ALL TO Acorn on TO Auto Mall Sign see also Jan posts Auto Mall 4 the rest of the story

   
The FILES related to the auto mall sign are available for review on Google my docs PUBLIC  No regist reqd. Also pics there and videos of signs
https://docs.google.com/?tab=qo&authuser=0#query/vr?view=0&filter=images_and_videos&hidden=1
also at Facebook for pics if you prefer
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=100001597299471&aid=26540   See different auto mall signs here NO registration reqd.
Signs with TV screens LA area http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6775&id=100001597299471
FROM the Neautral city??

IMPT. Links  http://www.scenic.org/billboards
www.signlaw.com
www.oaaa.org
Auto Mall Improvement Project

Upcoming Community Meetings

Location:	Los Robles Greens Golf Course – Banquet Center 299 S. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks, CA
Dates:	6:00 PM on Thursday, February 10
	View the Presentation from the January 26 Meeting

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. 

http://www.toaks.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=19602     Their Power point presentation

http://www.toaks.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=19520   The biased comm. report Shoved down my throat as Comm member (Nick Q) NO minority report allowed

http://www.toaks.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=19520

The City Engineer as ADVOCATE for auto mall NO OTHER side presented

Frequently Asked Questions Below are five frequently asked questions regarding the proposed Auto Mall Monument Sign.   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 impact sales at the Auto Mall? There is no empirical evidence that increases in the size of advertising signage results in increased automobile sales. However, studies have verified the effectiveness of signage in general, especially in areas with high visibility. In a 2001 study, the Small Business Administration determined that electronic message boards were the most cost effective means of advertising - more so than print, television, or web. The Auto Mall Association estimates that 80% of its visitors are drawn to the mall because of the freeway visibility and the existing monument sign. During 2010, 36% of all Thousand Oaks Auto Mall sales were to Thousand Oaks residents. In other words, the Auto Mall relies heavily on outside residents for 64% of their sales. Freeway signage may act as a primary method of communication to potential buyers who pass through Thousand Oaks.  Will the sign be a distraction for drivers? The monument sign concept selected by the Advisory Committee is consistent with current Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) design criteria. The FHWA operational criteria for digital reader boards minimize driver distraction. For example, the proposed reader board will not be animated or contain any flashing or scrolling graphics. The image dwell time on the reader board will be eight seconds, with a one-second transition between images. Given the length of the image dwell time, it is unlikely that a driver would see more than a couple messages while traveling along the 101 freeway. Finally, the reader board will be equipped with automatic dimming capabilities to adjust brightness in accordance with ambient light. The existing Auto Mall sign contains an electronic component as well (a 3’x9’ reader board displaying the date, time, and temperature. During 2008, the FHWA conducted a Phase I literature review study on the distraction potential of digital reader boards. In Phase II of the study, participants were observed in instrumented vehicles while driving along 30 minute routes in Virginia and Pennsylvania containing digital and standard billboards. The instrumented test vehicles measured the frequency and length that drivers looked away from the roadway. Field data collection for Phase II is completed, and a draft report is under internal review. The FHWA will analyze the results of the field data to identify whether subsequent guidance, regulatory changes, or suggested legislative proposals for digital reader boards are needed.The proposed monument sign is consistent with the Scenic Highways Element of the City’s General Plan. The goal of the Scenic Highways Plan is to identify, establish, and enhance a system of scenic highways within the City of Thousand Oaks. The Scenic Highways Element identifies ten policies, such as preventing removal of mature trees without proper consideration, undergrounding utility lines, and providing right-of-way landscaping. With regard to signage, the policy states that the City should “Provide for the control of all on and off-site advertising signs”. In consideration of the Scenic Highways Element, appropriate controls have been placed on the sign’s design and operation to minimize significant impacts on the scenic character of the U.S. 101 Freeway.  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.  How can I participate in the community discussions regarding the sign? Two community outreach meetings have been scheduled at the banquet center of the Los Robles Greens Golf Course. The purpose of the discussions is to provide additional information to the public, gather opinions, address concerns, and take note of all suggestions.    Location: Los Robles Greens Golf Course – Banquet Center  Dates: 6:00 PM on Wednesday, January 26th 6:00 PM on Thursday, February 10th For more information contact: Jay Spurgin, City Engineer (805) 449-2444   jspurgin@toaks.org ===================================================================== Studies & Reports City Council & Planning Commission December 14, 2010 City Council Meeting November 8, 2010 Planning Commission Meeting January 12, 2010 City Council Meeting November, 17 2009 City Council Meeting Studies & Reports Thousand Oaks Auto Mall Citizen Ad Hoc Committee Final Report - FHWA Safety Guidelines - Proposed Freeway Monument Sign Dimensions     Safety Impacts of the Emerging Digital Display Technology Tantala Associates Research Summary - Cuyahoga County, OH - Albuquerque, NM Federal Highway Administration, Phase I - Update Nov. 2009 Recommended Brightness Levels for On-Premise EMCs Small Business Administration Study - Electronic Message Centers - Small Business Administration Study - Associated Article Signline Publication, Issue 40 Signline Publication, Issue 45 Maryland State Highway Administration Study - 2007 Calculating the Value of a Digital-Display Ad Digital Billboards: What We Know Now =========================================================== Jay T. Spurgin, PE, MPA   PLEASE Copy to Senior Planner Jon Shepard  Thx Deputy Public Works Director City Engineer City of Thousand Oaks  2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd  Thousand Oaks, CA 91361  805-449-2444 tel, 805-449-2475 fax  jspurgin@toaks.org Also Co Chairs, Judy Lazar roadrunner.com and  Louis Goldman dvr@goldsman.com, Auto Mall ad hoc T O Committee   March 18th 2010 I am taking the liberty to write you at the last instance as I finally finished reading the staff packet. I hope staff will distribute a copy of this at the meeting. I want to admit at the outset that I am kinda disturbed with the whole process. As the only one who spoke at the council meeting on the matter I was told that this was a TRANSPARENT process and ALL citizens were welcome; In fact I was happy to be appointed alongwith long time cmbr Hon. Larry Horner. Yet even today despite informing staff a month ago the meeting for the 3 rd time is NOT on the web calendar! The citizens are unaware of such an impt. Meeting while art shows, Story time are prominently advertised. The staff report is completely ONE sided. That is why as a lay person I have done some research and faxed to staff some 15 pages including the minutes of the Dec 7th 1993 meeting so that the members will get an accurate picture of what is happening and the history. The original sign was not allowed in its entirety as it violated the sign ord. in many ways as well as the Scenic Highways Element! Despite 140? Pages there is not even a mention of this vital doc. This ain’t El Monte which is blighted from head to toe. I realize the auto mall is BLIGHTED per RDA ord. but that is a technicality for tax grab and another matter. Cnmr. Fox mentioned at the meeting that a lot has changed since the compromise, renovated SIGN was approved in 1993. NOT really!! The Oxnard and Ventura Signs were already there. The Calabasas Dealers were not there but they do NOT have an large reader board sign.  