The city is planning to give a $1.1-million facelift to the First Street interchange in the form of landscape improvements, and Simi's other gateways will receive similar beautification treatment later on.

At its Aug. 8 meeting, the City Council authorized the solicitation of construction bids for the First Street project—upon receipt of Caltrans' project approvals and permits—and identified Madera Road and Yosemite Avenue as its future interchange priorities.

The council identified these three interchanges because they have the greatest visual impact in the community, Councilmember Steve Sojka said.

"It's not about planting flowers, it's about creating aesthetics, creating pride in our community when you come to Simi Valley," Sojka said.

He added that First Street is a good place to start because it is a major access point to Simi Town Center.

According to a staff report, the Streets and Roads program includes funding to enhance the landscaping at various freeway interchanges along the 118 Freeway. The budget for projects is about $2.4 million, which includes $1.9 million in federal funding and a required local match of $500,000.

Though it may seem like landscaping would not be a big priority for a city with a tight budget, public works director Ron Fuchiwaki said the funds used for the landscape enhancements do not cut into the city's other projects or programs.

"The monies being expended on this project are restricted for this use only," he said. "These are monies that have been designated for this specific project and we can't redirect them for other needs."

The First Street project's $1.1million price tag includes maintenance of the landscape for the first year, but upkeep will cost an additional $125,000 annually for the following two years.

City staff has requested that the Ventura County Transportation Commission approve the transfer of close to $800,000 of surplus funds from the 118 Soundwall and Erringer Road Improvement Project to these interchange projects.

If this transfer is approved, the interchange projects would have a total budget of $3.2 million, a staff report said.

Yosemite Avenue and Madera Road improvements have an estimated cost of $1 million each.

Three more interchanges are due for partial landscape upgrades: Erringer Road, Sycamore Drive and Stearns Street.

Each interchange project will be brought to the City Council for consideration in the future.

However, right now the city's main focus is First Street, Madera Road and Yosemite Avenue, Fuchiwaki said, because they serve as entry points to the city.

"When you drive by First (Street), it's pretty barren," as compared to other interchanges that have some trees and artscapes, he said.

The proposed design for First Street would incorporate lowmaintenance, drought-tolerant plants and trees to conform to Caltrans standards, which must be met in order for Caltrans to accept maintenance responsibility after three years.

Fuchiwaki said the First Street project should take about six months to complete. But he said the city will probably not start construction until spring/summer 2009.

Because federal funds are involved, Caltrans must go through an extensive approval process that includes reviewing landscape design and specifications and issuing an encroachment permit.

Sojka was happy to give the go-ahead on the First Street and future interchange projects, even envisioning Rotary and Kiwanis clubs someday adopting portions of the highway and adding to the landscaping.

"This is just the beginning," he said. "I'm excited because we've been working on this for 10 years since I've been here and it's finally coming to fruition."