City of Westlake Village Continues Its Prohibition of Pot-Bellied Pigs

The City of Westlake Village municipal code prohibits large animals, farm animals and livestock (except horses) such as pigs, hogs, cows, sheep, goats and wild animals, from city limits.

Up to four dogs and cats are allowed per residence, as are most tropical fish and up to three small birds for every 1,000 sq ft of land area. Betcha didn't know that.

Certain other animals are allowed, assuming minimum lot size requirements are met. For example, up to three pigeons, at least three months old, are allowed for each 1,000 sq ft of land area. Yes, you heard it here, pigeon fans.

Chickens, turkeys, peacocks, geese and ducks are permitted on parcels of 15,000 sq ft or larger, provided that not more than six (6) such fowl are maintained on the premises.

That said, pot-bellied pigs are considered livestock in Westlake Village and thus are unable to enjoy living in this fine city.

But a Westlake Village resident tried to change that at the City's July 9, 2014 City Council meeting.

At that meeting, this resident, I would assume to be a pot-bellied pig fan, proposed the possibility of unplugging this particularly unpleasant pot-bellied pig prohibition.

The City Council's Administrative Committee met on July 24th, September 19th and October 16th, involving "a considerable amount of research and discussion" according to a City report that will be presented at the November 12th City Council meeting.

Ultimately, the Committee decided that the demand for keeping pot-bellied pigs in the City was not sufficient to warrant a change to its regulations. Unless City Council overrides this conclusion on the 12th, pot-bellied pigs' preclusion from partaking in pleasureful partying in Westlake Village will be propagated in perpetuity.

If you are a pot-bellied pig, we feel your pain. Join us in Thousand Oaks, where municipal code allowas you to habitate, along with other livestock pals, assuming you have at least 50 sq ft of pen per pig and are maintain a distance of at least 40 feet away from your human's pen.

City of Westlake Village Municipal Code: www.municode.com/library/ca/westlake_village/codes/code_of_ordinances

City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code: www.amlegal.com/thousandoaks_ca

Temporary Nighttime 101 Freeway Closures at Lindero Canyon June 2 to 13

Reconstruction of the Lindero Canyon Road/101 freeway overpass will force a series of nighttime closures for the next two weeks.

The southbound 101 freeway will be closed at Lindero Canyon on the Mondays and Tuesdays of June 2, 3, 9, and 10. The closures of southbound lanes will start at 8:00 pm with a full southbound freeway closure to occur by 12 midnight each night.

This same process and time schedule will be repeated for northbound motorists on the Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays of June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13. The 101 Freeway will be fully open by 6:00 am each day.

Southbound motorists will be detoured off the freeway at Westlake Boulevard with northbound vehicles detoured at Reyes Adobe Road. Detour signs will be in place to assist drivers with a return to the 101 freeway. Traffic on Lindero Canyon Road in each direction over the bridge will remain open.

On the first two successive nights and early mornings of the closure starting on June 2, construction crews will be using jackhammers to demolish portions of the overpass as part of the reconstruction project beginning around 11:30 pm. to 5:00 am. Unfortunately, noise generated by this construction activity may be heard in residential areas adjacent to the work. While the City of Westlake Village is mindful of this temporary inconvenience, unfortunately the schedule of work is dictated by Caltrans and the need to undertake this phase of the construction in the late evening and early morning hours is necessary to coincide with the temporary closure of the freeway. Nonetheless, the City wishes to thank the community and affected residents in advance for their patience and understanding associated with this aspect of the project.

Source: City of Westlake Village press release dated 5/30/14

City of Thousand Oaks Opens Household Hazardous Waste Facility This Month

Household Hazardous Waste Facility photo courtesy City of Thousand OaksThe City of Thousand Oaks announces the opening of its new permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2010 Conejo Center Drive in Newbury Park.  Beginning May 30, 2014, this state-of-the-art hazardous material collection facility will be open by appointment Friday and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm for residents of Thousand Oaks and Unincorporated Ventura County areas to dispose of unwanted household hazardous waste products like paint, household cleaners, solvents, fertilizers, etc.

More information on local hazardous waste disposal options at THIS LINK or visit the City's GoGreen website at www.toaks.org/GoGreen.

City of Calabasas to Host Delegation of Special Olympics Athletes in 2015

The City of Calabasas will serve as a host city for a delegation of Special Olympics athletes before the opening of the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles.

About 7,000 participants from 170 nations will compete in more than 20 sports between July 25 and Aug. 2 next year at arenas including USC and UCLA. Among the competitions are aquatics, gymnastics, kayaking, basketball and soccer.

