#tocc — Public Fediverse posts

Thousand Oaks Development Activity Report for July 2026

https://toaks.gov/corecode/storage/uber_resource/uploaded_pdfs/2026-07%20DAR_1785941996.pdf

#landuse #planning #thousandoaks #tocc

Here's a look at Thousand Oaks' sales tax revenue – by far the city's biggest income source – for early 2026. Quarterly income increased 7.1% year-over-year, and we're on track to outperform the budget for the entire fiscal year.

Sound fiscal stewardship is a key reason Thousand Oaks consistently enacts budgets that are structurally balanced with reserves fully funded. It's also why our city ranks among the top cities in the state for financial management.

#thousandoaks #venturacounty #tocc

E-Bikes in Thousand Oaks: Let’s talk it out. Also: I swear the surprise at the end wasn’t scripted.

#cycling #ebikes #safety #thousandoaks #conejovalley #cosca #tocc

Thousand Oaks Development Activity Report for June 2026

#housing #planning #thousandoaks #tocc

https://toaks.gov/corecode/storage/uber_resource/uploaded_pdfs/2026-06%20DAR_1783456628.pdf

Thank you to everyone in the full-house crowd and online who took part in last night's City Council vote on the Downtown Plan. Whether you approve, disapprove, or have mixed feelings, I appreciate that so many of you spoke up last night, and in discussions ahead of the vote.

Despite some concerns, I joined in the unanimous approval because this project addresses several long-term unmet needs: housing for different income levels, a public gathering place, additional arts and cultural programming outlets, and funding for schools, parks, and local services at a time when other financial resources are tight.

When it became clear that the Downtown Plan would easily pass, I focused on what I could do to improve the project. To that end, I proposed two amendments to shape the upcoming RFP process. I'm grateful my colleagues unanimously agreed to direct staff to use this guidance when soliciting developer proposals:

1. Get options for condominiums, not just apartments. For example, the four-story mixed-use building on TO Boulevard could be condos, while the seven-story building behind it remains apartments. This would provide residents with pathways to build equity.

2. Get options for long-term ground leases, not just fee-simple land sales. This is public land, and I strongly favor keeping it in public hands. Privatization would transfer away from the public and toward the already wealthy. If we are doing public-benefit projects, we must do everything possible to maximize that public benefit.

Last but not least, I want to thank Akbar Alikhan, Krystin Rice, and the entire city team who worked with architects and met with thousands of residents. The team consistently made a good-faith effort to meet people where they were, helping shape a better project in the process.

#downtownplan #thousandoaks #tocc

The City Council observed Pride Month Tuesday night by presenting Unity Conejo with a proclamation celebrating LGBTQ residents and their many contributions to our community. This follows on the Council’s recent unanimous vote to reaffirm our city’s #1 goal of being an “equitable, accessible, safe, welcoming, and inclusive” government and community for all residents.

I am an ally of all who work for inclusion – regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, skin color, national origin, intellectual or physical ability, or faith.

*This* is how we break the cycle of hatred and intolerance.

#pride #loveislove #thousandoaks #tocc

This week the City Council joined with CVUSD in observing Juneteenth, the annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the US. This is an important event in US history. As Marlena Wallace, chair of CVUSD’s African-American District Advisory Council noted, African-American history *is* American history. Happy Juneteenth!

#juneteenth #ushistory #cvusd #thousandoaks #tocc

Congratulations to CLU’s Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival, now celebrating its 30th season! This summer’s productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream from June 19-July 5, followed by Hamlet from July 10-26. More info: kingsmenshakespeare.org.

#shakespeare #callutheran #thousandoaks #tocc

Tuesday evening the City Council voted unanimously to award nearly $200,000 in social-service grants to 34 local nonprofits. I’m grateful to all these groups for providing vital services to some of our most vulnerable residents. And I’ll have more to say soon about the volunteers that make their services possible. Thank you!

Here’s a complete list of recipients:

Adelante Comunidad Conejo Inc
Art Trek Inc.
Assistance League of Conejo Valley
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Conejo Valley
Buen Vecino
California Lutheran University
Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara
CONEJO COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Conejo Free Clinic
Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast
Gold Coast Veterans Foundation
Grey Law of Ventura County
Interface Children & Family Services
Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County
Harbor House
Hospice Of The Conejo
Interface Children & Family Services
James Storehouse
KalND Giving
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice
Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank
Many Mansions
Momentum Agencies
Podium Movement
St. Paschal Baylon Conference 329 – St. Vincent de Paul
SENIOR ALLIANCE FOR EMPOWERMENT
Senior Concerns
Sleep in Heavenly Peace CA – Ventura County East
Society of St. Vincent de Paul - St. Julie Billiart Conference
SNAPkids | Special Needs Aquatic Program
Southeast Ventura County YMCA
Turning Point Foundation
Villa Esperanza Services
Westminster Free Clinic

#socialservices #thousandoaks #conejovalley #venturaocunty #tocc

Opening the city’s first homeless shelter was a milestone. In its first year of operation, Thrive Grove has helped reduce unsheltered homelessness in Thousand Oaks by 46%. TOPD reports there are now zero encampments in the city. Better still, residents are moving through this temporary facility and into permanent supportive housing, leading safer and more productive lives.

