Thousand Oaks Auto Mall Freeway Sign Community Meetings on Wed, January 26th and Thurs, February 10th

Courtesy of City of Thousand Oaks Website:

Thousand Oaks Auto Mall Freeway Monument Sign - Community Meetings

Location: Los Robles Greens Golf Course – Banquet Center, 299 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks

Dates: 6:00 PM on Wednesday, January 26th and 6:00 PM on Thursday, February 10th

The Thousand Oaks Auto Mall lies on 54 acres along Thousand Oaks Boulevard between Duesenberg Drive, Packard Circle, and the 101 Freeway. The Auto Mall employs approximately 1,000 people, consistently generating almost one-quarter of the City’s annual sales tax revenues. In the past four years, the Auto Mall has generated more than $28 Million in sales tax revenue to the City.

In recent years, the dealerships have been working with the City to improve the appearance and navigability of the Auto Mall. Along with pedestrian amenities and aged streetscaping, the primary concern is the lack of available parking for both customers and employees. In fact, as a Top Priority for FY 2007-2008, the Thousand Oaks City Council directed staff to develop a plan to mitigate parking issues at the Auto Mall.

On January 12, 2010, City Council authorized design for the Auto Mall project. Due to the significance of this undertaking, the City Council formed an Ad Hoc Citizens Auto Mall Advisory Committee. The Ad Hoc Committee met five times between February and June 2010 to review conceptual designs and make recommendations. The final report by the Citizen Ad Hoc Committee contained recommendations on the angled parking, landscaping, way-finder signage, and a new freeway monument sign.

At the December 14, 2010 meeting, City Council approved all the necessary plans and permits for the project to move forward, with the exception the freeway monument sign. At the request of the Auto Mall Association, the monument sign was not considered by City Council at the December 14th meeting, in order to receive additional community feedback and insight regarding the sign before making a decision. After completing additional public outreach and receiving community feedback, the Auto Mall Association will bring the item to City Council on February 22, 2011. 

Selected Q&As

Who is paying for the new Auto Mall sign? The costs to construct, operate, and maintain the monument sign will be paid entirely by the Auto Mall Association. No City funds are being used to construct the Auto Mall monument sign.Previously, City Council committed $2 Million towards the other components of the project, (parking improvements, landscaping, etc.) none of which is to be used to construct the monument sign, if approved. Since 2001, the Auto Mall has generated $8 million in incremental property tax revenues for the Redevelopment Agency (RDA), with an additional $1.3 million expected in fiscal year 2010-11. The majority of the parking and landscaping costs ($6 Million) will be paid by the formation of a Community Facilities District (CFD) for the Auto Mall area. The property owners within the CFD will impose a special tax on themselves to finance the improvements in the Auto Mall.

Will the sign be precedent-setting? If approved, the monument sign will not set a precedent for digital reader boards in the City of Thousand Oaks. The approval is specific to the Auto Mall zone only; any other similar sign would require separate approvals by the Planning Commission and City Council. The existing Auto Mall sign was constructed in 1994 through the application of a special use permit. In a similar fashion, the proposed monument sign has undergone numerous iterations within the Advisory Committee, opened to public hearings, considered by the Planning Commission, and will eventually be considered by the City Council. In each stage, the necessity and appropriateness of the sign is evaluated.

More information and Q&As at www.toaks.org/government/depts/public_works/current_projects/auto_mall_improvement_project/default.asp

Also see www.conejovalleyguide.com/local-buzz/huge-electronic-billboard-for-to-auto-mall-removed-from-city.html

Groundbreaking of "Simi at the Garden" on Tuesday, February 15th

The Simi Valley Seventh Day Adventist Church has allocated over 2 acres of their land for the betterment of our community! The land will be transformed into Simi Valley’s first community garden! We need you, the community, to come out and support this community building endeavor!

The 2 acres that will soon be transformed!

This is projected to be a big success given that this is the first community garden in Simi Valley. Our surrounding communities (ie.: Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Chatsworth, etc.) have these types of gardens, and are filled with a waiting list! Community gardens are in demand, and the fact that the SDA church has given their land for the betterment of the community shows a lot. We, as the community can show our gratitude through volunteering, sponsorships, donations, or merely lending a hand at whatever talent or resource we may possess.  It will take a big effort by all of us to get this project off the ground.

