[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6528139,"mediaKeyId","3428706-ba2706af7130abceffdbeb2d547e97c3","parentId",3428706,"title","Thousand Oaks receives AB 2561 job vacancy report; citywide vacancy rate 7.5%","audioSeconds",292,"startMs",2184000,"endMs",2476000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428706-ba2706af7130abceffdbeb2d547e97c3&start=2184&end=2476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428706-ba2706af7130abceffdbeb2d547e97c3/thumbnail_2184000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6528139/Thousand-Oaks/Ventura-County/California/Thousand-Oaks-receives-AB-2561-job-vacancy-report-citywide-vacancy-rate-75","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528139-6079fac69c7db28f8855861314480e8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136060&Signature=MbfamjCFUr0dcJ~~UvhTEpFx00Gsp1NEwRzBQbBTnQt1KNJlb5Rr0SdfAIgx3ylXAlDD9I1IkWHPsDZLc33pnfPM4yhHo0t9JoEXRZ4xguupQZ9bLyNKWFKQ3QqkYaM00g4mEyDgHiXlC2VyVn2AJ7MXHt~31mK7oNMWc2hCCST1RDpz3q6zGnCHEAqY6eiUXBcr1IjxNLDhsKwoMFoxmHW1QVPHQ4tln2OlDt--z5Eggonr7CIWlk34ZqpCVeoY8HX8Z6Ze~inj2C0i2z309klWmgU-YMKMFWpszBChF9FbhSufLfp3DqHKFVRyUWUdOWqwNlJ-VBdaGtvU9mvBjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-21T20:06:57.013Z","article","Thousand Oaks — The City Council on Tuesday held the statutorily required hearing for Assembly Bill 2561 and voted unanimously to receive the city’s annual vacancy report and to note the action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.

What staff said

Human Resources Director Jeanette Green told the council the AB 2561 report covers fiscal year 2024–25 and fulfills a state requirement that public agencies report on job vacancies and staffing. \"The city has 397 total positions with an overall vacancy rate of 7 5%,\" she said.

Green provided a bargaining-unit breakdown: one unit (listed in the report as Tosea) has 221 positions with 12 vacancies (5.43% vacancy rate); another unit (Toma) has 93 positions with 9 vacancies (9.68%); and SMA has 72 positions with 6 vacancies (8.33%). She said the department uses standard recruitment strategies, including job boards, social media, job fairs and competitive compensation packages to attract candidates, and that some technical or highly educated positions remain harder to fill.

Council action

Councilmember Engler moved to receive the report and note the CEQA exemption; the motion passed 5-0.

Ending

Staff will continue recruitment and retention efforts and will return with updates as part of regular reporting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Thousand Oaks City Council Meeting - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City Human Resources Director Jeanette Green presented the city’s annual report required by Assembly Bill 2561 showing a fiscal year 2024–25 vacancy rate of 7.5% across 397 positions; the council accepted the report and found the action CEQA-exempt, 5-0.","taxTitle","Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, California","taxId",4670,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6528144,"City advances Downtown Thousand Oaks concept; council authorizes talks on Hillcrest disposition and funding options",7377,11302000,18679000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428706-ba2706af7130abceffdbeb2d547e97c3&start=11302&end=18679","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428706-ba2706af7130abceffdbeb2d547e97c3/thumbnail_11302000.jpg","/articles/6528144/Thousand-Oaks/Ventura-County/California/City-advances-Downtown-Thousand-Oaks-concept-council-authorizes-talks-on-Hillcrest-disposition-and-funding-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528144-f5517a847262212e1ae9837989b5f3b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136060&Signature=TxCSl6zKrHaxhMlI6VNR9-yazl7H5b-B9VyUGWVJPU3NqAbmB63pFlyWHefe~qGGuw-ZXpPWIpLAwYDX8NmccutC2473iT-WWCtr8Ata73Q898XHRfiTX7mBK-RVGngQj9iqyLh4uwckqfdMkFJFIM-yi9ddXkSzFpmrIGQKY~R-vViHrxt5ufaIjGfXNjUYA5SYvrDOWXhAgNGbXmosqxNPelxnvRpvmcXG8z3Ao~NE8A8wiqAb7-KkNEW9lu-fam4Vm0TjwWtypeoyAf8Jo6ILvzVHYdm3Iqu2nV-VsQPglHuJYfaxVhIIxAPzIG6v6RLFe7EgLtKcUO3BVZvypQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thousand Oaks — The City Council on Tuesday reviewed a revised concept for the Downtown Thousand Oaks redevelopment centered on the Civic Arts Plaza and provided staff direction to continue design and funding work, including potential disposition talks with the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) over 401–403 Hillcrest.