Calabasas will be one of 100 Southern California cities participating in a four-day pre-games celebration— hailing athletes from around the globe.

Host towns are responsible for providing accommodations, meals, activities and local transportation for the athletes and their sponsors.

Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/special-olympics.html to find information about volunteering and  sponsorship opportunities.

Hideout Indoor Playground in Thousand Oaks Grand Opening on March 1st

The new Hideout Indoor Playground is opening this Saturday in Thousand Oaks at the North Ranch Pavilion Center, 1125 Lindero Canyon Road, Unit A7. The grand opening event takes place from 11am to 4pm and will feature free activities, raffle prizes, entertainment and refreshments.

This brand new facility was custom designed by Sherry Ehya, with a play area that was uniquely designed with a modern tree house, play stage, art studio, indoor climbing area and more. There's also a spacious parent lounge with comfortable seating, TV and free WiFi.

Learn more at www.hideoutplayground.com.

Northbound 101 Loop Onramp at Lindero Canyon Road Closed 3 Weeks Starting Feb 24

There will be a three-week closure of the northbound loop onramp to the 101 freeway at Lindero Canyon Road beginning 6 am on Monday, February 24th and ending by 5 pm on Monday, March 17th. The closure is necessary to ensure the safety of motorists and construction crew members as work on the reconstruction of the Lindero Canyon/101 freeway overpass continues.

The other northbound 101 onramp (from southbound Lindero Canyon Road, below the Four Seasons Hotel) will remain open. The 101 freeway can also be accessed from either Reyes Adobe Road in Agoura Hills or Westlake Boulevard in Thousand Oaks as an alternative to Lindero Canyon Road.

Visit the City of Westlake Village website at www.wlv.org for additional information about this project.

US 101 / SR 23 Interchange Improvement Project Closures Begin February 10th

On Monday, February 10th, Southern California Gas Co. will begin performing utility relocation work in preparation for the start of construction on the US 101 / SR-23 Interchange Improvement Project. This work is expected to continue intermittently through mid-March 2014.

The following closures will be in effect for approximately the next two to three weeks, to facilitate this work:

• Southbound 101 Moorpark Rd. off-ramp will be closed between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., nightly, Monday through Friday, through mid-March.
• Northbound  traffic on Moorpark Rd. at the US 101 undercrossing, will be reduced to one lane only, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., nightly, Monday through Friday, through mid-March.
• Conejo School Rd. will be reduced to one lane only, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., daily, Monday through Saturday, through mid-March.  Flaggers will be on-site to direct traffic and maintain traffic flow.        

To avoid delays, please plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination if your trip involves any of these routes.

Additional lane reductions and/or closures will take place over the next few weeks as utility providers work to relocate their equipment before construction begins on the US 101 / SR-23 Interchange Improvement Project. The project team will make every effort to provide advanced notice of this work to assist the traveling public.

View Ramp/Lane Closures for Utility Relocation in a larger map

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised these dates and times are subject to change due to unforeseen operational factors or inclement weather.

Source: www.toaks.org/10123

55 Hour Closures of 118 / 23 Freeway Interchange February 7-10 and 21-24

55-HOUR CLOSURES OF SR-118/SR-23 INTERCHANGE PLANNED 2/7-2/10

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close the northbound Moorpark Freeway (SR-23) connector to the eastbound Ronald Reagan Freeway (SR-118) at Los Angeles Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday, February 7 until 5 a.m. Monday, February 10.

The closure is required to implement emergency repairs of bridge joints on the Arroyo Simi Overhead structure.

Electronic freeway message signs will begin warning of the impending closure a week in advance. Caltrans is urging motorists to avoid the interchange if at all possible and to expect delays.

Eastbound SR-118 will be directed to exit northbound SR-23 at Tierra Rejada Road, travel eastbound and then turn left onto Madera Road to return to eastbound SR-118.

Motorists continuing on eastbound SR-118 from eastbound SR-118/Los Angeles Avenue will take southbound SR-23 to Tierra Rejada Road.

Work will take place around the clock and may generate noise and dust for residents adjacent to the freeway. Otherwise, the work is not expected to involve significant community impacts.

A second 55-hour closure will be required to perform the same work on the westbound Sr-118 connector to southbound SR-23, currently scheduled from 10 p.m. Friday, February 21 through 5 a.m. Monday, February 24. Additional information will be provided closer to that date.

Source: Caltrans District 7 www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/news