In fact Oxnard is in RUINS despite the huge sign as is Ventura with the demise of MANY dealerships. The successful S. Barbara Mall has NO glitzy sign nor are there any signs for Simi nor in S F Valley (except for individual kinda small signs for Galpin, Miller Nissan etc). The part ignored by staff is that the Ventura sign is at a much lower elevation than the freeway and is VERY far from the freeway as are the Longo sign and other signs in the report like Irvine and Newport is NOT even near a frwy! The sign proliferation has occurred as in the 90s in the So Bay, S G valley and far flung boonies like Lancaster, S Maria, Ontario etc as a desperation move to capture drivers on LONG trips; as if they will stop and make a $30K purchase on the fly. In fact the subtle approach of sales is what is the successful approach and that has worked successfully for the TO auto mall too; in fact the move is to VIRTUAL auto mall as can be seen by a simple Google search! It is UNFAIR to other sales tax producing businesses like the Janss Mall, Oaks Mall and even the Best Buy Plaza that they have little or NO fwy visibility or a sign; Worst case is Home Depot that does not even have a MONUMENT sign and unless you know it is there, you will drive right by; that happened to temps that I had hired who came from out of town; so as a former sign builder I of course believe in signage , but sign BLIGHT? NO!! No! No! We have outlawed use of cell phones while driving I am enclosing sheet on the 2 sec rule. Please note that Denver just BANNED digital signs (see enclosed page). This is a HEALTH & SAFETY issue!! Let us NOT wait till we are sued because of a fatality to remove them. In fact I remember the furor on use of the CITY SEAL in campaigning but staff is proposing using the sacred seal in some renderings!! I do NOT think we will be ready to vote today as we do NOT have ALL the necessary info to make a fair assessment; I respectfully ask that this be moved to another meeting and that OTHER alternatives be presented without the huge reader board and that do NOT violate our scenic highway guidelines. Why is the Planning Staff NOT the lead staff for the committee? Why is it that a new set of rules are being proposed for the auto mall which is unfair to the other businesses. Also we have not even discussed WHY a NEW sign is needed when as I mentioned not much has changed except: The MALL has the BEST VISABILITY still from the freeway so one would be blind to not notice it!! The mall has dwindled from 36 brands to 26? With ONE dealer controlling 13 makes and a popular Toyota dealer still NOT part of the mall. The INTERNET has changed the auto buying landscape and the sign does nothing to address that. In fact the auto mall seems to not be as active as it has NO web site and not even a membership in the local chamber as many of the dealers still have the competitive spirit! Yet we are to bend the rules when even the sales tax cash cow may go away if tax is distributed on a per capita or based on census tract basis to eliminate ZONING for dollars; Notice there is NO sign for Amgen either!! Nick Ekbal Quidwai Comm Member======================================================= 88888888888******************************************************************************************* =================================================================== caohara1@hotmail.com Commercial Electronic Variable Message Signs (CEVMS) and Driver Attention – January 11, 2011 The study’s primary focus is the effect of CEVMS on driver visual behavior and the evaluation of their potential risk to safety. Phase I (complete) The initial phase began in January 2008, and was completed by the Human Centered Systems Team at the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.  This updated an earlier published literature review regarding the distraction potential of CEVMS and reviewed and recommended appropriate research methods and techniques for the second phase. The final report is posted to the FHWA home page at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/realestate/out_ad.htm Phase II (awaiting final report) The two chosen sites, Reading, Pennsylvania and Richmond, Virginia, have a number of CEVMS displays, together with standard vinyl billboards and other objects of visual interest, along two driving routes each approximately 30 minutes in duration. The research participants drove an FHWA instrument equipped test vehicle. The instrumentation in the test vehicle measured eye-glances of the participant drivers, which will permit the researchers to determine the frequency of glances away from the roadway, the percentage of time that the participant drivers looked at the roadway ahead, and the time that the drivers looked at the CEVMS advertising displays, at standard vinyl billboards, and other selected objects.  An analysis of the on-road eye-tracking data is complete.  The FHWA has received a draft report of the results of the data and the report is currently being reviewed.  Upon the completion of the review, the final report will be published and released on the FHWA home page athttp://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ .  No date is scheduled for the publication of the report.  FHWA will notify individuals that have submitted an inquiry relating to this study, when or after the report is published.  If you have questions on the CEVMS Research, please contact Catherine O’Hara at Catherine.O’Hara@dot.gov or 202-366-9901. ===============================================================

Governor gearing up to sell ads on freeway electronic signs ...

Feb 5, 2010 ... Governor gearing up to sell ads on freeway electronic signs .... You should also know that The Sacramento Bee does not screen comments ...
www.sacbee.com/.../state-pushedwants-signs-poiu-poiupoiu.html - Cached

Escondido OKs huge electronic screen for new Lexus dealer

IMAGES WILL INCLUDE LANDSCAPES, PAINTINGS, LOCAL PHOTOS

·         Story

·         Discussion

By: DAVID GARRICK - Staff Writer | Posted: March 7, 2008 12:00 am | No Comments Posted | Print

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ESCONDIDO -- The City Council has approved design details for a gigantic, illuminated screen that will begin splashing colorful images of art and landscapes onto Interstate 15 later this year when a new Lexus dealership opens on Ninth Avenue.