Why it matters: The project would be the city’s largest downtown redevelopment in decades and is intended to activate the Civic Arts Plaza as a cultural and commercial hub, catalyzing broader reinvestment along Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

What staff presented

Deputy City Manager Akbar Alikhan and Community and Cultural Services Director Jonathan Sarat reviewed refinements to a concept the council first saw in 2024. Key changes presented include: adding a hospitality pad (hotel) at the Dallas Drive/Main Street corner instead of a new standalone city hall; repositioning the public market indoors to a larger, serviceable space; creating a town-square-style plaza and an amphitheater; consolidating public-facing city services in a reconfigured civic building; and relocating a portion of an underground stormwater box culvert to allow more efficient building footprints and underground parking.

The team also reviewed programming ideas: a multiuse event venue, arts and business incubator spaces, a library outpost concept, a food hall/market, and terraces tied to the Kavli and Shear Forum theaters. Jonathan Sarat said the terrace and new ground-level activation would provide space for concessions, pre- and post-performance gatherings and smaller community events.

Financing and viability

Amitabh Barthakur of HR&A Advisors presented funding options and a high-level analysis of revenue sources. Barthakur said the city holds roughly $45 million in cash and that disposition of certain city-owned parcels could add another $25–30 million. He described additional possible sources including naming rights, competitive grants, capitalized value from rents and parking, and new tax increment mechanisms such as enhanced infrastructure financing districts. Barthakur said those sources combined could yield a preliminary funding range in the tens of millions but stressed timing and the need to align phasing and funding.

Council and public input

Council members praised the depth of work but asked for clarity on housing counts, unit mix, parking, accessibility and how the library concept would be structured. Several council members said residential units were key to downtown activation and asked staff to show the housing mix and affordability strategy in follow-up materials.

Speakers from the arts and business communities strongly supported the concept. Representatives of Toe Arts and local cultural groups emphasized that the project should strengthen the theaters’ infrastructure and create adjacent food, beverage and gathering places to extend audience time in the downtown. The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce supported the hotel and the market-square orientation, saying it would promote visitor spending and local businesses.

Council action and next steps

Councilmember Mayor Pro Tem Patone Taylor moved to receive the report, authorize staff to proceed with next steps and to explore terms of disposition for 401–403 Hillcrest with the Conejo Recreation and Park District. Council voted 5-0 to approve the staff recommendations.

Staff said the next formal milestones include returning June 24 with refined visuals and a funding-phasing strategy and preparing an initial entitlement package for a July submittal. The city also plans targeted one-on-one briefings with council members before the next workshop.

Ending

Council members and staff described the project as ambitious and long term; they asked staff to maintain a focus on economic viability, accessibility and affordable housing elements as the plan advances.","Council received a city presentation that added a hotel pad, relocated the public market indoors, introduced a central plaza and proposed partial reuse of City Hall alongside a new civic building; the council approved staff recommendations and authorized exploring disposition of 401–403 Hillcrest with CRPD, 5-0.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6528148,"Thousand Oaks staff report shows 11 of 24 staffed school crossings fail new local standards; council authorizes talks with district",7790,2478000,10268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428706-ba2706af7130abceffdbeb2d547e97c3&start=2478&end=10268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428706-ba2706af7130abceffdbeb2d547e97c3/thumbnail_2478000.jpg","/articles/6528148/Thousand-Oaks/Ventura-County/California/Thousand-Oaks-staff-report-shows-11-of-24-staffed-school-crossings-fail-new-local-standards-council-authorizes-talks-with-district","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528148-e1759dedda584e69cfd04abee3ce8bf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136060&Signature=OzkmhK1jw8ctBQuMSaJRPUHr8MssX25veuWwUOkcWWrhnxoMcSyFEXGqWDwotiS~jtmwkAf1w4cLRuSlyK4kLCkUuGJCacuIBb5sLk2vqMjTEzqo5pgNKfUEfe1GRUQLPbW-4dmNWPZBiA9p2MOTnt9xZIbSRVJYgjBfw-YzUBbAvRfv-BphV-~lrQa37JDbsuGHTwJ~22t~SL6pWexPVIf~wZcnDWwxGk-Y39EqrZinMap0gOo4eyLRIYEBX2mll-ppd-beE7aIZ3t~WfVk0MGA26iwFrk97OvDTU9WdyGcti4Q3d5l1gXN3gxYvs8JXtZt1GaobTnzxDPJyqxsGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thousand Oaks — The City Council on Tuesday received a staff update showing pedestrian and vehicle counts at staffed school crossing locations and voted 5-0 to authorize staff to open talks with the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) on options for future program oversight.

