Street Number Painting on Your Curb in Thousand Oaks

/
curbaddresspainting.jpeg

Did you ever wonder about those notices taped to your mailbox asking for $20 to paint a new curb address at your house? I think I paid $10 one time years ago and they did do a good job (and it saved me the time and effort of attempting to do it myself).

But these notices never seem to have a name or phone number on them. Just mysteriously taped to my mailbox.

According to the Thousand Oaks Public Works Department at 805.449.2400, this practice requires an encroachment permit and to date no one has filed for one.  The permit costs $320 (in 2022 - it was $126 in 2017) for an entrepreneur, or no cost for non-profit organizations and fundraisers (booster clubs, etc.).  The permit is good for a year.

Public Works requires that the provider's name and number be indicated on the notice.

More information at www.toaks.org/home/showdocument?id=692.

Anyone can paint their own curb address.  The numbers must be at least 3 inches high (preferably 4 inches), stenciled in black on white background.  It must cover up the previous numbers but if there weren't any, they must be within 3 feet of the driveway on the same side as the house.

The recent notice offered an American flag in full color painted along with the address for an extra $5.  This is very patriotic and if everyone did it would be quite cool, but technically the City only allows numbers on the curb, no images.  So fly the flag high but don't be painting it on the curb.

You are now educated on the topic of curb address painting in Thousand Oaks.

Originally posted in January 2009. Updated August 2017. and 2022.

Level 4 Emergency Water Conservation Measures Go Into Effect by June 1, 2022 (Conejo Valley Water Providers)

/

Here is a compilation of Level 4 water conservation measures issued by local water providers in the Conejo Valley and some surrounding areas that are to go into effect on June 1, 2022.

California American Water Announcement:

Due to the significant statewide drought conditions severely reducing water supplies to Southern California Emergency Water Conservation Measures will go into effect on June 1, 2022.

The Metropolitan Water District and Calleguas Municipal Water District (California American Water’s wholesaler) have passed down requirements to limit watering to one-day-per-week.

On June 1, 2022, California American Water’s Ventura County District customers should follow the below updated watering schedule.

Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Camarillo Customers Watering Schedule

ONE-DAY-A-WEEK
Residential Odd Address (Addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9): Saturday
Residential Even Address (Addresses ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, 0): Sunday
Non-residential (including multi-family apartments, retail and commercial properties, churches, schools, and parks): Wednesday
No Watering Monday through Friday for Residential Properties
To avoid evaporation, we recommend customers please water outdoors before 9:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m.
Watering is limited to a total of 15 minutes per station per allowed day
Hand watering with a garden hose/nozzle and Low-flow irrigation systems (Including drip irrigation and micro spray) that emits less than two gallons per hour are exempt from day of week and time limitation except for irrigation of turf
Turf grass irrigation (irrigation timer or garden hose) only permissible on allowed watering day

www.amwater.com/caaw/Conservation/District-Resources/Ventura/

City of Thousand Oaks Water Announcement on May 25th

City of Thousand Oaks Water announced the adoption of Level 4 water conservation measures effective immediately. The city indicates it must reduce water use by 50% to avoid banning all outdoor water use later this year. More details at www.toakswater.org.

Irrigation

  1. Watering hours: NO watering allowed between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

  2. Watering days: One day per week; Saturday for odd-numbered addresses and Sunday for even-numbered (and no) addresses.

  3. Extra irrigation day for specific permitted uses: Wednesday is the allowed extra day for active playing fields, active play areas at licensed daycare centers, golf course greens and fairways, school play fields, vegetable gardens less than 300 SF, engineered slopes, and fuel modification zones.

  4. Trees and shrubs: Hand-watering is allowed on additional days to keep trees and shrubs alive, as necessary. Hand-watering includes the use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device.

  5. Fix leaks, breaks, or malfunctions within 48 hours.

  6. No excessive water runoff or overspray.

  7. Rainfall: No irrigation during and within 48 hours after rainfall measuring 0.25 inches or more.

  8. Low volume system: Irrigating with other than low volume systems or hand-watering is prohibited except for active school and public playing fields, active play areas at licensed daycare centers, golf course greens and fairways, engineered slopes, and fuel modification zones.

