Koehler’s council run relies on experience

William Koehler Experience counts when it comes to running a city, said William Koehler, a candidate for Agoura Hills City Council who has served almost 12 years on the city’s planning commission.

Koehler is one of six candidates running for three open city council seats. The election is Nov. 8.

While some community members are calling for a new wave of leadership, Koehler believes that experience is the primary qualification to serving on the city council.

“As a prudent businessman, you do not throw out experienced, dedicated people who have demonstrated their past commitment to serving the community, only to introduce new individuals (who) have not previously shown a civic commitment, or are new to the community, just for the sake of change,” Koehler said.

Koehler, an attorney, has lived in Agoura Hills for 21 years and has been an active civic leader almost the entire time. He was chairman of the planning commission for five of his 12 years of service, was a director for the Morrison Ranch Homeowner’s Association for nine years, and spent several years working on the committee for the Charger Golf Club Tournament, with proceeds supporting athletic programs at Agoura High School.

As a member of the Conejo Las Virgenes Future Foundation, Koehler has tackled many regional problems, including traffic and air quality. When heavy rain caused severe land slippage to Morrison Ranch homes more than a decade ago and homeowners were faced with steep repair costs for grading, Koehler helped win a multi-million dollar settlement against Morrison Ranch developers. The money paid for the grading repairs and the restoration of Medea Creek.

Koehler now serves as a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Pro Tem and an arbitrator and mediator for the Superior Court.

Two years ago, Koehler was appointed to the Agoura Village Task Force. The revitalization project will transform the area along Agoura Road east of Kanan Road into a pedestrian-friendly development that mixes stores, offices, restaurants, entertainment uses and residential living. The draft environmental impact report will be released for public review by the end of November.

“I believe what has transpired from those efforts (on the task force) is a truly unique development, not only for our city, but for our region . . . something other cities will try to emulate in the future,” Koehler said.

In addition to bringing Agoura Village to fruition, Koehler said he is committed to seeking “creative ways to maintain our school system’s stellar reputation,” and wants to preserve and protect open space and maintain the high standard of living in Agoura Hills with “thoughtful planning and responsible development.”

“Just as the adage in real estate is ‘location, location, location,’ in land use decisions, it is experience and time on the planning commission, I believe, that makes (Koehler) the best qualified to make the right decisions for our city,” said Jeff Reinhardt, an Agoura Hills council member who chose not to run for reelection.

Former Agoura Hills Mayor Jack Koenig is also a Koehler supporter.

“First of all, Bill is experienced,” said Koenig, who added that Koehler represents a man with “integrity.”

“As a planning commissioner, I have come to understand the relationship between our zoning ordinances and how they interrelate with our general plan, from the enforcement aspect, as well as the developmental aspect,” Koehler said.

“Thirty-one years’ experience as an attorney, a good portion of which has been spent in real property matters and land use . . . has served me well in the review of our city’s general plan. As a Superior Court-appointed arbitrator/mediator, I have learned how to put aside the emotions of an issue, look to the facts of that issue, and devise a plan for the resolution of that dispute,” Koehler said.