All City Employees Get 4-5 Percent Salary Increases

The following summary is from regular city council meetings over the summer – June 18, July 2 and Aug. 27, 2024.

SALARIES

City Attorney Tracy Noonan and City Manager Andrew Powers received 4 percent salary increases this July and 6 percent salary increases the year before, both negotiated during last July’s contract session. Both public employees now make well over $400,000 in total annual income and will earn base salaries of $324,484 and $321,539, respectively. Health, retirement funds and other benefits add another $87,000 on average to each of their total earnings for the year. Their contracts can be viewed at conejoguardian.org.

General employees under the Thousand Oaks City Employees Association (TOCEA) received a previously negotiated salary adjustment of 4 percent, effective July 6, 2024. Professional employees under the Thousand Oaks Management Association (TOMA) and Senior Management, Confidential, and Supervisory Employees under the Senior Management Association (SMA) received a 5 percent range adjustment at the midpoint of the salary range and a 1 percent salary adjustment also effective July 6, 2024.

The minimum wage for Hourly City Workers was increased to $16.00 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

CLOSED SESSION

City Attorney & City Manager employee performance evaluation. See salary notes above.

Anticipated Litigation: One potential case.

Pending Litigation: California Department of Housing and Community Development vs. Shangri-La Industries et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court #24STCV00629.

Pending Litigation: F. Roberts Construction Inc. v. Shangri-La Industries, LLC, et al., Ventura County Superior Court #2023CUBC018021.

Pending Litigation: Share v. City of Thousand Oaks, VCSCC # 56-2022-00564027-CU-OE-VTA

Pending Litigation: Jennifer Cuadra v. The City of Thousand Oaks et al., VCSCC # 2023011972CUPP

Pending Litigation: Ashraf Shahsawarzadeh v. City of Thousand Oaks et al., Ventura County Superior Court #2023CUPP007741

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Carol Shelton, online, on behalf of the Autism Society of Ventura County, thanked Conejo Rec and Park District for their support of the autistic community.

Karen Stevens of Thousand Oaks and her dog, Lou, addressed the shelter item on the consent calendar. “My hope is that you’ll do one of two things and maybe make the contract shorter with a vision towards transitioning to Ventura County services or withhold the vote right now for further investigation. And I want to just point out some items that I think are really important to understand. The difference between the services of LA County and Ventura County is light years for animals there. And you’ll see in the [Los Angeles Times] article [presented] that they’re putting animals to sleep in LA County by the boatloads. And they don’t do that in Ventura County.”

Martin Erickson spoke on behalf of the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

Brian Cain of Simi Valley introduced the next group of speakers with United Sovereign Americans (USA), who shared concerns over election irregularities.

James Greenfield suggested the council call to declare an election emergency.

Deborah Baber, State Assembly candidate, shared her concern over suspected election irregularities.

Cheryl Reed shared election concerns.

David Schecter read the first part of a resolution proposed by the USA.

Gina Marcaccio of Newbury Park read the second part of the proposed resolution.

Jenny Hansen, read the last part of the proposed resolution.

Ronald Meyer of Thousand Oaks questioned the trustworthiness of elections.

Steve Totten said he was available to answer questions re: United Sovereign Americans.

Linda Karl has a son with disabilities. An adult changing station would be helpful.

Jeff Schwartz, a candidate for city council, questioned the city’s advertising of private businesses in tax-funded videos during 2020.

Josh Gray with the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce shared upcoming events.

Clint Fultz, with the Conejo Housing Coalition, shared concerns about the homeless.

Jackson Piper, online, with the Conejo Housing Coalition, requested holding back on homelessness enforcement.

Lori Camille said tree preservation is a top priority for downtown development.

Ilado Quintero asked the city to be more flexible with mobile food trucks and allow them to work more than four hours in one location. This is a Hispanic tradition.

Robert Airs of Thousand Oaks blamed the council for the four-year neighborhood drug house nuisance, saying, “If you’re going to allow this to exist, this town will fail. I’m disgusted.” City Manager Drew Powers said Calle Pimiento “has been awash with challenges for several years. We are actively involved … both primary folks causing issues are incarcerated at this point. We are engaged at that house on a weekly basis.”