  9. Sprinkler systems: Traditional sprinklers (other than low volume) may be used only until July 31, 2022, to provide 60 days for transitioning sprinkler systems to low volume. Sprinklers are subject to the one day per week watering restriction with a limit of 15-minutes of watering per irrigation zone.

Other Requirements

  1. No washing down hard or paved surfaces.

  2. Vehicle washing: Use of potable water for washing vehicles at home, by mobile services, and for community events is prohibited.

  3. Water misters: Use of water misters is prohibited.

  4. Swimming pool covers: Outdoor swimming pools shall be covered when not in use.

  5. Swimming pools and spas: Draining and re-filling pools and spas of more than one foot with potable water is prohibited. A City waiver is required to drain pools and spas for leak repairs.

  6. Ornamental lakes, ponds, or running-water features: Filling or re-filling ornamental lakes, ponds, or running-water features with potable water is prohibited, except to sustain aquatic life of significant value.

  7. Dust Suppression: Potable water use for dust suppression is prohibited unless approved through a City waiver.

See full press release at www.toaks.org/Home/Components/News/News/13578/993.

California Water Service Announcement:

(Cal Water's Westlake District was formed in 1983 with the purchase of the Westlake Water Company. Cal Water purchases imported surface water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) through Calleguas Municipal Water District.)

Stage 2 Irrigation Day Restrictions:

  • Street address ending in odd number: Watering allowed on Tuesday and Saturday

  • Street address ending in even number or no number: Watering allowed on Wednesday and Sunday

  • Exceptions: Landscape that uses exclusively drip and/or micro-spray irrigation systems, irrigating with hand-held bucket or similar container, with continuously monitored hose fitted with shut-off nozzle.

  • Penalties: 1st violation - real-time water measurement device installed on customer meter. 2nd violation $50 penalty. 3rd violation $100 penalty. 4th violation or egregious violation - flow restricting device installed.

  • Conservation rebates for high efficiency clothes washer, toilet, smart irrigation controller, high efficiency sprinkler nozzles, lawn to garden and spray to drip.

  • Lawn to garden program: $3 per sq ft of lawn removed, with 50% converted to drought-tolerant landscaping.

  • Spray to drip program: $.50 per sq ft of landscaping converted from standard spray irrigation system to drip system.

calwater.com/conservation and calwater.com/drought

Calleguas Municipal Water District Announcement:

(Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas) operates as a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan). Metropolitan provides Calleguas with imported water supplies, which Calleguas in turn distributes on a wholesale basis to water agencies that serve the communities and cities (Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme) in southeast Ventura County. Imported water supplies account for approximately 80 percent of all potable water uses in this area.)

Mandatory Irrigation Watering Schedule for Ventura County Waterworks Districts 1 (Moorpark), 17 (Bell Canyon), 19 (Somis) and 38 (Lake Sherwood) Customers

  • Even numbered addresses: Sundays only

  • Odd numbered addresses: Saturdays only

  • Only applies to non-functional, ornamental turf (lawns) and excludes turf located in parks, sports fields, and school playground fields.

  • Hand watering or efficient drip irrigation of trees, shrubs and/or plants is permitted as needed to support their health and ability to recover.

  • No irrigation between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

  • Irrigate no more than 15 minutes per zone (does not apply to low-flow drip irrigation).

  • Does not apply to areas that are irrigated with recycled water.

  • Applies to all customer classifications except agriculture.

  • Residential Swimming Pools and Spas: Refilling of more than one foot and initial filling of residential swimming pools and spas is prohibited. Those with an already approved building permit (as of 5/31/22) for a pool or spa are exempt from this prohibition.

  • Penalties: 1st violation - written notice of violation. 2nd violation - $100 if within 12 months of 1st violation. 3rd violation - $250. 4th violation - $500.

www.vcpublicworks.org/wsd/waterconservation

Fourteen Percent Increase in Registered Voters in Ventura County Since May 2019

/

The Ventura County Registrar of Voters website has up to date counts showing the number of registered voters in Ventura County. From time to time we like to take a look at that data and compare it to prior years.

