and elected officials who have come together to celebrate their perseverance and achievement. Every student in the room has faced real adversity, and every one of them chose to push forward anyway. That kind of resilience deserves to be celebrated loudly and often. The Rising Star Program will resume its monthly breakfast in September. Congratulations to all of this year's Rising Stars, your futures are bright and Oceanside is cheering you on!

I had the honor of attending the Military Campaign Appreciation Dinner at VANC, a wonderful evening dedicated to celebrating the service members and veterans who have given so much for our country. The event brought together a room full of community members, family, and friends who came out to show their appreciation and support for those being honored. Nominees representing military campaigns spanning from World War II all the way through the Iraq War were recognized, each receiving a well deserved moment of acknowledgment for their sacrifice and dedication. Evenings like this carry a special weight and it was truly moving to witness these everyday heroes receive the recognition they deserve. I am grateful to VANC for continuing to create meaningful opportunities for our community to come together and honor those who have served.

Over the past several weeks, I've engaged in several Cal Cities events focused on advancing Oceanside's interests at the regional and state level. These included a San Diego County Division virtual meeting featuring updates on water policy from the San Diego County Water Authority, a roundtable discussion on veteran and military affairs policy with leadership from the California Assembly and Senate committees, and the Cal Cities City Leaders Summit in Sacramento, where city officials from across California gathered for legislative advocacy, educational sessions, and a gubernatorial forum. At the Summit, I met directly with state legislators to champion priorities including protecting local revenues, improving public safety, addressing homelessness and housing, and expanding economic development tools, ensuring Oceanside's voice continues to be heard at the Capitol.

As the Council Liaison, I attended the Oceanside Economic Development Commission (EDC) meeting in April. The meeting opened with the introduction of new Commissioner Rajib Biswas, welcoming him to the Commission. We received a presentation from the Oceanside Museum of Art, where Executive Director Maria Mingalone and Director of Communications Wanda Wease shared details on the museum's planned expansion, which promises to be a significant cultural development for the city. The Commission also elected a new Chair, Heather Manley, and Vice Chair, David Morris. Additionally, the commission received the Annual Economic Development Update from Economic Development Manager Michelle Geller, covering the current state of economic activity and initiatives in Oceanside. The next EDC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the City Council Chambers.

The Oceanside Fire Department recently held a graduation ceremony for Oceanside Fire Academy 23, where 10 new Firefighter Paramedics officially joined the ranks of the Oceanside Fire Department. The ceremony was a fitting tribute to the months of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication they poured into their training. It was also a wonderful opportunity to recognize the families, friends, instructors, and mentors who stood by them every step of the way. Their support is an essential part of every graduate's success. These new Firefighter Paramedics will now serve our community on the front lines, responding to emergencies and protecting lives across Oceanside. We are grateful for their commitment and excited to see all that they will accomplish. Congratulations to Academy 23!

I had the pleasure of attending the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting celebration for their brand new office location at 3605 Ocean Ranch Boulevard. It was a festive and well deserved milestone for an organization that has been a cornerstone of our business community for 130 years. After nearly four decades at their longtime home on North Coast Highway, the Chamber has officially turned the page on a new chapter. The move to the Ocean Ranch business district places them at the heart of one of the city's most dynamic and growing commercial corridors, home to major employers and exciting developments including the nearby Frontwave Arena. The Chamber has played an invaluable role in supporting Oceanside's growth over the years, from the rise of our downtown beach scene to the expansion of arts, culture, and major community events. Thank you to the Chamber for a wonderful evening of community, connection, and celebration and congratulations on finding a new home, here's to the next chapter!