In conjunction with the garden, we will be establishing what we call a wellness program which will involve so much more than the garden itself! Emphasis will be put on public health education involving healthy lifestyle choices such as cooking classes, healthy lifestyle seminars, and community outreach.

We have many exciting things planned for this garden for both young and old.  Not only will the community members be able to come together and enjoy a healthy environment, but it will provide an outlet for community networking, health education, physical activity, and just good clean (or dirty) fun. The benefits are endless and we believe that everyone should take advantage of this opportunity to give back to your community.  It’s time we get our hands dirty, literally!

The ground breaking is scheduled for February 15 at 4pm at 1636 Sinaloa Road, at the Simi Valley Seventh Day Adventist School. Please come out and “Simi at the Garden” to show your support for your community. Call Salina Perry at 310-617-3863 for more information.

Check us out at communitygarden.org to view upcoming events, contact information, and to see the progress.  We are now a proud member of the American Community Garden Association.

Habitat for Humanity and Los Robles Hospital to Dedicate New Home in Thousand Oaks

Habitat for Humanity and Los Robles Hospital to Dedicate New Habitat for Humanity Home on Sunday, January 16 in Thousand Oaks

WHAT:  Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County and Los Robles Hospital teamed up to build a Thousand Oaks Habitat for Humanity home sponsored by HCA/Los Robles Hospital.  The event is open to the public.

WHEN:  Sunday, January 16.  The event will begin at 2:00 PM with introductions and opening remarks, followed by a formal house dedication and blessing, a tour of the new home, photos, and refreshments.

WHO:  Participants will include Supervisor Parks, Los Robles Hospital CEO, Greg Angle, executives, and staff, Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and representatives, Thousand Oaks City Council and housing officials, volunteers and friends of Habitat.  The Habitat partner-family will be available for interviews. 

WHERE:   200 Houston Drive, Thousand Oaks - From US-101. take exit 44 for Moorpark Road toward Thousand Oaks. Continue straight to N. Moorpark Road and turn right at E. Hillcrest Drive. The home is located on the corner of Houston Drive and E. Hillcrest Drive.

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing organization that builds homes in partnership with people in need of adequate shelter. Homeowners are selected based on their need for housing, ability to repay a no-profit loan, and willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Loan repayments contribute to help build additional houses. Because Habitat’s loans are no-profit, they are affordable for low-income family partners.  Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, a locally-run affiliate, has built homes for 51 Ventura County families and rehabilitated over 500 homes since 1983.   www.habitatventura.org. 

HCA/Los Robles Hospital

HCA joined hands with Habitat for Humanity International in 2000.  HCA has provided funding and employee volunteers to build homes in Richmond, VA, Tallahassee, FL, and Thousand Oaks, CA (Los Robles Medical Center).   Los Robles Regional Medical Center is a 265-bed acute care facility dedicated to serving the residents of Ventura County, the Conejo Valley and its surrounding communities.  Further information may be obtained at www.losrobleshospital.com

Calleguas Water District to Relocate Water Supply Pipeline in Thousand Oaks

Calleguas MWD to Relocate Vital Water Supply Pipeline in Thousand Oaks

On January 3, the Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas) will begin construction activities to relocate a 48-inch diameter pipeline that provides water service to much of the Thousand Oaks area. Originally installed in 1965, the Conejo Valley Feeder delivers water to residents and businesses in the central and western portions of the valley.

Under the $1.4 million project, Calleguas will construct 500 feet of pipe within a new steel casing paralleling the existing pipeline along Olsen Road under the State Highway 23 bridge. In recent years, the California Department of Transportation made seismic related improvements to the highway bridge. The location of these improvements on top of Calleguas’ pipeline require that a segment of pipe be relocated to ensure continued water supply reliability and public safety.

During construction, vehicular traffic will be constrained in both directions to allow construction crews adequate space to install the new pipe and connect it with the existing pipeline beyond the bridge’s support columns. The left of the two eastbound lanes will be closed for the duration of the project, scheduled for completion by May 2011. The right eastbound lane will remain open and be modified to allow vehicles to either continue along Olsen Road to Simi Valley or access the northbound highway onramp. The left westbound lane on Olsen Road will also be closed between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. Project updates will be posted to Calleguas’ web site at www.calleguas.com.

