Posting Political Signs in City of Thousand Oaks for November 6, 2012 Election

September 22, 2012 marks the first day that political signs for the upcoming November 6, 2012 General Municipal Election can be posted in the City of Thousand Oaks. All political signs must be taken down no later than November 13, 2012. The term "political sign" refers to signs created prior to an election to advise or identify a candidate, campaign issue, election proposition, or other related matters.

The City asks that all candidates for public office, along with local residents and business or commercial property owners, comply with the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code for the placement of political signs.  The City seeks to maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance, while providing sufficient opportunity to increase voter awareness.

The following rules and guidelines apply to the posting of political signage in the City:

a) signs may be no more than 12 square feet and no higher than 6 feet;

b) signs may not be placed on public property, including parks, open space areas, or freeway ramps;

c) signs may not block or interfere with pedestrian walkways or vehicle sight distance at driveways or intersections; and

d) signs may not be attached to traffic signs, traffic signal poles, street light poles, street trees or any other structure in the street right-of-way. 

For questions or complaints regarding signs placed in the public right-of-way, please contact the Municipal Service Center at (805) 449-2499 and press “0” for assistance.  For compliance related issues regarding political signs on private property, please contact Code Compliance at (805) 449-2300.

Complete information on political sign regulations can be found on the City's website at www.toaks.org/government/depts/city_clerk/elections/default.asp.

Simi Valley Youth Employment Service Offers No-Cost Assistance to Local Businesses

Businesses interested in hiring youth and young adults, ages 16 to 22, are encouraged to utilize the Simi Valley Youth Employment Service (YES). YES is a non-fee service provided by the City of Simi Valley to assist youth in finding employment, as well as, providing basic employment services for employers to assist with their recruitment needs.

Employers are invited to post their job openings directly at www.simivalley.org/YESJobPosting, or to call (805) 522-HIRE (4473). YES Staff will refer youth based on the employers’ hiring requisites and preferences. Postings will remain active until the positions are filled. To assist local businesses, YES also hosts the annual Job and Career Expo, provides assistance with local labor market information, and refers to employment-related resources.

Additionally, youth, ages 16 to 22 seeking employment are encouraged to call (805) 522-4473 to schedule a one-on-one job coaching appointment. On average, appointments last 30 to 45 minutes and include interview skill assessments, job search techniques, appropriate interview etiquette, workplace professionalism to help retain employment, and referrals to employers currently hiring.

To register with the Youth Employment Service, businesses and youth should contact Kristin Tignac, Youth Employment Service Coordinator, at (805) 522-4473.

Phase II of the City of Calabasas Plastic Bag Ban Is Now In Effect

On February 9, 2011, the Calabasas City Council passed Ordinance No. 2011-282 to ban the use of single-use carryout plastic bags.

Phase I: As of July 1, 2011, shoppers no longer received disposable plastic bags while shopping at Calabasas supermarkets Albertsons, Gelson’s, Maddy’s Market Ralphs and Rite Aid.

Phase II: As of January 1, 2012, smaller drug stores, convenience food stores, smaller retail stores and grocers will stop offering disposable plastic bags.

Shoppers are encouraged to use reusable shopping bags whenever possible. Note that small plastic bags will still be available in stores for fruits and vegetables.

Under the terms of the new law, stores will have reusable bags available for sale and will also offer recyclable paper bags for 10 cents each in lieu of customers bringing their reusable bags or simply carrying items purchased without a bag. The fees collected from bag sales will only go towards helping stores comply with the new law.

For more information about the bag ban and information about the impact of the use of plastic baqs on our environment, visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/bags.html.

Hooters Administrative Public Hearing in Thousand Oaks on Thursday, September 15th

Update from VC Star on 9/20/11: Thousand Oaks resident Don Hunn, 77, has paid $1,130 to file an appeal of the decision to allow a full bar at the new Hooters. This is outstanding news for local newspapers as it provides continued comedy material.

Update from the VC Star on 9/16/11: Operators granted full bar. The decision can be appealed to the City Planning Commission within 10 calendar days and a fee of $1100. Over 60 people attended the meeting and it lasted 3 hours. 39 people spoke against the application, 12 spoke in favor of it. Ah yes, no doubt this is not the last we've heard of this "issue."

