THOUSAND OAKS : City to Acquire Land With Gas-Tax Funds
Formalizing a long-awaited land deal, the Thousand Oaks City Council has agreed to spend $605,000 from the gas-tax fund to purchase Robert Heggen’s parcel adjacent to the Civic Arts Plaza.
Heggen’s home will be razed and his construction business relocated to make room for the city to widen Oakwood Drive. Once broadened, the street will serve as a primary entrance into the performing arts and government center.
Because much of the parcel will be converted into a street, Finance Director Robert Biery recommended paying for Heggen’s land with money collected from the gas tax.
Mayor Elois Zeanah objected, arguing that gas-tax money should be used for street maintenance and construction elsewhere in the city. She suggested that the city find another fund to pay for the Heggen parcel.
“It’s just not right, in my view,” Zeanah said. “Every time we take money from other accounts and put it in the Civic Arts Plaza budget, we are taking services from the community at large.”
Zeanah’s argument, however, did not persuade her colleagues, and the council voted 3 to 1 to OK the purchase with gas-tax funds.
Councilman Alex Fiore was not present.
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