Guest opinion

Upon my taking office nine months ago and learning firsthand the inner workings of our city, it became apparent that although on the surface things appeared to function well, the management of our city was a mess.

Years of factional infighting on the city council and poor oversight of the municipal bureaucracy seriously undermined our city’s ability to run efficiently and responsively. As information was uncovered and the need for reform demonstrated, a number of respected community leaders urged the council to adopt measures to correct these problems.

In response, the council overhauled city government. We took immediate steps to replace contract attorneys who had run amok. We replaced the city attorney, who hadn’t been required to re-bid the job in 12 years. We replaced the city manager and hired a respected chief financial officer to put the city’s financial house back in order.

We enacted a "waste reduction initiative" to emphasize the goal of cutting waste and inefficiency, created protocols to restore civility to council meetings, placed public comments at the top of the agenda and shortened meetings. We established subcommittees so each council member has an area of focus and accountability and we now require bids for large contracts.

These reforms are designed to bring accountability back to city hall. They have already had a profound impact on the way Calabasas conducts business.

To verify the need for reform, several months ago the council approved an independent investigation of the way the city managed its most expensive project—the Ahmanson litigation—and to investigate and identify other causes of waste and poor management.

The investigation was released last week, allowing the public to see what went on. It detailed significant instances of mismanagement and improper practices, providing compelling justification for those reforms boldly put in place.

The report is available on the city of Calabasas Internet Website: www.cityofcalabasas.com.

The saga of poor oversight and mismanagement is over. Too much city business has been conducted outside public view and without public scrutiny. Exposure will prevent it from reoccurring.

There’s no need to point fingers. It’s better to move forward. But let’s agree to be proactive and vigilant rather than bureaucratic and complacent. Good government requires a constant supply of fresh ideas and energy. It’s good to shake up the system if it results in improved representation, efficiency and the saving of taxpayer dollars.

Let’s applaud our successes, including the acquisition of Ahmanson Ranch—preserving open space for generations—and an $8 million library grant which will result in one of the finest libraries in the country. Let’s recognize members (past and present) of the city council, commissions and the public for persistence in achieving these ambitious goals.

Let’s continue to demand accountability in city government and strive for civility in city council meetings. Let’s fortify efforts to reduce waste and inefficiency and continue to encourage fresh, innovative ideas that will allow greater achievements in Calabasas, which is on its way to becoming a showcase city in our region.