City takes closer look at major improvement projects

City takes closer look at major improvement projects By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

Our homes require ongoing maintenance to keep things operating smoothly, from simply mowing the lawn to hiring professionals to replace the roof. Imagine taking care of the home of 126,000 residents, and you have the task facing the city of Thousand Oaks, where maintenance––from paving streets to improving the wastewater system––takes place on a massive scale.

City officials are in the process of reviewing the city’s infrastructure and services to finalize what projects need to be completed over the next two years to keep the city’s "house" functioning efficiently.

In a thick, 200-page document presented to the city council two weeks ago, city staff listed 108 capital improvement projects totaling more than $56 million. These proposals range from large projects such as the Thousand Oaks Main Library expansion and the third phase of the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade, to smaller projects such as landscape beautification and traffic signal installation. The budget is about $2.4 million more than the previous two-year budget.

Funding will come from various sources that include the city’s general fund, gas taxes, developer fees, and federal, state and regional grants.

The report also lists $11.7 million for facility projects including the Fiore Teen Center gym expansion, the Timber School historic preservation, improvements to the Two Winds Ranch equestrian facility, and construction of the Sycamore Canyon School gym and Boys & Girls Clubs at several local schools.

Included in facility projects is the repair of construction defects to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Built in 1994 at a cost of $63 million, the facility had significant moisture intrusion among other problems relating to construction defects. Some repairs were made after the city received $4.7 million in a litigation settlement, but there may be additional repairs that could raise the cost to as much as $10 million. During the recent heavy rains, water steadily dripped into the Public Works offices. There are 16 locations that have leaks that will need to be prioritized, according to Tom Hare, city facilities manager. The building is also aging and needs some updating, according to Assistant City Manager Scott Mitnick.

"We need to fix this water problem first, before anything else. You can’t work like that," said Mayor Claudia Bill-de la Peña. "We may have to dig into our own pockets, unfortunately, to fix the problems."

About $120,000 is budgeted for open space, including trail, fencing, signage and creek-crossing improvements. Councilmember Dennis Gillette requested the addition of two specific properties.

"Mountclef Ridge and Site I are two fairly significant parcels. One is time-sensitive because of pending residential development," said Gillette. "I would like to see reference to those two projects to make sure there are no misunderstandings."

The budget allocates about $13.6 million for 33 street projects, including street overlay throughout the city, repaving of Moorpark Road from Wilbur to Columbia, adding sidewalks from Wilbur to Gainsborough, the widening of the southeast corner of the Janss Road/Moorpark Road intersection, the construction of a soundwall behind homes on Blackwood Street that back up to Lynn Road, and the completion of a bicycle lane master plan and the construction of a bike path from the City Transportation Center to Willow Lane along the 101 Freeway and on Willow between the 101 overpass and Hampshire Road.

Among the traffic signal projects, new signals will be constructed at the intersections of Lynn and Haigh roads, Janss Road and Paige Lane, and Lynn Road and Wildwood Avenue.

Landscape improvements will be made at the Rancho Road and 101 Freeway ramps, central Thousand Oaks Boulevard, and along Avenida de Los Arboles east to Westlake Boulevard.

The budget includes the purchase of four new public transportation buses to replace aging vehicles.

"These are all standard things. We’re not doing much in terms of new things because of budget cuts," Mitnick said.

Five Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects are listed in the proposed budget, but that could change if the Bush administration is successful in its goal to eliminate or restructure the federal CDBG program. The city’s current allocation to CDBG projects totals more than $1 million, a $412,000 increase from the previous two-year budget. Among the projects are improvements to Thousand Oaks Boulevard and commercial revitalization program grants. Other services funded by CDBG grants include senior meals and handicapped access. The city, which would lose about $800,000 annually, is fighting any changes to the CDBG structure.

The Planning Commission will review the budget on May 9, and the council will vote on the final 2005-06 and 2006-07 capital improvements budget at its June 7 public hearing.

"Ninety to 95 percent of what’s in there will stay in," Mitnick said. "Most of it has been approved by the council already."