The 1,296-square-foot screen will be nearly five times larger than the Escondido Auto Park electronic sign situated just off the western edge of the freeway. Lexus officials said their screen must be larger because it will be 450 feet southwest of the freeway.

The operation agreement for the screen prohibits any advertising, but city officials said it will still draw extra attention to Escondido's auto dealers, where sales have fallen sharply the past two years.

Previous attempts to improve the visibility of the city's auto row included the 267-square-foot Auto Park sign erected in the late 1990s, and a 180-foot flagpole added in 2005 that sports an 1,800-square-foot American flag.

A resident living near the new dealership on Tanglewood Lane objected to the media screen when it was first proposed in late 2006, but Lexus gained his support by agreeing to block his view of the screen with a special wall and several trees.

Others have questioned whether the screen, which would be roughly the size of a movie theater screen, might cause crashes on the freeway by distracting drivers. But city officials said the lack of continuous animation would make distractions unlikely.

Design details approved Wednesday by the council dictate that the images not be rotated more frequently than every 20 seconds, and the sign be shut off between 11 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.

A special committee of city employees and Lexus officials will decide which landscapes, paintings and other images to display.

Judy Jones-Cone, owner of the dealership, told the council Wednesday that she would like the screen to display art work by local students, photos by area residents and possibly some images of the San Diego Chargers professional football team on game days.

"We want the mural to give the building a personality," said Jones-Cone, who also owns the Lexus dealership in Carlsbad.

Even if the illuminated screen were not part of the plans, the new Lexus dealership would be remarkable.

The first so-called "super luxury" dealership in San Diego County, it will feature water shows, an upscale restaurant, piano music, meeting rooms and a hospitality center. Similar dealerships have opened recently in Orange County and south Florida.

"I think it's exciting we'll be the first in the county to have one of these," said Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler.

Other local dealers have supported the arrival of Lexus, predicting the unique facility will draw curious car shoppers from miles away. The electronic auto park sign and the giant flagpole were paid for by the auto park association, which now includes 14 dealers. Escondido also has a half-dozen dealerships outside the auto park, and Lexus will be among them.

Initially, plans called for the screen to be inside clear glass on the third floor of the dealership, but Lexus officials recently decided to place the screen outdoors on the northeast corner of the building, which will rise 70 feet above the ground. Previous plans also called for the screen to rotate between two positions, but it will now be fixed in one spot.

Councilman Ed Gallo suggested the outdoor location could increase the chances for vandalism, such as rocks being thrown at the glass. But dealership officials said the screen will be safely sealed.

City officials said the illumination will vary between day and night, and that the sign will be dramatically less bright than a shopping mall parking lot at night.

The dealership is now under construction next to the Target/Mervyns plaza on the former site of the Escondido Adventist Academy, which is moving to a new site off Deodar Road in north Escondido. Lexus officials predicted the dealership will open by the end of the year.

Contact staff writer David Garrick at (760) 740-5468 or dgarrick@nctimes.com.

Level two is where you can see a vast display of new Lexus vehicles adorned with performance and other optional Lexus equipment inside the Ready-To-Go showroom, which shortens the preparation times for Lexus buyers who desire such optional equipment at time of purchase. Two 2,500 square-foot conference centers can be reserved for public or private use along with an outdoor plaza that overlooks the fountain.
These two conference centers were designed and structurally engineered to accommodate large display items such as automobiles or small tractors for private training programs.
On the level three, the views of the Escondido hills and local mountains frame the spacious West-outdoor event area with outdoor fire tables and a capacity of over 300 guests make this a spectacular location for private and public parties, weddings, concerts and more.
The East-outdoor area is a more intimate setting for up to 150 guests with the ability to showcased movies or live musical performances.
Also on the third level is where Lexus vehicle buyers will take delivery inside an opulent showroom that is located next to the relaxed Lexus Learning Center where guests can discover all the features and benefits Lexus vehicles offer through videos as well as personal Product Specialists on hand to answer questions.
Coming soon in 2010 to the hospitality area on level three will feature be an elegantly appointed restaurant with capacity of 150 diners, along with a flower shop and more retail boutiques.

http://www.lexusescondido.com/MiscPage_5  watch these short videos They are amazing!

==================================================================

Hacker Arrested in Billboard Porn Stunt

Remember the racy video billboard hack in Moscow? Well it appears they have arrested the man responsible for the fantastic stunt. The Moscow Times is reporting that "The incident prompted the Moscow Advertising Committee to ban video billboards on the streets of Moscow." but I can't find any information to corroborate this statement. If anyone finds information that upholds this statement, please send it our way.

The Moscow Times Reports

Police in the southern city of Novorossiisk have arrested a man accused of hacking into a video billboard in Moscow last month and showing a pornographic movie that spawned a traffic jam as curious drivers slowed to watch the film. [More Here]

Labels: ad takeovers, digital advertising, Moscow, Other Artists, video

POSTED BY JORDAN SEILER AT 9:51 AM 0 comments

===================================================================

MINUTES 1993 Sign hearing HINUTES OF THE CITY 6ENCY

COUNCIL

REDEVELOPHENT

Thousand Oaks California December 7 1993

The regular meeting of the CityCouncilwas called to order at5m by

Redevelopment Agency 02pMayorZeanah in the Council 2400 Willow Thousand with

Chair Elois Chambers Lane Oaks

CouncilmembersJaime Zukowski Judy Lazar Frank Schillo and Alex Fiore present

Directors

were

Also present City ManagerGeneral Counsel

Executive Director Grant Brim hall City AttorneyMark Sellers Assistant City Manager MaryJane Lazz Assistant City Attorney Robert K Rogers Jr

Finance DirectorPublic Works Director John Clement Planning Director

Treasurer Robert Biery

Deputy Executive Director Philip Gatch Building and Safety Director Barry Branagan Civic Auditorium

and Forum Theater Director Thomas Mitze Sheriff Commander Kathy Kemp Deputy City Clerk Cindy

