[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6121819,"mediaKeyId","2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88","parentId",2699639,"title","Council hears progress on downtown master plan and regional economic development","audioSeconds",120,"startMs",7218000,"endMs",7338000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88&start=7218&end=7338","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88/thumbnail_7218000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6121819/Thousand-Oaks/Ventura-County/California/Council-hears-progress-on-downtown-master-plan-and-regional-economic-development","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121819-51eb4b5a8ff33c1173a76ba53de2b977/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452994&Signature=brtmeD49dW5lPSIZAdF2N51RDw--cXcIP5l00gAR3jtSJ6W0qNiw1pE4ON7VNWedsJ9nzCI9kN9CbQZgtetXN4Ma0HiUwmhI8olp~MHJk~qxn73K~KGso6Obo51VLhE4pEDMt4KaUW9edmmDPx7aKnlF1XG-6iZX9RFbL77oEIOE4mM26fSShx7hzWWCuc6RZrmJSTmNk82ZkKvgbhOT4AI4CvAaIP3dlv4qMKYgXQLXVB6JwcTcYNmC0cJaDHTWstxRE-FrP8MUrSrWLM8wqht5pZLBInx--UCaIkWOFyjvX9MkakkysNWYhpWJtiR-~Ivhd7vhbHghg7Yjk~~Dbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Thousand Oaks, CA","date","2025-03-19T04:21:47Z","article","Deputy City Manager Akbar Alakhan and Economic Development Manager Hader Alawani told the council the downtown master-plan effort is advancing from concept to design and the city has retained RM Smith Group to prepare entitlement documents and funding strategy options.

\"Council took two significant steps in advancing the plan,\" Alakhan said, describing council endorsements and the selection of a consultant. Staff reported five community conversations in January and February with more than three-quarters of attendees indicating interest in arts, accessibility, business mix and oak preservation; the consultant will return with funding options and updated designs in April and May.

On economic development, Hader Alawani highlighted biomanufacturing expansions — including FUJIFILM (Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies) capacity increases and other local biotech activity — and recent private investments such as a new Tesla showroom and other business relocations. Alawani said Stockdale Capital acquired the Oaks Mall and staff will engage with the new owner on redevelopment opportunities.

Council members said downtown planning, economic development and the general plan implementation are tightly connected and expressed support for efforts to develop a destination that will attract jobs and visitors while supporting housing and arts amenities.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Thousand Oaks City Council Meeting - 3/18/25","oneSentenceSummary","Staff reported progress on a downtown design process led by RM Smith Group, multiple community outreach sessions, and private-sector activity including lab/biotech expansions and new retail openings; Stockdale Capital acquired Oaks Mall and staff said they'll coordinate on revitalization plans.","taxTitle","Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, California","taxId",4670,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121824,"Police and fire officials report low property crime, increased fire-readiness and new tools for emergency response",2595,6631000,9226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88&start=6631&end=9226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88/thumbnail_6631000.jpg","/articles/6121824/Thousand-Oaks/Ventura-County/California/Police-and-fire-officials-report-low-property-crime-increased-fire-readiness-and-new-tools-for-emergency-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121824-ddfb9364954e1245041744f4a74d3678/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452994&Signature=FlAJiGGLlP4gwGPSbzDH7fmNciBNKcaKGkluPRAjf8DMbYmdRPWWlQdGkDQgAk5hUpxuY76NdYndKyDPPmKfgtOoGMfITNM7wCYYIL4VrkmZLfcOSuZLKYCZ9Ti8aU5oRmERrU1eR-gGbfcgUotYaHqyEV51IFAFAfUPBlwQ5l5KvRzUiq7GECviF1xekAHmG6Hu85jETopqoQJ4d0I2zS8CB0uXzRrHdVb8YRyxumMrahjOkNyu3nVuxFNNT3F1r9cNpIV07dbhJ6B~yNxbFAftDQakMUvuULBRm50j-4UHBbAFs7ew2RRUxH3ZE3SoSj5XpePe5Ybw944CASjU4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Thousand Oaks and Ventura County public-safety leaders briefed the council on crime trends, fire-preparedness and infrastructure work to maintain emergency response.

Chief Perris, reporting on behalf of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, said officers transitioned to the FBI’s national incident-based reporting system for 2024 and cautioned that year-to-year comparisons are affected by the change. He highlighted specific reductions, however: \"We only had 59 reports of residential burglary in 2024,\" Perris said, calling the figure the lowest on record and crediting community partnership and investigative tools for the improvement.

Perris and other speakers described investigative successes including taking down a transnational burglary ring; he also said license-plate-reader data helped detectives identify suspect vehicles. The department plans to test a \"Drone as First Responder\" program to get aerial situational awareness to scenes within minutes.

On wildfire readiness, Division Chief Jeff Shea of the Ventura County Fire Department described after-action reviews and contingency staffing plans tied to red-flag conditions, including engine and hand-crew staffing and aviation resources. The city’s public-works director, Cliff Finley, described steps the city has taken to harden infrastructure: installing emergency generators at pump stations to preserve water delivery when power is lost, topping off reservoirs before high-risk periods and implementing battery backup for key traffic signals (battery reserve up to eight hours) and deploying generators when needed.

