California Minimum Wage to Increase from $15.50 to $16 Per Hour on January 1, 2024.

/

Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum wage for all California hourly employees increases to $16 per hour, up from $15.50 per hour that was effective January 1, 2023.

The federal minimum wage for 2024 is still $7.25, a rate unchanged since it became effective on July 24, 2009.

California minimum wage rates apply to Ventura County residents.

The City of Los Angeles minimum wage rate has been $16.78 per hour since July 1, 2023. Each year, the minimum wage is adjusted for inflation; the adjusted rate is announced on February 1st of each year and becomes effective on July 1st of each year. The city’s 2024 minimum wage rate increases to $17.28 effective July 1, 2024. See wagesla.lacity.org.

The County of Los Angeles minimum wage rate became $16.90 per hour effective July 1, 2023 and increases to $17.27 per hour (yes, one penny less than the City of Los Angeles minimum wage…who knew) starting July 1, 2024. See dcba.lacounty.gov/minimum-wage-for-businesses. This rate applies to employees in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

But WAIT…you may have heard that hourly employees of national fast food eateries in California will receive minimum wage rate of $20 beginning April 1, 2024.

Minimum Wage of National Fast Food Chain Workers in Calfiornia to Increase to $20 on April 1, 2024

/

Assembly Bill 1228 was signed by Governor Newsom on September 28, 2023. The bill authorizes, among other things, an increase in the minimum wage of employees at national fast food restaurants to $20 on April 1, 2024.

That’s a substantial increase in the current minimum wage for fast food workers, which as of January 1, 2024 will be $16 for California hourly employees (a 25% increase) and as of July 1, 2023 has been $16.90 for hourly employees in unincorporated Los Angeles County (an 18% increase). Ventura County hourly employees currently fall under the California minimum wage rate.

So does this mean that ALL fast food workers in California will automatically start earning at least $20 per hour next April? No. It applies to workers at “national fast food chains,” which is defined as “a set of limited-service restaurants consisting of more than 60 establishments nationally that share a common brand, or that are characterized by standardized options for decor, marketing, packaging, products, and services, and which are primarily engaged in providing food and beverages for immediate consumption on or off premises where patrons generally order or select items and pay before consuming, with limited or no table service."

Bakeries gets a break. “Fast food restaurant” shall not include an establishment that on September 15, 2023, operates a bakery that produces for sale on the establishment’s premises bread, as defined under Part 136 of Subchapter B of Chapter I of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, so long as it continues to operate such a bakery. This exemption applies only where the establishment produces for sale bread as a stand-alone menu item, and does not apply if the bread is available for sale solely as part of another menu item."

AB 1228 goes on to state that the hourly minimum wage may increase annually by the lesser of 3.5% or inflation over the the most recent July 1 to June 30 period.

So some additional questions come to mind:

  1. If a chain has 60+ establishments but they are only based in California, does this represent a “national fast food chain” under AB 1228? My suspicion is yes.

  2. How will AB 1228 impact fast food eateries with 59 or less locations? Why would someone want to continue earning $15.50 at a smaller chain when they could work at Taco Bell or Burger King and earn $20? It would seem that although the law is written for larger chains, clearly it will impact all fast food eateries in the state.

  3. How will AB 1228 impact other minimum wage jobs? As with smaller eateries, it would seem that all minimum wage jobs will be indirectly impacted by AB 1228. A $4 per hour difference between entry level fast food jobs and other minimum wage jobs is significant.

Read the entire bill at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1228.

Tax Breaks to Pay For College

/

Section 529 plans give taxpayers the ability to invest for college and use the funds for college expenses at some point in the future tax-free.

Do you get a tax deduction for contributions to 529 plans? Not on the federal return. Your tax savings comes in the future, as any income generated by the investments made can be distributed tax-free in the future, as long as they are used for qualified educational purposes (defined below).

Some states do offer a tax deduction or tax credit on all or a portion of contributions you make to 529 plans. However, California (along with Kentucky, North Carolina, Delaware, New Jersey and Maine) do not offer such deductions or credits. That said, California does conform to federal law in that distributions used for qualified purposes are not taxed.

What are “qualified” uses of 529 plan funds? Tuition, room and board*, books, supplies, fees and computers, software and internet access

*Room and board includes the cost of housing and a meal plan at a college or university, be it on campus or off campus. However, the allowable amount under a 529 plan cannot exceed what the school’s published “cost of attendance” is. You can typically find this on a university’s website.

