City council members set goals for the coming year

The City Council has come up with this year's top priorities.

The first thing it wants to do is put its finances in order by maintaining a balanced budget while minimizing the impact on public services. It also plans to adjust for less tax revenue, and will streamline operations and cite areas for reducing expenses.

Working collaboratively with the school and park district on joint funding options is also on the council's list.

"The entire process is overshadowed by the economy we're currently in," said Councilmember Dennis Gillette after the meeting.

The council established a threetiered priority level for expenditures to be evaluated in compliance with the council's goals.

Health and safety expenditures comprise level one. Level two includes necessary—but perhaps not essential—expenses, with possible consequences if deferred. Level three consists of things that would be nice but aren't essential.

"Everything we do, every response we make, must be more strategic, more careful," Gillette said.

The council wants to maintain the city's effective public safety services. To that end it's looking toward obtaining approval for a Westlake fire station, improving bike safety, lowering speed limits and continuing to negotiate with the Ventura County Fire Department about services provided.

The police will continue to work with the school district to provide safety education.

"We need to maintain services, especially public safety, at the very highest levels," said Councilmember Jacqui Irwin.

Other goals cited by the council on Feb. 24 were: enhancing environmental programs by encouraging water and energy conservation, recycling, promoting construction of green buildings and pursuing alternative energy.

The 101/23 freeway interchange project and completion of landscaping on the 23 Freeway were also among the goals.

The City Council will continue to work with the Ad Hoc Cultural Arts Review Committee and is awaiting a review report from an outside consultant on how to efficiently implement the city's cultural arts programs.

It would also like to improve cultural arts marketing.

Constructing Lang Ranch Community Park, completing the Rancho Specific Plan, hosting a major youth sporting event and exploring options for a family entertainment center in Newbury Park were also goals of the City Council.

The council would like to put $5 million into a holding account for a Lang Ranch grant until the park district has all its funds to construct the project or use that money for the family fun center in Newbury Park.

Implementing the senior master plan, a framework designed to accommodate future senior needs, is also a priority.

Other goals: acquiring more open space and ensuring existing open space is managed effectively, increasing affordable housing units, developing a Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan, and resolving overnight parking and recreational vehicle issues in the city.

The city also wants to resolve parking and landscape issues with the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall.