To those who wondered if the end of election season would quell the political posturing on the Thousand Oaks City Council, the answer came Tuesday.
It’s not happening.
In what clearly appears to be fallout from last year’s bitter campaign, Councilmembers Fox, Gillette and Glancy denied Claudia Bill-de la Peña’s reappointment of Al Adam to the planning commission.
Adam, the fourth-place finisher in November’s election—only 146 votes behind Gillette—ran a campaign highly critical of the council majority, even advocating for term limits. On Tuesday, to the winners went their spoils.
Of the three who voted to jettison Adam from the commission, which reviews and decides applications for commercial, residential, industrial and other development projects, only Fox gave a reason on the dais, saying he doubted Adam’s ability to be “objective.”
While we’d like to take the five-term council member at his word, he had to know the vote would reek of partisan politics and should have been prepared to make a more convincing argument.
The threesome owes it to the voters to clearly state why Adam, who was popular enough to receive nearly 15,000 votes in a 13- person race, deserved to be replaced on the commission. After all, the city is not usually in the business of turning away citizens who want to participate in their government.
But as of Wednesday, they still weren’t saying.
If it’s for political reasons, fine. Just say that. Considering how vehemently Adam campaigned against Gillette and Fox last year, some people would understand.
But to suggest Adam wasn’t properly doing his job without giving specific examples is not only mean-spirited, it sets a bad precedent. Will future planning commissioners consider a run for the council if they know it might cost them their future on the board? Sounds like a good way to curtail competition.
It also leaves the public to wonder if Adam’s lack of support for two controversial projects—the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall sign and the solar panels at Newbury Park Library—might have had something to do with his being replaced.
And that doesn’t look good.
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Adam won’t return to planning board
2011-01-27 / Front Page
Council votes 3-2 against reappointment
Al AdamAl Adam is out as a Thousand Oaks planning commissioner.
In a surprise move Tuesday, the City Council voted 3-2 to reject Councilmember Claudia Bill-de la Peña’s nomination of Adam to a second term on the board, which reviews and decides applications for commercial, residential, industrial and other development projects.
Council members Dennis Gillette, Tom Glancy and Mayor Andy Fox formed the majority in shooting down Adam’s nomination.
Before the vote, Fox thanked Adam for his four years of service on the planning board then said that he had serious doubts about his objectivity.
“I have personally lost confidence in his ability to serve on the commission; because of that I’m asking the council for a no vote on Mr. Adam,” Fox said
Gillette and Glancy did not comment on their votes. Calls from the Acorn seeking comment from Fox and Gillette were not returned by press time.
Glancy told the Acorn Wednesday that his own experience as a planning commissioner proved to him it’s “absolutely imperative” that a planning commissioner be nonpolitical in addition to being objective, fair and balanced.
He won’t comment on why he voted no for Adam.
Bill- de la Peña defended Adam at the council meeting, saying he’s performed well on the commission.
“Given the current state of the City Council I am very disappointed that the majority will reject my nominee,” she said. “I would hope that my colleagues could look at the bigger picture, not be political and see that there are qualifications and skills in Mr. Adam.”
In answering a question from Bill-de la Peña, City Attorney Amy Albano said city ordinance allows Adam to continue on the planning commission until the council chooses a replacement. Bill-de la Peña reserves the right to select the new nominee.
Albano later told the Acorn that she’s heard anecdotal reports that past councils have rejected a colleague’s nominee for planning commissioner but that in her six years with the city it hasn’t happened.
On Wednesday, Bill- de la Peña called Adam’s rejection “political revenge,” saying that the local financial adviser may have stepped on toes in his run for a City Council seat last November.
Adam and Bill-de la Peña ran a joint campaign that that was critical of Fox and Gillette. Adam eventually lost to Gillette by 146 votes for the third and final open seat on the council; Bill-de la Peña was the top votegetter.
“It is unfortunate,” Bill-de la Peña said. “Last night’s action speaks completely for itself—it is a sad statement about the continuing discourse on our City Council. It was completely unnecessary.”
Adam said he’d hoped the council would have voted according to his performance on the commission rather than their politics.
“ It wasn’t ( totally) unexpected, although I was pretty shocked,” Adam said. “I hate to say it; I think it was political payback, pure and simple—revenge politics.”
He said the no vote is not only a snub to him but to Billde la Peña and the nearly 15,000 people who voted for him in the November election.
He said he thinks Gillette may have voted no to help remove him from political contention in 2012.
Adam pointed out that he may also have drawn the disapproval of Fox, Gillette and Glancy because he’s the author of a petition circulating in the community to place term limits on City Council members.
