CHAMBER WELCOMES SAVIOR'S AID; OFFER SHOULD ALLOW GROUP TO RETAIN HEADQUARTERS.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer

When Robert Barker strolled into the Chamber of Commerce with a large check in hand and good intentions last week, he became the savior of the financially strapped business group.

About five months in arrears on mortgage payments on its 2,900-square-foot building on Hillcrest and Lynn roads, the chamber welcomed Barker's offer to bring the loan up to date.

And when the 71-year-old contractor and longtime resident of Thousand Oaks proposed to pay off the rest of the loan and take over the building - with the promise of re-leasing it to the chamber indefinitely - it was an offer the chamber couldn't refuse.

``It certainly brings our financial condition back to a very healthy status, and it allows us to pay off all of our debts and even have some cash in our reserves,'' said Larry Carignan, president-elect of the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce.

A close call for the chamber.

Just days before Barker made his magnanimous entrance, the Thousand Oaks City Council had voted to take over the chamber building - without the promise of leasing it back to the group.

Under the terms of a 1989 contract the chamber negotiated with the city, the city assumed the role of guarantor and agreed to step in should the group default on its monthly mortgage payments. That agreement also gave the city the right to repurchase the building for a price equal to the balance of the loan.

Chamber representatives admit that they expected to secure a lease to retain their current building as the city's meeting spot and headquarters for local business people to connect.

``There was some surprise when the city reacted to take over the building without necessarily leasing it back to us,'' Carignan said.

``Certainly, the city had that right under the contract agreement,'' he added. ``But if that was to be, all of our members who had pledged money and helped with donations during the building campaign - that whole investment in our building would have been lost.''

The city had one week between the March 24 council meeting to make the deadline set by the bank to bring the chamber's mortgage payments up to date, said John Putnam, executive vice president for Los Robles Bank, the chamber's lender.

``They had until March 31. But in the meantime, the chamber had apparently found a buyer that would allow them to stay there. As long as the city had not paid, the buyer could step in and alleviate the city of its obligation,'' he said.

When Barker made his offer, the city had not yet transferred any funds. And there began a brief race to the bank between private and public funds for the property and building at 625 W. Hillcrest.

Called a bail-out by some and a good real estate investment by others, the question of whether the city should take over the chamber's property at all sparked controversy among city leaders. Some members questioned the city's use of public funds in the chamber - a nonprofit group but a private organization nonetheless.

At a March 24 meeting, the issue was discussed for more than an hour before the council voted 3-1, with one council member abstaining, to follow city staff's recommendation and purchase the building.

Mayor Pro Tem Linda Parks, who opposed the proposal, said she was relieved to hear of Barker's generous offer to help the chamber.

``I think it's wonderful. It sounds like the city won't have to step up to bat and buy the building,'' Parks said. ``I like the idea of keeping private and public separate.''

So did Barker.

``It is the intention of the buyer to purchase this building so that the Chamber of Commerce may remain there and public funds are not used for a private entity,'' said Cleon Strawmyer, a Simi Valley-based real estate agent and Barker's spokesman.

With Barker's offer, the city will be able to retain in its coffers the more than $500,000 it would have cost to take over the building, said Robert Biery, finance director for the city.

``When the bank withdrew its demand notice from the city, we were relieved of our responsibilities,'' Biery said. ``If the deal with the private party (Barker) does not go through, the city would again assume responsibility.''

The Chamber's negotiations with Barker still depend on several variables. For one, the chamber's general membership will have to approve the sale and is scheduled to vote on May 1 at a group function.

Additionally, the contract between the city and the chamber requires the City Council to vote on the sale of the property. Chamber officials said they expected to send a letter asking the City Council to consider the deal on Friday.

The letter also asks the council to consider waiving a zoning restriction outlined in the 1989 contract, which states that ``the premises shall remain unsubdivided and used solely as one residential lot'' should the chamber sell the building and property to a third party.

``That was done because when the contract was negotiated, neighbors in the area (of Lynn Ranch) were not supportive of putting a commercial building on that parcel,'' Biery said. ``They were willing to accept the chamber's use but they wanted to be sure it couldn't be turned into something greater.''

The City Council is expected to consider the issue next month. Strawmyer said he hopes the city realizes Barker's intent is not to use the land commercially.

As a Lynn Ranch resident, in fact, Barker's intent is to preserve a parcel generally considered to be located at a key intersection in the city and in a sensitive area bridging the city with the unincorporated outlying pocket of Lynn Ranch.

``It is his hope that the City Council will have no problem releasing their obligations on this property and have the zoning remain public land so that the chamber may remain in this building,'' Strawmyer said.

If approved by the council and by the chamber's membership, the transfer could be made before Sept. 10.