CAMARILLO : Park Board Forms Citizens Task Force

Responding to protests about cutbacks in Camarillo park and recreation programs, the local park district board on Wednesday decided to form a citizens task force to seek new sources of funding.

The Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District board voted unanimously in favor of forming the task force, which will investigate money-raising ventures, such as seeking corporate sponsorship for particular parks or various programs.

Nearly 30 residents attended the park board meeting, a huge increase over the usual turnout at the monthly meetings.

While many of the residents were swimmers upset about the district’s decision to close Freedom Pool at Camarillo Airport, some were organizers of other recreation programs and defended the district budget-cutting decisions.

Larry Miller, an organizer of the city’s youth basketball league, said he opposes the suggestion by some residents that perhaps the city should take over the independent district that manages city parks and recreation programs.

“That scares me,” Miller said. “I don’t have a lot of faith, and still have not forgiven a city that flushes $25 million down the drain,” he said, referring to the city’s loss in the late 1980s from high-risk investments.