Thanks to Hope the Mission, Many Mansions, the County of Ventura, DignityMoves, and all at the City of Thousand Oaks who’ve worked so hard to provide safety, dignity, and hope for all residents.

#thrivegrove #homelessness #thousandoaks #tocc

Thousand Oaks Development Activity Report for April 2026

#thousandoaks #conejovalley #tocc

https://toaks.gov/corecode/storage/uber_resource/uploaded_pdfs/2026-04%20DAR_1779236489.pdf

Fun time this afternoon with students from EP Foster School touring the Chumash Indian Museum in Lang Ranch and learning about 15,000+ years of history in our area.

Photo 2: The kids and I learned about building a tomol (canoe) out of redwood, thread, and tar.

Photo 3: I had no idea there are caves in Lang Ranch, let alone pictograms on the cave walls. This is a reproduction, but it shows actual drawings from caves in Oakbrook Park and surrounding areas.

Photo 1: The kids and I made cool abalone necklaces from shells and beads in red, white, yellow, and black – th primary colors found in many Chumash pictographs and other art.

The Chumash Museum will reopen to the public June 6, and needs volunteers! Contact [email protected] for details.

#chumash #chumashmuseum #langranch #thousandoaks #conejovalley #tocc

Sandy Fire update, May 20 0800: The fire remains at 1,698 acres with 15% containment. Fire activity again diminished overnight. However light offshore winds are expected through the morning before switching to onshore flow through the remainder of the day. There are no current evacuation zones in Thousand Oaks, but 16 areas in and around Simi Valley remain under evacuation orders. More info at vcemergency.gov. Be aware conditions can change fast, and stay safe!

#CAwx #wildfires #thousandoaks #conejovalley #simivalley #tocc

Sandy Fire update, May 19, 0815: Overnight, first responders lifted evacuation warnings for northeast Thousand Oaks. However, the forecast calls for Santa Ana winds to pick up again starting around 10 am. Follow vcemergency.com for more updates. Have a go bag ready, and be safe!

#cawx #wildfires #simivalley #thousandoaks #conejovalley #tocc

The Sandy Fire now burning in Simi Valley has trigged an evacuation warning in northeast areas of Thousand Oaks, including the Lang Ranch and Sunset Hills neighborhoods. Have a go bag ready.

Learn more at vcemergency.com (where you can sign up for alerts) and using the Watch Duty app. Stay safe!

#vcoes #Wildfire #thousandoaks #simivalley #conejovalley #tocc #cawx

Every few years starting in 1968, the city has conducted a Community Attitude Survey. The City Council heard the results of the 2026 survey in its meeting Tuesday. Full survey results are now available on the city website (link in comments).

Many of us feel fortunate to live where we do, something reflected in the survey results. Ninety-one percent of respondents say their quality of life here is excellent or good. This is similar to the result in the 2023 survey.

There is remarkably little change in the services residents like year after year: Safe streets, abundant parks and open space, and excellent public schools consistently finish at or near the top of survey results each time (Table 2). Moreover, residents generally satisfied with the way the city provides these services (Table 3), with scores in several areas improving since the 2023 survey.

One significant change from even a few years ago is that many residents want the city to address homelessness, and appreciate the steps the city is taking. With the opening of the Thrive Grove temporary shelter last year, unsheltered homelessness dropped 46% in 2025, and the number of encampments is currently at zero.

This survey was based on 1,071 random phone and online interviews, with a margin of error of +/- 3% at a 95% confidence interval. In addition to this statistically valid survey, all residents also had the opportunity to weigh in with individual responses. The city's website links to both sets of responses.

#thousandoaks #communityattitudesurvey #conejovalley #tocc

In Sacramento for the annual League of California Cities City Leaders Summit conference. Thursday was packed with educational sessions on water supplies; misinformation about public agencies; uncertainty in state and federal budgeting; and the role grants play in economic development.

The day’s highlight was a forum featuring three of the candidates vying to be California’s next governor: Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Xavier Becerra. The League invited 10 leading Democratic and Republican candidates to attend, but these are the three who accepted the invitation.

