Moorpark catering company selected to manage Camarillo Ranch events

Camarillo leaders have approved a new special event and wedding manager for the Camarillo Ranch as responsibilities shift for the historic property.

Moorpark-based Command Performance Catering, which already provided catering services at the prominent local venue, was approved to take over event and wedding management in a unanimous vote by the Camarillo City Council on Wednesday.

The contract was awarded as management for the Camarillo Ranch shifts to the city from the nonprofit Camarillo Ranch Foundation. Instead of putting the city staff in charge of handling events, leaders opted to contract the services of a third-party vendor.

The three-year agreement stipulates that the city will be responsible for maintaining the property’s grounds, landscaping, facility maintenance, repairs and capital improvements. Command Performance will handle all special event management services, including weddings, catering, coordinating, scheduling and monitoring the property during normal business hours.

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The Camarillo Ranch House, 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, is the former residence of late city father Adolfo Camarillo. The Victorian home was constructed in 1892. It was eventually acquired by the city of Camarillo in 1998 and established with the foundation.

Until recently, the foundation was in charge of the ranch’s daily activities, tours and event management. Charles Devlin, the foundation’s president, terminated the operating agreement at a City Council meeting in June after a dispute emerged over maintenance costs and responsibilities. An ad hoc committee formed to negotiate a new lease agreement for the property.

At Wednesday night’s meeting, Camarillo Administrative Services Director Carmen Nichols explained the role the Camarillo Ranch Foundation will serve going forward. 

“Discussions with the task force for a new lease agreement have been around a new operations model that focuses the foundation’s efforts around the cultural, historical and educational aspects of their work to preserve the legacy of the Adolfo Camarillo family and life in Camarillo in the early 1900s,” Nichols said.

Under this new model, the foundation will continue to provide community events and offer tours and other educational activities through its docent and volunteer program. It will receive funding through grants, donations and memberships.

Event manager selection process

On June 26, the city of Camarillo issued a request for proposals for event and wedding management services for the ranch. Five proposals were submitted to city staff, who reviewed and ranked each candidate on a point-based system. Four proposals qualified for an interview, which took place in September. Command Performance Catering was selected among the final four candidates by the ad hoc committee based on the qualifications demonstrated in the proposal and interview.

According to the company’s website, Command Performance Catering was founded in 1986. Current owner Daniel Margolis joined the company in 1993 and bought the business in 2014. It conducts event management services at seven other venues throughout the county and has worked with clients such as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Los Angeles Rams. 

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“We know it’s a proven model. We know that we can take care of things,” Margolis said at Wednesday’s meeting.

Even with the event management services contract being awarded, negotiations remain ongoing over several aspects of the Camarillo Ranch.

At the next City Council meeting on Oct. 23, leaders hope to review a new lease agreement with the foundation and establish a new budget and enterprise fund for ranch operations ahead of the Nov. 1 transition deadline.

Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He also covers the city of Camarillo. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com.