Every March, the City Council reviews our progress on housing. This year’s annual report brings a mix of significant wins and a clear-eyed look at the challenges still ahead.

After years of sluggish growth – where most new housing was small backyard cottages (ADUs) – we saw a massive jump in 2025. New units under construction increased more than fourfold compared to the previous year.

* 2024: 82 units started
* 2025: 340 units started

A major driver of this growth is the Timber School project at Newbury and Kelly Roads, construction of which is now under way.

The momentum isn't slowing down. We expect construction numbers to climb even higher next year. Three major projects – TO Ranch, Oakwell, and the 500 East T.O. Blvd. project – represent nearly 1,100 new units. This will go a long way toward clearing the city’s backlog of around 1,600 already entitled units. [1] [2]

Also, for the first time since 2021, developers broke ground on designated affordable units. This includes 26 "low-income" units and one "very low-income" unit.

What does “low income" actually mean? It’s many in our local workforce, not those in dire poverty. In Ventura County, a family of four earning almost $120,000 is considered low-income. In Thousand Oaks, the threshold is likely even higher.

While this progress is encouraging, we still have a steep hill to climb. To meet our state-mandated goals by 2029, we still need to build over 1,100 more units for low- and very-low-income residents.

While increasing the supply of homes is vital, "more housing" doesn't automatically mean "affordable housing." I believe it’s a mistake to view housing affordability only in simple supply-and-demand terms. More supply is necessary, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

As Professor Jamshid Damooei of CLU recently noted, we must also address stagnant wages and financial systems that make it harder for young families and seniors to stay in our community. [3]

Building more is a start, but we must ensure we are building the right kind of housing to keep Thousand Oaks a vibrant, livable place for everyone.

#housing #affordablehousing #thousandoaks #conejovalley #venturacounty #tocc

Interested in the Thousand Oaks Downtown Master Plan? City staff is seeking your comments on the project's draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), a comprehensive document published late last week.

The public comment period runs through April 20. Staff will include your comments in the final version of the EIR to be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council.

EIRs are wide-ranging documents, describing possible impacts on air quality, noise, public safety, traffic, and many other factors. Whenever a project is found to have a significant impact on any given area, the EIR describes how to mitigate that impact.

Just as with the six workshops held last spring, public input on the EIR is an important step as the project moves toward entitlement.

To read the draft EIR or any of its appendices, click through to the page linked in the graphic in this post. The draft EIR is under the "Documents & Recordings" column at the right.

Please send any comments to planning division manager Krystin Rice. I won't tempt the spambots by posting her email address here, but it is available on the page linked in the graphic, at the bottom of the "Documents & Recordings" column at the right.

Again, the public comment period on this draft EIR runs through April 20. Thanks in advance for your input!

#planning #urbanplanning #thousandoaks #venturacounty #tocc

https://toaks.gov/index.php?section=environmental&projectsection=5&project=85

Reminder: Public comments on the draft Active Transportation Plan – which covers ways to make our city more bike- and pedestrian-friendly – are due by this Tuesday, March 10. There’s a link to the draft and a comment form at https://www.toaksatp.org/documentation

Although the Bicycle Advisory Team (BAT) and Traffic and Transportation and Advisory Commission (TTAC) have already reviewed the draft, it’s also important to gather public input.

Please post comments on the city’s web page, not here!

#activetransportation #cycling #pedestriansafety #safestreets #thousandoaks #tocc

Consistent with its mission of protecting and enhancing open space, tonight the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency voted to acquire a half-acre parcel along S. Ventu Park Road. The parcel joins a large amount of existing open space in the surrounding area, shown in green on the map.

I'm also grateful to the COSCA board for electing me as chair for the coming year, and electing Dorothy Sullivan as vice chair.

Taking care of our beloved open space is one of the most important things we do. Here's to continued good stewardship in the year ahead!

#cosca #openspace #venturacounty #conejovalley #crpd #thousandoaks #tocc

Happy Lunar New Year!

Millions worldwide celebrate Lunar New Year as an opportunity to reunite with family and friends and celebrate traditions. 

To Thousand Oaks neighbors and friends who celebrate: May the year of the Fire Horse bring you good health, happiness, peace, and prosperity!

#lunarnewyear #springfestival #yearofthefirehorse #thousandoaks #tocc

Thousand Oaks Development Activity Report for January 2026

https://toaks.gov/corecode/storage/uber_resource/uploaded_pdfs/2026-01%20DAR_1770410238.pdf

#thousandoaks #tocc

Tonight the Thousand Oaks City Council unanimously approved its 2026 committee assignment roster.

Each councilmember represents your interests on a number of internal and external panels and commissions. These panels tie our city into regional, statewide, and national organizations where we meet colleagues, talk through issues of mutual concern, and learn of new solutions that directly benefit Thousand Oaks residents.

My assignments for the coming year include:

- Capital Facilities Committee (internal)

- Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA)

- Clean Power Alliance (CPA, also serve on CPA’s Finance Committee)

- Ventura Council of Governments (VCOG)

- Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA)

- Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD, current chair)

- National League of Cities Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee (NLC EENR)

- League of California Cities Environmental Quality Committee (Cal Cities EQ)

Most of the assignments are identical to last year’s. There are a few exceptions:

- Mayor pro tem Engler and I swapped positions on VCOG, where I now serve as primary delegate and he serves as alternate.

- Councilmember Gutierrez picks up new assignments: On the Ventura County Continuum of Care board; on NLC’s Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee (FAIR); and on the board of Community Action of Ventura County (applied for and approved by the county Board of Supervisors).

#goodgovernment #thousandoaks #tocc

Happy 2026! Wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year.

