Renovations underway at city hall
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SCAFFOLDING GOES UP- Workers continue work on repairs and renovations at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks. The structure is 14 years old and is getting $5 million worth of improvements during the current phase. The city also plans to upgrade the parking structure and roundabout areas.

The replacement of a rusty support beam and new paint on bare concrete- these are two of the renovations at city hall being paid for by taxpayers.

The Civic Arts Plaza is currently being rehabilitated with a $5million budget for improvements. So far, $3 million has been spent.

A steel column in the northwest stair tower is suffering from excessive rust and must be replaced at a cost of about $200,000. Improper detailing of the structure when it was first built is being blamed for allowing water to get to the component, according to John Adams, deputy finance director.

"This work should be completed within three months," said city spokesperson Andrew Powers.

Other Civic Arts Plaza projects are budgeted under the city's capital improvement program. Using that resource, the complex's entry plaza will be improved for about $3.8 million, Adams said.

"A section of the Kavli Theatre will be replaced later this summer," Powers said.

The parking structure and roundabout will be upgraded at a cost of about $2 million.

"Both are in conceptual design phase and still months away," Powers said.

Drawings of those designs were not immediately provided by the city.

At a cost of about $500,000, city hall will be reconfigured.

Changes will include moving departments around to new areas.

New human resources offices, estimated to be completed in June, are being configured on the second floor. The American Red Cross and the city facilities team will occupy the former human resources offices.

The main second floor lobby will be updated later this summer. Plans call for a reconfiguration of the welcome desk, a new display case and updated furniture.

Security improvements will be made to the finance and city clerk offices and will include new customer service access doors to be completed in June, Powers said.

The facility opened its doors in 1994 and is now 14 years old.