LoPiccolo Recording Secretary Loft Brown Public Service Clerk Erin McHale Principal Planner John

Prescott Senior Planner Greg Smith Senior Planner Jon Shepherd and City Engineer Gil Pableo

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

CMO Mayor Zeanah presented Certificates of Appreciation to CSAPA Red Ribbon Week

120Coloring Contest Winners Ginnie Jones lst Grade Stephanie Bernard 2nd Grade

30

Timmy Harms 3rd Grade Scott Cleaver 4th Grade Kim Downey 5th Grade and

Heather Montgomery 6th Grade

DEPARTMENTAL AND REDEVELOPMENT REPORTS

PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

PCD Reduction forRe

Proposed Filing Fee WaiverFiling Tentative Tract 4754 Raznick

42090 Realty Group Director Gatch presented report and possible options to address request

President Raznick

Ellen Michiel 5525 Oakdale Avenue Woodland HillsViceSons

pro

Councilmember Schillo suggested staff and provide report of time spent on application

if a substantially small amount of time is spent Council may at that time consider fee

reduction

Motion by Councilmember Lazar to not waive the fee at this time require payment of

full filing fees and not set precedent carried41 Councilmember Fiore dissenting

PUBLIC WORKS

DPW Fire Remediation Plan Update Principal Engineer Pableo presented information

52080 concerning emergency measures implemented for postremediation work reported

fire

City contracted with California Conservation Corp CCC to install silt fences and debris

dams at slopes or berm hills above Deer Ridge subdivision The City also engaged

consulting firm of Woodward Clyde to supervise CCC work and prepare an implementa

tion plan Phase I of plan is complete additional work for hydroseeding on Deer Ridge

slopes subdivision is scheduled Introduced Scott Huntsman Senior Project Manager

for Woodward Clyde

Mr Huntsman presented slides and information pertaining to the plan and what will be

proposed in the future

UTILITIES None

BUILDING AND SAFETY None

POLICE None

Minutes of the

CityCouncil

Redevelopment Agency

Thousand Oaks California 3 December 7 1993

COMMITTEEBOARDREPORTS

COMMISSION

CMO Cable TV Issues Councilmember Fiore discussed providing a Mobile Van for live or

64110 delayed coverage of Newbury Park Panthers Hawthorne Cougars CIF Southern

tape2 Division III Championship Football Game Saturday December 11 1993

Motion by Councilmember Fiore to add this issue to the agenda for urgent action

purposes due to importance to the community and agenda prepared prior to receipt of

application carried50

Motion by Councilmember Fiore to approve Mobile Van use and appropriate up to 700

for costs associated with coverage approve Public Access Grant request for an amount

of up to 725 from grant funds as necessary and waive the grant requirement of

certified producer in order to receive the grant carried 50

CITY MANAGER Continued

PCD

City Manager Brimhall referred to Planning Department memo on Westlake Village

Convalescent Hospital noted Council to consider zoning and project application

concurrently

COMMITTEEBOARDREPORTS Continued

COMMISSION

CMO Crime Prevention Task Force Meeting report by Mayor Zeanah stated task force was

580formed to address crime concerns in particular violent crimes Next meeting will be held

20

January 19 1994

DPW Ventura County Transportation Commission Councilmember Schillo reported City

94010 streets met this yearmanagement conformance of the Congestion

s requirements

Management Plan noted current vacancy on Ventura County Transportation

CommissionCitizen Transportation Advisory Committee Social Service Transportation

sbe obtained from the Commission or

Council applications may City Reported

Metrolink will offer free ride from Moorpark to downtown Los Angeles Saturday

on

538

December 11 1993 tickets for 10 free rides available by calling City or18001112

CITY ATTORNEY None

REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY None

ORDINANCE FOR SECOND READING

PCD AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS

60070 APPROVING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NO RCA 93

24 WITHIN THE

61080 RANCHO CONEJO ANNEXATION AREA Specific Plan No 15 Introduced

11235

ORD NO 1193

NS

93 0

NS Be Read In Title Only

Motion by Councilmember Fiore that Ordinance No 1193

Further Reading Be Waived and If No Objection Adopted carried 50

UNFINISHED BUSINESS None

NEW BUSINESS None

Minutes of the City Council

Redevelopment Agency

Thousand Oaks California 4 December 7 1993

COUNCIL COMMENTS

CMO

Business Showcase Awards Mayor Zeanah reported she would sponsor weekly business

2

showcase awards in order to improve communication between the residential community

and business community noted awards will be initiated and screened by the Conejo

Valley Chamber of CommerceEconomic Development Committee one award per week

swill be scheduled under Special Presentations during her term

Councilmember Lazar announced her next Ask Your Councilmember will be held at

Ralphin North Ranch Shopping Center on December 11 1993 between the hours of

s10am and 1pClarified substantial progress has been made by the School District

m

in finding fields for use by Newbury Park Pony Baseball Requested Mayor and staff

consider January Study Sessions should be considered for Seventh Day Adventist and

PCD California Lutheran University properties before public hearing process Mayor Zeanah

responded suggestions will be taken under advisement

CMO

Mayor Zeanah commented the School Districtsolution for Newbury Park Pony League

s

90

585

may not be a satisfactory resolution for Newbury Park residents mentioned Council has

a

sports complex and should get issue back on track possible

purchase of parcel 101 Fwy requested investigate and

had goal to acquire fields

Moriadian Property

staff to

report back

Councilmember Schillo reported citizens are forming a Conejo Valley sports organization

to determine what their facility needs are suggested hearing from this organization

before taking steps to acquire any property Mayor Zeanah responded staff can include

findings in report

CMO Councilmember Zukowski requested permission to coordinate the next Citizens Exchange

160program requested Housing Issue be presented Councilmember Schillo responded he