Staff and the mayor urged residents to register for the county alert system. \"If you haven't, I encourage you to enroll in VC Alert and monitor VC Emergency because that is where the…information as it's occurring in its most accurate and its most time sensitive is gonna be applied,\" Jeff Shea said.

Council members asked about interagency coordination, water supply and traffic-signal strategies for evacuation routes. Fire and public-works officials said close coordination among departments and mutual-aid agreements has been critical during recent regional fires.

","The sheriff's office reported a record-low number of residential burglaries in 2024 and described investigative successes. Fire and public-works leaders outlined preparations — pump-station generators, reservoir management, traffic-signal backups and community outreach through VC Alert — to reduce wildfire risk and improve emergency response.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121828,"Thousand Oaks staff report nearly 1,963 entitled housing units; construction delays persist",227,6397000,6624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88&start=6397&end=6624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88/thumbnail_6397000.jpg","/articles/6121828/Thousand-Oaks/Ventura-County/California/Thousand-Oaks-staff-report-nearly-1963-entitled-housing-units-construction-delays-persist","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121828-451188a33aadce2ebbed7d2407f11449/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452994&Signature=n7k4v2Ej2xlIXTOFZLNwDqB457R5bkeKo4xkVTV9Da3EIOeDKbqojoac2F49I5ZDUii2rUE2x1UPz9NRx8qVTPKygZHt4SqtePnEFNKg7Al53qJobpNr4HBDMPCRFVwjFcL4xAUfb6VTjGkEPCA4TME-0lSBLtoHxaidWRqed1KI5xXHlK6XoHQO1wwn~Q8t8u0PZS94FM4dYoDJ4gM5NyxRSvZe7lDX8uhzzz88Or2oB4Vq1nCvM4poLmZPbLGHwnTCFHxSAhmgqMWFDPja-ZZwsISofsQVUkCo8Aoa1FXCFn8Mv8osMLoT8uIs~Ox7mYczPEA3qi4v3oq~jrFLpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Calvin Parker, Community Development Director, told the council the city has nearly 1,963 entitled housing units in its pipeline, including 289 affordable units, and an additional 104 accessory dwelling units approved.

\"Currently, we have just under 2,000 units entitled at 1,963, including 289 in the affordable category,\" Parker said as he reviewed development progress and upcoming projects.

Parker listed several major projects: a 333-unit Latico project (33 affordable) nearing building-permit issuance; the Timber School project at 218 units (26 affordable) performing site work and approaching permit issuance; and the TL Ranch project (420 units, including 54 affordable) at the former Kmart site with a grading permit issued. He also described new proposals at Kelly Road, East Hillcrest and Chiquita Lane and a 70-unit mixed-use proposal on East Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Parker said elevated interest rates, insurance costs, tight lending conditions and high construction costs have delayed some construction start dates.

Parker noted the Oaks Mall has a new owner, Stockdale Capital, and staff said the city is actively engaging with the new owner about redevelopment opportunities. Parker told the council staff will continue to facilitate entitled projects through permitting and coordination with developers.

","Community Development reported 1,963 entitled units citywide (including 289 affordable), several major projects nearing permits but construction stalled on some sites due to financing, insurance and labor pressures.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121833,"Thousand Oaks says navigation center near completion; city reports reduction in homelessness",278,6117000,6395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88&start=6117&end=6395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88/thumbnail_6117000.jpg","/articles/6121833/Thousand-Oaks/Ventura-County/California/Thousand-Oaks-says-navigation-center-near-completion-city-reports-reduction-in-homelessness","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121833-e42a79991e56b6c2360fdbac4a82ae69/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452994&Signature=bw95jR9FEbrH9vt5mMfANhytp-s-HSOPqIitQVxCLzqhoPPu0gWAJK1hW0O~m8Mn1EwauAAvopWkV8kFTGvsG7vVGuA8ktBKQ6yX4yp2pYV~r2rfisKztqVtpnwCoSdKuJo35-JYyRUwetEZbokZ-UNaHSR6UZe0dPc2572EYbMR8PsKN9bpf9MaVP0nXA0PnvyA0KodGzQRbMOeia8eBSgzlMMPVlWMss74Rh9pwk5E7kyOhfMMNnMndK95usE9qTkurEchR3mat~FLe-xX4FZyKmKTlvZQ~rNvcwsehz5afHVjq-aw~d6y~CT-XT8cDKH4~Z6x2vsa0yeBV29i9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant City Manager Ingrid Hardy told the council the city’s navigation center project is nearing the finish line and staff have coordinated with service providers to prepare clients for move-in.

\"The navigation center ... is 90% complete,\" said Ingrid Hardy, noting state-mandated inspections and supply-chain delays slowed final work but the city expects to announce a ribbon-cutting soon.

