Mayor sets record straight

I am very concerned about misinformation being conveyed in some letters to the Acorn.

It is not true that Agoura Hills lacks the money for the Kanan interchange. The city has the moneyWe set aside the money through years of frugal planning. But we are also fighting for $5 million in federal funding. We don’t think our residents’ taxes should shoulder the entire burden without federal helpIt is a federal highway, after all.

We are not spending $4 million dollars on a new recreation centerIn fact, we are not “spending” a dime. The council elected to set aside $2 million of existing reserves for future replacement of the center, in nine years, so that we can accommodate our senior and toddler programs well into the future. This vote was unanimous.

The city’s financial books are public records. Anyone who wishes to audit the books is free to do so. I would welcome it. The accounting firm of Moreland & Associates performs an annual audit of the city and their reports and comments are also open to the public.

The council did not vote to spend $500,000 on horse trails. This is false. The council voted to apply for a $250,000 grant that was available for horse trails. If we win the grant, we will provide an equal match. Horse trails are not a frivolous item, but a serious public safety measure. Old Agoura has no sidewalks, curbs or street lights.

The city spends as much or more on maintaining these items in other neighborhoods. The safety of riders, pedestrians and motorists is important in every neighborhood of our city. This vote was also unanimous.

Over the past five years, including this year, Agoura Hills has provided about $1 million in cash and services to the school district. This is easily verified by checking with the school district or city offices.

The statement that the city “refuses to reserve a dime,” is not only inaccurate, it is an undeserved affront.

There was no vote recently on new education grants, simply because no specific requests were made. A city cannot legally make a gift of public funds to another agency or private organization without a specific public benefit to the city. The council directed staff to work with the school district and the Education Foundation to come up with specific needs for which the city could legally provide grants.

A letter writer singles out two council members for praise and blast the other three, but all five agreed on this course of action.

Letter writers are entitled to whatever judgments and opinions they have, but they are not entitled to make up facts.

Ed Corridori Mayor, Agoura Hills