Today, the City of Thousand Oaks Community Development Department mailed a Notice of Admininstrative Public Hearing to all property owners located within 500 feet of the proposed Hooters in the Janss Marketplace parking lot, 401 N. Moorpark Road (corner of Moorpark Road and Brazil Street).

The persistently vacant ex-Sizzlers, ex-Fuddruckers location proposed for Hooters. The hearing will be held on Thursday, September 15th at 3 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Anyone is allowed to attend and be heard on the following matter:

Applicant: Thousand Oaks Wings, LLC

Sign on Potential Future Hooters Location Door. TOW Stands for Thousand Oaks Wings

Request: To modify the existing special use perrmit condition limiting on-site sale and consumption of beer and wine only to allow sale and consumption of all alcoholic beverages in conjunction with the operation of a restaurant.

This should be interesting, based on the concerns voiced by some local residents. If you're looking for some excitement on September 15th, this could be the place to be (in close competition with the 65 cent funnel cake sticks offered up by Hot Dog on a Stick on September 15th!!).

The sole purpose of the hearing is to address whether the applicant shall be allowed to have a full bar and if that is allowable under City code. The purpose of the meeting is NOT to address whether or not a Hooters should be "allowed" there in the first place. It may be entertaining watching how the the City manages to keep the scope of the meeting within its stated purpose.

Expect plenty of news coverage. For further information about the request, contact the City of Thousand Oaks.

The majority of Hooters restaurants have full bars, including the following locations that are closest to Thousand Oaks: Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim, Oceanside and West Covina.

If for whatever reason we don't get our Hooters in Thousand Oaks, I'd be o.k. if they bring back Sizzler.

Will Hooters Hurt Home Prices in Thousand Oaks? CBS News Covers The Story!

Several hundred Thousand Oaks residents have written City Hall regarding the proposed Hooters at Janss Marketplace.  There are allegations that Hooters will impact the value of homes in Thousand Oaks in this interview.

CVG has done a survey of residents regarding the proposed Hooters. With 285 responses in, approximately 30% of residents are no go on Hooters, 55% for Hooters and the remaining 15% for the most part could give a hoot.

As a result of all this Hooters hubbub, the City will be holding a hearing to address these concerns. Stay tuned.

In-N-Out Burger May Be Coming to Agoura Hills!

FOLLOW-UP: City planners indicated that In-N-Out withdrew their application and it never went to the Planning Commission. That's not what a hamburger's all about, but so be it.

If all goes well on at the City of Agoura Hills Planning Commission hearing this Thursday night, May 19th, a new In-N-Out Burger may be coming to 28898 Canwood Street!

The new In-N-Out is proposed for a 2.73 acre parcel with 1,000 feet of frontage along Canwood and the 101 Freeway. The proposed project would include removal of 3 of the 4 existing billboards on the site and construction of a one-story, 3,654 square-foot restaurant building with a drive-through lane, trash enclosure, and outdoor dining patio. The site would have 100 parking spaces, including 5 handicapped spots.

Mock up from the Initial Study and Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration report.

There is a 104 page Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration report on this project available on the City of Agoura Hills website at www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us.  Basically the report goes through all the types of potential environmental impacts of the project and concludes that any "negative" impacts can be mitigated in various ways. For example, scenic resources:

The project site is located north of the U.S. 101 Freeway and south of Canwood Street within the City of Agoura Hills. The Agoura Hills General Plan (2010) identifies several scenic resources in the City and identifies road segments that offer views of the scenic resources.

The following scenic resources are identified in the General Plan:

• Ladyface Mountain – located south of the U.S. 101 Freeway, between Kanan Road and the western City limits on the southern border of Agoura Hills;

• Strawberry Hill – located north of Canwood Street and south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, just east of Forest Cove Park;

• Morrison Ranch Hills, the Morrison Ranch Hills – located north of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, generally between Reyes Adobe Road and Kanan Road;

• Palo Comado Hills – located in the northeastern corner of the City

• Simi Hills – the hills that border the City on the north

The report indicated there would be no significant impact of the project on the above.

Stay tuned! On a related note, I discovered that the In-N-Out Burger Real Estate and Development Department 13502 Hamburger Lane in Baldwin Park. What a great street name!