After debating on whether to raise user fees in the current economy, the City Council voted 4-1 to increase the charges for a variety of services.

Kavli Theatre school educational rental rates went up from $1,250 per day to $1,375 per day. Both the security usher fee and the custodian fee for use of the founders room, lobby and plaza went from $100 for four hours to $120.

A special event application fee for a block party is now $40, a $5 increase. A special event application fee is now $110, up from $100.

All special events also require the payment of time and materials of city staff if staffers are required to work because of the event.

Zone change applications went up from $6,450 to $7,740 or, if processed concurrently with a General Plan amendment, from $3,055 to $3,660.

Many fees didn't increase. All of the fees Thousand Oaks charges are determined by what the use actually costs the city. They're listed in a draft 2009 user fee manual.

City Councilmember Claudia Bill-de la Peña, asked if city staff considered not raising fees at all now due to the difficult economic times for residents. Suggesting freezing current fees until improvements are seen in the economy, she was the lone dissenting vote.

Councilmember Andy Fox said raising fees when the city is supposed to raise them sets Thousand Oaks apart from other cities.

"User fees were recommended to the city by a citizen's group," he said.

Sticking to sound, reasoned policy has served the city well for many years, Fox said.

Thousand Oaks is a low-tax, low-fee city: no utility user tax, lowest sales tax, no parking taxes, child care taxes, etc., said City Manager Scott Mitnick.

"You can pay me now or pay me later. It'll cost the community quite a bit later on," he said.

It takes money to provide services, Mitnick said, and the city has to keep up with inflation with little increases every two years or there would be a reduction in the quality of life. "Any delays or holding off is financially irresponsible," Mitnick said.