“I was supposed to get the chair (of the planning commission) but instead I got the door,” Adam said.
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Forum for mobile home park residents will be presented
2011-01-27 / Front Page
A forum for mobile home park residents concerning possible rent increases will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Sat., Feb. 12 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Kavli Theatre.
The forum is titled “Creating long-term stability for mobile home park residents.”
In response to the recent applications for rent increases at mobile home parks in Thousand Oaks, the city has appointed Mayor Andy Fox to lead discussions between mobile home park owners and residents.
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VC Star 01272011 Incomplete story as usual!!
Two new members were appointed to the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission, while an incumbent member was voted off Tuesday by the City Council.
Pete Turpel and Joel Price were unanimously appointed to the commission. Turpel was nominated by Councilman Dennis Gillette and Price was put forward by Councilman Tom Glancy.
Tina Grumney had served as Gillette’s commissioner in recent years, and Glancy’s previous representative on the commission,
Mark Lunn, stepped down after being elected Ventura County Clerk-Recorder.
In an unusual move, Councilwoman Claudia Bill-de la Peña’s nominee Al Adam was rejected by the council on a 3-2 vote. Adam was up for reappointment after five years of service as Bill-de la Peña’s commissioner. He also was her running mate in the Nov. 2 City Council election, narrowly losing to incumbent Gillette.
Gillette joined Mayor Andy Fox and Glancy in voting against Adam’s reappointment. Fox said he had concerns about Adam’s objectivity and had lost confidence in him.
Bill-de la Peña, along with Councilwoman Jacqui Irwin, voted for Adam’s reappointment. Bill-de la Peña said Adam is professional and prepared as a commissioner. She said she was disappointed and wished her colleagues would not be political.
Fox’s nominee, Daryl Reynolds, was reappointed to the commission.
Sharon McMahon, Rick Lemmo, and Thomas Gregory were reappointed to four-year terms on the Traffic and Transportation Commission.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/26/to-council-appoints-2-new-planners-ousts-1/#ixzz1CDbMsRKA
- vcstar.com
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Ball benefits Under One Roof
2011-01-27 / Community
Mardi Gras Ball is Feb. 19 at Hyatt Westlake
George HutchisonCommunity Conscience/Under One Roof will present the annual Mardi Gras Ball at 6 p.m. Sat., Feb. 19 at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village.
The evening will begin with a champagne reception and music by the Riverboat Jazz Band. Dinner will follow at 7:30 p.m. along with a live auction and dancing to an L.A.-based dance band. A silent auction will also be offered. Local longtime volunteer Irish John Gore will serve as master of ceremonies and auctioneer.
Auction items include a weeklong stay in an exotic getaway, a day with Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean, a helicopter/limo ride and dinner at the Tower Club in Oxnard, box tickets for Lakers and Kings games, Lakers memorabilia, combat mock fight in a plane, a basketball signed by John Wooden and a soccer ball autographed by Pelé.
The honorees for the Mardi Gras King and Queen Awards will be two community volunteers, George Hutchison of Westlake and Aline Roberts of Thousand Oaks.
Aline Roberts Photos courtesy Steve Roosa at Sandstone PhotographyRoberts has been a Ventura County resident since 1959. She has spent 30 years in the insurance business and is the owner of Insurance Dimensions in Thousand Oaks. She is a 19-year member of the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club and a past president of Soroptimist International of the Conejo.
Roberts has been involved with the Mardi Gras Ball for many years, including two years as table sponsor chair and event chair in 2001. She lives in the Dos Vientos area of Thousand Oaks with her husband, Skip, who has also volunteered for the Mardi Gras Ball.
Hutchison’s career has been in the Conejo real estate market for many years. Through his wife, Jeannette, who was a president of Hospice of the Conejo which meets in the Under One Roof building, Hutchison became involved in running the building.
He joined the Community Conscience board as a trustee in 2000 and served as president of the organization in 2004 and 2005.
Donations for tickets are $150 each or $1,250 for a table of 10. Attire can be evening wear or Mardi Gras costume.
Community Conscience is the provider for 12 local nonprofits which are housed rent-free in the Under One Roof building.
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NO AUTO MALL SIGN Letters!!
Sign should stick to General Plan
2011-01-27 / Letters
“To enhance and preserve the spaciousness and attractiveness of the Conejo Valley. . . . To provide a high quality environment, healthful and pleasing to the senses, which values the relationship between maintenance of ecological systems and the people’s general welfare.”
“The City’s unique natural setting will be a guide to its future physical shape. . . . Through good design and the implementation of appropriate development tools, a freeway corridor image will be created making Thousand Oaks visually distinct from surrounding communities, retaining the special qualities of the landscape, viewshed and open space which originally attracted people to the area. Major City gateways, where the Route 101 and 23 Freeways enter the City and streets interchange with the freeways, shall receive special aesthetic enhancement.”