Prior to the conference, Mayor Taylor and I had a busy day Wednesday meeting with elected leaders and agency officials. We met with:

- Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to discuss various new bills, including one from Assemblymember Buffy Wicks that may make it easier to build more condominiums.

- Officials from the California Department of Insurance and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) on how best to insure residents can keep their fire insurance.

Quote of the day from the insurance commissioner’s office: “We don’t regulate underwriting; we regulate rates,” meaning it’s really up to the insurance companies whether to continue coverage. The state does maintain a list of tips on finding residential coverage: https://lnkd.in/g8mHR7nv

The news was somewhat more positive from Cal Fire. A recent update to draft Zone Zero regulations improves on previous versions in two ways, allowing for some regional variation in clearance mandates and no longer taking an all-or-nothing approach to vegetation. This is important because the right type and placement of vegetation can help slow the spread of wildfires.

Here’s a link to the latest draft Zone Zero regulations:

https://lnkd.in/gQZuCWqt

- Assemblymember Steve Bennett to discuss AB 1873 on backup capability and other resiliency requirements for water systems.

- Senator Henry Stern’s staff discussed housing initiatives and economic development zones

- We thanked Assemblymember Isaac Bryan for AB 1349, a bill that cracks down on websites using unauthorized names to sell tickets. Given that there are more than 330 shows each year at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Thousand Oaks, it’s important to ensure the tickets come from, and only from, legitimate sources.

#calcities #california #governance #thousandoaks #tocc

Reposted from @cityofthousandoaks: The City of Thousand Oaks is seeking applicants for 8 scheduled vacancies on Youth Commission. The Youth Commission serves as City ambassadors, representing the matters concerning the City’s youth. 🌳

✨ Application Period: March 24 - April 23, 2026
✨ Members must be City residents ages 13-18 and currently in 8th - 10th grade to apply for a two-year term

To learn more and apply, visit toaks.gov/boards

#youth #studentgovernment #youthingovernment #civicengagement #thousandoaks #tocc

Last night the City Council voted 5-0 to modernize permitting for production crews shooting movie, TV, and streaming productions within city limits. The updated rules better reflect current production realities, and will make it easier to produce movie and TV content here.

Thousand Oaks has a long history of movie and TV shoots, including the classic Spartacus (1960), directed by Stanley Kubrick. He filmed the famous “I am Spartacus” scene in Wildwood Park, and the movie contains many long shots showing Thousand Oaks landmarks.

#movies #tvproduction #movieproduction #locationshoot #thousandoaks #tocc

Every March, the City Council reviews our progress on housing. This year’s annual report brings a mix of significant wins and a clear-eyed look at the challenges still ahead.

After years of sluggish growth – where most new housing was small backyard cottages (ADUs) – we saw a massive jump in 2025. New units under construction increased more than fourfold compared to the previous year.

* 2024: 82 units started
* 2025: 340 units started

A major driver of this growth is the Timber School project at Newbury and Kelly Roads, construction of which is now under way.

The momentum isn't slowing down. We expect construction numbers to climb even higher next year. Three major projects – TO Ranch, Oakwell, and the 500 East T.O. Blvd. project – represent nearly 1,100 new units. This will go a long way toward clearing the city’s backlog of around 1,600 already entitled units. [1] [2]

Also, for the first time since 2021, developers broke ground on designated affordable units. This includes 26 "low-income" units and one "very low-income" unit.

What does “low income" actually mean? It’s many in our local workforce, not those in dire poverty. In Ventura County, a family of four earning almost $120,000 is considered low-income. In Thousand Oaks, the threshold is likely even higher.

While this progress is encouraging, we still have a steep hill to climb. To meet our state-mandated goals by 2029, we still need to build over 1,100 more units for low- and very-low-income residents.

While increasing the supply of homes is vital, "more housing" doesn't automatically mean "affordable housing." I believe it’s a mistake to view housing affordability only in simple supply-and-demand terms. More supply is necessary, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

As Professor Jamshid Damooei of CLU recently noted, we must also address stagnant wages and financial systems that make it harder for young families and seniors to stay in our community. [3]

Building more is a start, but we must ensure we are building the right kind of housing to keep Thousand Oaks a vibrant, livable place for everyone.

#housing #affordablehousing #thousandoaks #conejovalley #venturacounty #tocc

Interested in the Thousand Oaks Downtown Master Plan? City staff is seeking your comments on the project's draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), a comprehensive document published late last week.

The public comment period runs through April 20. Staff will include your comments in the final version of the EIR to be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council.

EIRs are wide-ranging documents, describing possible impacts on air quality, noise, public safety, traffic, and many other factors. Whenever a project is found to have a significant impact on any given area, the EIR describes how to mitigate that impact.