62

would take it under consideration Councilmembers discussed history and purpose of

the Exchange 87 Mayor

Councilmember Zukowski noted Council action taken91

Zeanah requested staff investigate and report concerning the Citizens Exchange and

schedule on upcoming agenda for discussion

PUBLIC COMMENTS

PCD

Ned Cohan 15490 Ventura Blvd Sherman Oaks requested Council appoint staff person

2to work with him so he can return to Council for development plan approval

3

Pat Palucci 5757 Fairview Pl Agoura Member

Director of Community Conscience

praised Under One Roof and invited public in attend fund raiser December 13 1993 at

the Terrace Cafe 105 Brazil Street 6 to 9pm purpose of fund raiser is to reduce

mortgage debt of Human Services Center

CLOSED SESSION

CAO

City Attorney Sellers requested Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section

54956concerning pending litigation City of Thousand Oaks v A C Martin VSCS

9

118396

Council recessed for Closed Session at6m and reconvened the meeting at7m

40p

30p

Chuck Cohen

Appellant

Representative

One Boardwalk

Thousand Oaks

Pro

J David Power

Appellant

Representative

30401 Agoura Road

Agoura Hills

Pro

Bob Fitzharris

Appellam

Representative

3026 Grandoaks Drive

Westlake Village

Pro

Peter F Shaver

Appellant

Represemative

1596 Clydesdale

Westlake Village

Pro

Tom Cohen

Appellam

Represemative

One Boardwalk

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Kenneth Greene

Appellant

Represemative

2548 Rikkard Drive

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Susan Mejia

Appellant

Representative

3905 Auto Mall Drive

Thousand Oaks

Pro

EXHIBIT A

Public Hearing

Auto Mall Sign

December 7 1993

Speakers

David Cole

Citizens for a

Beautiful Conejo

3666 Black Hills Court

Thousand Oaks

Con

Tom Oswald

Citizens for a

Beautiful Conejo

4045 E Thousand Oaks Blvd

Thousand Oaks

Con

Cathy Schulz

Citizens for a

Beautiful Conejo

4240 Arrowhead Circle

Thousand Oaks

Con

Richard F King

3888 E Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Virginia Davis

689 Triunfo Cyn Road

Thousand Oaks

Pro

R D Nesen

3601 Auto Mall Drive

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Cyril Shane

4583 TamO

Shanter Drive

Thousand Oaks

Con

Michael Humason

512 Walter Avenue

Newbury Park

Con

Tom Sutphen

3164 W Cumberland Ct

Westlake Village

Con

Michelle Koetke

4259 Blackwood Street

Thousand Oaks

Con

Scott Young

2909 E Great Smokey Ct

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Hal Epstein

3121 E Thousand Oaks Blvd

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Marc Myerson

2450 J Pleasant Way

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Hallie Blau

1666 Larkfield Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Con

Milton Weiner

1158

A

No address given

Con

MikeO

Beirne

794 Walnut Court

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Peggy Waters

10311 N Via Colinas

Westlake Village

Pro

Brian Cullier

429 Camino dos Palos

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Colette Jones

693 McCloud Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Speaker Cards

Continued

Page 2

Gary Phillips

1335 La Granada Dr

Thousand Oaks

Con

Suzanne Duchett

1654 Campbell Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Con

C J Parrish

2636 W Great Smokey Ct

Westlake Village

Con

Kevin Oliff

3918 N Oleander Court

Calabasas

Pro

John R Smith

1602 Wellington Place

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Terry Eubanks

491 Blackhawk Drive

Newbury Park

Pro

Patricia Yelle

2541 Hood Drive

Thousand Oaks

Con

Frank Parrish

2636 W Great Smokey Ct

Westlake Village

Con

Harriet E Baker

1508 Campbell Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Con

John Woodward Jr

31011 Lexington Way

Thousand Oaks

Pro

David McGee

2772 W Appalachian

Thousand Oaks

Con

Lynne Bausmith

572 Lotus Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Dale Hodges

1088 Warwick

Thousand Oaks

Con

Paul Herzog

1477 Fordham Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Con

Rickie Whitman

3292 Blue Ridge Ct

Thousand Oaks

Con

John M McClure

130 Falling Star Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Dennis Mayer

866 Linden Circle

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Dick Luenburg

32305 W Tempe Way

Thousand Oaks

Con

S

eve Salant

3342 S Blue Ridge Ct

Thousand Oaks

Con

Dan Chambers

2217 N Memory Lane

Westlake Village

PRo

Nancy Taylor

184 Silas Avenue

Newbury Park

Con

Bill Murphy

1299 Bluesail Circle

Thousand Oaks

Con

Mary Harris

P O Box 2067

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Pete Shaver Jr

1692 Twilight Ridge

Westlake Village

Pro

Marilyn Novak

644 Blue Oak

Thousand Oaks

Con

Mary Margaret Thomes

975 Calle Angosta

Thousand Oaks

Con

Jeff Kemp

3810 Thousand Oaks Blvd

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Nick Sansone

88 Beatty Place

Newbury Park

Pro

Cliff Reynolds

4623 Colony Drive

Camarillo

Pro

Scott Bailey

2607 La PaloCircle

ha

Thousand Oaks

PR6

Russ Goodenough

3676 Calle La Fuego

Thousand Oaks

Con

Gary Heathcote

2239 Townsgate Road

Westlake Village

Pro

Ekbal Quidwai

P O Box 824

Newbury Park

Con

Speaker Cards

Continued

Page 3

Dr Christopher Gould

1278 Equestrian Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Con

Norman Lueck

332 Hickory Drive

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Bill Becher

4239 Arrowhead Circle

Thousand Oaks

Con

Richard T Johnson

281 Tennyson Street

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Phil Kennon

3250 W Sierra Drive

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Marc Koscinski

801 Mitchell

Newbury Park

Pro

Gene Boles

521 Paseo Grande

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Howard Kruger

