Year in review As T.O. looks back at ’09, city might say, ‘Good riddance’

Thousand Oaks residents and city staff may not hesitate to say goodbye to 2009 as they hope for a better new year.

Economic woes that extend over California and the nation hit home when the state took almost $10 million in taxes that would normally stay in Thousand Oaks.

City employees found new meaning in their “doing more with less” motto as 35 jobs remained unfilled and 17 of their co-workers took early retirement.

As a possible hint at what’s to come in future labor contract negotiations, the city manager, city attorney and assistant city manager didn’t accept pay raises.

In February, two auto dealers shuttered their doors—Courtesy Chevrolet and Westoaks Chrysler. In November, Silver Star opened a new Chevrolet dealership, but the 41-year-old Courtesy Chevrolet lot remains empty.

Also empty is the former Mervyns store in Janss Marketplace. Borderline Bar & Grill is still closed after rain began leaking through the roof. Applebee’s was replaced with Famous Dave’s Pit BBQ and the former Marie Callender’s Restaurant and Bakery will now be a Stonefire Grill. Nate ’n Al Delicatessen has come to The Lakes shopping center.

Local biotech company Amgen may soon receive approval for what could be a leading drug for the treatment of osteoporosis.

City Council voted to continue to give almost $100,000 a year to maintain a day laborer site near Hampshire Road.

Almost $100,000 was paid for a consultant who recommended that the city add a movie theater and parking structure to The Lakes—a plan that had been known as Phase 2 before Phase 1 of the shopping center had been built on city-owned land.

The Discovery Center, which the city once promised $5 million to help build, was said to be too expensive. The construction of the library’s radio museum has also been a victim of the economy as donations slowed.

An endangered species plant called Braunton’s milkvetch delayed the construction of Lang Ranch community park, but the city continues to support its construction, and Conejo Recreation and Park District is moving forward on it.

Oversized vehicles were prohibited from parking on city streets for long periods of time with a new city ordinance.

The Kaiser shuttle, which took seniors in Thousand Oaks to Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Woodland Hills, bit the dust. There were not enough riders willing to take the subsidized bus to their doctor’s appointments.

Shortly after 1 a.m. on April 1, the City Council voted down construction of a Home Depot on Hampshire Road.

Healthcare rallies in Thousand Oaks drew controversy. A Democratic Club meeting focusing on the issue at the Grant Brimhall/Thousand Oaks Library filled up quickly, and conservatives hoping to attend were denied admittance.

A man who stopped to ask questions at another rally had his finger bitten off.

Residents were put on notice to stop wasting water or their neighbors would turn them in. At the same time, water rates increased.

The city is still mourning the deaths of Jason Mulvaney, 12, and Jennifer Mulvaney, 7, who were allegedly stabbed to death in September by their father before he committed suicide by overdose.

Thousand Oaks’ own Frankie Toner, 26, a navy lieutenant, was shot and killed in Afghanistan on March 27 while protecting his friends from an Afghan insurgent.

A man’s mysterious disappearance in 2006 was solved when a car was discovered in a canyon last April. Remains in the vehicle were identified as those of Jeffrey Scott Howard, 40, of Thousand Oaks, who disappeared at 2:30 a.m. Dec. 21, 2006, after complaining of a headache to his wife. The two had just welcomed their first child, a daughter, into their home.

A speed reduction was made from 50 mph to 45 mph on a portion of Lynn Road from Avenida de Los Arboles to Camino Manzanas.

Thousand Oaks residents have kept the shelves filled at the local food bank, Manna. Every night those in need have been fed a home-cooked meal at various houses of worship.

Nicole Johnson of Thousand Oaks will represent the state as Miss California USA at the Miss USA competition next year. Zack Sunderland became the youngest person to complete a solo sailing trip around the world.

According to the city, 97 percent of those responding to a scientific survey rate the quality of life in Thousand Oaks as excellent or good.