On May 11, 2022, there were 506,028 registered voters in Ventura County, a 14% increase in three years. Here is the breakdown by affiliation:

  • 219,956 Democrats (a 24% increase since 2019) (43% of all registered voters)

  • 143,227 Republicans (a 10% increase) (28% of all registered voters)

  • 105,961 Nonpartisans (a 4% decrease) (21% of all registered voters)

  • 36,884 Other (a 31% increase) (8% of all registered voters)

In May 2019, there were 445,217 registered voters, including:

  • 176,712 Democrats

  • 130,228 Republicans

  • 110,225 Nonpartisans

  • 28,052 Other

On May 12, 2012, there were 406,644 registered voters in Ventura County, consisting of:

  • 157,539 Democrats

  • 150,919 Republicans

  • 77,994 Nonpartisans

  • 20,192 Other

Can’t remember if you are eligible to vote? Look it up at THIS LINK. What I’ve found with this Voter Eligibility Search function is that, unlike a search engine, your search terms have to be precise. If you are registered as Richard King, if you type Rich King into the search, it will not find you.

Register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov.

Breaking News: City of Thousand Oaks to be Renamed City of Westbury Oaks

/

Breaking news! City of Thousand Oaks announces its new name, Westbury Oaks!

Incorporated in 1964, the City of Thousand Oaks expanded in the 1960s and 1970s to include two-thirds of Westlake Village and most of Newbury Park. However, the name Thousand Oaks remained the same.

Yesterday, after years of petitioning by local residents, City Council announced the renaming of the city to better reflect its components.

According to city spokesperson Ivana Fulya, Westbury Oaks beat out the other two top choices, Thousand Newlakes and Bury Thousandvillages by a slim margin.

Joe King of Westlake Village remarked, "Everyone's always been confused about where we live. Is it Westlake Village or is it Thousand Oaks? Now we'll all be one big happy, less confused family of Westbury Oaks residents!"

CVUSD representative Jess Kiddeen added "Thousand Oaks, Westlake and Newbury Park High Schools will be renamed Westbury Oaks I, Westbury Oaks II and Westbury Oaks III, respectively in light of this fantastic change."

Descendants of Egbert Starr Newbury, namesake of Newbury Park, had no comment.

New Eateries Coming Soon to the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County as We Enter 2022

/

Here we are in mid-December 2021, 18 months into the coronavirus pandemic and looking forward to good tidings in 2022. Here’s a compilation of some of the new local eateries that opened in the Conejo Valley and surrounding areas in 2021 and eateries that are anticipated to be opening soon in the new year.

New Eateries That Opened in 2021

Restoration Work at Potrero Creek at Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park

/

For months, the National Park Service has coordinated, with the help of dozens of community volunteers and other organizations, native plant restoration at Potrero Creek at Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park.

The creek is home to a young native oak woodland, along with milkweed visited by monarch butterflies and various other native plants used by dozens of local birds, insects and other wildlife. Volunteers have planted hundreds of plants grown from locally collected seed and watered hundreds of oak trees along the creek. You can see their work in this video. It will be interesting to see how the landscape changes over the coming decades as a result of this work.

To participate in other restoration events, including current work being done at Paramount Ranch, visit the Santa Monica Mountains Fund event signup page at www.eventbrite.com/o/santa-monica-mountains-fund-15433390756.

OVER 60 LOCAL AREA HIKES AND TRAILS IN VENTURA COUNTY AND ADJACENT AREAS

Restaurants That Opened and Restaurants That Closed in the Conejo Valley During the Pandemic

/

The World Health Organization labeled COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, when there were 118,000 reported cases in 114 countries, leading to 4,291 deaths. The state of California was placed on “Stay at Home” orders, effective March 19, 2020. The rest is history.

Meanwhile, we’ve been tracking eateries in the Conejo Valley, including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Agoura Hills and portions of Calabasas that opened and closed since the pandemic began.

