City’s Leaders Bid Farewell to Zukowski

More than two dozen Thousand Oaks residents and community leaders turned out at Tuesday night’s City Council session to say farewell to outgoing Councilwoman Jaime Zukowski, who is leaving office early to move to Colorado.

The meeting, Zukowski’s last, turned emotional when one speaker after another praised the slow-growth advocate as an honorable public servant who had always placed the concerns of the community first.

“You have withstood the onslaught of unbelievable adversity,” said Bonnie Roth, praising Zukowski’s self-described role as fiscal watchdog--a stance that often put her at odds with other city leaders.

Mayor Andy Fox wished Zukowski well in her new life in Boulder, Colo., with her husband Mark, a scientist at Amgen, and her two sons, Daniel and Thomas. He handed Zukowski a bouquet.

Councilwoman Judy Lazar also wished Zukowski the best, handing her an honorary badge from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

City Clerk Nancy Dillon gave Zukowski a scrapbook of newspaper stories from her nearly four-year history on the council. And City Manager Grant Brimhall gave Zukowski a miniature gavel made of gold.

“It’s not a huge gavel, obviously, being solid gold,” Brimhall quipped. “But it indicates the respect that we all have.”

Several residents also handed Zukowski presents.

Along with a plaque, she even received a giant “Z.” Zukowski and her ally, Councilwoman Elois Zeanah, were nicknamed “The Zs.”

Zukowski said she was moved by the show of appreciation for her tenure on the council and would never forget those who supported her bid for the City Council in 1992, which she characterized as a “long shot.”

“I wish I could adequately thank every citizen that has made this service as a public representative worthwhile,” Zukowski said.