Does city have a 'leadership crisis?'

Agoura Hills is in the midst of a serious leadership crisis. Our city council is so insulated and removed from the community that they do not realize or acknowledge their role in creating and prolonging the crisis. We are a community at war: the city of Agoura hills vs. the business community. It has resembled a playground name calling contest.

The latest flare up concerning signage and the General Plan simply reinforces the general perception that the city of Agoura Hills is not a business-friendly environment. The Chamber may well have been invited to participate, but that simply did not go far enough.

In any matter concerning business within Agoura Hills, it is the responsibility of the council, through its staff, to actively involve the Chamber. Committees should be staffed equally with members of the Chamber and the city appointees. To proceed in any other matter is simply poor representation and leadership and is guaranteed to result in skewed policy and regulation.

The schism between the city and business is so great that to the best of my recollection, I have not seen a sitting council member attend a Chamber event. Proper leadership and governance requires elected officials to take a bigger role in the business community, to overcome their fear of associating with local business, and to open the process of representing the city to all residents, including our business neighbors.

To rectify the situation and to save Agoura hills, this new council must step up and take a leadership role. The council must participate regularly in Chamber affairs, must take a position of financial leadership with the business community, and must involve the Chamber in city affairs.

These steps should not be seen as a threat to the council's ability, credibility and leadership. These steps should be seen as a badlyneeded tool to improve its ability, credibility and leadership. Michael Forney Agoura Hills