STORAGE CONTAINERS STILL THERE–These storage containers were featured in a Thousand Oaks Acorn “What’s up with that?” in the Dec. 18, 2008, edition. The bins are still there. Because the containers are not a safety hazard, their removal is not a priority for the city. The Code Compliance Program focuses on public safety, property values and city aesthetics. Although large storage containers sitting on private property near the Civic Arts Plaza aren’t authorized to be there, the city isn’t making it a priority to remove them.

Code enforcement manager Geoff Ware wouldn’t say anything more about them, including whether the city knows what’s inside the containers.

“We don’t comment on specific violation investigations when they’re active,” Ware said.

He did say the bins don’t create a safety hazard for residents of Thousand Oaks, thereby making them less of a priority than many other code enforcement cases he works on.

“Generally, our first priorities are issues involving public safety, such as unsafe housing, building additions, etc.,” Ware said.

  The importance of other enforcement cases is based on the significance of the problem, such as neglect of property maintenance or issues affecting the welfare of an entire area, including pest infestations or utility problems, he said.

 From September 2008 until the end of last year, the growth in abandoned homes kept the city’s code enforcement department busy, Ware said.

This year, the number of abandoned homes, many of them foreclosures, have slowed to about five a month, he said.

“Thousand Oaks is fortunate. Many cities in California have gotten hammered by a large number of abandoned homes,” Ware said. Once a bank takes over a foreclosed home in Thousand Oaks, maintenance problems are usually resolved, he said.

During the summer, the majority of calls the code enforcement officers receive concern unsafe pools or pools with mosquito infestations.

Code enforcement in the city, called the Code Compliance Program, began when Thousand Oaks was incorporated in 1964. The program was created to draw the attention of a property owner to any violation that could have a negative impact on their property, neighborhood or city. The main goals of the program are maintaining public safety, beautifying the city and increasing property values.

According to officials, no property within the city may be used or maintained in a manner that downgrades the value, use, enjoyment or safety of one’s own or surrounding property.