JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers STILL IN SERVICE- Ventura County Fire Station No. 33 sits on the banks of Lake Sherwood and serves Hidden Valley and the southern portions of Westlake Village in Thousand Oaks. Built in 1949, it was hit by a brushfire that took the roof off in the early 1950s. The station is earmarked for relocation so that a newer facility will be closer to more densely populated areas on the southside of the 101 Freeway. CIty officials say Thousand Oaks pays too much for fire protection services. Giving the money back to the taxpayers never came up during a City Council meeting concerning the $6 million a year Thousand Oaks residents overpay for Ventura County Fire Department services.

Instead, council members discussed a report detailing how city staff is working with VCFD to upgrade services and close the gap between the money the county is taking and the services that are provided.

"Over three years it's $18 million, a lot of money," said Councilmember Andy Fox.

All the enhancements proposed, he said, didn't even come close to closing the gap.

"Council should be realistic; we're never going to get to a place, and I would argue that I don't know that we ever would want to, where we get all the services back for the money we're spending," Fox said.

Councilmember Dennis Gillette and Mayor Jacqui Irwin weren't convinced. They didn't want to let go of the taxpayers' money without a fight.

"Is staff also looking at how these issues, if they are implemented, address the disparity of the tax amounts, the differential, taxes taken out and services provided back, how those two things are coming closer together?" Gillette asked.

By doing what's recommended, the gap will close, said City Manager Scott Mitnick.

"How much, we don't know. We'll keep coming back with six-month reports and will let you know how much," he said.

"If the gap remains over the years too large, are there other ways we can capture some of the money back to lower the gap—for instance, having the fire department pay for the emergency preparedness position in the city?" Irwin asked.

Other ways are being explored, according to Assistant City Manager Linda Pappas Díaz.

The council directed staff to continue to work with the fire department on enhancements, which include increasing fire engine staffing from three to fourperson companies at selected fire stations.

VCFD plans to replace and move outdated Fire Station No. 35 in Newbury Park to an $8-million modern fire station linked to development of the Seventh Day Adventist project that's currently planned to be a Costco in Newbury Park, according to a city report prepared by Pappas Díaz.

Also planned is the relocation of Fire Station No. 33 near Lake Sherwood closer to the Westlake Village portion of Thousand Oaks by Oct. 31.

City staff is to continue to work with VCFD, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency and Conejo Recreation and Park District to implement wildfire hazard protection during 2009 through what's being called the Community Protection Initiative.

Ventura County Fire Department and the city are still analyzing the need to have a full-time fire chief assigned only to Thousand Oaks and will provide a followup report on that topic to the City Council before July 1, 2009, the city report said.