CITY TO CONSIDER REMOVING BARRIER AT ADULT SCHOOL.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

The City Council is set to debate again whether to remove a traffic barrier on Waverly Heights Drive that blocks the rear entrance to the Conejo Valley Adult School.

This time, the council appears poised to take down the plastic-pylon barrier the city erected in August.

After speaking with several Conejo Valley Unified School District officials, Councilman Andy Fox has decided it would be in the best interest of the city to remove the barrier. In a memo to the council, Fox cited the desire to avoid an expensive lawsuit the district has vowed to pursue. The district also has noted its intention to keep the gate closed the majority of the time.

``The community, neighborhood, school district and city will be well-served to settle this specific issue of the barricade and gate,'' Fox stated in his memo. ``Community energies can then be devoted to working together to further reduce impacts of the adult school and the needs of the school district as a whole.''

Fox could not be reached for comment Monday.

Dolores Didio, the school board's president, explained the district's position: ``It's going to be closed, and it will be open for special events. We want the option, if there is a special event, to be able to utilize that.''

The recommendation from Fox reflects a change of heart. At the Jan. 27 City Council meeting, he joined council members Elois Zeanah and Linda Parks in defeating the exact same proposal.

Residents on Waverly Heights Drive have routinely spoken out in favor of the barriers.

``There's just too many wild drivers going in and out,'' said resident Sandra Gipson, whose house sits right next to the school gate. ``You take your life in your hands just to get out of your own driveway sometimes.''

Even having the gate open just a few times a year doesn't address the basic issue, Gipson said.

``The big problem is, How do you control the people who are speeding?'' she said.

Threats of a lawsuit by the school district against the city do not faze Gipson.

In the past, Parks has stated her desire to have the city's removal of the barrier tied to a written promise from the school district to reduce enrollment at the school.

Superintendent Jerry Gross has said the school district is not willing to do that.

Didio said she already has put the promise to keep the gate closed most of the time in writing.

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the issue at its meeting at 6 p.m. today in the Forum Theatre of the Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.