You have to be enrolled in school at least half-time to qualify to use 529 plan funds.

Expenses that do NOT qualify for reimbursement under a 529 Plan include travel expenses, health insurance and personal living expenses.

There are no income limits for funding the plan accounts.

What is the maximum you can put into a 529 plan? The California Scholarshare plan has an overall maximum account balance limit of $529,000, which applies to all accounts opened for a beneficiary. See www.scholarshare529.com for more information.

Can grandparents and other relatives contribute to my kids’ 529 plans? Absolutely! They do not get any tax benefits for these contributions and they are considered to be gifts*, but like with other contributions, they grow tax free, as long as the funds are eventually used for college or even a trade school or vocational school, as long as that school is eligible to participate in student aid programs offered by the Department of Education.

*The gift tax exclusion in 2023 is $17,000, up from $16,000 in 2022. That means you can give up to $17,000 per person without filing a federal gift tax return (IRS Form 709).

What happens if I can’t use the money in a 529 plan? First off, you can transfer funds from one kid’s 529 plan to another’s if you need to. That said, if you are unable to use the funds for qualified education, you can always take the money out and pay taxes on the earnings, plus a 10% penalty. And there are certain exceptions to the penalty too.

American Opportunity Credit

The American Opportunity Credit (AOC) can provide tax credits of up to $2,500 per student for the first 4 years of college. You cannot claim it for more than 4 years.

Up to 40% of the credit is refundable; the other 60% must be applied against your tax liability. The maximum credits is derived as follows: 100% of the first $2,000 in qualified expenses and 25% of the next $2,000 of qualified expenses.

Qualified expenses for the AOC includes tuition, books and fees, but DOES NOT include room and board that is allowed to be paid with 529 plan funds.

The challenge with this credit is that it phases out for single taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income between $80,000 and $90,000 and for married taxpayers, $160,000 and $180,000. If this is the case, something to consider for tax planning purposes is for the taxpayer to NOT claim the student as a dependent on their return (even if entitled to), and let the student claim the AOC credit.

Lifetime Learning Credit

If you have already used 4 years of AOC credit, you may qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC), which has no limit on the number of years to claim the credit. However, there are even lower income phaseout levels for the LLC, phasing out between $59,000 and $69,000 in modified adjusted gross income for single and $118,000 to $138,000 for married taxpayers.

Additionally, the LLC is not a refundable credit. If you don’t owe taxes, you won’t be able to use the credit. The credit is calculated at 20% of the first $10,000 in qualified education expenses. Consistent with the AOC, the student can claim the credit if the parent does not claim the student on their tax return. However, if the student owes no taxes, there’s no use to this credit.

Qualified expenses for the LLC are the same as for the AOC, except course material expenses MUST be paid to the university as a condition of enrollment.

Scholarships

Keep in mind that any scholarships and grants received must be applied against the tuition and other expenses incurred. In other words, you cannot use 529 plan funds or obtain a education tax credit on expenses paid for with scholarship funds. That would be double dipping!

Speaking of paying for college, HERE IS A LINK to an article on how to complete a FAFSA form.

Residential Holiday Light Displays in the Conejo Valley and Surrounding Areas

/

Once again we expect numerous spectacular residential holiday light displays throughout the Conejo Valley and surrounding areas this 2023 Christmas season! We've compiled this list of displays that are synchronized to music and/or are particularly bright, eye catching or noteworthy. This list is growing daily, after we confirm a display is up and running.

Click the links below for more detailed information about each display. Since these are residential displays, timing can and will vary and of course be impacted by rain, wind and other factors.

HOLIDAY SEASON EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT VENTURA COUNTY

CONEJO VALLEY DISPLAYS

Entertaining residential display at 2768 Baywater Place in Thousand Oaks is simulcast to music on 87.9 FM. Learn more and vote for your favorite songs at www.baywaterlights.com.

See a festive display with plenty of cartoon characters at 3337 Lang Ranch Parkway in Thousand Oaks. The residents will be hosting Santa and elves on Fridays, December 8th and 15 from 7-9PM. Hot chocolate will be served.

A visually appealing holiday light display at a residence on Flaming Star Avenue and Shenandoah Street in Thousand Oaks (take Lynn Road to Avenida de las Flores and head west) is back again this year for the holiday season. Light, bright and fun!

