Countywide : Officials of 3 Cities to Go to Conference

City officials and council members from Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Oxnard plan to attend the National League of Cities conference in Washington this weekend--at a cost of $12,304.

The seven Simi Valley officials, three Thousand Oaks representatives and the Oxnard mayor were to leave Thursday or today for the five-day conference.

Thousand Oaks plans to spend $4,200 on the trip, while Simi Valley has budgeted $7,844 for travel and other expenses.

Oxnard Mayor Nao Takasugi has agreed to pay for the trip out of his own pocket, but the city has paid the mayor’s $260 registration fee.

According to Maryjane Lazz, assistant city manager of Thousand Oaks, the conference is among the most important meetings city officials attend annually.

“It is an opportunity elected officials can get together and learn what is happening in Washington and in other cities,” Lazz said. “It is a place where we can pick up some good tips.”