Public’s Support Level on Projects Detailed

THOUSAND OAKS —  City, school and park district officials have released a 230-page report outlining public support--and lack thereof--on a variety of potential public projects, such as acquiring open space, developing play fields and purchasing computers for classrooms.

“Any time [a public agency] thinks about introducing a bond that may cost the citizens money, we want to know the level of support,” said David Jorgensen, spokesman for the Conejo Recreation and Park District.

The park district, city of Thousand Oaks and Conejo Valley Unified School District shared the $16,000 tab to hire a private polling company, J. Moore Methods of Sacramento, to conduct the survey. The results were released Monday. The company in May interviewed 400 residents on what citywide projects they would back with tax dollars.

It’s too late to place bonds to pay for any of these issues on this November’s ballot, Jorgensen said, but city, school and park district officials will mull over the report and decide later what to do with the information.

Jorgensen said he can’t remember ever conducting such a survey in the nine years he has worked for the park district.

Residents chosen at random and questioned over the phone said they were most in favor of pumping additional tax dollars into police and fire protection and public schools.

There was lukewarm support for spending money on public parks and recreation facilities. More than 90% said they would consider those facilities for additional funding if they were well-maintained and accessible.

More money for libraries and land open-space acquisition fell in the middle, according to the report.

About 65% said they would rather see a property tax increase of $2 a month to fund the projects. About 20% said they would pay as much as $15 a month.

At least half of the respondents approved spending tax money to:

* Develop McCrea Ranch in the Santa Rosa Valley as a place where children can feed horses, ride horses and fish.

* Maintain existing parks and recreation facilities.

* Purchase computers for each classroom.

* Install air-conditioning and upgrade electrical and plumbing facilities in the schools.

Project ideas that were unpopular for a majority of the respondents included:

* Developing the 15-acre Conejo Creek southwest parkland on Page Lane into a neighborhood park with a tot lot and picnic facilities.

* Buying or leasing a 75-acre permanent outdoor exposition center for Conejo Valley Days.

* Building an Olympic-size community swimming pool.

Slightly more than 80% said they believe local politicians should better manage the money they already have before they ask for more funds. The report culminates a process that began in September 1995.

Copies of the report can be acquired for $10 at the Conejo Recreation and Park District at 155 Wilbur Road in Thousand Oaks. The survey results are also available at public libraries.