Washburn becomes Calabasas mayor again

Dennis Washburn The Calabasas City Council held its annual reorganization meeting last week and Dennis Washburn, a founding father of the city, became mayor for the fourth time.

Barry Groveman finished his first term as mayor amid kudos from city council colleagues and other area leaders. In June he will enter the Democratic primary for the California 41st Assembly seat.

"This city has definitely increased its stature, its position in the region, its notability and sometimes even notoriety in the country, and it's because (Groveman) and (his) colleagues have dared to be bold and to sustain the ideas that the people have come up with in this community," Washburn said.

One of the major challenges Groveman faced when he became mayor last year was to enhance city council morale and shorten the council meeting times.

"I think the quality of the meetings has sincerely been an open and inclusive experience, one where we show respect to each other and to the public, and I know that was a cornerstone of what (Groveman) had promised when (he) became mayor," said James Bozajian, the new mayor pro tem.

Louis Masry, president of the Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, honored Groveman with a plaque and said that the former mayor had turned around the city of Calabasas and made it one of the most financially stable cities in the country.

"Public service is a great opportunity to do some good, and I think we were all able to do that as a group," Groveman said during his outgoing remarks. "There have been a lot of good things that happened (this year) . . . and we've have some pretty big tests this year, which I had the honor to at least be presiding (over) or involved in."

According to Washburn, the city plans to break ground on the Calabasas Civic Center this spring, continue to support the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival, establish an annual Fourth of July parade and possibly create a city job shadowing program.

Washburn said the city also willcontinue to address traffic and environmental issues, public school education, emergency preparedness and infrastructure.

"When we started out last year, we expressed a vision-and I know that Barry and (City Councilmembers) Mary Sue (Maurer) and James (Bozajian) and Jonathon (Wolfson) and I have been able to accomplish a lot in this last year," Washburn said.

The Calabasas City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the council chambers on 26135 Mureau Road.