Agoura Hills City Hall will expand hours with relocation

Once criticized for keeping its doors open just four days a week, Agoura Hills City Hall is going back on a five-day workweek.

In 1993, the Agoura Hills City Council reduced government operating hours from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.

Councilmembers said the shortened workweek complied with government requirements to reduce employee vehicle trips, but also gave the building trades longer hours in the day to apply for permits.

"With the pending move to the new city hall approaching, staff feels that foot traffic in the new building will increase due to its proximity to the new library," said Dave Adams, Agoura Hills city manager.

"Combined with the fact that the Air Quality District has repealed the trip reduction guidelines, a change in office hours is appropriate for consideration," Adams said.

A new 34,000 square-foot library and civic center will open across the street from city hall on Agoura Road in October.

The city council last week approved the following hours for the new city hall: 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Fridays.

"This change will mean that both the general offices as well as the public service counter will be open substantially more hours than any of the local city halls, except Thousand Oaks, and should provide an even higher level of service to the community," Adams said.

City hall will be open 49 hours each week under the new schedule vs. 44 hours in the past.

––John Loesing