THOUSAND OAKS : Builders’ Fees to Rise for Fire Stations

The Thousand Oaks City Council on Tuesday agreed to levy higher fees on new development to pay the city’s share of upgrading fire stations, but only on the condition that the money go for facilities that directly serve the city.

The fees are designed to raise a total of $4.7 million from the cities of Camarillo, Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, and from unincorporated east county territory. The new levies will pay for construction of four new fire stations and relocation of two others. Two of the new stations will serve portions of Thousand Oaks: one in North Ranch on Kanan and Upper Ranch roads, and one in the Santa Rosa Valley.

During a half-hour debate, Councilmen Alex Fiore and Frank Schillo and Mayor Judy Lazar expressed concern that Thousand Oaks may be subsidizing services for other cities.

Schillo argued that the city should consider breaking away from the fire district and funding its own department.

But Assistant Fire Chief Bob Roper responded that an upgraded, state-of-the-art system serves everyone within the district, because engines from several different fire stations respond to emergencies.

The new fees charge developers of mobile home parks about $139 per unit, of apartments $171 per unit, and of single-family residences $232 per unit. Commercial and industrial space will be charged at 11 cents per square foot.