TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Nader Heydari, Public Works Director
DATE:August 26, 2025
SUBJECT: Arroyo Conejo Trash Removal Project – Phase II RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize expense in the amount of $250,000 from A/C # 631-8420-682-5799 (Solid Waste Fund, Other Agencies Contracted Services) to implement the Arroyo Conejo Trash Removal Project. Funds will be paid to the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) to reimburse COSCA-contracted project expenses.
2. Find that the project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 14 CCR 15307.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. $250,000 is included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 Solid Waste Fund Budget. Minimal staff time to prepare the staff report and license agreement is included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 Solid Waste Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The Arroyo Conejo Trash Removal Project – Phase II is a continuation of an effort begun in 2024 in partnership with the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA). The project goal is to remove accumulated trash in Arroyo Conejo Creek to improve water and habitat quality. Trash is carried to the project area through the urban storm drain system, camps of unhoused individuals upstream, and encampments within the project area. During high stream flows, this trash is conveyed to the natural channel of Arroyo Conejo Creek, where it gets trapped in vegetation or deposited on stream banks. Encampments within the Arroyo Conejo Creek itself also contribute to trash accumulation.
Arroyo Conejo Trash Removal Project – Phase II
August 26, 2025
1 3
4 0
Trash impacts native habitat areas by contributing pollutants to local waterways and creating dangerous conditions for wildlife. It is also unsightly and contributes to the greater problem of litter accumulation and the increase in microplastics in the ocean and even the human food web. Removing the trash is an important part of stewarding water quality and contributing to enhanced environmental and public health.
Management and prevention of trash in local waterways is required by the State of California through both the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits granted to jurisdictions, including the City of Thousand Oaks, and the Final Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters of California to Control Trash and Part 1 Trash Provisions of the Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California. The City complies with these regulations through implementation measures within its Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System Permit (MS4 Permit).
The City has already taken proactive steps to manage trash entry into local waterways. To date, the City has installed 295 Full Capture Devices (FCDs) within Priority Land Use Areas (permit required) and an additional 48 areas that drain to Malibu Creek. FCDs are devices that capture trash before it can enter the storm drain system. The City continues to add these devices to priority areas. In addition, both the City and COSCA have undertaken enhanced efforts to manage the problem of encampments throughout the City and open space, reducing the rate of trash accumulation in waterways.
In July 2024, the City collaborated with COSCA and the Conejo Open Space Foundation to implement a pilot project to remove accumulated trash from a 2,000- foot section of Arroyo Conejo Creek and the floodplain measuring 40 feet from each streambank. The project began on COSCA property at 865 West Hillcrest and proceeded downstream. The intent of the pilot project was to determine the feasibility and cost of a larger-scale effort downstream. The pilot project was completed in under 30 days at a cost of approximately $90,000. In total, 13.4 tons of trash were removed from Arroyo Conejo Creek and floodplain. The proposed Phase II of the project will remove accumulated trash and be followed by regular maintenance to prevent future large trash accumulations.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The success of the pilot project confirmed that cleaning the creek and floodplain can be accomplished economically within a relatively short timeframe. In response, the City and COSCA propose to continue the partnership to launch the larger second phase of the project. This project will begin at the point where the pilot project ended and continue downstream for 4,300 linear feet and include an Arroyo Conejo Trash Removal Project – Phase II
August 26, 2025
1 3
4 0
enhanced 75-foot extent from each streambank. The project area is illustrated in Attachment #1.
The Solid Waste Fund is an appropriate funding source as its purpose is to support Recycling, Sustainability, Household Hazardous Waste, Community Enhancement, Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway, and the Community Enhancement Grants. This project enhances community environmental health and supports the City’s waste and water quality management goals. The trash volume in the Phase II area is higher than in the Phase I area, and vehicular access is also more difficult in the Phase II area. These factors contribute to a higher estimated cost per linear foot for this section of the stream. The overall project budget is $285,000. The COSCA Board has appropriated $35,000 to match the requested $250,000 contribution from the City.
COSCA has experience managing trash removal projects, owns the property containing the project area, and will serve in the Project Manager role and as the contracting agency. On May 14, 2025, the COSCA Board approved a contract for $285,000 with Woods Maintenance Services, Inc. to complete the project.
The project is categorically exempt from CEQA per section 15307 (actions taken to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource for protection of the environment).
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
E. Complete ring of open space around the City; protect and preserve ridgelines, natural habitat, and designated open space areas, while balancing needs for wildfire mitigation.
F. Provide and enhance essential infrastructure to ensure that the goals and policies of the Thousand Oaks General Plan are carried out and the City retains its role and reputation as a leader in protecting the environment and preserving limited natural resources.
PREPARED BY: Brian Stark, COSCA Administrator
Sarah McGurk, Sustainability Analyst
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Location Map
DPW: 810-60\ev\Council\2025\082625\Arroyo Conejo Trash Removal Project – Phase II staff report.docx