Junk-filled neighborhood on the mend

NANCY NEEDHAM/Acorn Newspapers CAR LOTS--Havenwood Drive residents asked council to address problem of multiple parked cars. The streets of Old Meadows are now clear of the rusted cars and trucks filled with trash that have plagued the Thousand Oaks neighborhood for years.

"That issue has been resolved," said Tim Giles, assistant city attorney.

In September, eight residents of Berkshire and Havenwood drives in Old Meadows asked the City Council to take action against one of their neighbors.

The group expressed concern for the safety of their families. The vehicles were parked near driveways, they said, and not only blocked the view of traffic when a resident backed out, but also obscured children as they walked between the parked cars and trucks and into the street.

Speaking during the public comment portion of the Sept. 26 City Council meeting, the residents alleged the cars and trucks were moved around the neighborhood during the night to foil attempts by traffic officers to identify them as abandoned.

"The cars and trucks have been moving back and forth, from street to street and from place to place," said Bruce Smith, a 10-year resident of Old Meadows.

When one rusty truck full of trash finally moved from in front of his house to a place down the street, another old truck would replace it, Smith said.

According to Giles, that isn't happening anymore. After intervention from the city, the owner of the vehicles voluntarily moved most of the vehicles out of the area, he said.

He still has four or five vehicles parked at his residence, and the city is working to bring his property into compliance with municipal code, Giles said.

"We've gone through the notification process and have asked the city attorney's office to prosecute," said Geoff Ware, code compliance manager. "We don't prosecute a lot."

Of the 1,116 code compliance complaints in 2005, fewer than 30 reached the level of prosecution. So far in 2006, there have been 1,216 complaints in Thousand Oaks, he said.

"Most code compliance issues are resolved with a letter. People in the city comply when something is brought to their attention," Ware said.

The city's code compliance office only sends those letters if another resident, who's willing to provide his name, address and phone number, files a complaint with the city.

"We do not take anonymous complaints. The City Council dictates how we operate, and we must respond to a complaint of a citizen," Ware said.

The department is considered a reactive department, not a proactive one. Code compliance officers do not roam around the city looking for residents with code violations.

Even if they notice a violation while out in the community, they cannot do anything about it unless they have a complaint from another resident, he said.

Potential code violations include an accumulation of trash or neglected property in yard areas, unpainted or deteriorated structures, dead landscape or inoperative vehicles in front yards.

Also not permitted are temporary canopies or tent structures visible to the public and hedges higher than 36 inches in front yard areas or higher than 6 feet along side or rear property lines.

The names of complainants are not given out by the city, Ware said, but often the person in violation knows who sent a letter. If the violation is only known by two people, or if one neighbor has already complained to the other, it can be obvious, he said.

To report code violations or receive more information, call the code compliance office at (805) 449-2300.