Activist Objects to Bill; City Lowers It

Talk about a markdown.

When Ekbal “Nick” Quidwai, the indefatigable Thousand Oaks activist and perennial City Council candidate, asked city officials for the 1995 travel, cellular-phone and expense reports of several city leaders, he expected to see some big-time bills.

He did not expect one to have his name on it, however.

In a letter, Assistant City Manager MaryJane Lazz told Quidwai that his request, which took city officials three months to complete, had required “extensive” research. If he wanted them, the totals he had requested--boiled down to a simple one-page note--were available at the city clerk’s office.

But he had to pay $647.80 to get them--the city’s cost, Lazz said, of putting together the information.

Quidwai was outraged and threatened to sue.

Before he even had time to ponder his battle options, however, City Hall reversed field: Quidwai could obtain the records and an explanation of the city’s policies by simply paying the $1.70 photocopying costs.

“Justice has won out,” a triumphant Quidwai said Wednesday, still clutching the receipt. “They never told me how much it would cost or what it would take.”

Deputy City Clerk Linda Lawrence said City Manager Grant Brimhall told her to give Quidwai the information simply for the cost of making copies. Brimhall could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

“I wouldn’t call it a markdown,” she said. “The city manager just decided to have him pay for copies only.”

Even though he had obtained the information he had so long sought, Quidwai said he was actually a bit disappointed: The totals were hardly outrageous, the highest being Brimhall’s $4,667 travel expenses.

Indeed, they appeared thoroughly uninteresting in every way, Quidwai said. But, he added in his typical manner, he would get to the bottom of the matter, just to make sure.

“To be honest, these expenses look pretty reasonable,” Quidwai acknowledged. “But I’m going to go back and ask for the details.”