THOUSAND OAKS : City Delays Vote on Gala for Arts Plaza

Postponing a final vote, Thousand Oaks City Council members Tuesday asked for further evaluation of the logistics of a proposed laser, light and video show to celebrate the Civic Arts Plaza.

Entertainment Director Jackson Madnick, who has choreographed scores of outdoor celebrations, has offered to host a gala affair complete with fireworks, water jets and thousands of singing, dancing performers. The show could cost that could cost at least $220,000.

Madnick’s nonprofit foundation, WET LIGHT, would pay for the spectacle by seeking corporate sponsors, he said.

But City Council members expressed concern that the party might be too extravagant for Thousand Oaks.

They especially worried about crowd control, since Madnick predicted that up to 50,000 people would pack bleachers along Thousand Oaks Boulevard to watch the early evening show.

Council members also feared that Madnick’s fund-raising would siphon money away from the ongoing campaign to raise a $10-million endowment for the cultural center’s daily operations. Finally, they said the show would detract from the more key community events such as an outdoor art show planned for the grand opening weekend of Oct. 22-23.

“It is very tempting to say ‘Let’s go ahead because this is spectacular,’ ” Councilwoman Judy Lazar said. “But we’re not going to make this a community facility just by inviting a lot of people to an opening weekend event.”

On a 3-2 vote, council members referred the issue to the Theaters Commission, which will vote on the proposed gala next week after receiving input from the city attorney, public works staff and police.

Councilman Frank Schillo and Mayor Alex Fiore dissented, arguing that the council should immediately approve the festivities, rather than requiring additional analysis.