Residents raise concerns about ICE activity and a possible rezoning; staff says no rezoning planned
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Summary
Public commenters alleged multiple recent immigration‑enforcement detentions in the area and urged community oversight; a resident also asked the council to keep a church property at 3947 West Kimber Drive zoned for religious use. City staff responded that no rezoning is planned and that the site is not permitted for school use.
Several members of the public used the council’s public‑comment period to raise concerns about immigration enforcement and a separate neighborhood land‑use question.
Ken Lamont, a 45‑year Newbury Park resident and longtime pastor, asked the council to keep 3947 West Kimber Drive zoned for religious use rather than allow rezoning for school or housing. ‘‘I would love for that property to stay zoned for that use,’’ Lamont said, and noted there are comparatively few parcels zoned for religious use in the valley.
Two speakers from or associated with the group 805 Undocufund described recent local enforcement actions they said involved ICE. Laura Tribble said there were 11 additional ‘‘kidnapping’’ incidents in the area since the council’s meeting on Dec. 9, 2025, bringing what she characterized as the total to 44; she also alleged incidents involving minors and aggressive tactics by agents. Heather Hamilton described predawn stops and detentions she said occurred in the area and called detention centers ‘‘concentration camps,’’ urging community oversight and witness presence.
City staff provided a direct factual clarification in response to Lamont’s concern: the city manager’s office stated there are no plans to rezone the 3947 West Kimber Drive site, that the site is currently zoned for religious use, and that school use is not permitted at that location. Staff noted schools had expressed interest in the site, which likely caused confusion, but said the city has no rezoning plans for that parcel.
What was not resolved in the hearing: the specific allegations about numbers of detentions and the incidents described by the public commenters were asserted by speakers and not adjudicated or refuted in the meeting record; the council did not present independent confirmation during the session.
What’s next: staff clarified land‑use status for the Kimber Drive site; assertions about local enforcement activity may prompt residents to seek further public information or follow‑up from county/state oversight bodies or law‑enforcement entities.