Area Gets High Marks in Survey

Either optimism is up or circumstances in the Conejo Valley have improved in the past five years, suggests Thousand Oaks’ 1999 Attitude Survey.

Compared with the city’s previous survey five years ago, more residents enjoy living and working in the Conejo Valley and find more adequate job opportunities.

The results of the survey, which polled residents on their feelings about the city, along with present and potential future issues, will be presented to the City Council on Tuesday. Thousand Oaks mailed the 60-question surveys randomly to 11,000 households in October, with 3,300 people, or 30%, responding.

“It doesn’t come as a surprise to me,” said Councilman Andy Fox. “The city officials and staff and community have worked very hard over the past 30 years to realize the many benefits that we all have living here in Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Valley.”

The city’s safety and its strong school system are two of the biggest reasons people said they liked living in the area, Fox said.

But while people are generally happy with the city, they still look for improvements.

When asked which of 24 improvements the area needs now, residents voted most to enhance Thousand Oaks Boulevard. The boulevard received the second-most votes when residents were asked which of 26 areas they would be willing to channel additional tax dollars.

Residents also believe that more needs to be done regarding affordable housing.

Seventy-one percent of respondents said they would be willing to have additional tax dollars used for more affordable housing for seniors, and 54.7% said they’d be willing to do the same for young adults.

Affordable-housing proponents are glad to hear it.

“That’s good news,” said Doug Tapking, executive director of the Ventura County Area Housing Authority.

Nearly 69% of the respondents said they believed the city should have a restaurant rating system for health and safety issues, and 51.5% said the city should initiate red-light camera enforcement at its major intersections.