THOUSAND OAKS : Mayor Wants City Information On-Line

If Thousand Oaks’ Mayor Elois Zeanah has her way, residents will soon be able to turn on their home computers and plug into a vast array of municipal information, from what’s on next week’s City Council agenda to which projects are up for bid in the city.

The mayor has organized a committee of City Hall workers, herself and three community members to study the feasibility of an electronics bulletin board, accessible and free to city residents who have a computer modem.

“This would help bring the city into the electronic age,” Zeanah said. “Instead of residents traveling down to City Hall, using up paper and taking city and staff time, they’ll just turn on their computers.”

Zeanah hopes to put meeting agendas and staff reports on the bulletin board, as well as permit applications that may be downloaded onto personal computers and announcements of the various projects up for bid.

The bid announcements, she said, “would help local businesses know what services the city needs and will help us buy local more.”

Zeanah said she could not give an estimate on the project but she believes it would not be very expensive. If her fellow council members approve it, she expects to have the bulletin board up and running by the spring.

Moorpark and Simi Valley already have electronic bulletin boards set up. According to officials at both cities, the cost of creating the service depends on how much computer equipment, modems and phone lines the city already has on hand.