Agoura Hills City Council forms business task force
Move upsets Chamber board

Eleven business owners, restaurateurs, and other professionals who work in Agoura Hills will serve on a new task force aimed at improving the business climate in the city.

The Agoura Hills City Council Economic Development Committee recommended the creation of the business task force and the council unanimously approved the decision at its Nov. 28 meeting.

The group represents a cross section of businesses and industries operating in the city, said Bill Koehler, a council member who serves on the economic committee.

"What the city is trying to do is take a good cross section of the community, (so they can) give us feedback about things that affect the business community," Koehler said. "It's a real diverse mix."

Assistant City Manager Nathan Hamburger said the task force will serve as a "sounding board for the business community." The group will be a "true outreach to the community as a whole," he said.

Mayor Dan Kuperberg called the 11 members a "strong and dedicated group of people ready to serve."

The Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce said it wasn't invited to participate in the new business task force. The City Council said several efforts have been made to "build a bridge" between the city and the Chamber, but that the attempts had failed.

"Any prior communication we've sent to the Chamber we've never gotten a response," Koehler said. "There have been several attempts to sit down with the Chamber and reach out to them and they haven't responded."

The latest impasse regarding the business task force represents a long history of disagreement between the city and the Chamber leadership.

"Nobody's approached the Chamber of Commerce on it, which is very disappointing," said Louis Masry, president of the Agoura Chamber.

Masry said he attended private a meeting with Koehler and Edelston, but would not disclose the outcome.

"(The Chamber) tries to stay out of the way of the city's business, and we want the city to stay out of the way of the business community," Masry said.

Koehler denied suggestions that the new panel would act as an alternative to the Chamber of Commerce.

"It is not the intent to establish a Chamber," Koehler said.

Although Chamber board members aren't involved in the task force, some members of the organization are represented on the panel, Edelston said.

Jason Fleming of Wood Ranch, Michael DiGiosa of Italia Deli, and Neal and Claudine Kramer of Café 14 will act as liaisons for restaurant owners in the city. Wood Ranch is a registered member of the local Chamber.

Another Chamber member, Bassett Furniture Direct, will serve as one of the representatives for the furniture/home goods sector in the city. Owner Laurel Kaufman will act as liaison.

Other members of the task force include Ed Corridori representing business services. Corridori, a former Agoura Hills mayor, owns a printing company in Westlake Village.

Professional services will be represented by Karen Kent, a dentist, and Jerome Wolf, a certified public accountant.

Randee Paller and Brad Rosenheim will be the liaisons for real estate companies and development firms.

Theresa Tuchman, owner of Finials, Doors & Windows, was chosen to represent the city's retail sector. Matthew Huss, general manager of the Renaissance Hotel, will be the contact for the hotel industry.

"We can't be at a war with the businesses; we need to be a partner with the businesses," Councilmember Denis Weber said. "Hopefully this committee will be that vehicle."

The City Council earmarked $15,000 for business related programs and projects in the 2007/2008 budget.

"The potential programs will be discussed and prioritized by the task force," Hamburger said in a report to the city.