Recession doesn't stop Calabasas

The year in review for Calabasas begins by turning the clock back to February when the City Council expanded its outdoor smoking ordinance to include rental units in the city.

Calabasas passed an ordinance in 2006 that prohibited smoking in public places.

The amended law passed this year required that at least 80 percent of apartment buildings be permanently designated as smokefree units by 2012. Residents who currently smoke in their homes are being allowed to continue with their habit, but new renters will see the no smoking clause written into their leases.

Early in the year the American Lung Association of California has released its first State of Tobacco Control report card, which graded the 88 cities in Los Angeles County and 34 cities in Orange County for their ability to provide a smokefree environment for residents and visitors.

Calabasas earned the only perfect score in six categories of air quality.

"The dangers of secondhand smoke are irrefutable," Calabasas City Councilmember Barry Groveman said at a news conference where the award was announced.

The Calabasas Civic Center opened to the public on July 13, culminating a 10-year-effort to build what local officals called a new "heartbeat" for the city.

The 7.7acre complex adjacent to The Commons shopping center cost $41 million and includes a twostory, 27,000squarefoot city hall, a 25,000square-foot public library, an outdoor amphitheater and a public plaza.

"This is a facility that's going to be around for 100 years, we hope, and one that'll be the pride of all of us," City Councilmember Dennis Washburn said.

In May, due to a shortage of 818 area code telephone numbers, the California Public Utilities Commission voted to create a new area code that carried implications for Calabasas.

All customers who use the 818 area code will keep it, but beginning in May 2009, new customers will be assigned to the 747 area code.

All calls within the current 818 area will require 11-digit dialing, meaning customers will need to dial 1 plus the area code plus the phone number.

In December, the Calabasas Environmental Commission voted to recommend that the city impose a ban on plastic bans.

The proposed ban would prohibit the use of plastic carryout bags at all Calabasas retail establishments and at city-sponsored events.

A city survey showed the majority of Calabasas businesses were in favor of regulating plastic bag use, said Alex Farassati, Calabasas environmental services manager. But Rick Crandall, director of environmental steward operation for Albertsons grocery, warned that paper bags create environmental problems of their own.

"We want to do the right thing for the environment," Crandall said.