Not involved

"The city of Agoura Hills has left the Chamber (of Commerce) out of any meetings regarding the sign ordinance and the General Plan." This statement, which appeared in the Chamber's ad of March 30, is just plain false.

I called the city to inquire about the Chamber's participation in the sign ordinance. Staff recalls that Alex Soteras, then head of the Chamber, attended one meeting of the Planning Commission's sign ordinance subcommittee, said almost nothing and failed to appear at all subsequent gatherings. I attended every public meeting on this ordinance and remember being very surprised that nobody from the Chamber spoke.

As a member of the General Plan Advisory Committee, I can say with absolute certainty that the Chamber of Commerce was invited to participate. On Feb. 7 Allison Cook in the planning department sent letters to numerous businesses and business organizations-including the Chamber- inviting them to be interviewed. Receiving no answer from the Chamber, she called them twice on Feb. 21. Unable to get a real person on the line, she left detailed messages. Participation by others who received the notices (without the added courtesy of telephone calls) has been extensive and generous.

Nor can the Chamber claim ignorance. The General Plan revision has been-and remains- one of the city's most widely publicized projects. Questionnaires with a letter of invitation from the mayor were sent to every household in the city. Details of the project have been on the city's website from the beginning and the city has taken out ads in this and other publications.

One wonders how the Chamber's ignorance and incompetence could possibly further the cause of business in Agoura Hills, but that is a question for the membership to ponder. Robert Evren Agoura Hills