THOUSAND OAKS : Children’s Museum Idea to Be Studied

Responding to a petition signed by 3,000 residents, Thousand Oaks council members have directed city staff members to explore the feasibility of building a children’s museum in the city.

And a committee already formed to seek possible sites for a Native Peoples Center should examine the concept of a children’s museum as well, council members decided on a 5-0 vote Tuesday night.

Residents had proposed building a children’s museum near the Civic Arts Plaza, but the committee will look into other sites as well.

“We’ll give it a shot,” promised Councilman Frank Schillo, who sits on the committee.

The decision elated Hope Colt Mette, a Thousand Oaks resident who organized the petition drive.

“Today, families really need constructive things to do together,” she told the council. “We call it a children’s museum, but it’s really a family museum. You can dress up like firemen, crawl through a life-size ant farm and find out what it’s like to be a kid again.”

Councilwoman Judy Lazar agreed, calling her own visits to children’s museums with her family “a real treat.” But she warned Mette and other residents that the city would not be able to fund a museum and would only consider proposals with substantial financial backing.