Interchange forces Agoura's budget to swell

The city of Agoura Hills budget will be hefty next year-$31 million according to details revealed at a recent budget workshop.

City Manager Greg Ramirez said the budget was unusually large because the city will complete the $25 million Kanan Road/101 Freeway interchange next year.

Although the city will initially pay about $16 million to build the interchange, assistant to the city manager Nathan Hamburger said the majority of the money will be reimbursed to the city. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will pay the city back $3 million in a matching grant, and the federal government will reimburse the city $5.5 million.

Other portions of the interchange are being paid for through traffic fees, local funding and contributions from developers that paid for street and bridge improvements, utility relocation and other projects.

The city's share of the interchange project is estimated at $1.5 million, Hamburger said.

Other general fund expenditures have increased. For the first time, the city will pay $356,000 toward a civic center bond. Over the past three years, the bond payment was made from the proceeds of various land sales. By fiscal 2007-08, the full bond payment of $668,000 will come due.

City officials reported that the second phase of the General Plan Update will cost $200,000.

The cost of services provided by Los Angeles County is expected to rise. Sheriff's Department services will increase by 5 percent, which amounts to an extra $131,000.

The department wants the city to fund a "Volunteer on Patrol" program. Capt. Tom Martin of the lost Hills station said the volunteers would check on the homes of people on vacation, and eliminate any "tell-tale" signs that no one is home.

The volunteer force would be "the eyes in the community," Martin said. Volunteers would knock on doors to alert people that their garage doors were open, and educate them on "opportunistic crooks."

City Manager Greg Ramirez said the cost of the patrol car would be the city's responsibility. The volunteers would not be armed or equipped with police radios, although they will need a cellphone for the car.

"We want them to be good witnesses and give us a call," Martin said.

In a different front, animal control costs will increase by 8 percent next year, a staff member said.

And although the city is not planning to start construction on a proposed $7 million recreation center, money has been set aside for the project. There's already $2 million in the coffers for the center, but staff members recommended that an additional $1 million be set aside to build a funding base.

The city council has set a priority for infrastructure improvements. In addition to the Kanan Road/101 Freeway interchange project, the city has budgeted $500,000 for the design and engineering of the Reyes Adobe Road bridge widening project.

Since the city will be celebrating its 25th anniversary, special year-long events are planned which will be one-time costs.

Several community groups received city grants in the new budget. The Agoura High School Music Boosters asked for $3,000 from the council, but received $2,000. The school's Parent Faculty Club asked for $4,000 to pay for a cookbook that is being produced as a fundraiser, but the city gave the green light for just a $500 grant. The city approved the full $6,500 funding for the PFC's Every 15 Minutes anti-DUI program.

The California Wildlife Center asked the city for funding for the first time, but received only $1,000 of the $5,000 requested. Council members cut funding completely to the Conejo Valley Art Museum's ArtWalk and the Wellness Community.

Councilmember John Edelston said the two groups had "healthy balance sheets."

"I'd rather put money to where there's a need," Edelston said.

There was some disagreement over whether the Friendship Circle's sports league for special needs children should be granted money from the city. Kuperberg thought that since the Friendship Circle is a subsidiary of Chabad, it might be inappropriate for a government agency to fund a faithbased program.

"It's really a blurry line," Kuperberg said. He added that in the past money wasn't granted to a Christian group that wanted to build a skateboard park at their site.

When it was clarified that the league would be available to children of all faiths, the council approved a $2,500 grant.

In all, the city allocated $20,500 to community outreach projects.

Other budget items discussed include adding $12,500 to the $25,000 budget to support the Agoura/Calabasas Community Center. The final budget will be approved by the city council this month.