Thousand Oaks Group Seeks Civic Center Vote

A Thousand Oaks citizens group will begin a petition drive Thursday to force a citywide vote on a civic center complex proposed on the former site of Jungleland wild animal park.

The City Council tentatively approved plans in June for an 1,800-seat civic auditorium, public park and parking garage at the corner of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Conejo School Road. Private developers would lease the remaining land at the 20-acre site to build a 300-room hotel, convention center and office building, according to the plan.

But the citizens group says city voters should decide whether Thousand Oaks spends the estimated $40 million needed to purchase the land and build the public improvements. Private developers are expected to contribute another $40 million for the hotel and office building.

“We really don’t know how it’s going to be financed or what role the city will play,” said Richard Booker, an organizer of the drive. “We want the city to spell it out and put it before the voters.”

The group, which calls itself Public Rights and Interests Duly Exercised, will have five months to gather an estimated 7,500 signatures from registered voters to qualify the initiative for the June, 1988, ballot, Booker said.

The city’s plan is similar to a proposal for a performing arts center defeated by voters in June, 1986, and in November, 1984, Booker said. “The council’s action is contrary to what the people have said in previous elections,” he said.

Joan Gorner, co-chairman of the drive, said the group has members who favor and others who oppose the current proposal, but all of whom share the desire to put the issue to a vote. “After we put this on the ballot, the group will probably disband, with people going to one side or the other on this,” she said.

City Council members approving the plan said the project will pay for itself in lease revenues and stimulate needed redevelopment.

City officials are now in negotiations for the land with owner Asad Morovapi. The city Planning Commission denied Morovapi permission earlier this year to build a 227,000-square-foot retail and office complex on the site. Jungleland closed in 1969 after 40 years in business.