Westlake Civic Center scheduled to open March 23
By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn NEW BUILDING-Construction at the new Westlake Village City Hall/Library is in progess at its new site on East Oak Crest Drive (near the intersection of Agoura Road). It should open on March 23.

The new Westlake Village Civic Center at 31200 Oak Crest Drive (off Agoura Road) will be the site of a grand opening on Sat., March 23 as part of the city’s 20th anniversary celebration.

A city council committee discussed the event last week. The city’s policy on use of community rooms by groups and organizations will be reviewed during the Mon., Jan. 7 city council meeting.

The grand opening will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. rain or shine. A tent, according to assistant city manager Audrey Brown, will cover the parking lot area where people can gather and listen to ceremonial speeches by elected officials and library representatives.

A ribbon will block the way to the civic center courtyard and it will be cut around noon. It will be an bon cutting will be conducted, according to Mayor Betty De Santis.

Docents will lead guests through the new facility, Brown said. But these things are still being planned.

Brown hopes to have some interactive aspects during the tour. When people visit the new city hall that day, city officials will probably be available to explain how the city of Westlake Village operates.

To better understand the jobs of city hall personnel, a poster board will describe each position’s responsibilities. A laptop presentation might accomplish the same function, according to Brown.

"It depends on how much time and how high tech we can get," Brown said. She’d like everything to be as visually-oriented as possible. For the planning department, Brown discussed having plans displayed on desktop and De Santis compared Brown’s ideas with Smithsonian displays.

"(We want to give people) something to look at—when you’re just looking at an office—you’re (saying), okay, there’s an office," Brown said. The tour of the civic center will present a lot of eye candy, she said.

A high school band will play patriotic music outdoors, probably with a noteworthy soloist (but that hasn’t been confirmed yet). A Dixieland band might also perform.

An historical display, according to Brown, will also be on hand with former city councilman Jim Henderson to speak and answer questions about his book in progress on the history of Westlake Village. Previous mayor Mark Rutherford’s state-of-the-city video, which captures much of city’s history, will also be presented.

Guests can sign a sheet that will later go into a time capsule that will be buried at 3 p.m. The contents will include pictures and words explaining the history of Westlake Village. The capsule won’t be dug up until the 50th anniversary in 30 years.

Brown wants to offer free food and drinks for guests that would be provided by the business community.

During the event, the library is to have a magician, storytellers and outside balloon sculptors, a flutist and more fun, Brown said.

Once the facility officially opens, officials hope it will become the city center. Community rooms are expected to be available to citizens and groups, Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Priorities will be given to organizations with civic-minded purposes.

The committee couldn’t decide whether or not Sundays should be an option.

"I just want it available as much as possible for our residents," said Mayor Pro Tem Chris Mann, but De Santis worried about safety and security issues. The library will be closed on Sundays, she said.