THOUSAND OAKS : Anti-Jungleland Petition Drive OKd

The Thousand Oaks city attorney on Friday gave three residents permission to circulate petitions asking voters to support a ballot measure that could stop the Jungleland civic center project.

Under state law, City Atty. Mark Sellers was required to review the petition statement to make sure that it is not misleading.

Dick Booker, Joan Gorner and Heinrich (Corky) Charles say they want to give voters a chance to decide whether the city should be allowed to use proceeds from the sale of its property to help fund the $63-million project.

The city is trying to sell its former and existing city halls--both on Hillcrest Drive--for about $22 million. That money will make up a sizable portion of the project’s budget. City officials say they will be forced to abandon it if the measure is approved by voters.

The three need to gather the signatures of 8,366 people, or 15% of the city’s 55,768 registered voters. Once the signatures are submitted, the city clerk has 30 days to certify the names. The City Council has 10 days after that to call a special election.

If the measure is approved by the voters, it would have the same effect as an ordinance passed by the City Council.

While the city insists that the project, on Thousand Oaks Boulevard at Conejo School Road, will be financially successful, the three residents say they are worried that it will drain city resources for years to come.