Corridori becomes new mayor of city of Agoura Hills

By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Agoura Hills Mayor Pro Tem Ed Corridori took the oath of office as the city’s new mayor on Dec. 8. The reorganization meeting also celebrated the accomplishments of the outgoing Mayor Dan Kuperberg (see related story on page 8) and looked forward to plans for the city next year under the direction of Corridori.

Corridori and Mayor Pro Tem Denis Weber were sworn in by Judge Lawrence Mira.

Corridori began his third term as the mayor of Agoura Hills with a promise to maintain public safety as the city’s first priority. He said that 25 percent of the city’s general fund pays for public safety programs, which include the juvenile intervention team, the STAR anti-drug campaign and other programs aimed at youth.

The new fire station, Corridori said, will not replace the existing station on Cornell Road, but will add a second station on the north side of the freeway, closer to many residential areas. Corridori outlined the upcoming work on the Kanan interchange project. The city has taken steps to acquire the right-of-ways for the new freeway on- and off-ramps. Plans are underway to improve the Reyes Adobe interchange. A project study report has been completed, and the Cal-Trans review process has begun.

"Work being done to underground utilities to accommodate the new ramps will very soon be testing the patience of all of us using the interchange," Corridori said.

The upcoming year will also bring new bike lanes to Agoura Road, from Kanan Road to the western city limits. Corridori said that 100 percent of the funding came from grants. Repairs to curbs, gutters and sidewalks are also being planned. Park and landscaping improvements will be undertaken in 2005. Corridori said that construction on tennis and basketball courts at Morrison Park will begin in the spring, and Sumac Park will gain a new picnic table and shade shelter. All parks within the city will receive new monument signs, which will reflect the architectural details of the city hall and library.

An irrigation improvement project is slated for early spring as well. The irrigation of parks and public areas will be controlled electronically from city hall. Corridori said that the system will improve the appearance of many areas in the city while reducing the city’s water bill.

The general plan will be updated in 2005 and will focus on traffic circulation, housing and open space preservation. Corridori also mentioned the Agoura Village Strategic Plan. "It will continue to be a guiding document for any development on Agoura Road, from Kanan to Cornell," he said. He explained that the plan envisions a "pedestrian-friendly village environment" that will encourage people to live, work and shop in their neighborhood, which will minimize the need for cars. "It’s my hope that the Village plan will set standards for all future development in the city," Corridori said.

Corridori touched on many other issues facing the city, from the need to create equestrian trails that link to other trails and parks in neighboring communities to maintaining a beautiful city, since Agoura Hills is the gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains. Corridori said he wants to continue partnering with the Las Virgenes Unified School District. Earlier in the year, the city worked with the school district to preserve the creek site at the new Yerba Buena Elementary School site on Reyes Adobe Road.

"We have our challenges, but our future looks very bright," Corridori said. "We can protect the best of what we already have and add the amenities and benefits that come with careful community planning if we stay focused on that vision."