Residential 50,000 light and music display on Via Patricia (cross street Via Ricardo) in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park is back up and running this year. Simulcast to music on 89.7 FM. Perennially one of the most entertaining displays around town. Worth going out of your way for!

Beautiful and extremely bright and colorful holiday display is back up at a residence at 982 Golden Crest Avenue at Antelope Place in Newbury Park. Also features talking Santa Claus. Toy drive 11/24-12/25. Fire department visit on 12/8 at 6:30PM. Live Santa Claus photos on December 8, 15, 16 and 23 at 6:30PM. Questions? 805-813-3999

Fun, festive, colorful, synchronized light display at 538 Brisbaine Avenue, Newbury Park 5PM-10PM nightly through 12/31. Simulcast to music on 100.5 FM.

Neat display at a home on Montgomery Road, just south of Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. This is a perennial display that has been up like clockwork for the holiday season for many years.

Gigantic Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and other fun decor at a home on Via Coronado, west of Borchard, in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park.

Outstanding high-tech light show set to music will be back again this year starting Saturday, December 2nd at a home on Doone Street (cross street Warwick) in Thousand Oaks. Several nearby homes are nicely decorated with holiday cheer too. A local must see!

Bright, colorful display is back yet again this year at a home at the corner of Holloway Street and Wendy Drive in Newbury Park.

There is a pretty and bright display that populates the entire front yard of 1170 Earlham Court in Oak Park, south of Pathfinder Ave. Dozens of lighted snowmen and other cartoon characters. On weekends, they have two snow machines, Elf movie on, and dancing Santa and reindeer. Accepting donations for local charity, James Storehouse.

Fun cast of characters, including The Grinch and others, at a bright display at a home on Orangewood Avenue, north of Felton, in Newbury Park.

Gorgeous display is back again this year at a home on Middle Crest Drive, south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, in Agoura Hills.

Another display full of colorful lights and decorations at a home on Camino Dos Rios, west of Lynn Road, on the right (north) side

Fun animated residential display simulcast to music at a home on Mapleleaf Ave (cross street Madrid) in Newbury Park. Music simulcast on 97.7 FM.

Residential light show is back at 1062 Sheffield Place in Thousand Oaks. Open 5:30-10PM daily through December 31st. Music simulcast on FM 87.9. Vote for your favorite songs at www.sheffieldlights.com.

Once again this year, there's a particularly festive, brightly lit residence on Shetland Place in the North Ranch section of Thousand Oaks. While you’re there, drive Upper Ranch Road and Golf Course Drive for some festive lighting on some beautiful trees.

Christmas spirit on display at two homes on Verde Vista Drive (across from Cambria St) in Thousand Oaks (near CLU, north of Olsen).

Fun display with several dozen inflatables of all types and plenty of flashing lights at a home at the corner of Briarcliff Road and Windsor Drive in Thousand Oaks.

Lots of lights, lighted figures and about 11 lighted palm trees at a home at the corner of Bernadine St and Wauneta St in Newbury Park.

Festive, colorful and bright displays at several homes on Yew Drive in Newbury Park. Take Borchard, turn south on Carob, then an immediate left on Yew.

Fun residential Christmas display simulcast to holiday tunes at a home at 1455 Valley High Ave in Thousand Oaks, between La Granada and Sapra. Will be open sunset to 10PM daily through the end of the month.

A fun residential display is back again this year with music and brightly lit cast of cartoon characters at a home on Donald Avenue, just east of Wendy Drive, in Newbury Park.

Bright display with a tremendous cast of characters at 3337 Frankie Drive in Newbury Park. There’s also a talking Santa Claus, in fact, multiple Santa Clauses, reindeer and more.

Fun holiday display at a home at the end of the cul de sac on Summerfield Street off of Mountclef across from CLU in Thousand Oaks. This whole neighborhood area located east of Mountclef between Olsen and Arboles is a good family drive-through, with a nice assortment of displays...access from Summerfield and Hetherglow.

Beautiful Christmas light display at a home on Kingham Court in Agoura Hills (north of T. O. Blvd, off of Grey Rock Road).

Brisbaine display in Newbury Park. Was up before Thanksgiving this year!

NEARBY CITY DISPLAYS

Huge and awesome neighborhood display in the area of Timberdale and Pinedale Roads in Moorpark (just west of Moorpark High School, off of Countrywood Drive). Dozens of homes decorated in bright lights and decorations.