“Low profile and aesthetically designed signage shall be allowed for all developments; no billboards shall be allowed.”
“As the City ages, it is important to maintain, improve and enhance the City’s aesthetic appearance. . . . Gateways should present open, low-keyed, attractively landscaped entrances to the community.”
The preceding assertions are taken verbatim from the Goals and Policies of the Thousand Oaks General Plan, as published on the city’s Web page.
It is clearly stated that billboards shall not be allowed in Thousand Oaks. The proposed auto mall sign is an electronic billboard and is not allowed in Thousand Oaks no matter how big or small it is or how tall or short the structure that it is affixed to is.
’Nuff said. Kevin Redner Newbury Park
Let your voice be heard on auto sign
2011-01-27 / Letters
The city must think we are dummies.
On its website the city says the proposed auto mall sign with its LED screen will not set a precedent. But every teenager knows once he’s allowed to stay out past midnight, it will be much easier to get permission next time.
Why else did a representative from The Oaks mall attend the recent auto mall hearing strongly supporing the sign? Do they hope to be next in line?
In addition, the city tells us it isn’t paying for the sign. But the $2 million gift from the city for auto mall parking and landscaping makes it easier for the auto mall to fund the sign.
Here’s how it works: I want to remodel my kitchen and have budgeted $20,000. My generous uncle gives me $4,000 to pay for the appliances. But since I had already planned to pay for the appliances myself, I decide I can now afford granite countertops instead of tile.
Did my uncle pay for the appliances or the granite countertops? The auto mall and city propaganda says appliances. Common sense says granite.
Lastly, the city tells us the sign concept was selected by the advisory committee. But who was on that committee?
Most of them were people connected to the auto mall or the city. One who didn’t have those connections told me it was pointless in challenging their predetermined outcome, so she gave up.
Even Judy Lazar, a former City Council member, was made cochair of the committee. Many may remember that in 1993, when the auto mall was also pushing for a larger flashier sign, she was accused of being the auto mall’s advocate. Times don’t change.
We must show the city we aren’t dummies and we care; please email and call the city and come to the final hearing at 6 p.m. Tues., Feb. 22 in the council chambers.
If you don’t go, your voice won’t be heard. Carolyn Guillot Thousand Oaks
Auto mall taking wrong approach
2011-01-27 / Letters
This is in response to the comments Susan Murata, president of the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall Association, made to the Acorn with regard to her justification for the 35-foot LED sign advertising the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall that has been wildly opposed in our community.
In the article, Murata cites a 2001 survey co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Association and an organization called the “Signage Foundation for Communication Excellence” which she claims is the basis for her evidence that this proposed eyesore will increase auto mall sales—and subsequently increase taxes to our beautiful city.
First, may I point out that BMW, Porsche, Land Rover, etc., are not small businesses. They are iconic luxury brands, as are most of the dealerships in the auto mall.
Perhaps sparkly, roadside signage might lure in a fast-food customer or a traveler in need of gas or a McLunch, but that’s because these are impulse buys. I rarely impulsively decide to stop and spend $75,000 on a luxury car just because I saw a nifty giant sign on the side of the road.
Second, the Signage Foundation for Communication Excellence is a group that is, surprise, interested in supplying information to advertising industries and people who sell signs.
In the document referenced by Murata, there is no quantification, scientific data, clarification on how or where this research was conducted, and the report cites no actual hard research statistics.
How many candidates were in the research pool? Did they have a control group? Over what length of time was said research conducted?
Last and most importantly, I just searched my copy of the Acorn, and there are no advertisements for any of the dealerships at the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall.
I would think that advertising dollars spent in your community and in the surrounding media markets would drive the right traffic to your establishments—meaning people actually in the market for a new or used car.
Needless to say, ad revenues ultimately create income for local media outlets and hardworking advertising sales people.
I’m not buying this deeply flawed logic that this sign is worth the price tag to our city. We have already given them $2 million for their renovations. Enough is enough. Elizabeth Lang Westlake Village
A plea to Fox and Gillette: No to sign
2011-01-27 / Letters
An open letter to Mayor Fox and Councilmember Gillette: I address this letter to you two gentlemen because I know where you lead the others will follow.
If I was to ask you “Do you believe in honesty and transparency in government?” I’m sure you would say yes. That said, the current auto mall sign as designed is against the law as it stands.
You intend to amend a city ordinance which is one of the cornerstones of our community. I was a little surprised when Mayor Fox stated it wasn’t a law, it was an ordinance.
