After many years of participating in making city decisions, I now have an opportunity to admire my favorite city as an observer as the theater and parking structure in downtown Oxnard near completion and as other buildings and park amenities are being spruced up. Here are some observations, ideas and views, from my new perspective, on further enhancing downtown revitalization efforts. Some are new, some are not, but all could be readily implemented without undue financial or procedural burden:

1. Increase downtown visibility quickly and economically by installing solar light panels on the palm trees on Third and C streets.
2. Plant elephant grass on the Oxnard Boulevard railroad right of way to continue the theme first developed by the Kiwanis Club on Oxnard Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue and to create a beautiful linear park as has been done in Fullerton.

3. Co-ordinate colors on the dental building at Fifth and C streets and the medical arts building on Fourth Street between B and C streets to blend with other earth tones in downtown. (Painting the city building on Third and B streets might do wonders, too.)

4. Recreate and restore the historic homes on both west Fifth and C streets into an early 20th century theme area with restaurants, offices and other businesses by creating landscaping and parking districts. Heritage Square and its theme could thus be enhanced privately over time by granting zoning and other incentives.

A good way to help city decision makers do their duty is to suggest ways to further beautify the city and to improve city services and citizen participation in general. I can assure you they will all appreciate your ideas, although every suggestion may not be feasible. By assisting them, you will help create a city, Oxnard, we can all be proud to call home.

— Manuel M. Lopez, former mayor, Oxnard