2567 E Thousand Oaks Blvd

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Barbara Teuscher

222 W Hillcrest Drive

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Jill Lederer

2776 E Sierra Drive

Westlake Village

Pro

Terry Jones

87 Lucero Street

Thousand Oaks

Pro

David Tuttle

1337 Thousand Oaks Blvd

Thousand Oaks

Pro

William Anderson

Silverstar Automotive Gr

1800 Ave of the Stars

Los Angeles

Pro

John Grace

Westlake Village Chamber

of Commerce

No address provided

Pro

Peter A Skidanov

304 Siesta Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Dave Melton

Westlake Village Chamber

of Commerce

31838 Willage Center Rd

Westlake Village

Pro

John Bailey

22908 Paul Revere Dr

Calabasas

Pro

Failed to Appear when

called

Simon Maria Echtekleff

1778 Moorpark Rd

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Sean Davis

359 Flittner Circle

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Steve Rubenstein

President

Conejo Valley

Chamber of Commerce

625 W Hillcrest Drive

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Kevin McCaffery

1625 Calle de Oro

Thousand Oaks

Pro

Statement Cards In Favor

Betty Sue Adams

8598 Eureka Street

Ventura

Bailey

Ply

3102 Thousand Oaks Blvd

Thousand Oaks

Tawnie Bausmith

572 Lotus

Thousand Oaks

David F Beasley

395 Freshmeadow

Simi

Alain Cavelier

2636 Calle Manzano

Thousand Oaks

Marjorie Cinnie

3925 Auto Mall Drive

Thousand Oaks

Eloise Cohen

730 Woodlawn Drive

Thousand Oaks

Cara Crowe

259 Gazania Court

Thousand Oaks

Ken Duncan

717 W Velarde Drive

Thousand Oaks

David Green

191 W Wilbur Road

ThousaM Oaks

Natalie Grives

1710 W Hillcrest Drive

Newbury Park

David T Gulbranson

417 S Oak Creek Drive

Thousand Oaks

EXHIBIT B

Public Hearing

Auto Mall Sign

December 7 1993

Sts

eme Ca

Jim Handol

3725 Duesenberg Drive

Thousand Oaks

Norm Hoffman

3888 Thousand Oaks Blvd

Thousand Oaks

Robert Koetke

4259 Blackwood Street

Newbury Park

Jim Ladin

1085 Via Colinas

Westlake Village

Paul Ladin

4573 Golf Course Drive

Westlake Village

Janet Levett

15 Atlas Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Gregory Margetin

771 Warwick

Thousand Oaks

Robert Martin

430 Bonnie View St

Moorpark

Simon Mekari

3880 Thousand Oaks Blvd

ThousaM Oaks

Howie Neftin

331 Hunters Court

Thousand Oaks

Laura Neffin

3550 Auto Mall Drive

Thousand Oaks

R A Susan Newlun

31927 Richgrove Court

Westlake Village

A J Pattersen

4141 Pinehollow

Thousand Oaks

Joe Paulucci

250 Conejo Ridge

Thousand Oaks

Walter Schaedle

2718 Lakewood Place

Westlake Village

Richard J Schamber

2020 Rockdale Avenue

Simi

A Shipp

329 Alpine Avenue

Ventura

William Smith

3348 Gerald Drive

Newbury Park

Nick H Stark

1851 Sandalwood Place

Thousand Oaks

Florence B Tocco

905 Meadowcrest Street

Newbury Park

Walter L Voeks

3829 Mainsail Circle

Westlake Village

Dixie Vollmer

1866 Brian Court

Thousand Oaks

Gary I Watkins

2075 Hietter Street

Simi

Statement Cards

Continued

Page 2

Statement Cards In

Opposition

Diane R Anderson

2656 W Great Smokey Ct

Westlake Village

Susan Arentzoff

3278 Allegheny Court

Westlake Village

Tyyne Baron

549 Walter Avenue

Newbury Park

Jane Becher

4239 Arrowhead Court

Westlake Village

Lorenzo Boido

3890 Blackwood Street

Newbury Park

Nathan Borin

P O Box 6263

Thousand Oaks

Howard Blau

1666 Larkfield Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Diane Rumbaugh

2166 Flintridge Court

Thousand Oaks

Wanda Cailliau

4443 Valley Spring Drive

Thousand Oaks

C Patricia Fred Carlson

1432 Thousand Oaks Blvd

Thousand Oaks

Andrea Conutt

63 La Palma

Newbury Park

John Crawford

291 E1 Cielo

Newbury Park

Polly Derr

1659 Larkfield

Thousand Oaks

Barbara Eisenthal

902 Rawhide Place

Newbury Park

Shermma Ellis

1476 Cheswick Place

Westlake Village

Mr Mrs James F

Fitzpatrick

3254 W Sierra Drive

Westlake Village

Mina Freehill

1724 Campbell Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Sheelagh M Gibbons

1422 Oldbury Place

Westlake Village

Marlene Hodges

1088 Warwick Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Nurit Eli Holzman

2787 Parkview Drive

Thousand Oaks

Trish Kellogg

978 Meadowcrest

Newbury Park

Christopher C Kelley

1691 Calle diamonte

Thousand Oaks

Darrell B Jones

1099 Antelope Place

Newbury Park

Mr Mrs George Klein

335 Hickory Grove Drive

Thousand Oaks

Mary Jo Kvern

1464 Cheswick Place

Westlake Village

Leif Kirsten Larsen

2776 Wasarch Court

Thousand Oaks

Charles Lech

2814 E Sierra

Thousand Oaks

Suzanne Robert Lewis

13 Doone Street

Thousand Oaks

Holly Ann McBride

1590 Campbell Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Charles McDuff

549 Walter

Newbury Park

Linda McGee

2772 W Appalachian Ct

Westlake Village

Ann Matze

1590 Campbell Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Barbara Minnehan

1452 Cheswick Place

Westlake Village

Scott Moors

21 Knollwood Drive

Newbury park

George Edna Moore

3194 Bear Creek Drive

Newbury Park

Rae Ann Murray

2768 Wasatch

Thousand Oaks

Jim Oos

3838 Northland

Newbury Park

Paul Judy Porcasi

1622 Campbell

Thousand Oaks

Statement Cards

Continued

Page 3

Richard Randall

640 Camino Manzanas

Thousand Oaks

L E Carol Robinson

1757 Campbell

Thousand Oaks

Dexter Reed

1724 Campbell

Thousand Oaks

Shirley Richards

875 S Westlake Blvd

Westlake Village

Don Raveanna Runyan

1523 Fordham Avenue

Thousand Oaks

Ernest Kris Salmon

856 La Cresta

Thousand Oaks

William V Nell Scruggs

3086 E Blackhills Court

Thousand Oaks

Russell Inessa Abrams

Snyder

2698 Lakewood Place

Westlake Village

Keith Taylor

184 Silas Lane

Newbury Park

Alan Whitman

P O Box 3902

Westlake Village

I added this file to the Google docs https://docs.google.com/?tab=qo&authuser=0#query/vr?view=0&filter=images_and_videos&hidden=1      Public docs NO Reg. reqd.

