Bill Koehler The Agoura Hills City Council selected William Koehler mayor for the first time during the city’s annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 1.

Koehler will replace Denis Weber, a council member now serving his fifth term in office. Councilmember Harry Schwarz was named mayor pro tem.

The City Council chambers were filled with friends and family, former mayors of the city and other local and state dignitaries, including state Sen. Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills.

Koehler said the “unprecedented” turn in the economy over the past two years and subsequent state budget problems have impacted the city of Agoura Hills in several ways. Redevelopment funds, money that is used for affordable housing, has been raided by the state, he said, and property tax revenue has declined because of the depressed real estate market.

“As these funds will not be returned to us, we have to be creative,” Koehler said. He suggested that residents could help bolster the local economy by spending their dollars inside the city limits.

Denis Weber Despite the fiscal challenges, Koehler said the city was able to approve a balanced budget that contained a healthy reserve.

While the city has not been forced to cut services or programs, the development of Agoura Village has slowed, Koehler said. At the beginning of next year he pledges to meet with developers to share a “vision” of the project and find ways to help them.

Agoura Village, a proposed mixed use project south of the 101 Freeway, will become the city’s “social hub,” Koehler said.

The identity of Agoura Hills has been forged with top-rated schools and noteworthy community events such as the Great Race of Agoura, Reyes Adobe Days and a myriad family-related programs.

During his term as mayor, Koehler wants the city to establish its cultural identity through the arts. The Reyes Adobe Days Art Scene was used as an example of how the city can support the arts and create a cultural identity. Koehler said he will establish an arts council in 2010 to draw out local talent and celebrate the community’s creativity.

State of the City

Weber issued his State of the City address to the guests. He, too, recognized 2009 as a “very testing time,” comparing the state seizure of $1.6 million of redevelopment funds to a “hold-up,” only without the use of a mask and gun.

“Agoura Hills will not sit back and remain silent,” Weber said, pledging to fight the state in a joint lawsuit with other cities in California. “We can’t allow a precedent like this go unchallenged.”

Weber said sign and banner rules were relaxed in the city to help businesses weather the poor economy. A consulting firm is being used to determine other means to help businesses succeed, he said. An Agoura Hills Business Task Force, mayor’s roundtables, and other programs were also instituted during the past year.

Infrastructure projects were completed as well, from new sidewalks and street paving to joint beautification projects with the city of Westlake Village. Other capital improvements included updating parks with new landscaping and signage.

Weber called the city’s parks the “jewel of our open space.”

“This little corner of the world—91301—is as perfect as you can get,” he said.

In other highlights from the past year, the city implemented an ozone treatment project to meet the mandate of reducing the pollution that runs to the creeks and ocean.

The 2009 Reyes Adobe Days attracted the largest crowd since its inception five years ago. Other successful programs included community expos, waste collection, mass flu inoculations and others. The city also implemented “green” initiates, limiting paper products and using hybrid cars for the city fleet.

Weber said he’s started a website to honor the “heroes” of the city—men and women from Agoura Hills who are serving in the military. He invited residents to submit names of people in the military to be showcased on the site next year.