Associate Planner Daniel Hauck presented a proposal to the Oxnard City Council to designate Schuster Court, a post‑World War II courtyard‑style multifamily development at 119–127 South D Street, as a Ventura County historical landmark and to authorize a concurrent Mills Act contract that would reduce the owner’s property taxes in exchange for a 10‑year rehabilitation program.

Hauck said the project includes two applications: the landmark designation and a Mills Act contract request (planning case numbers cited in the presentation). “I’m associate planner Daniel Hauck, and I will be presenting on the Schuster Court landmark designation,” he said. He told the council the site is outside the city’s historic district, so landmark designation is required before Mills Act eligibility can be processed.

The staff presentation described the property’s history and architecture: originally a single‑family lot developed by Albert E. Schuster and converted in 1941 into a seven‑building courtyard development with three attached units and original interior and exterior features. Hauck said the survey confirms the property is over 50 years old and retains character‑defining features such as original wood windows, distinctive eave articulations, period cabinetry and address plates, which together support eligibility as a local landmark.

Explaining the Mills Act, Hauck cited State Government Code 50280 and said the city has adopted the enabling ordinance and an earlier council resolution authorizing contracts. He described the Mills Act contract as providing property‑tax savings to the owner in exchange for maintaining and revitalizing historic buildings and noted that the contract includes a 10‑year rehabilitation work list with annual tasks.

Hauck highlighted the most intensive early work would occur in years 1–3, when the white vinyl windows would be replaced with historically appropriate wood‑frame windows and existing wood framing restored. Later years in the plan include smaller restoration tasks such as refurbishing the address plates and replacing electrical components; the presentation referenced estimated construction costs by year but did not state specific dollar amounts.

Staff recommendations delivered to the council were: conduct a public hearing; find the project categorically exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15331 (historical resource restoration and rehabilitation); adopt a resolution upholding the Oxnard Cultural Heritage Board’s recommendation to designate the property as Ventura County historical landmark No. 184; and approve and authorize the mayor to execute Mills Act agreement AD‑8605 with property owner Southern California 2022 Properties LLC.

Hauck noted two nearby courtyard developments on South F Street already designated as local landmarks with Mills Act contracts, framing this request as consistent with prior local practice. He also explained that the Mills Act contract would run an initial 10‑year term and thereafter renew annually unless a party files a nonrenewal; the city may cancel a contract if the owner fails to meet the rehabilitation obligations.

The presentation concluded with the staff recommendations; the transcript records the presentation and recommendations but does not record council deliberation, a public‑hearing hearing outcome, or a council vote.