ROCK SOLID: Thousand Oaks has long prided...

ROCK SOLID: Thousand Oaks has long prided itself on strict design standards that govern everything from building colors to roofing material. Now it turns out that the city itself has a firmer foundation than surrounding areas. Most of Thousand Oaks is built on bedrock, geologists say, making it less likely to sustain major damage in an earthquake (B1). . . . Flatter parts of the county aren’t so lucky: The soft soil does not absorb seismic shock waves well.

HOME COURT: Ventura County judges say they’re too busy at the Hall of Justice in Ventura to send a couple of full-fledged jurists to the little-used Simi Valley courthouse, as requested by east county attorneys. Another factor may be the long commute they’d have to make. Only three of 25 judges live east of the Conejo Grade, and none live in Simi Valley. . . . Ventura is the address preferred by 13 judges. Another favorite: Ojai Valley, where seven judges live. . . . Three of the five courtrooms at the $11-million Simi Valley courthouse are unused.

SAFE SEATS: To get the best view of Ojai’s Fifth of July parade (B1), some people arrive at 6 a.m. But rather than wait four hours, most of the early birds set up their lawn chairs and go back home until parade time. In the low-crime village, residents can count on their chairs being unmolested, Deputy Gilbert White said. “For Ojai, that’s just typical.”

DEDICATED DOGS: While faulting county officials for giving some employees too much in pay and benefits, the Ventura County grand jury’s final report threw a bone to some public servants that don’t get paid at all: the 15 police dogs used by the Sheriff’s Department and five police agencies. The panel found that the dogs are well-trained and rarely cause injuries that result in lawsuits. Jurors were also impressed that off-duty dogs are always on call. . . . No doubt a little punchy after writing 192 pages on local government, the panel couldn’t resist a pun: Police dogs “give the taxpayers the most bark for their buck.”