View Larger Map

“Maintaining flow through this regional supply pipeline is essential for reliable water service to literally tens of thousands of water users in the area,” said Susan Mulligan, Calleguas General Manager. “We are working closely with Caltrans and the City of Thousand Oaks to design a traffic control plan that minimizes impacts on local commuters while enabling our contractor adequate space to work. We apologize for any inconvenience for area residents and are committed to completing the project as
quickly as possible.”

Calleguas is one of twenty-six member agencies of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the primary urban water supplier in Ventura County, providing water service to a population of over 600,000. Through a variety retail water agencies and companies, Calleguas provides water to the cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Port Hueneme as well as surrounding unincorporated areas.

Reagan Centennial Update and the Year Ahead! A Message From the Executive Director of the Reagan Centennial

The Ronald Reagan Centennial is quickly approaching! These past few months have been exciting as a number of partnerships and programs have taken shape. Meanwhile, through the generosity of Centennial presenting sponsor, GE, throughout 2010 the "Traveling Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum Exhibit" brought artifacts and stories from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to cities across America including Long Beach, Chicago, Atlanta, New York City, Boston and Houston.

President Reagan often said, "America's best days lie ahead." As representatives of America's next generation of great leaders, the Ronald Reagan Centennial National Youth Leadership Committee embodies that same optimism, representing the future with anticipation and promise. If you haven't done so yet, visit our website to read the profiles from the National Youth Leadership Committee. Some members participated in a podcast series with Reagan Centennial partner, and non-profit promoter of free markets,  Sam Adams Alliance. These podcasts can be found here, or on iTunes. Additionally, in January of 2011 many of the student leaders on the Committee will be featured in their college or university newspaper.

Visit the Centennial website ( www.reagancentennial.com) for the most recent Calendar of Events and other Centennial updates. In particular, here are upcoming dates to keep in mind in 2011:

• January 1: Ronald Reagan Centennial float in the Tournament of Roses Parade
• January: Ronald Reagan civics based curriculum announced for use by schools nationally
• February 5 & 6: Live webcasts of President Reagan's Centennial birthday celebration
• February 7: Grand re-opening to the public of the greatly enhanced and renovated Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
• February 10: Ronald Reagan Centennial Postage Stamp issued by the United States Postal Service
• February: Academic Symposia with University of Southern California, University of Virginia, University of Notre Dame, followed by the United States Naval Academy next fall
• March 12: The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, Wall Street Journal, and Manhattan Institute conference in New Your City titled, "Supply Side Economics: Reagan's Leadership Then and Now"
• March 27: Partnership with the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for the NASCAR Auto Club 500
• May: Select Major League Baseball teams will honor the Reagan Centennial during a home game

For the third year in row, the Rose Parade Viewers' Choice Award will allow Rose Parade fans to choose their favorite float by voting online and via text message. On January 1st be sure to vote for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation float #52 and ensure Ronald Reagan's place in Rose Parade history!

CLU Students Build Solar Fountain

The community is invited to the unveiling of a solar-powered fountain designed and built by California Lutheran University students.

The university’s first water fountain powered solely by solar energy will be dedicated from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, south of Memorial Parkway between the Ahmanson Science Center and E Building the Thousand Oaks campus.
 
Students in Robert Rumer’s Introduction to Engineering class designed and constructed the fountain, which features a handcrafted waterwheel that uses hydropower. Camarillo-based SolarWorld USA in Camarillo donated a top-of-the-line 245-watt module for the project.

The landscape fountain is the latest green project undertaken by the CLU community. Faculty, staff and students planted a community garden in November. In October, the university dedicated the Swenson Center for the Social and Behavioral Sciences, which was designed to meet the sustainability criteria in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. In 2009, CLU was named a Climate Action Leader for participating in the country’s most rigorous voluntary greenhouse gas reporting program. Other environmentally friendly projects include student campaigns to encourage classmates to reduce their carbon footprint, student research into sustainable solutions to environmental challenges, and the elimination of food trays and introduction of biodegradable packaging and organically grown food on campus.

For more information, contact Rumer at rrumer@callutheran.edu.

City of Agoura Hills Appoints New Art Council

The City of Agoura Hills announced it has selected and approved five members to serve on the new Cultural Arts Council (CAC). The selected members, all Agoura Hills residents, were recommended for the council at the November 30, 2010 Agoura Hills City Council meeting. They are: Edward Ball, a professional in the arts and the Creative Director for a local marketing consultant company, Red; Steven Bavin, a writer, director and talent manager for Agoura-based Shalee Productions; Cim Castellon, a 17-year Los Angeles County Museum of Art staff member coordinating commercial activities in support of exhibitions; Priscilla Kromnick, a fiber artist with a background in art gallery administration and an active member in the local schools’ art programs; and Craig Morton, a digital artist and photographer who owns MNM Art Studio in Agoura Hills and former officer for the Westlake Village Art Guild.