Fantastic multi-family residential holiday light display on Gemini and Waverly Ave and Saturn Street in Camarillo is taking shape. Great one to bring the kids to….lots of cartoon character decorations and a great area to park the car, stroll and enjoy. You won’t be disappointed. Take Arneill to Dunnigan St, east to Gemini Avenue.

12/10-12/26: Oxnard Christmas Tree Lane along F & G Streets between 5th and Palm in the Downtown Oxnard Historic District is a perennially great display you need to experience. Nightly 6PM-10PM.

Candy Cane Lane is a group of homes located in the vicinity of Lubao Avenue at Oxnard Street in Woodland Hills that has been fun to drive through for over 60 years.

Auburn Lane Community at Summerwood Avenue in Simi Valley has thousands of Christmas lights strung from house to house over the streets of the entire neighborhood and most every home is decorated. Santa will make an appearance from 6-9PM on Sat 12/9. (Overflow parking at Church of LDS at 5028 Cochran St (at Summerwood). See www.facebook.com/auburnlane.

Winter Wonderland Holiday Display at 469 Highland Road in Simi Valley has well over 100, maybe 200 figurines and happy characters throughout the yard. Cross street Sinaloa, south of Royal. Also see their Facebook page for updates.

Christmas light display with music synced to music at a home on Fieldcrest Drive in Camarillo.

The fun single home cartoon Disney character display at the corner of Timberlane Ave and Fearing St in Simi Valley has retired, according to a sign posted on the side of the house. SEE PHOTOS AT THIS LINK.

Eateries That Opened in the Second Half of 2023 and are Coming Soon to the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County

/

Some of the new eateries in the conejo valley area that opened since july 2023.

We’re down to the final home stretch of 2023 and we’ve seen, as always, numerous changes in the local eatery landscape in the Conejo Valley and adjacent areas. Here’s what we’ve seen since July.

New Eateries That Opened in the Second Half of 2023

Eateries That Anticipate Opening Soon

Places to Go Fishing in Ventura County

/

Many times we’re asked if there’s somewhere to go fishing in the Thousand Oaks area. There really isn’t a place in the Conejo Valley for the general public to go fishing. Troutdale in Agoura was a fun nearby place to take the kids but it closed a number of years ago. So here’s a list of places to go fishing in and around Ventura County and nearby areas for those wish to fish.

Keep in mind that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife requires a sport fishing license for people ages 16 or older. As of July 2023, an annual resident sport fishing license is $58.58. A one-day license is $19.18. More information at wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.

Fishing Places Open to the General Public

Lake Casitas Recreation Area is open daily from 6:30 am to 7 pm for boating and fishing. Lake Casitas is filled with largemouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie, red-ear sunfish, bluegill and channel catfish. Boats must be a minimum of 11’ and maximum of 26’ in length and 4’ wide. Canoes, kayaks and some inflatables are allowed. Swimming, wading or body contact in the lake is not allowed, however, as it is a drinking water supply. Fishing licenses sold at the Marina Bait and Tackle Shop. Night fishing available various weekends until 11 pm. Learn more at www.casitaswater.org/recreation/boating-and-fishing. Located at 11311 Santa Ana Road, Ventura. Day use parking at Lake Casitas as of July 2023 is $10 on weekdays and $20 on weekends and holidays. Casitas Boat Rentals & Marina Cafe offers rentals of kayaks, pontoons, paddle boats and motorized boats. casitasboatrentals.com.

Lake Piru Recreation Area is open daily, offering camping, boating, fishing, water sports and other on-shore activities. Visitors can fish from shore, boats, kayaks and float tubes. Fish species at Lake Piru include rainbow trout, bass, crappie, catfish and blue gill. Vehicle day pass admission is $14 during peak season (as of September 2022). explorelakepiru.com

Channel Islands National Park is accessible by booking a trip with Island Packers, the official boat concessionaire for the Park, out of Ventura Harbor and Channel Islands Harbor or by private boat. Fishing is allowed, with the exception at certain protected areas. More info at www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/fishing.htm.

Beach areas where you can fish include Emma Wood State Beach, Port Hueneme Beach, San Buenaventura State Beach, near the Ventura Harbor, Point Mugu State Park and others.

