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2005 Year in Review
The top stories of the past year affecting The Acorn community
Agoura Hills
Bitter election brings changes to city council New Yerba Buena Elementary School finally on track Stories by Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com It’s been 10 years in the planning, but the Kanan Road-101 Freeway interchange improvement in Agoura Hills finally showed signs of getting underway. The bulk of the work on the massive, $25-million project will take place next year. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is contributing $10.5 million to the project and the federal government will pay $4 million. Bids are being taken until Jan. 17 and the work is expected to start in February. The new interchange will reduce traffic congestion by eliminating all left hand turns onto the freeway, relocating traffic signals, and increasing the number of lanes on the exit ramps.
Leading challenger Todd August, a supporter of the Heschel West Day School near Old Agoura, lost his bid for the city council to Bill Koehler and Harry Schwarz, members of the Agoura Hills Planning Commission. New Mayor Denis Weber, elected to his fourth term in office, promised to forge a compromise with the city’s business community and called for an “aggressive outreach” to local business owners to better understand their needs. Corridori, the outgoing mayor, applauded the city’s achievements during 2005, including the inaugural Reyes Adobe Days and the securing of $4 million in federal funds to help pay for the new Kanan interchange. Corridori also congratulated the city for completing an environmental report for Agoura Village, the city’s proposed new retail-residential center on Agoura Road. Reinhardt left office after serving eight years on the city council and six years on the planning commission. Although several years behind schedule and a victim of skyrocketing land and building costs, the new Yerba Buena Elementary School in Agoura Hills finally saw construction get underway in 2005. The school is expected to open in 2007. Located off Reyes Adobe Road, the $33-million school struggled with a number of building issues, such as having to place underground the highvoltage power lines that are near the campus. Contaminated soil had to be removed and an endangered owl needed time to nest undisturbed. The new campus will replace the decades-old Yerba Buena school on Larboard Lane. Oak Park Conifer Street water tank issue reaches boiling point Two newcomers take seats on Oak Park MAC Stories by Daniel Wolowicz danielw@theacorn.com The Triunfo Sanitation District Board of Directors had their hands full this year with trying to find a location for the new water tank needed to replace the 35-year-old tank above Conifer Street in Oak Park. The district’s mission is far from complete as partner agency Las Virgenes Municipal Water District recently shot down Triunfo’s request to share usage of a tank on Kimberly Street on land owned by Las Virgenes. For nearly a decade, Triunfo officials have said the Conifer tank is unsafe because of deterioration. The two newest Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council Members, Bonnie Biddison and Jay Kapitz, were sworn into office in June after being chosen for the seats by Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks. The two vacancies came about after the Feb. 26 death of long-time MAC member Kent Behringer and MAC member David Chatfield’s move out of Oak Park in mid-March. Triunfo is trying to appease both the environmentalists, who do not want the tank at the juncture of multiple hiking trails— which would be out of view from local homes—and the area homeowners who do not a water tank in their neighborhood, fearing it may decrease home values. Calabasas Defeat sends Devine to the sidelines Stories by Michael Picarella pic@theacorn.com Former mayor and city founder Lesley Devine lost her bid to return to the Calabasas City Council in the March 2005 election. Voters also rejected incumbent Michael Harrison, but reelected veteran council member James Bozajian to a new fouryear term. Challengers Mary Sue Maurer and Jonathon Wolfson campaigned on restoring civility to the city council and were elected for the first time. Both Devine and Harrison had been criticized throughout the campaign for causing friction on the council and dissension in the community. One of the founders of the 14-year-old city, Devine was instrumental in protecting the high quality of life that the city currently enjoys—including its excellent parks, shopping areas and schools—and the feeling of safety that most residents have come to expect. During her time on the council, Devine played a major role in defeating the Ahmanson Ranch development on the city’s northern border. Region Fire threatens several area communities By Sylvie Belmond and Michael Picarella The blackened hillsides have mostly turned green again thanks to early seasonal rain, but the fires that scorched 30 square miles of open space in East Ventura County and West Los Angeles County in late September won’t soon be forgotten. The week-long, 24,000-acre blaze started near Topanga Boulevard in Chatsworth and reached the doorstep of several local communities, but no deaths were reported. Although three homes and three commercial properties were destroyed, firefighters saved more than 2,000 homes. The Fire Department chain of command worked to perfection, officials said. Crews from across California joined local law enforcement and public works officials and Red Cross personnel to assist in hundreds of evacuations, including many in the Oak Park and Old Agoura area. A command post was established at the Agoura Hills/ Calabasas Community Center but was later moved to Thousand Oaks. Calabasas officials said their city was spared thanks to an aggressive brush clearance program during the past year. The city hosted a well-attended tribute on Oct. 29 at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center to honor the Los Angeles and Ventura County firefighters. |
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