MOORPARK : City May Beef Up Rail Station Security

Fearful that a string of vandalism attacks on cars parked at Moorpark’s Metrolink commuter rail station might curtail ridership, the City Council tonight will consider spending nearly $8,000 to increase station security.

Suggestions the council will consider include hiring a security guard to patrol the Metrolink station parking lot from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. and the installation of a concrete block wall to limit access to the lot.

The guard, wearing a brightly colored vest, would patrol the parking lot and radio law enforcement for help in the case of vandalism, but would not confront vandals. The wall would prevent access to the Metrolink parking lot from Bard Street, which has been identified as the preferred entryway of vandals.

A council subcommittee made up of Councilmen John Wozniak and Patrick Hunter suggested the increased security methods.

Mayor Paul Lawrason said Tuesday he supported the moves.

“We’re sensitive to . . . the vandalism that’s been going on,” Lawrason said. “We’ve stepped up police surveillance and we have staff surveilling the area also. We are concerned by the damage that’s been experienced by some people and certainly we want to do what we can to prevent it.”

In addition to a 10-car graffiti spree in the Metrolink lot Dec. 21, there have been subsequent attacks on cars in the lot, including cars that have been gouged with keys and at least one broken windshield, said Mary Lindley, assistant to the city manager.

A block wall at the south side of the station, automatic ticket machines and station shelters have also been marred by graffiti, Lindley said.

An average of 185 people board the commuter rail system in Moorpark each day, city officials said.

“One of the things that is necessary during this initial phase is to get people interested and to get them on the train, so everything you do has to be focused on the attractiveness of the idea, the comfort of the train, the safety,” Lawrason said.