The Other Costs of an Arts Plaza Show

* I set out recently to figure the broad costs of attending a show at Thousand Oaks’ new Civic Arts Plaza. First there was the obvious: tickets, dinner, parking and maybe a baby-sitter. But then I realized as a resident of T.O., there are additional costs: The complex itself cost $86 million.

Then there are the less tangible costs. To help pay for the center, we began hocking our history. First, it was Jungleland, designated historic in 1981 and then condemned by imminent domain and now the site of the Civic Arts Plaza. Second, we sold the first library of T.O. for funding.

Next on the block is our original City Hall, 401 Hillcrest Drive, and possibly Fireworks Hill. After seven years of failed attempts, a town hall meeting will be held Sept. 12, when the city unveils its latest strategy to reduce Civic Arts Plaza debt by developing this historic heart of our community.

Then there are the more esoteric costs. New development agreements such as Dos Vientos include financial commitments to the endowment. Shapel (MGM Ranch) development fees are directed toward paying off Fireworks Hill, which adds to the acreage of 401 Hillcrest--targeted as the ultimate asset to pay the debt produced by the center. So, added to our performance ticket is the price of more development in T.O.--increased traffic, class sizes, waiting lines, pollution and less open space.

All of this got a bit complex, making it easy to understand why the city hasn’t tallied these costs. But there is a solution: Get our city government out of the entertainment business.

To stop hocking our city assets, reduce urban sprawl, cut City Council meetings in half and save the roots of Thousand Oaks, I suggest we simply sell to the highest bidder and privatize the Civic Arts Plaza.

WILLIAM MAPLE

Thousand Oaks