THOUSAND OAKS : Chamber Refuses to Take Stand on Recall

The Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce has declined to take a stand on whether two Thousand Oaks city councilmen should be recalled.

Chamber Chairman Glenn Morris said a majority of the 25-member board of directors voted recently not to oppose or endorse the recall of Councilman Alex Fiore and Mayor Frank Schillo.

The councilmen were targeted for recall by a citizens group because of their support for the city’s Jungleland development, a project to build a $63-million city hall and performing arts auditorium at the site of a former wild animal park.

The chamber does not typically take a position on political issues, Morris said, but occasionally it issues a position on issues that may affect the chamber’s 1,350 members.

Last year, for example, the chamber voted to oppose plans by Lowe Development to build a hotel, restaurants and an office complex on the Jungleland site.

Local business leaders were critical of a deal between the city and the developer that allows the city to lend the hotel up to $2 million during the first five years of operation, Morris said.

Schillo said he believes that the chamber’s decision not to endorse or support him will have no effect on the campaign.

The citizens group leading the recall campaign kicked off a signature-gathering drive Aug. 31. The group plans to collect about 8,400 signatures needed to place the recall on a special election ballot. Groundbreaking for the city project is scheduled next month, but recall proponents said they hope to stall construction by ousting the two councilmen.