An ordinance is just as much a law as the fire codes. If you can be fined or jailed for violating them, that’s a law.
There’s one glaring difference. The fire codes are formed in committee; the city ordinance is put on the ballot and voted in by the people and can only be abolished by the people.
By voting for this auto mall sign in its current design it virtually abolishes the sign ordinance, which you as mayor and the City Council are not allowed to do.
The auto mall sign will become the new standard for the entire Conejo Valley. You are actually talking about changing the landscape of the entire community.
So I ask you respectfully to postpone the vote on the auto mall sign and hold a public hearing to determine if the sign ordinance should be changed at all.
Mayor Fox, we’ve heard from the Auto Mall Association, the T.O. Boulevard Association and the Chamber of Commerce; now it’s time you allow the public to speak.
You still do work for the public, don’t you?
So, Mayor Fox, I will be calling, and if I can’t reach you I’ll call Dennis Gillette with my request for postponement of the vote on the auto mall sign and a public hearing.
I invite the community do to the same, and remember to be respectful. Todd Lundy Thousand Oaks
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A letter in defense of a friend
2011-01-27 / Letters
Regarding Jeanean Hollen’s letter about Christmas (“Christmas has its roots in paganism,” Acorn, Jan. 13), as a Christian pastor, I was enjoying her letter up to the point of her intolerant and prejudicial closing remarks.
Now in all fairness she may have been responding to someone else’s mean-spirited letter.
Nevertheless, the letter was public and Christian-bashing in nature, and thus I am entitled to respond.
But for a few minor historical discrepancies, her historical review of Christmas is correct. As a Christian I have never believed that Jesus’ birth was Dec. 25.
The date was set for convenience, just like our President’s Day celebration for Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays.
Though there is more historically to note concerning the motto “ In God We Trust,” Jeanean Hollen did well in researching her data, and I was thankful.
However, my only reservation with her letter, as I said before, was her closing remarks of prejudicial intolerance.
I am well aware of the atrocities that have been committed in the name of my savior and friend Jesus. But just because he is my friend, does that really make me a narcissist who is ego-driven?
Well, Jeanean, I doubt you know me or my friend well enough to declare such intolerance. If you got to know me better I bet we would enjoy sharing some historical insights together and could possibly be friends.
I would hope to befriend you instead of attack you. I bet we would get along well and have many wonderful conversations. Rob McCoy Thousand Oaks
McCoy is the pastor at Calvary Chapel of Thousand Oaks.
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Christians need not rely on fear
2011-01-27 / Letters
This is in response to the letter by Jeanean Hollen regarding Christmas.
I’m not sure that the argument concerning when Christ was born has to do with the way we celebrate Christmas. Also, you said it would have been too cold in December for the shepherds. It would be my guess that those shepherds were hearty individuals.
If delicate, pregnant Mary could journey to Bethlehem on a donkey, exposed to the elements, surely a little cold weather would not bother the shepherds.
Yes, you are right. Our Christian holidays were started because of pagan holidays. However, I differ as to the reason.
You seem to think it was a trick to shove Christianity down the throats of the people. Another be- lief is that Christians were uncomfortable celebrating the pagan holidays, so they started holidays of their own.
As for putting “In God We Trust” on coins, it could be for the reason you said. That was a good thing. The ’50s were an era of God, country and family. If it helped to have a statement by government, so be it.
Being Christian, fear isn’t a motive for me. With all the natural disasters and violent individuals, I would be frightened out of my mind if I weren’t a Christian.
Imaginary friend? You stated things from history as true but deny history when it’s in regard to Jesus Christ.
Atrocities come from all groups of people. Call me narcissistic and ego-driven. I want to find myself with that baby that was born in Bethlehem in eternity. Lavera Ackerman Thousand Oaks
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Council nearly guilty of 3 Strikes
2011-01-27 / Letters
In 1994, California voters passed Proposition 184, known as the Three Strikes Law, as a way to deter crime.
Some say it was successful, and others say it was too harsh. I would like to borrow this theme and look at some big mistakes that the Thousand Oaks City Council has made over the past few years.
First strike: The council approved a sweet business deal for developer Caruso. He got prime land to develop The Lakes shopping mall for $1 a year and the city gets tax revenue.
Revenue from tax receipts is down since a 2007 peak. A taxpayer funded study concluded that more parking was necessary to help with business. Approximately $400,000 from a city fund of your tax dollars was used to build a little over a dozen angled parking spaces on T.O. Boulevard.
Second strike: The solar panel Newbury Park Library project led by Ms. Perez. I went to the hearing at the library and the hearing at the council meeting on the project. More people opposed it than supported it.