The report, presented by Public Works Director Nadar Hadari and Deputy City Manager Akbar Alikhan, covered counts from the 2024–25 school year under a 2023 city policy that uses standards more permissive than the state’s. Hadari said the most recent verified counts found 11 of the city’s 24 staffed crossings did not meet the city’s minimum criteria under that policy.

Why it matters: The crossings are part of a program the city has funded and managed since 1964. The council is weighing whether to keep the existing, city-administered, objective-count approach or explore a partnership with CVUSD that could give the district a greater role in deciding where crossing guards are assigned.

The report and what staff told the council

Hadari told the council the city adopted a more generous local crossing-guard policy in 2023 after a review led by the Traffic Commission and public outreach. \"This new policy ... features clear and objective standards for crossing guard placement, which are more generous than the statewide standards used by most other public agencies,\" Hadari said. He said the policy includes a two-year review so locations are not removed based on a single low-count year.

Staff said annual counts are done by an independent engineering firm, compared to the city policy thresholds, and returned to the Traffic Commission for public input before final changes are applied ahead of the next school year. Hadari said the city also continues to invest in physical improvements — pedestrian crossings, curb ramps, rectangular rapid-flashing beacons and bike lanes — and in outreach intended to increase walking to school.

Council questions and concerns

Council members asked whether other agencies split responsibility with school districts, whether engineered improvements reduce risk and whether outreach has raised walking rates. Hadari and Deputy City Manager Akbar Alikhan said jurisdictions vary: some agencies have police manage the program, some have the district manage it, and some use hybrid arrangements in which the school district funds locations beyond state thresholds.

Staff cited published Federal Highway Administration data showing rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs) increase motorist yielding and said the city has recently installed 10 more enhanced pedestrian crossings. On outreach, the city’s communications director, Alexandra South, said the walk-to-school campaign produced thousands of social media impressions and toolkits distributed to schools but that walking counts remain generally flat outside special-event days.

Public comment

Eight speakers spoke during the public comment period on the issue. Residents and parents, including Betsy Connolly, Kinsey Flame and members of the Buss family, urged the council to preserve crossing guards or pursue collaborative solutions that preserve safety. Connolly urged the council to \"allow our experts on both city and school district staff to work together to figure out the right solutions for each site.\" Several parents detailed specific intersections where they said they feared for children’s safety.

Council action and next steps

Mayor Pro Tem Taylor moved to receive the staff report and to authorize city staff to engage with Conejo Valley Unified School District on options for future program oversight; Councilmember Engler added that the report should be noted as exempt from CEQA. The motion passed, 5-0.

Staff said possible next steps include (a) opening discussions with CVUSD about shared oversight or transfer models, (b) reviewing whether to temporarily toll the city policy while discussions proceed, and (c) continuing engineering upgrades and outreach. Staff noted that any permanent change to city policy would require a future agendized council action.

Ending

Council members emphasized they want a collaborative, site-specific outcome that improves safety and preserves resources. Staff will report back with the results of district discussions and with recommended next steps for council consideration.","City staff told the council that 11 of the city’s 24 staffed school crossing locations did not meet the city’s 2023 crossing guard standards and recommended exploring partnerships with the Conejo Valley Unified School District; the council authorized staff to open those discussions and accepted the report, 5-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Thousand Oaks receives AB 2561 job vacancy report; citywide vacancy rate 7.5%

City advances Downtown Thousand Oaks concept; council authorizes talks on Hillcrest disposition and funding options

Thousand Oaks staff report shows 11 of 24 staffed school crossings fail new local standards; council authorizes talks with district