Agoura Hills City Council reorganizes

Acorn Staff Writer


MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn  SWORN IN-Taking the oath of office are (from left to right): Jeff Reinhardt, Ed Corridori and Denis Weber (who became mayor). All three city councilmen were reelected by the voters of Agoura Hills in early November. Corridori and Weber have already said they will not again run for city council.

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn SWORN IN-Taking the oath of office are (from left to right): Jeff Reinhardt, Ed Corridori and Denis Weber (who became mayor). All three city councilmen were reelected by the voters of Agoura Hills in early November. Corridori and Weber have already said they will not again run for city council.

Longtime incumbent Denis Weber earned another term as mayor of Agoura Hills during Monday’s city council reorganization ceremony.


Weber, who previously announced he wouldn’t seek reelection when his city council term ends in 2005, probably will be serving as mayor for the last time. The 57-year-old bank executive, who was reelected to his third term on the council in November, also was the city’s mayor in 1998.


The position rotates yearly among the five city council-members. Jeff Reinhardt, successful in his first reelection bid, was named mayor pro tem.


"Being a city councilmember is a lot like being a football coach," Weber told guests and dignitaries who attended the swearing in ceremony: "Smart enough to understand the game and dumb enough to think it’s important.


"I’m not a politician and I never wanted to be."


Weber, who has often described his role in city government as "ombudsman" for the people, called for better communication between the city council and its constituents and a "collaboration" between the community and its businesses.


Weber was a member of the city’s first economic development committee eight years ago and has been said to serve business interests ever since. His hesitation toward the city’s business utility tax and open space measures in recent years cost him the support of fellow councilmembers, none of whom endorsed him in the previous election.


Scattered predictions that he might be passed over didn’t come true, however, as the council put him back in the mayor’s seat by unanimous vote.


"We don’t always agree," Weber said. "We just have different philosophies … We work together for the good of the whole."


Weber reaffirmed his commitment to public safety in Agoura Hills—he’s served on the council’s law enforcement committee his entire term in office—and promised to introduce an exciting list of events and activities for the upcoming 20th anniversary cityhood celebration.


Weber is a Cub Master, a Rotarian and a board member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Conejo Valley.


Corridori, a 58-year-old business owner, most likely served his last mayoral term as well. Like Weber, Corridori announced he wouldn’t seek reelection after winning a third city council term in November.


During his watch, Corridori said the city enjoyed the acquisition of 160 acres of open space, a continued low crime rate and the enactment of the Los Angeles County North Area Plan, a blueprint for controlling development in the area.


"The same exact environmental standards we apply in our city will be applied outside our borders in Los Angeles County," Corridori said.


He praised the city for its new streets, medians, landscaping and signage.


"Our streets have never looked better … This past year has been a banner year for our city."


Corridori also said he was proud to usher in a new era of cooperation with Las Virgenes Unified School District, which promises to build an environmentally friendly new elementary school on the city’s north side that helps protect Lindero Creek.


Among his proudest accomplishments as mayor: The opening of the new Agoura Hills Civic Center and its swank, children-friendly library.


"It is a special joy to see how the children make themselves at home here," said Corridori, who has four sons and several grandchildren. "It truly reflects the character of our community."


Corridori has gotten the most votes in all three of his campaigns: 1993, 1997 and 2001.


The Agoura Hills City Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. The new council chambers are at 30001 Ladyface Court.




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