THOUSAND OAKS : Public Works Chief Takes Malibu Job

Thousand Oaks’ veteran director of public works, who has maintained city streets and landscaping for more than 20 years, will leave his post next week to take a similar job in Malibu.

As Thousand Oaks’ public works chief, John Clement was responsible for 400 miles of streets, 8 million square feet of landscaping, 300 city-owned vehicles and a staff of 135 full-time employees. His department also designed and constructed all traffic-related projects, from signal lights to road widening to street signs.

“I have the highest respect for him,” Councilman Frank Schillo said. “He was a hands-on guy and very innovative too. You’d call and say, ‘Hey, here’s a complaint’ and that same day you’d see him out there taking care of it. He was always very responsive.”

In Malibu, Clement will be handling similar duties for a city with a population of just 25,000.

He will be building the public works department almost from scratch; the city incorporated only two years ago. The challenge of establishing a new department inspired him to apply, he said.

“It’s a brand-new city, a brand-new position,” Clement said. “They’re basically where Thousand Oaks was 30 years ago.”

Clement’s first priority in Malibu will be staunching mudslides. Since last month’s wildfires ripped through the city, destroying much of the vegetation that anchors hillside soil, residents have been terrified that any rain could trigger a new disaster.

Thousand Oaks has not yet hired a new public works director.