Before all this, the city’s planning commission rejected the project based on aesthetics. Why didn’t we stop there? By missing a key deadline, it will now cost us more money out of the general fund to make up the $172,000— the amount lost from the rebate program called the California Solar Initiative.
Third Strike: This is a potential strike, and I am warning the council not to swing. It has to do with the auto dealers’ new sign. I don’t have a problem with business and growth, but I only have a problem with unfair business growth from taxpayer money.
The bottom line is this: No tax money for a new sign. The auto mall can spend their own money to build their sign.
With all due respect to the sitting City Council, I ask you to stop wasting our tax dollars. All these are examples of politically placed capital.
I don’t want Thousand Oaks City Council to strike out, and I hope you can appreciate this. Geoffrey Bride Newbury Park
District paying for its mistake
2011-01-27 / Letters
“Well, this is another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.”
Remember that funny line from the Laurel and Hardy movies? It reminds me of the mess caused by placing the Bridges Charter School at Glenwood Elementary School.
I voted against putting Bridges at Glenwood. I wanted to put Bridges at the closed University Elementary. We had the room.
Local parents who had children at University could have enrolled their children at Bridges/University, allowing their children to walk to school.
Putting Bridges at Glenwood has also cost you, the taxpayers, over $250,000 in facility construction costs necessary for Bridges. There is also the parking chaos as parents pick up their children.
The vote to put Bridges at Glenwood was 4-1. By the way, my writing this letter to the editor is a violation of the protocols of the district, protocols which I wisely refused to sign.
We still have one of the best public school districts in California. It just has a few bugs in it. Mike Dunn Newbury Park
Dunn is a trustee on the Conejo Valley school board.
Business, citizens must compromise
2011-01-27 / Letters
I have read the letters to the editor concerning the auto sign and other similar concerns, like the use of the old Kmart property, with some incredulity.
Where do you people want to live? Detroit, Texas or Los Angeles? I was born in Los Angeles and lived in SoCal for 66 years and the Conejo for 35-plus.
You have to go a long way out of your way to find things to complain about when you live here. The founding fathers and mothers of this city did a good job, and it has been continued by their successors.
Money is the life blood of governments, and sales tax is the source of ours. If you want services they have to be paid for.
You need a cop, call 911. In L.A., half the time they put you on hold; here, one or more show up every time my business alarm goes off. Drive the streets (if your tires will let you) in the San Fernando Valley and then drive here; who pays for that?
Business taxes and sales tax pay for it. Every time you walk into a store in the mall you should thank them for being there.
The temerity of some people astounds me. If you want to turn the old Kmart into a skating rink, buy it and do it. Join us, your local business community, and see how easy it is.
This is not to say that every business idea should be adopted, but that’s why we elect a City Council, to oversee the processing of these issues.
There has to be a compromise between the desires of the community and the needs of business.
But sometimes the community has to be reminded that t
he luxury of living in one of the best places on earth has its costs. Martin Anderson Thousand Oaks
Serve on senior center board
2011-01-27 / Letters
Would you like to live a longer, healthier, happier life? If your answer is yes, then have we got a deal for you. Volunteer!
Research has shown that those who volunteer do indeed live longer, healthier, happier lives.
The Goebel Senior Adult Center has a great volunteering opportunity that you should learn about. Applications are now being taken for appointment to the Goebel Senior Adult Center’s Board of Commissioners.
The commission consists of 15 individuals of diverse backgrounds who give their time, their energy and their expertise to ensure the center is meeting the needs and wants of our adult population.
The commission generates funds to support the multitude of programs and services that serve our adult population through such activities as bingo and bus trips and community events such as the biannual garage sales.
It also supports programs such as RSVP’s heavily used, much lauded tax preparation service as well as our varied discussion groups, art and music classes, pingpong, billiards, basketball, baseball and the Old Kranks bicycle club
The commission meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month, and the public is always invited.
One of the more frequently asked questions about the commission is “How much time would I have to commit?”
Commissioners can expect to invest five to 10 hours per month attending the monthly meeting and subcommittee meetings and supporting sponsored events.
The deadline for applications is Feb. 11. For questions or additional information, call (805) 495-6471. Jim Seerden Thousand Oaks
Seerden is the chair of the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging.
Fundraiser will benefit T.O. charter school
2011-01-27 / Schools
MATES Foundation will host a poker tournament from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Sat., Feb. 5 at Sunset Hills Country Club, 4155 Erbes Road, Thousand Oaks.
Participants do not have to know how to play. A beginning tutorial will be offered. Bunco will also be played. Tickets are $75, which includes dinner and play.
