Discovery Center endorsed, but where will the money come from?
By Sophia Fischer  sfischer@theacorn.com

A proposed science and technology educational museum took a small step closer to being realized when the Thousand Oaks City Council expressed unanimous support for a feasibility study and business plan presented on Tuesday night.

Although the council members were in favor of the Discovery Center for Science and Technology, they were concerned about the cost to the city.

"I don't think anyone has to be sold on this concept," said Councilmember Dennis Gillette. "Unfortunately, at this particular juncture, with the state of California looking at a $16-billion deficit and the federal government slow dancing with recession, this is a tough time to talk about this."

Gillette called the city's expected $1-million contribution "intimidating, especially when we've moved away from subsidies for theaters and other arts groups."

Gillette suggested researching the possibility of making support for the museum a regional partnership with other cities in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. City Manager Scott Mitnick talked about creating a supplemental sales tax to support not only the Discovery Center but local performing arts in general.

City staff will work with museum staff to review funding options as well as a possible site at 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, the current home of the National Park Service, which intends to vacate the property.

The museum concept was born in 1993 when it was first envisioned as part of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza complex.

According to the plan, the Discovery Center would be built on 58,000 square feet of city-owned property adjacent to the Civic Arts Plaza. The building would be owned by the city and leased to the Discovery Center for $1 a year. The city would be responsible for exterior maintenance.

The center would operate as a nonprofit. It would employ about 40 full-time staff members and would serve an estimated 190,000 visitors annually.

The recommended admission would be $12 for adults, with a lower price for students, seniors and school groups.

The estimated construction cost is about $54 million, of which about $5 million would come from the city, $20 million in capital funding from the private sector, and $29 million from the federal and state governments.

To attract federal funding, museum consultants recommend that the center incorporate in its name a national theme such as fire, water or the environment.

To maintain the museum the business plan calls for $700,000 to $900,000 in annual private contributions and $1 million from Thousand Oaks. The city's contribution could be higher if private donations didn't reach projected figures, according to Tom Mitze, director of community and cultural services for the city.

Those involved in the museum's development envision a facility that it would provide workshops, interactive exhibits, demonstrations, training for educators and a science park, as well as serve as a venue for corporate and community events.

It would become, they say, a tourist attraction that would promote the first-ever downtown area of Thousand Oaks.

"When completed, the facility will excite, engage and challenge children and adults to explore, imagine and create," said Wayne Davey, president of the museum's board of directors.

While working toward a permanent facility, the center has been operating a Museum Without Walls program within the community. The need for such a museum is real, Davey said, evidenced by the success of a science event held in February that attracted 350 participants and 60 volunteers.

The council commended museum supporters for their work and commitment to the facility.

"We'll just keep working on this and doing everything we can to make it a reality," Gillette said.