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Auto dealers pull sign proposal

2010-12-16 / Front Page

By Michelle Knight

knight@theacorn.com

A plan to build a 35-foot-tall electronic monument sign next to the 101 Freeway has been put on hold.

The Auto Mall Dealers Association on Friday asked that its proposal, intended to increase the visibility of the 25 dealerships at the 54-acre site, be taken off the agenda for the Dec. 14 City Council meeting.

The proposed sign featured a 12-by-21-foot LED screen for displaying vehicle advertisements 24 hours a day.

Susan Murata, vice-president of Silver Star Automotive Group and president of the auto mall association, said the group wants to gather more input from residents.

“We want to address the concerns of the community, and that’s why we took it off the calendar,” Murata told the council.

Murata stressed that a new sign is critical to the success of the plan because auto dealers believe it will help them better compete with dealerships to the north and south. She said studies have shown large LED boards can increase sales up to 20 percent.

“We don’t want to shove this down anyone’s throat,” Murata said. “We don’t want this to be a bad thing. There’s enough concern out there; let’s address it.”

With the sign off the table, the council unanimously approved on Tuesday an $8.6-million plan to improve landscaping and parking at the auto mall. The plan includes 364 additional parking spaces and the addition of way-finder signs to help drivers locate dealerships. The city is contributing $2 million worth of redevelopment money to the project.

The current 600 on-street parking spaces aren’t enough to accommodate the 1,100 or so employees of the dealerships, said Jay Spurgin, deputy director of public works.

Even with the sign off the agenda, it still drew numerous comments from the audience. Many said a larger LED sign could be dangerous because it would distract freeway drivers and lead to accidents.

Several speakers questioned the need for a larger sign. Thousand Oaks resident Richard Odom said prospective car buyers don’t drive up and down freeways looking for dealerships.

“We’re much more sophisticated than that,” he said.

Odom said if a larger LED sign is approved he will boycott the auto mall.

“I will not patronize any dealership that contributes to the defilement of our community by putting up a garish sign,” he said.

Others criticized the city’s redevelopment agency for contributing $2 million to the renovation.

Debbie Gregory said the auto dealers are “special interests” and redevelopment dollars should not be used on their behalf.

City officials stressed that no redevelopment money would be spent on the new sign, when or if it’s approved, but that the auto mall association will finance the entire cost.

Supporters of the auto mall sign also spoke.

Ben Woodle, representing The Oaks mall, said that retailers have lost sales in the past few years. He said a larger sign at the auto mall would benefit nearby businesses, including the shopping center.

George Webb, an employee of the auto mall since 1995, said he’s seen people lose their jobs in recent months. The planned improvements and a larger electronic display sign could save, and possibly add, jobs at dealerships, he said.

“I know if we do this right and we can keep jobs here and grow those jobs back, that means a lot to a lot of people,” Webb said.

The auto mall sells about 20,000 vehicles a year, even in the recession, Murata said.

John Adams, the city’s finance director, said the auto mall has been the top generator of sales tax revenue for the past 10 years. The auto mall generates 25 percent of the city’s sales tax revenue.

Supporters of the new sign reminded opponents that the old auto mall sign must come down because the planned improvements include widening the freeway frontage road near the sign.

A public hearing on the design of the new auto mall sign is expected to take place in February.

The renovation of the landscaping and parking could begin in the summer.

===============================================================================

Auto dealers pull sign proposal

2010-12-16 / Front Page

By Michelle Knight

knight@theacorn.com

A plan to build a 35-foot-tall electronic monument sign next to the 101 Freeway has been put on hold.

The Auto Mall Dealers Association on Friday asked that its proposal, intended to increase the visibility of the 25 dealerships at the 54-acre site, be taken off the agenda for the Dec. 14 City Council meeting.

The proposed sign featured a 12-by-21-foot LED screen for displaying vehicle advertisements 24 hours a day.

Susan Murata, vice-president of Silver Star Automotive Group and president of the auto mall association, said the group wants to gather more input from residents.

“We want to address the concerns of the community, and that’s why we took it off the calendar,” Murata told the council.

Murata stressed that a new sign is critical to the success of the plan because auto dealers believe it will help them better compete with dealerships to the north and south. She said studies have shown large LED boards can increase sales up to 20 percent.

“We don’t want to shove this down anyone’s throat,” Murata said. “We don’t want this to be a bad thing. There’s enough concern out there; let’s address it.”

With the sign off the table, the council unanimously approved on Tuesday an $8.6-million plan to improve landscaping and parking at the auto mall. The plan includes 364 additional parking spaces and the addition of way-finder signs to help drivers locate dealerships. The city is contributing $2 million worth of redevelopment money to the project.

The current 600 on-street parking spaces aren’t enough to accommodate the 1,100 or so employees of the dealerships, said Jay Spurgin, deputy director of public works.

Even with the sign off the agenda, it still drew numerous comments from the audience. Many said a larger LED sign could be dangerous because it would distract freeway drivers and lead to accidents.

Several speakers questioned the need for a larger sign. Thousand Oaks resident Richard Odom said prospective car buyers don’t drive up and down freeways looking for dealerships.

“We’re much more sophisticated than that,” he said.

Odom said if a larger LED sign is approved he will boycott the auto mall.

“I will not patronize any dealership that contributes to the defilement of our community by putting up a garish sign,” he said.

Others criticized the city’s redevelopment agency for contributing $2 million to the renovation.

Debbie Gregory said the auto dealers are “special interests” and redevelopment dollars should not be used on their behalf.

City officials stressed that no redevelopment money would be spent on the new sign, when or if it’s approved, but that the auto mall association will finance the entire cost.

