THOUSAND OAKS : Mayor Changes Mind on Development Pact

One week after agreeing to negotiate exclusively with a company hoping to develop the vacant land east of the Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks Mayor Jaime Zukowski has changed her mind.

Zukowski told council members this week that she was not aware that approving the exclusive agreement Sept. 26 seemingly locks the city into building a multiplex cinema on the prime acreage.

“I thought all council members had indicated a desire to have flexibility in uses for that [agreement],” she said in an interview. Rather, she said, the 11-acre parcel should be developed for the benefit of the entire community.

Although Zukowski did not formally change her Sept. 26 vote, the disclosure puts Kilroy Industries of El Segundo on notice that it should submit a variety of land uses to the council.

In a related development, Councilwoman Elois Zeanah complained about City Atty. Mark G. Sellers’ interpretation of the state’s open-meeting law. Zeanah challenged Sellers’ claim that the council could discuss potential uses for the property behind closed doors.

“We violated the Brown Act in early 1992, and now we are in jeopardy for up to $10 million in liability,” Zeanah said, referring to ongoing litigation with local landowners about another disputed use of property.

Wednesday, Sellers stood by his interpretation of the law.

Because the ability to discuss terms for selling public property in closed session is allowed under the Brown Act, and land uses affect selling prices, public agencies can debate land uses in private, he said.

Kilroy has until the end of December to come up with a mix of uses that council members agree on for the civic center property.