Bonnie Clarfield Bylin of Thousand Oaks asked why six heritage oaks were removed from the City Hall campus without public input.

Janet Wall, representing Conejo Oak Tree Advocates, admonished the council to be more forthcoming about trees.

James Dean, a landscape architect, worked with trees for 55 years. Found a large oak tree that’s 1,000 years old (referring to a photo submitted to the council). Important that you know this.

Jesus Martinez said four hours is not enough time to cover all mobile food truck business expenses.

Dana Stengel, of Newbury Park, moved to the area for open space and trees. Asked if oaks stopped being a priority here.

Gary Hartung was upset he couldn’t buy a single Distinguished Speaker series ticket. Had to buy all six events.

Dan Tweed, online, shared Ham Radio Expo info at CSU Channel Islands.

Joan Edwards of Westlake Village was sorry to hear six oak trees were removed. 

Faith Grant, online, praised the purchase of two electric vans for the Dial-a-Ride program.

CONTRACTS

$3,250,000 Alliant Insurance Services Inc. of Irvine for various city insurance renewals (liability, workers compensation, property, earthquake).

$2.5 million Los Angeles County Animal Shelter Services, five-year contract.

$1,650,000 Famcon Pipe and Supply Inc. of Oxnard for inventory materials and parts supplies.

$1,130,000 On-call professional services agreements with ten firms to assist the Planning Division with Environmental Consulting and Professional Planning Consulting services.

$1,200,000 Arborist and landscape architect consultant services with Dudek of Encinitas ($400,000), Rincon Consultants of Ventura ($400,000), and Wildscape Restoration, Inc. of Ventura.

$1,120,350 contract to GSE Construction Company Inc. of Livermore for Hill Canyon Treatment Plant Metal Awning Replacements.

$1,000,000 five-year contract to Woods Maintenance Services Inc. d/b/a Graffiti Control Systems of North Hollywood for Homeless Encampment Cleanup Services.

$823,760 HDR Engineering, Inc. of Los Angeles, for additional design and engineering services on the Hill Canyon Treatment Plant Tertiary Filter Rehabilitation Project.

$776,220 for One Misdemeanor Detective Deputy ($277,026) and Two Directed Enforcement Team (Bike Patrol) Deputies ($499,194).

$736,040 FS Construction, Inc. of Sylmar for Erbes Road Flood Mitigation Project.

$672,000 three-year contract with Cal Building Systems Inc. of Yorba Linda for fire alarm and suppression systems services at various city facilities.

$582,487 Collicutt Energy Services of Santa Fe Springs for cogeneration facility upgrade.

$509,952 contract with BKM Office Environments of Camarillo, using Steelcase Sourcewell for workspace renovation and tech upgrades at City Hall.

$447,873 Ventura County Watershed Protection District for Upper Malibu Creek Watershed monitoring and implementation.

$426,602 A-Z Bus Sales Inc. of Colton for two Ford E-Transit 350 Cargo Electric Vans, Class Z-1, for EV Dial-A-Ride Vans Project.

$350,000 for Arakelian Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Athens Services landfill facility fee reimbursement.

$350,000 Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates of Brea for Sales and Use Tax Audit Services.

$347,500 contract to Habitat Restoration Sciences Inc. of Vista for Conejo Canyons Bridge at Hill Canyon Treatment Plant.

$311,188 Trillium USA Company LLC of Houston for increased Compressed Natural Gas purchases and equipment maintenance in FY 2023-24.

$236,850 five-year contract with Questica Ltd of Carson for budget management software.

$211,750 J&H Engineering General Contractors, Inc. of Camarillo for Wendy Drive Sewer Main Replacement Project.

$205,530 Aquatic Bioassay & Consulting Laboratories Inc. of Ventura for bioassay testing.

$200,000 Econolite Control Products Inc. of Anaheim for sole source designation for traffic signal materials and products for maintenance.

