SAFETY CODES WEIGHED; SLAYING PRODS REVIEW.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - Troubled by the recent gang slaying of a teen-ager in Conejo Creek, the City Council tonight will consider beefing up enforcement of health and safety codes as a way to improve the quality of life for residents in the working-class neighborhood.

Pointing to the success of a city crackdown on overcrowding and substandard homes that began 10 years ago, officials said the new proposals will further help homeowners and tenants of the 540-home condominium complex.

``There is tremendous progress but much more needs to be made,'' Deputy City Manager Scott Mitnick said Monday. ``There's still a long way to go but the city is willing to work with that community to bring even more positive improvements over the next few years.

``The shootings, as unfortunate and as tragic they are, occurred at a time when the complex was on the rebound,'' he said.

A package of proposals is being considered for improving the 30-year- old complex, where some residents asked for more police patrols in the wake of the April shootings.

While the council last month rejected a proposal to station an officer full time in the neighborhood, it now will consider ordering inspectors to check inside homes for building and safety violations to improve the neighborhood. Some of the proposals would be put in place citywide.

``Code enforcement is the key that speaks to the quality of life in an area,'' said Mayor Dennis Gillette.

``The codes are in place to provide continuity, stability and if the ordinances are being violated - if there is large-scale overcrowding, if there are things being done to create additional tension in the neighborhood - we have to be aware of it . . . and develop a strategy to respond to it.''

The proposal also recommends that a city-owned unit now used for an interim neighborhood resource center be turned over to the homeowners association. The group could sell it, and use the proceeds to buy a bigger unit to house the center, Mitnick said.

City staffers noted that the center, which offers a range of community resources, has been instrumental in achieving a more than 50 percent home ownership rate among residents, which helps reduce complaints of overcrowding.

Overcrowding in the past would lead to confrontations over limited parking and fights between people hanging around outside, the staff said.

Property values are increasing in the neighborhood because of the improvements - units now sell for $100,000, officials said.

``People are buying them,'' said acting Thousand Oaks Police Chief Keith Parks. ``It's not landlord, but owner occupants, so we think that is a long-term solution to many of the issues going on in Conejo Creek.''

Parks also said the department hopes a fledging Neighborhood Watch program will lead to more improvements.

``Neighborhood Watch is probably the strongest way to change a neighborhood as far as to help regain a sense of safety and sense of community,'' he said.

Councilwoman Linda Parks, whose proposal for reinstating a police officer in Conejo Creek was defeated by her peers, said she supports most elements of the plan.

``Obviously I do want to see stepped-up police presence,'' said Parks, who is not related to the police commander. ``You kind of fight fire with fire when you have a major crime.''

Parks, however, disagrees with a proposal for the city attorney to revise an existing ordinance that prohibits overcrowding in rental dwellings. She said the overcrowding ordinance has been effective and has never been challenged in court.

Some officials fear the law is legally unenforceable because it is stricter than state law.