Planning for the future

STEPHANIE BERTHOLDO/Acorn Newspapers COMMUNITY LEADERS--The newly sworn in Agoura Hills City Council includes, from left, William Koehler, Denis Weber, Mayor Pro Tem John Edelston, Mayor Dan Kuperberg and Harry Schwarz. Agoura Hills City Councilmember Dan Kuperberg took the oath of office as the city's new mayor at Monday night's reorganization session.

Councilmember John Edelston was sworn in as mayor pro tem. Judge Barry Taylor presided over the ceremony.

Outgoing Mayor Denis Weber presented the state of the city address to a roomful of family and friends and dignitaries from neighboring cities and agencies.

"Twenty-five years ago this week we became a city," Weber said. "Your city is just in wonderful shape."

The year of accomplishments was reviewed in a slide show. The $23.5-million Kanan interchange project topped the list of achievements.

"It is the largest public works project the city will ever undertake," Weber said. He said the interchange construction will be completed within three to four months.

Public safety, Weber said, was also a focus this year with Fire Station No. 89 opening on Canwood Street in June. Agoura Hills, he said, is among the safest cities in the nation. The Disaster Response Team was revitalized during the year with new training programs and equipment.

City beautification included refurbishing park lighting, trail enhancements that link to parks and trails throughout the region, and various projects from tree planting to trash removal. The city launched a program this year to resurface every street, sidewalk, curb and gutter. The program will continue into 2007.

The city's housing program for first-time homebuyers and public service employees including teachers, police officers and firefighters held its own despite skyrocketing housing prices. Seventy-two loans totaling more than $1 million were granted this year under the program.

The Agoura Village plan, a mixed-use development planned for the area south of the 101 Freeway, was approved under Weber's leadership.

"It's a plan whose time has come," Weber said.

Updating the general plan was also undertaken over the year. An advisory committee was formed and residents were surveyed.

Recreation programs were also highlighted at the event, as well as the second annual Reyes Adobe Days. "It was a wonderful three-day party," Weber said, noting the professionalism and vision of the city's recreational staff.

The year in review also touched on the city's relationship with the business community. Weber said three business roundtables were conducted, including a business outreach program that offered marketing and training.

Weber has served as Agoura Hills' mayor three times and has been a member of the City Council for 13 years.

Kuperberg, who was sworn in as mayor for his fourth term, joked about the year of his term as mayor. "I'm going to resist the temptation of doing any 007 jokes, riffs or comments," he said. "I won't do it--and my word is my bond."

Completion of the Kanan interchange project in the spring topped Kuperberg's list of goals. "This important traffic hub's construction will ease traffic and nerves, save time and money and better get us to our destinations, and actually get us to our destinations."

A renewed city partnership with the Las Virgenes Unified School District is already in progress, and Kuperberg hopes to further strengthen the ties.

The city, he said, has been a leader in helping teachers and public employees afford local housing, but the "outlandish" housing market has made progress difficult.

"I call upon the city's affordable housing committee and our City Council to continue to search for ways to allow Agoura Hills' teachers an opportunity to live in Agoura Hills," Kuperberg said.

Kuperberg said he hopes to refocus on youth next year. He invited the school district's student representative, Stephan Goodman, to attend council meetings to keep the city updated on student-related events and issues.

Kuperberg also plans to make more volunteer opportunities available during his term in office.

"I look forward to sitting down with individuals, groups and organizations to find new ways to enrich our greater community--your park, school, church, temple, our beautiful library--all for the greater good," Kuperberg said.

He concluded by revealing that all monthly events, from the Bike Rodeo in January to the Earth Day Celebration in April and summer's Concerts in the Park series, will include a "distinctive anniversary bonus" to celebrate the city's silver anniversary.

The city will introduce a new 25th anniversary logo for the year, commemorating 2007.

Kuperberg asked the crowd to mark their calendars for the third annual Reyes Adobe Days on Oct. 12 to 14 when the city time capsule, buried in the city's inaugural year by Assemblymember and first Agoura Hills Mayor Fran Pavley, will be dug up and a new time capsule buried.