Kuperberg wants status quo on council

Dan Kuperberg Mayor Dan Kuperberg is finishing up his third term on the Agoura Hills City Council, but he says he's ready to dedicate another four years to see several projects through to completion and launch some new programs and services for residents.

"I remain committed toward keeping Agoura Hills a wonderful place to live and work," Kuperberg said last week. "I believe my experience, leadership and vision can benefit the city. I first ran because of certain core values- protection of environment, preservation of open space, support for our youth, respect for our neighborhoods, and those values remain true today."

Two seats are up for grabs on the City Council- Kuperberg's and one held by Councilmember John Edelston, who is also running for reelection. George Christopher Thomas and Michael Forney have filed to run for council.

Over the last 12 years, Kuperberg has been instrumental in leading the city through sweeping changes, but he doesn't feel comfortable taking all the credit. He said the city's successful track record stems from a spirit of collaboration among all the council members, planning commissioners, volunteers and hard-working staff.

Kuperberg's three terms have been a fruitful period for the city. The $25million Kanan Interchange project was completed and paid for in large part through state and federal grants. After a decade of planning, the Agoura Village Specific Plan was approved by the City Council. The Agoura Village document is a framework of development guidelines for proposed projects in the area south of the 101 Freeway.

Kuperberg was also part of the team behind the creation of Reyes Adobe Days, a three-day annual event which honors the history of the city; and this past year, the City Council approved a historic four-city financial agreement with the Las Virgenes Unified School District to help pay for technology training for teachers.

The city has also implemented a home mortgage subsidy program for public employees including teachers, firefighters and sheriff 's deputies. These employees can borrow $100,000 from the city at no interest to help with the purchase of a home in Agoura Hills.

But it's the community pride stemming from lots of smaller projects that pleases Kuperberg most. "We're not just a community where people pull into their driveway and the garage door rolls up," he said. "We really get to see our neighbors, enjoy each other and work together for the betterment of the entire community."

"Small" projects included purchasing the land adjacent to the new Yerba Buena Elementary School from the school district to use as a park. Besides providing $270,000 to the district's technology training program, the council hammered out an agreement to refurbish Agoura High School's tennis courts rather than install more expensive courts at Morrison Park, a program opposed by many homeowners who preferred to maintain a simple play park for youngsters.

Kuperberg's pet project- the One City, One Book program- is currently underway at homes and schools. The program is designed to promote reading, conversation and closer ties with family, friends and neighbors, he said. It will conclude during the week of Nov. 5 with a series of discussions and events. Past successes aside, Kuperberg wants to focus on the future of his town. Next up for renovation is the Reyes Adobe Bridge, which will be expanded from a three-lane to a six-lane roadway.

As with the Kanan Interchange project, the City Council successfully garnered grants to pay for the bridge expansion. Between the $2.6 million federal grant, $2.1 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, $2 million from the refinancing of city hall bonds, $1.8 million from the city's redevelopment fund, and up to $2 million in transportation impact fees, the bridge will be expanded without dipping into the city's general fund.

A new recreation center is also on the horizon. The current center on Thousand Oaks Boulevard is too small to accommodate the city's growing needs, Kuperberg said.

And he has other plans to make Agoura Hills a standout city. At last week's council meeting, he introduced the concept of implementing "green" policies into the city's operations.

"I want the city to be more environmentally sensitive," Kuperberg said. He believes Agoura Hills could dovetail efforts to preserve open space into a position of protecting the environment with ecologically sound practices. In the long run, green policies will protect the environment and save the city money, he said.

Kuperberg also wants to groom a new generation of leaders to run the city. "The city is 25 years old," he said. "It's time to look at the next group of leaders . . . and get them involved in committees, so they are in a position to make the city a better place.

"I think the city is operating pretty smoothly," Kuperberg said. "We're financially sound, we bring in projects on budget, and the development projects are appropriate for the area or they get turned down. The staff is top notch. We just need to keep doing what we're doing."