Agoura Hills Community Service Director Amy Brink who made the recommendations stated that the selected individuals demonstrated the leadership that the community needs to fulfill a vision for the arts. “We received many extremely qualified applicants who verbalized a real desire to be involved with this cultural arts movement,” said Brink. “We selected the top candidates who can help us create a cultural identity for the community and showcase the abundance of talent within our borders.”

The CAC recommendation and approval took place at the City of Agoura Hills Reorganization meeting. Mayor Koehler presided over the approval of the arts council before stepping down as mayor. In December 2009 the mayor identified the Cultural Arts Initiative as one of his goals, which was approved at the September 22, 2010 council meeting. At the November 30 meeting he stated, “When I brought this up at the reorganization meeting a year ago I thought it would take a couple of years to envision. Needless to say I am thrilled to approve the appointment of the new council.”

The CAC will be a working committee that advises the Agoura Hills City Council on issues relating to arts and culture. The formation of a council is one of the first steps outlined on the Cultural Arts Initiative to develop a comprehensive cultural arts program within the community. The Agoura Hills Department of Community Services has worked with creative consultant Creative Hub to formulate the blueprint for the Initiative, which also outlines the formation of a Cultural Artists Society to help raise funds for the new arts program and serve as a vehicle for obtaining future grants. 

For more information on the Cultural Arts Initiative, contact Agoura Hills Community Service Director Amy Brink at (818) 597-7353 or by email ajbrink@ci.agoura-hills.ca.us.

New Oxnard Police Chief, Jeri Williams, Announced on November 30th

Oxnard City Manager Ed Sotelo announced yesterday morning that he has selected Jeri Williams for the job of Oxnard Police Chief. It is expected that Ms. Williams will assume her duties as Police Chief sometime after January 1st.

“I know that Jeri Williams is exceptionally qualified for the position and is the best fit for our City”, said Mr. Sotelo. “Jeri brings with her extensive community policing experience which will serve to complement and enhance our City’s efforts in that area dating back to 1990.” Sotelo continued.

Jeri Williams has 22 years of experience in the City of Phoenix Police Department where, in her current role as the Assistant Chief of the Southern Division, she is responsible for 1000 sworn and civilian personnel and over half of the city’s 500 plus square miles. Phoenix Assistant Chief Williams has oversight of seven police precincts, the Special Assignments Unit (SAU), the Air Unit, the Canine Unit, the Training Bureau and the Community Relations Bureau. In addition, Jeri serves as the Co-Chair of the City Manager’s Community Outreach and Engagement Task Force established in March of 2010 to increase communication with, access to and confidence in the Phoenix Police Department.

Through the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Jeri has completed the Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO) Program and has been trained as an instructor in LPO. Jeri has been a certified Arizona Police Officers Standards and Training (AZPOST) instructor for 15-years and has taught classes at the Training Academy for newly promoted supervisors.

Jeri’s professional operational experience includes acting as the Phoenix Area Commander for Super Bowl XLII (2008), Operations Section Chief for the NBA All-Star Game (2009), and the Senior Advisor for the City of Phoenix Protest of SB 1070 (2010). Jeri is certified to act as an Incident Commander and Deputy Incident Commander through the All Hazards Incident Management program offered by FEMA.

Contributing to Jeri’s strong leadership and organizational management style is a broad educational background. She holds a BS Degree from Arizona State University, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and has completed her Comprehensive Examinations in pursuit of her Doctorate in Educational Leadership also from Northern Arizona University.

Jeri has been an adjunct instructor at two community colleges and is an experienced public speaker, skilled in dealing with diverse groups. She has the proven ability to calm community and employee groups in times of crisis with her transparent and open communication/leadership style. Jeri is approachable, sincere, and has a natural command presence that the members of her community and department rely on to “get the job done” with integrity, hard work and dedication.

On a personal note, Jeri has been married to her husband, Judge Cody Williams (South Phoenix Justice of the Peace) for nearly 21 years and has two sons Alan (17 years old) a Senior at North High School and Cody (16 years old) a Junior at North High School.

www.ci.oxnard.ca.us