$192,177 NextGen Engineers, Inc. of Tucson for engineering support services during construction of the Erbes Road Flood Mitigation Project.

$175,386 Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. Third Party Administrator.

$167,400 Utility Systems Science and Software Response of Santa Ana for wastewater flow monitoring services.

$145,000 HDL Coren & Cone of Brea for Property Tax Audit services.

$121,602 G3 Engineering Inc. of Granite Bay for a pump and motor assembly for the Hill Canyon Treatment Plant.

$85,000 Cintas Corporation of Mason, Ohio, for uniforms, other related rental items, and laundry services. 

$85,000 Cultural Affairs Dept. for one limited-term, full-time Customer Relations Assistant through June 30, 2025, to support development and programming for TOArts.

$80,000 four-year contract with Crisp Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Crisp Imaging of Costa Mesa for citywide scanning and indexing services.

$43,000 to purchase one parcel (APN 676-0-070-070) for transfer to Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency for long-term management.

$41,500 for the purchase of solar facility, equipment as part of contract termination with MMA TO Power LP of San Francisco for solar services.

$25,088 Regional Defense Partnership annual dues.

Advertising for bids approved for Improvements at Lone Oak (CI 5673), Erbes Road (CI 5738), and Ventu (CI 5739) Pump Stations Projects.

Terminate the construction contract with MMC, Inc. of La Palma for the Unit W Wastewater Interceptor Improvements Project and re-advertise the project for new bids.

Seventy-five percent of the operator’s full fare reimbursement agreement with the Ventura County Transportation Commission and other Transit Operators to continue City participation in the countywide Free Fare Program.

GENERAL PLAN

Council voted 4-1 to deny Fore Green Development LLC a study redesignating the land use from Light Industrial to Neighborhood High (>20 to 30 units/acre), approximately 33 acres of residential uses and approximately 47 acres for open space located at the northern terminus of Academy Drive northerly of Hillcrest Drive. Public Comments: Chuck Cohen of Thousand Oaks asked the city to allow a property that has been sitting vacant to be considered for development. Jackson Piper of Newbury Park said that even though new housing developments are desperately needed, this site is in an isolated open space, so he opposed it. Clint Fultz of Thousand Oaks opposed development in open space. Tom Cohen said open space land does not change in the proposal.

APPOINTMENTS

Bertha Miranda, Gregg Bruno, Pamela Davis and Joseph Donohue to Council on Aging through July 2026.

Rafan Ahmed, Isabelle Cipriano, Torrey Hacioglu, Brielle Levesque, Olivia Little, Inika Vellore and Rayna Doshi to the Youth Commission through July 2026, Mia Oscanoa and Jane Staley through July 2025.

OTHER

Certain real property located at Assessor Parcel Numbers 670-018-2060, 670-018-2190, 670-018-2220, 670-018-2230, and a portion of the parcel located at APN 670-018-2210 was declared non-exempt surplus land.

Accept prepayments of the special taxes levied in the 1994-1 Community Facilities District, providing for the defeasance of the 2012 Special Tax Refunding Bonds.

$239,776,954 Annual Gann Appropriations Limit.

ORDINANCE

An ordinance approving the development agreement with Cherry Tree Development, LLC, relating to the development of property located at 500 E Thousand Oaks Blvd.

HEARINGS

Landscape and Lighting Assessment District No. 79-2 Annual Levy for FY 2024-25.

REPORTS

Janss Mall Report by Finance Director Jamie Boscarino

Council on Aging Report – Chair Patti Lownes and Commissioner Gail Ginell

TO Alliance for the Arts Report by Vice Chair Kyle Rohrbach

Benefits & Compensation Report by HR Director Timothy Giles

Thousand Oaks Public Financing Authority Annual Update

Youth Commission Annual Report

Mayor Pro Tem David Newman and Councilman Bob Engler attended the National League of Cities Summer Board and Leadership Meeting in Rancho Cordova from June 11 to 13.

Councilman Mikey Taylor attended the League of California Cities Channel Counties Division meeting in Atascadero on July 19.