Westlake Village Cultural, Recreation Committee hits the ground running

By Lori Porter Acorn Staff Writer

Westlake Village officials have formed a Cultural Recreation Advisory Board to improve existing recreation programs in the city and provide residents with a broad cultural experience through the arts.

After interviewing 33 applicants, the Westlake City Council chose seven to serve on the board, including one teenager, Brittany Mulvihill of Westlake Village, a sophomore at Agoura High School. The remaining six board members are Westlake Village residents James Wong, Curt Knabe, Denise Danne, Ned Davis, Laura Davies and Scott Thompson.

Their backgrounds range from the entertainment industry to construction, but they all share a common thread of love for the arts and sports. The group will bring much creativity and insight to the city, officials said.

In addition to their common interests, each new board member said they wanted to be on this board because of a desire to give back to a city that has given so much to them. In addition, they each described a wish to uphold the standard of excellence already established in Westlake.

"I love this city and a want to voice my opinion as a teen," Mulvihill said.

Ned Davis, a 10-year Westlake resident, said that he has a vested interest in the future of the city because of his three young children.

"A small number of people here in Westlake Village offer so much," he said. "We are meeting because we want to offer more."

The council said the board would function in an advisory capacity and make recommendations for the cultural enhancement of Westlake Village. But City Councilwoman Betty DeSantis encouraged the board by saying, "That doesn’t keep you all from rolling up your sleeves and participating."

The plan begins by selecting a chairman and vice chairman. It will take place at the next meeting, scheduled for Thurs., Oct. 2.

Duties of the board include touring parks, assisting city council in finding consultants, planning special events, evaluating contracts, establishing a city recreational and cultural magazine, creating a trail system brochure, fund raising for sports fields, forming partnerships with schools, and establishing an annual cultural budget and guidelines.

An upcoming special event for Westlake Village, the First Annual City Celebration Day, was also discussed. It will begin with a parade to city hall, followed by a day of various activities and exhibits, including a carnival, photo contests, art displays and a variety of food.

Entertainment will include a small ensemble performance by New West Symphony, conducted by Boris Brott. The event is scheduled for Sat., Oct. 25.

For more information on upcoming events and plans for the city of Westlake Village, residents are encouraged to attend the Cultural Recreation Advisory Board Meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

But the Oct. 2 meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

Residents are also encouraged to attend the Westlake Village City Council meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m.

The council meets in city hall.