Calabasas prefers 818 prefix
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Before the California Public Utilities Commission met last month in Calabasas, the City Council had a job- to establish its position on the area code shortage.

But after hearing a recommendation by the city's Communications and Technology Commission, which supports multiple area codes in the community, the City Council had trouble reaching an agreement.

The commission recommendation was presented along with a survey of about 60 residents, 80 percent of whom said they'd prefer an overlay. But based on some of the emails the council members received, they questioned whether all the participants fully understood each side.

"I'm not terribly pleased with the way this whole thing went," Mayor James Bozajian said. "My intention of having you guys review this was to get your expert opinion and take testimony.

"The survey you have done is not a scientific survey," Bozajian said.

"I think you guys just solicited anything you guys wanted to e-mail in, and many of those e-mails made no sense. It didn't seem like people had all the facts."

Councilmember Jonathon Wolfson agreed.

"I'm not comfortable with that in saying they want the overlay, they realized they are going to be dialing 10 digits to call anyone," Wolfson said.

Robert Lia of the city commission defended the commission's recommendation.

"Eighty percent want to retain the 818 area code," Lia said. "(An overlay) is the best way to accomplish that. We just do not feel, if we go for the split, that we will get 818. . . . And the cost of businesses, and even individuals- I mean how many people have their telephone numbers on their checks? The cost is unwarranted."

At one point, the council decided not to take a position, but Mayor Pro Tem Mary Sue Maurer urged her colleagues to be a presence in the Oct. 17 discussion.

"What a bunch of wishywashy men," Maurer said with a laugh. "I think you need to make a decision. We need to represent the community. We have a choice here. We can't just go and say, 'We don't want to participate.'

"Regardless of whether the survey is imperfect or perfect, put that aside," she added. "The commission recommends this. This is why we have commissions, to take the temperature of the community."

After some convincing, the council decided to recommend the split only if the city keeps the 818 code.

"The city of Calabasas strongly maintains a position that Calabasas businesses and residents would prefer to retain 818 completely with no area code split or overlay imposed," the council's statement reads.

"If it's determined that the 747 area code must be introduced, the city would prefer an area code split only if Calabasas is in the group that retains the 818 area code. (If not), the city would support an overlay."

The statement from the city, read by Lia, drew chuckles from the crowd at the California Public Utilities Commission hearing, as most of the speakers stated they obviously wanted to keep their area code.

The CPUC has held all five meetings and is expected to make a decision soon.