Firm to Offer Audit Plan for Plaza, Plant

The City Council tonight will hear a proposal by Price Waterhouse on how--and for how much--the accounting firm would perform audits of the Civic Arts Plaza finances and the $75-million expansion of the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Thousand Oaks council members voted 3 to 1 at a meeting last month to pursue audits of the two issues, which have been the subject of a fierce political debate. Councilwoman Elois Zeanah voted against the audits, and Councilwoman Jaime Zukowski was unable to attend the meeting.

The council majority of Mayor Andy Fox and council members Mike Markey and Judy Lazar say the audits are necessary to restore the public’s trust in city government. They think Zeanah and Zukowski have sullied the city’s reputation with unfounded claims of mismanagement and corruption.

Zukowski and Zeanah strongly deny that they have ever made accusations without evidence. They say that questioning city officials is part of their role as elected watchdogs.

Zeanah, who voted against the audit last month despite having demanded an audit numerous times in the past, said Friday that she still supports a detailed examination of the city’s finances.

She voted against the audits last month because she thinks the council acted in haste for political reasons, refusing to take the time needed to iron out the scope of the audits, she said.

Zeanah asked the City Council to cancel the special meeting with Price Waterhouse and instead reopen the audit discussion to determine what the scope of the probes should be.