City, Chamber need to move on
Last week we wrote in this column about the 25th anniversary celebration in Agoura Hills, and the fact that much progress had been made over the past two decades toward building a strong and successful city.

At the core of any community is its business and commerce.

Recently the City Council proposed the formation of an 11member business task force. On the surface, it's a laudable move that will help the council discern what the needs of the business community are and how the city can spur growth and prosperity in the retail and service sectors.

City governments have the ability to legislate and promote a positive business environment. In the case of Agoura Hills, the jury is still out as to whether or not the city is a friend or foe to business. We believe it wants to be, but question some of its tactics. Agoura Hills has a history of fighting with its retailers over signage, outdoor displays and other issues. (To its credit, the city does not have a business tax.)

What's troubling is the City Council's relationship with the Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Chambers in other locations- Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Calabasas- enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with their city officials. In Agoura Hills, due to a history of personality conflicts and ego clashes between council members and Chamber board members, that relationship is non-existent. At the core of the fighting are City Councilmember Dan Kuperberg and the Chamber's de facto leader, Alex Soteras.

An old squabble over the Spring Fest celebration, the city's refusal to fund the Chamber, and now the business task force proposal- the City Council invited several Chamber members to take part, but snubbed the organization as a whole- have eroded the relationship further.

The city's attempt to make an apparent end run around the Chamber has only served to make matters worse. But make no mistake; both sides are fault. The Chamber bashes the city at every opportunity and the two sides have become their own worst enemies.

The difficult situation will not improve until new players come to the table without an agenda and with their bags unpacked.

As Chamber President Louis Masry has said in today's page one story, both sides might be better off left alone. If that's the case, perhaps the formation of the new business task force is the right approach to take.