The City Council meets Tuesday, Jan. 13. There is one hearing on the agenda (link in comments), involving the sale of Hillcrest Center (401/403 Hillcrest Drive) by the city to the Conejo Recreation and Park District for $30.4 million. There’s also a consent calendar item for 2026 councilmember committee assignments.

We meet Tuesday at 6 pm in City Hall. I encourage everyone interested to attend, either in person or remotely.

#tocc

Thousand Oaks Development Activity Report for December 2025

https://toaks.gov/corecode/storage/uber_resource/uploaded_pdfs/2025-12%20DAR_1767900522.pdf

#housing #urbanplanning #thousandoaks #tocc

Happy 2026! Wishing everyone in Thousand Oaks good health, happiness, and (in between the coming storms) more enjoyment of our beautiful city.

#ThousandOaks #conejovalley #tocc

With high winds continuing and more rain on the way, the city’s Public Works team has been super busy over the holiday. Please report downed trees or other hazards you see at toaks.gov/service.

And if you see one of the crews out in white city vehicles, I’m sure they’d appreciate a word of thanks!

#wx #caxw #thousandoaks #conejovalley #publicworks #tocc

With many downed trees and first responders very busy answering calls, please stay off the roads today unless absolutely necessary.

Besides these contacts, the county’s vcemergency.com site also has updated weather and closure info. Stay dry and safe!

#wx #cawx #ThousandOaks #ConejoValley #VenturaCounty #tocc

"No one should die alone. No one should grieve alone."

These are the watchwords for the annual Hospice of the Conejo Reading of the Names ceremony, held last night at Oaks Mall.

I was honored to participate in the event, which involved the reading of more than 500 names of community members (including a few beloved pets) whom we lost in the past year. I recognized more than a few names, and found the event very meaningful. If you need help, call the hospice at 805-495-2145.

Thanks to the organizers, and to WHS's A Class Act, which began the ceremony in song.

#hospice #readingofthenames #thousandoaks #tocc

Thousand Oaks State of the City address 2025

https://youtu.be/MQcw0heCicw

#ThousandOaks #ConejoValley #civics #tocc

Nice coverage of last month’s National League of Cities panel on adaption to climate change. It was a privilege to share our experience along with Salt Lake City mayor Erin Mendenhall, Moab UT mayor Joette Langianese, and Portland, OR, councilor Candace Avalos.

One nit: I view our namesake oaks as an asset, not a liability! We face far bigger fire risk from non-native stuff such as fan palms and arundo grasses.

#extremeheat #climatechange #adaptability #sustainabilty #thousandoaks #resilience #tocc

https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/climate-change-cities-sustainability-nlc/807562/

Tonight the @conejoopenspace board voted 5-0 to remove 23 Mexican fan palms from open space west of Lynn between Arboles and Flores, near Shenandoah.

VCFD recommended the removals because these trees contain highly flammable dead fronds and can send burning embers flying.

COSCA is seeking funding for the eventual removal of all Mexican fan palms and arundo grass, both non-native species, from the roughly 12,700 acres of open space it manages.

#WildfirePrevention #openspace #cosca #crpd #ThousandOaks #tocc

Preserving and enhancing open space is one of the most important things I do. Two recent news items on the conservation front:

1. Friday I joined a standing-room-only crowd at the annual fundraiser for the Conejo Open Space Foundation (COSF), which uses education and advocacy to promote and protect natural spaces. Here, secretary/founding director Elayne Haggan photographs one of the volunteers from a group that offers free removal of snakes without killing them. I'll post a link and also share an informative FB post from the group in comments. COSF also recognized Brian Stark, administrator of the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, for his years of work protecting our natural environment.

2. Today, on the city's behalf, I signed a letter of support for the Rim of the Valley initiative that would add nearly 200,000 acres to the Santa Monica National Recreation Area, mostly to our north and east, creating a true ring of green around our entire area. The city has supported this initiative for several years running. I'll post a link with more information in comments.

#openspace #conservation #thousandoaks #conejovalley #santamonicamountains #cosca #cosf #samofund #tocc

More than 3,000 runners took part in this year’s Turkey Day Dash at California Lutheran University. Proceeds will benefit the Boy Scouts, the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks Foundation, and Hospice of the Conejo. Thanks to all who turned out, snd to Five07 Coffee Bar for organizing.

It was a privilege to join COSCA analyst Anna Huber and local cycling hero Jack Nosco as a pacer for the runners.
#thanksgiving #grateful #thousandoaks #tocc

How does the Clean Power Alliance’s credit rating affect you? As a joint-powers authority governed by two counties and 36 municipalities, CPA benefits from a great credit rating by financing clean-energy projects on more favorable terms – ultimately resulting in reduced costs for Thousand Oaks ratepayers.

When it obtained an A- rating in 2023, the CPA estimated it would save around $20 million/year. It’s done such a good job with energy and fiscal management since then that Standard and Poors just upgraded that rating to A.

One result of HR1, the federal tax bill enacted this past summer, is that the overall energy supply is likely to become dirtier and more expensive in the medium term, according to CPA CEO Ted Bardacke.

Given that backdrop, it’s up to municipal governments to do all we can to ensure a ready supply of cleaner and less expensive energy.

#CreditRating #renewableenergy #climate #energy #cleanpower #cca #thousandoaks #venturacounty #tocc

At the National League of Cities’ annual conference in Salt Lake City, I took part in a panel discussion on extreme heat and what we can do to design cities for a more resilient future. ICLEI USA moderator Jess Grannis encouraged Salt Lake City mayor Erin Mendenhall; Moab, UT, mayor Joette Langianese; and Portland, OR, councilor Candace Avalos to share thoughtful strategies on mitigating climate change for all residents. I had a few things to say too.

📷: Mina Layba

#climate #extremeheat #sustainability #climatechange #renewableenergy #thousandoaks #nlc #leagueofcities #tocc