Supporters of the auto mall sign also spoke.

Ben Woodle, representing The Oaks mall, said that retailers have lost sales in the past few years. He said a larger sign at the auto mall would benefit nearby businesses, including the shopping center.

George Webb, an employee of the auto mall since 1995, said he’s seen people lose their jobs in recent months. The planned improvements and a larger electronic display sign could save, and possibly add, jobs at dealerships, he said.

“I know if we do this right and we can keep jobs here and grow those jobs back, that means a lot to a lot of people,” Webb said.

The auto mall sells about 20,000 vehicles a year, even in the recession, Murata said.

John Adams, the city’s finance director, said the auto mall has been the top generator of sales tax revenue for the past 10 years. The auto mall generates 25 percent of the city’s sales tax revenue.

Supporters of the new sign reminded opponents that the old auto mall sign must come down because the planned improvements include widening the freeway frontage road near the sign.

A public hearing on the design of the new auto mall sign is expected to take place in February.

The renovation of the landscaping and parking could begin in the summer.

===============================================================================

001p1.jpg

RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

VISUAL—A mock version of the proposed Thousand Oaks Auto Mall sign went up last Friday. The blue banner represents the size of the LED screen. It will stay up until Dec. 14, when the City Council meets to discuss the proposal for the 35-foot-tall sign. 

Auto mall sign continues to draw fire

2010-11-11 / Front Page

Planning commission expresses concern

By Kyle Jorrey

tonewstip@theacorn.com

A 35-foot-tall electronic monument sign appears to be the major sticking point in an $8.5-million proposal to improve parking and landscaping at the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall.

ATTENTION-GETTER—A computer-generated photo shows what the proposed sign for the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall would look like in comparison to the current sign. The conceptual design calls for a 35-by-40-foot-tall sign with a 300-square-foot LED screen. Illustration provided by Signature Signs Inc., Newbury ParkThough the five planning commissioners who heard the project at Monday’s meeting unanimously supported the other improvements, three said they had real concerns over the sign.

The proposed design calls for the current 20- foot-tall auto mall sign along the 101 Freeway to be replaced with a larger sign featuring a 12-by-25-foot LED screen for displaying car advertisements (see above image).

The screen, which will operate 24 hours a day with the help of automatic dimmers, won’t be animated nor will it flash. Instead, it will operate like a slide show, changing images every eight seconds with a one-second transition time.

Susan Murata, vice president of Silver Star Automotive Group and head of the Auto Mall Association, told the commission the sign is “desperately needed.”

“That old sign is just that—it’s old. It’s dated and it needs to be replaced,” she said.

Commissioner Barry Fisher said that while he was in favor of helping the dealers attract more business to the auto mall—which generates around 25 percent of the city’s sales tax revenue each year—he couldn’t get past the size.

“It’s an opportune time to upgrade the sign, but I guess the bigger question is: upgrade to what?” Fisher said.

“Looking at the artist’s renderings, the sign looks massive. I’m trying to get that straight in my mind. I’m not totally sold on it.”

Commissioner Tina Grumney shared that sentiment.

“I completely support the redesign. I completely support additional parking. I completely support additional signage. . . . I completely support changes to the landscape. What I don’t support and I’m having difficulty with are the proposed changes to the monument sign,” Grumney said.

Project years in the making

The city of Thousand Oaks has been working with auto mall dealers for more than a decade on plans to increase the economic viability of the 54-acre site, which is currently home to 20 dealerships and employs around 1,000 people.

For years one of the auto dealers’ biggest complaints has been a lack of parking, said Jay Spurgin, the city’s deputy public works director.

“It boils down to insufficient parking in the auto mall,” he said. “You can drive out there at anytime during the week and not find a parking space.”

Plans are to add 364 parking spaces to the current 900 at the auto mall. City streets in the dealership areas will be widened and angled parking spaces added.

Extensive landscaping work proposed includes adding 41 trees and building landscape planters at each of the five rotundas on Auto Mall Drive. There are also plans to add way-finder signs to help drivers locate each dealership.

In November 2009 the City Council authorized the formation of an ad hoc committee to provide community input on all aspects of the project.

The committee, which was made up of homeowners association representatives, businesses, Auto Mall Association members and other interested people, met with city staff five times before a final meeting in mid-June.

Former mayor Judy Lazar, who co-chaired the committee, spoke in favor of the design on Monday, saying the group “had at least 20 different variations of possible auto mall signs and we looked at all of them.”

Commissioner Daryl Reynolds said she liked the sign’s design and felt it was wrong to dismiss the committee’s work by voting against it.

“Is that what you want to do,” she asked Fisher, “just leave it up to the council or to staff to come up with a new design rather than the committee that spent all those months looking at the design of signs?”

The public hearing included 10 speakers, most of whom opposed the sign.

When it concluded, commissioner Al Adam asked that the vote on the auto mall proposal be separated into two parts: the sign and everything else.

“I don’t want to see concern for the sign negate the plan for the parking or the landscaping because I think the parking and the landscaping are fine,” said Adam, who was the sign’s most vocal opponent.

At the end of the meeting commissioners voted 5-0 to recommend approval of the parking and landscaping plan, and 3-2 in favor of recommending the auto mall sign design; Adam and Grumney dissented. Fisher, despite his concerns, did not.

“The auto mall is great,” Adam said. “It’s great for the city. It’s great for everyone who lives here. . . . However, as far as the sign goes, I think we have to step back and take another look at it.

“This would certainly add an identifiable image to the city and I’m not sure it’s a positive one, a three-story sign.”

Date with City Council

The proposed improvements to the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall are scheduled to go before the City Council on Dec. 14. The council has final say on the project.

If approved, construction could get underway as soon as May 2011, according to a city staff report.

Three-quarters of the $8.5-million cost of the project is to be paid for by the Auto Mall Association through the creation of a Mello- Roos Community Facilities District, in which the dealers will tax themselves.

The city set aside $2 million from its redevelopment fund in 2007 to help pay the remaining cost of the work.

The Thousand Oaks Auto Mall dates back to the 1960s, when it began with just three dealerships.