OAK PARK : VanderKolk Suggests June Ballot Measure
Seeking to resolve complaints from Oak Park residents, Ventura County Supervisor Maria VanderKolk wants the 13,000 residents in the unincorporated community to decide their future form of government by voting on a special measure on the June ballot.
“We’ve been talking about this issue for a long time and it’s time that residents make their choices,” VanderKolk said Wednesday.
VanderKolk is urging the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council and the Thousand Oaks City Council to place a measure on the ballot that outlines four options for Oak Park.
Under her proposal, Oak Park voters could choose among four options: becoming an incorporated city, being annexed by Thousand Oaks, establishing a special Community Service District that could levy taxes for community services or doing nothing.
“Something has to happen,” VanderKolk said, “and the people should make the choice.”
Studies done last year said both cityhood and annexation by Thousand Oaks could result in higher local taxes for residents.
VanderKolk has been under pressure from Oak Park residents throughout her term to address the lack of county services in the area. Specifically, she has been criticized for backing away from promises to push for building a new Oak Park library, as part of the county library system.
As an unincorporated community, the area is governed by the County Board of Supervisors. Oak Park lies within VanderKolk’s district.
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