Hardy said the Thousand Oaks Police Department and the navigation center operator, Harbor House, are working together on client selection so occupancy can begin without delay when the facility is cleared. IKEA is donating indoor and outdoor furniture for the center. Hardy also credited cross-departmental collaboration — police, public works and nonprofit partners — with recent reductions in visible encampments.

Hardy cited preliminary figures from the point-in-time count showing a 9% reduction in homelessness in Thousand Oaks compared with the previous count. Council members and staff cautioned that some outstanding issues remain, including the status of the Quality Inn Homekey/permanent supportive housing site and a programmatic gap at one local site the city continues to pursue with state counsel.

The council and staff also discussed partnerships with Ventura County behavioral-health teams and Harbor House, and noted plans to coordinate services with the navigation center operator. Staff emphasized the navigation center is part of a broader system of services and that operational readiness includes provider coordination and public-safety liaison work.

","City staff reported the Thrive Grove navigation center is about 90% complete, Harbor House will operate the site, furniture donated by IKEA, and the city cited a preliminary 9% reduction in homelessness from the latest point-in-time count.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121838,"Thousand Oaks Council finalizes top 10 priorities, adopts city goals and norms",4968,9930000,14898000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88&start=9930&end=14898","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699639-ba115430c25e11c34f8c55b135854d88/thumbnail_9930000.jpg","/articles/6121838/Thousand-Oaks/Ventura-County/California/Thousand-Oaks-Council-finalizes-top-10-priorities-adopts-city-goals-and-norms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121838-75d211d0781d03a81c15f8f60548c71e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452994&Signature=X0dYbcEahE5wTCz-jwe1Ce2Of5hceD16a4REuj1YftRRZyagZrnHYRBMU5U42g6Dbd6F4I6pbqn7AFMgkf4fV5KURGwmPU4FGpxHUfczGt1eJW0cX-f-UXxOm0-ngWK8-jb2gpq3D8Ahm5zZ3NkDOPu3sNfaur1Hm0VpZ1fCS5xWEDOqprnVyTiqBhvrYla2uQSexfg2dQugLoljRg9rjpYXdYZk3ymaATA8sycmgDIw0u9Kvf5Xfd5PsGm~SXxzbXpRSbQy4JZUeHNlcxlE-ykAiyNkYfTtz3H~xJYUpI89wMMJ4I-ryPDiimP2QZsVSpr7CuyLezlBurj2zZafHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Thousand Oaks City Council on Tuesday adopted a 10-item set of priorities for 2025–26 and approved citywide goals and norms, voting unanimously on both measures.

City Manager Drew Powers said the priority-setting exercise is intended to align council direction with staff work plans. \"This exercise is really one of alignment more than anything else,\" Powers said as he described how the executive team would treat the adopted priorities during the budget year.

The council debated a slate of 12 candidate priorities before agreeing to a final list of 10. The adopted priorities include addressing homelessness, downtown planning, fiscal sustainability, general plan implementation, housing production, economic development, technology investments, environmental sustainability, public works and infrastructure (including the Active Transportation Plan), and public safety. During the discussion council members repeatedly noted the items are interrelated: housing, general plan implementation and economic development were described as tightly linked, while the Active Transportation Plan was folded into the public works priority for this cycle.

Mayor Newman and council members said homelessness remained a top focus as the city prepares to open a navigation center and continues work on permanent supportive housing. Several council members said fiscal stewardship and economic development are essential foundations that make other goals possible.

The council also reviewed and approved a set of citywide goals and governance norms. Council members amended language on open-space stewardship to emphasize wildfire mitigation alongside conservation: the goal now reads that the city will \"complete the ring of open space around the city, protect and preserve ridgelines, natural habitat and designated open spaces, while balancing wildfire mitigation.\" Several members noted that new wording reflects changing fire risks and the need to manage fuels and resources in addition to preserving acreage.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to adopt the 10 priorities for 2025–26: passed 5–0 (Mayor Newman — yes; Council Member Engler — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Taylor — yes; Council Member Gutierrez — yes; Council Member Adam — yes).
- Motion to adopt the citywide goals and governance norms (including the amended open-space language): passed 5–0 (same votes).

Council members and staff said the adopted priorities will be carried into the two-year budget cycle and tracked by the executive team. Powers noted the adopted list serves as a direction-setting document; work on non-priority items continues but the priorities receive additional executive focus and reporting.

The council adjourned after approving the priorities, goals and norms and confirmed it will return for regular business on March 25, 2025.

","After staff briefings and extended discussion, the Thousand Oaks City Council voted 5-0 to adopt a ten-item priority list for 2025–26 and to approve citywide goals and norms, keeping homelessness and downtown planning among the top items.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears progress on downtown master plan and regional economic development

Police and fire officials report low property crime, increased fire-readiness and new tools for emergency response

Thousand Oaks staff report nearly 1,963 entitled housing units; construction delays persist

Thousand Oaks says navigation center near completion; city reports reduction in homelessness

Thousand Oaks Council finalizes top 10 priorities, adopts city goals and norms