Just as with the six workshops held last spring, public input on the EIR is an important step as the project moves toward entitlement.

To read the draft EIR or any of its appendices, click through to the page linked in the graphic in this post. The draft EIR is under the "Documents & Recordings" column at the right.

Please send any comments to planning division manager Krystin Rice. I won't tempt the spambots by posting her email address here, but it is available on the page linked in the graphic, at the bottom of the "Documents & Recordings" column at the right.

Again, the public comment period on this draft EIR runs through April 20. Thanks in advance for your input!

#planning #urbanplanning #thousandoaks #venturacounty #tocc

https://toaks.gov/index.php?section=environmental&projectsection=5&project=85

Reminder: Public comments on the draft Active Transportation Plan – which covers ways to make our city more bike- and pedestrian-friendly – are due by this Tuesday, March 10. There’s a link to the draft and a comment form at https://www.toaksatp.org/documentation

Although the Bicycle Advisory Team (BAT) and Traffic and Transportation and Advisory Commission (TTAC) have already reviewed the draft, it’s also important to gather public input.

Please post comments on the city’s web page, not here!

#activetransportation #cycling #pedestriansafety #safestreets #thousandoaks #tocc

Consistent with its mission of protecting and enhancing open space, tonight the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency voted to acquire a half-acre parcel along S. Ventu Park Road. The parcel joins a large amount of existing open space in the surrounding area, shown in green on the map.

I'm also grateful to the COSCA board for electing me as chair for the coming year, and electing Dorothy Sullivan as vice chair.

Taking care of our beloved open space is one of the most important things we do. Here's to continued good stewardship in the year ahead!

#cosca #openspace #venturacounty #conejovalley #crpd #thousandoaks #tocc

Happy Lunar New Year!

Millions worldwide celebrate Lunar New Year as an opportunity to reunite with family and friends and celebrate traditions. 

To Thousand Oaks neighbors and friends who celebrate: May the year of the Fire Horse bring you good health, happiness, peace, and prosperity!

#lunarnewyear #springfestival #yearofthefirehorse #thousandoaks #tocc

Thousand Oaks Development Activity Report for January 2026

https://toaks.gov/corecode/storage/uber_resource/uploaded_pdfs/2026-01%20DAR_1770410238.pdf

#thousandoaks #tocc

Tonight the Thousand Oaks City Council unanimously approved its 2026 committee assignment roster.

Each councilmember represents your interests on a number of internal and external panels and commissions. These panels tie our city into regional, statewide, and national organizations where we meet colleagues, talk through issues of mutual concern, and learn of new solutions that directly benefit Thousand Oaks residents.

My assignments for the coming year include:

- Capital Facilities Committee (internal)

- Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA)

- Clean Power Alliance (CPA, also serve on CPA’s Finance Committee)

- Ventura Council of Governments (VCOG)

- Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA)

- Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD, current chair)

- National League of Cities Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee (NLC EENR)

- League of California Cities Environmental Quality Committee (Cal Cities EQ)

Most of the assignments are identical to last year’s. There are a few exceptions:

- Mayor pro tem Engler and I swapped positions on VCOG, where I now serve as primary delegate and he serves as alternate.

- Councilmember Gutierrez picks up new assignments: On the Ventura County Continuum of Care board; on NLC’s Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee (FAIR); and on the board of Community Action of Ventura County (applied for and approved by the county Board of Supervisors).

#goodgovernment #thousandoaks #tocc

Happy 2026! Wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year.

The City Council meets Tuesday, Jan. 13. There is one hearing on the agenda (link in comments), involving the sale of Hillcrest Center (401/403 Hillcrest Drive) by the city to the Conejo Recreation and Park District for $30.4 million. There’s also a consent calendar item for 2026 councilmember committee assignments.

We meet Tuesday at 6 pm in City Hall. I encourage everyone interested to attend, either in person or remotely.

#tocc

Thousand Oaks Development Activity Report for December 2025

https://toaks.gov/corecode/storage/uber_resource/uploaded_pdfs/2025-12%20DAR_1767900522.pdf

#housing #urbanplanning #thousandoaks #tocc

Happy 2026! Wishing everyone in Thousand Oaks good health, happiness, and (in between the coming storms) more enjoyment of our beautiful city.

#ThousandOaks #conejovalley #tocc

With high winds continuing and more rain on the way, the city’s Public Works team has been super busy over the holiday. Please report downed trees or other hazards you see at toaks.gov/service.

And if you see one of the crews out in white city vehicles, I’m sure they’d appreciate a word of thanks!

#wx #caxw #thousandoaks #conejovalley #publicworks #tocc