Eateries That Opened Since the Pandemic Began

Wingstop at Janss Marketplace Thousand Oaks (Opened Mid-April)

Nick the Greek Souvlaki & Gyro House at North Ranch Mall in Westlake Village (May 2021)

Cork Dork Wine Bar in Westlake Village (May 20. 2021)

Fierce Ave Korean BBQ in Newbury Park (2021)

Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen in Agoura Hills (January 2021)

O’t Bistro Asian Comfort Food at Janss Marketplace (March 2021)

Bagelicious Cafe at Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills (December 2020)

Agoura Wine & Beer Co at Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills

Drive-Thru Starbucks at Janss Marketplace (January 2021)

E+MON Sushi and Ramen at the Westlake Commons (December 2020)

Siblings Bakery in Thousand Oaks (January 2021)

Chef Danny’s Naru Bento at Janss Marketplace (November 2020)

Leone’s Original Italian Ices in Thousand Oaks (November 2020)

Porta Via at The Commons at Calabasas (September 2020)

Limena Peruvian Eatery in Thousand Oaks (July 2020)

Urban Vejjie at The Shoppes at Westlake (June 23, 2020; but closed in 2021)

Sage Plant Based Bistro & Brewery in Agoura Hills (May 2020)

Peebee & Jay’s Newbury Park (May 2020)

La Esquina Mexican Grill in Thousand Oaks (June 2020)

Armando’s Tacos Thousand Oaks (Fall 2020)

Pedals & Pints Brewing Company Thousand Oaks (March 17, 2020)

Eateries That Announced They are Opening Soon

The Waffle Experience in Newbury Park (Coming Soon)

Valentino’s Take & Bake Pizza in Thousand Oaks (Coming Soon)

Wild Fork Foods - Meat & Seafood Market in Thousand Oaks (Coming Soon)

Azuki Tea at North Ranch Shopping Center in Westlake Village (Coming Soon)

Viet Kitchen at The Village at Newbury Park (Opening Soon)

Amy’s Drive Thru Organic Fast Food in Thousand Oaks (Early 2022)

Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers at The Commons at Calabasas (Summer 2021)

The Waffle Experience in Newbury Park (Coming Soon)

Furn Saj Lebanese Bakery at The Summit at Calabasas (Now Open - Late May)

Everbowl at the North Ranch Mall in Westlake Village (Coming Soon)

Salsa & Beer Mexican Food in Calabasas (Coming Soon)

Parma Pizzeria to open Agoura Hills Location (Coming Soon)

Caribbean Haven in Thousand Oaks (Coming Soon)

Chakaa Tea Cafe in Newbury Park (Coming Soon)

sweetgreen at The Promenade at Westlake (Coming Soon)

Eateries That Closed Permanently

Flame Broiler in Newbury Park

Lemonade Restaurant at The Promenade at Westlake (Feb 21, 2021)

Mimi’s Cafe Thousand Oaks (February 2021)

Currying Flavors in Agoura Hills (Late 2020)

Roma Italian Deli in Newbury Park (November 2020)

Currying Flavors in Agoura Hills (Fall 2020)

Champagne French Bakery at The Promenade at Westlake (Summer 2020)

Jack’s Donuts Thousand Oaks (August 2020)

Champagne French Bakery at The Promenade at Westlake (Summer 2020)

Taco Bell Westlake Village (July 2020)

Pizza Rev at The Oaks mall (Summer 2020)

Edelweiss German Bierhaus in Newbury Park (June 2020)

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks (May 2020)

Peet’s Coffee in Westlake Village

Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers in Westlake Village (March 2020)

Starbucks on Moorpark Road (closed, but re-opened up the street as a drive-thru)

E.T. Donuts in Thousand Oaks

Flatiron Bagel in Thousand Oaks

Eateries That Closed Temporarily, Possibly Permanently (TBD)

Stacked at The Oaks mall

Red Robin at The Oaks mall

Pitfire Pizza in Westlake Village

Hot Dog on a Stick at The Oaks mall