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Thousand Oaks residents urge Ventura County to adopt AB 626 micro‑kitchen rules
Summary
Three Thousand Oaks‑area residents asked the Planning Commission to support Ventura County adoption of AB 626, arguing microenterprise home kitchen operations (MECOs) would provide safe, regulated pathways for home cooks and small entrepreneurs.
Three residents of Thousand Oaks and nearby communities used the Planning Commission public‑comment period on July 7 to urge the commission to encourage the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to opt into AB 626, the state law that creates a regulatory pathway for microenterprise home kitchen operations (MECOs).
Shreya Datta, who identified herself as a Thousand Oaks resident and a food‑microbiology researcher, told commissioners MECOs provide “a beautiful, inclusive way to bring people together” and said inspection, training and clear guidelines built into AB 626 safeguard health and safety. Pat Brown, a registered nurse from Camarillo who said she is a county lead for a pro‑MECO group, cited jurisdictions that have adopted MECO rules and told commissioners the program can increase local food resiliency and economic opportunity. Nancy Davou, a Thousand Oaks parent, described serving Filipino food at local school events and said refrigeration restrictions under current rules keep her from selling some prepared foods from home; she asked the commission to support AB 626 and contact the city council on behalf of proponents.
The speakers asked the commission to send a letter or otherwise support county action so home cooks could legally operate under MECO permits, emphasizing benefits to women, immigrants and caregivers, and to local food resiliency in emergencies. Brown said she believes Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties have MECO programs in place and asserted a low number of foodborne illness incidents tied to MECOs compared with commercial kitchens; transcript speakers framed those claims as their testimony.
The commission did not take formal action on the public comments during the meeting. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the presentations and recorded the comments for the public record; any formal referral to staff or a future agenda would occur only if the commission elected to do so or the city council took action.
Speakers quoted during public comment also provided contact information and offered to meet with city officials; none of the speakers asked the commission to vote on an ordinance or a local code change during the July 7 meeting.
Ending
The public‑comment speakers asked the commission to contact the city council and Ventura County supervisors to support AB 626 implementation. The commission meeting record will be available to city staff and council members; any formal request by the commission for a letter or an agenda item would appear on a future meeting agenda if the commission or council elects to pursue it.