Fishing piers in the local area include:

  • Port Hueneme Pier (open daily from 6am to 10pm)

  • Malibu Pier - Great place for folks to go who don’t usually fish as you can rent rods and purchase bait and tackle on the pier. And no permits are required to fish on the pier.

  • Ventura Pier - open until 10pm. (However, the pier is closed for repairs due to storm damage in 2023. Anticipated to reopen sometime in 2024.)

Ventura Pier

There is a two and a half acre pond/lagoon at Rancho Simi Community Park at 1765 Royal Avenue, Simi Valley. that I have not personally explored but is another possible local fishing option.

River and stream fishing in Ventura County includes Matilija Creek (Upper North Fork), North Fork Matilija in Ojai, the Sespe Wilderness in Ojai and in the outer bounds of Ventura County in the Mt. Pinos Ranger District.

Enjoy a day (or half day) of sportfishing with these local options:

A Little Farther

Cachuma Lake is located at 1 Lakeview Drive in Santa Barbara off of Highway 154 in Santa Ynez Valley, about 75 miles from the Conejo Valley. Halfway between Santa Barbara and Solvang. Cachuma is a reservoir filled with large mouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie and catfish. A bait/tackle shop is available for one-day fishing licenses. Boats, kayaks and canoes can be rented there too. More info at www.countyofsb.org/637/Cachuma-Lake. Bait/tackle shop info at rockymountainrec.com/lake-facilities/listing/cachuma-lake.

Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, which is open from 7am to 10pm. Stearns Wharf Bait & Tackle on the wharf sells what you need to fish there.

Ocean fishing at Carpinteria State Beach, El Capitan State Beach, Refugio State Beach and other spots.

Places Not Open to the General Public

Lake Bard, located at the intersection of Olsen Road and State Route 23 at the border of Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley is a 10,000 acre-foot surface water reservoir built by the Calleguas Municipal Water District in 1965 to store water to meet peak summer and emergency demands. www.calleguas.com

Westlake Lake is a man-made 125 acre lake with eight miles of shoreline in Westlake Village, This is a private lake paid and maintained for by residents who live in the Westlake Recreation Area. The waters include largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill sunfish and silverside. westlake-lake.com

Lake Sherwood is a 165 acre lake created by the Sherwood Dam that is privately owned and not open to the general public.

The Las Virgenes Reservoir is a 9,800 acre foot reservoir build between 1970 an 1972and is maintained by the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. It is a reserve supply of water that could provide about six months of emergency water supply, if needed. It is off limits to public use. www.lvmwd.com

Malibou Lake is a privately-owned 350 acre surface area lake in the Santa Monica Mountains near Agoura Hills. The lake was created in 1922 after the Malibu Lake Club Dam was built at the confluence of Triunfo Creek and Medea Creek. www.maliboulake.com

Lake Eleanor is an eight acre lake located within the 513 acre Lake Eleanor Open Space off of Westlake Blvd (SR 23) south of Potrero Road near Westlake Village. It is fenced off from the public in order to create habitat for wildlife. You can see it as you drive south.

Sinaloa Lake in Simi Valley is a private 12 acre lake managed by the Sinaloa Lake Owners Association. There is big mouth bass and other fish in there, but the lake is not available to the general public. sinaloalake.org

Las Virgenes Reservoir seen from the Westlake Vista Trail.

Flashback to 1923: $400 an Acre for Lots in "Thousand Oaks" - A City in the Beginning

/

In the spring of 1923, Morton D. Harris & Co. was selling 2 1/2 to 5 acre ranches at $400 per acre in "Thousand Oaks," a "city" in the beginning - the liveliest spot on the "Ventura Blvd." "Wonderful business opportunities...chicken and turkey ranches, grapes, fruit and berry tracts. Extensive water system now being installed. Good roads are being completed. And soon, yes, electric lights! Get these lots now for just 10% down and 2% per month!

According to the late Pat Allen, historian for the city, mostly farmers lived in the Conejo Valley in 1922.  The 2,200 acre Crowley Ranch was sold and subdivided and lots were sold for $1,000. As lots sold and the population grew, developers held a contest to name the new village. Sixteen year old Bobby Harrington entered the name "Thousand Oaks." He won the prize and the rest is history.

Thousand Oaks became a subdivision of Ventura County on May 1, 1923, as recorded by the County Recorder. Thousand Oaks was incorporated as a city on October 7, 1964.