Calabasas to spend another $400,000 to fight Ahmanson

Acorn Staff Writer



By Sharon Makokian

Opponents of the proposed Ahmanson Ranch development won a victory last week when the Calabasas City Council voted to appropriate $391,144 in its battle to stop the development, even though the city had already exceeded its budgeted $150,000 fiscal year allotment by $21,000.


The issue became somewhat of a controversy when City Councilman Michael Harrison wrote that “Calabasas should stop pouring money into a lost cause,” in a November letter to The Acorn.


Ironically, Harrison, a staunch environmentalist and environmental attorney began fighting the development even before Calabasas was a city.


He told the council at last Wednesday’s meeting that he felt the expenditures were part of what he called a “fleecing of Calabasas.”


“We blew our annual budget of $150,000 on this matter in six weeks,” said Harrison, the only councilmember to vote against the expenditure.


“To me, $550,000 per year is fiscally irresponsible,” he said.


In addition to the funding, the resolution eventually passed by the council consisted of three elements: to review expenditures and allocate funds quarterly; to determine and approve a fixed project budget; and to hire a part-time project coordinator.


According to the city staff, the remaining city councilmembers and most of the large audience, the allotment couldn’t have come at a better time.


“We’re moving into the most important six months in the past 10 years,” said Interim City Manager Steve Craig, about documents and permits that will be up for review soon, and may warrant the city’s intervention. The funding will be about divided with $150,000 going to legal fees and $150,000 going to expert witnesses. He also factored in city staff time and a 20 percent contingency.


Councilman Dennis Washburn supported the funding as part of an effort to obtain the ranch for public parkland.


“We need to adhere to our own goal to obtain Ahmanson Ranch for the common good … We need to continue to pursue the quality of life we enjoy here,” said Washburn.


Colleague James Bozajian agreed.


“This is one of the most important causes I’ve faced in my five years on the council. We need to make sure that it remains fully funded, not give an inch until it is defeated,” said Bozajian, generating applause from the audience. “If we lose, it was a fight worth going through,” he added.


Bozajian made additional suggestions, such as finding alternate sources of funding, which Mayor Pro Tem Lesley Devine supported.


“We’ve always had a goal when defeating this project, but we want the most bang for the buck,” she said.


Devine also dispelled rumors that she was against continuing the fight, which she has been involved with since 1989.


“There’s no quitting on this game,” she said. “We all have to work hard and not fight with each other, (but against) Washington Mutual (the developer).


“I think there’s no question-this project is the single most devastating project,” said Mayor Janice Lee, perhaps the most vehement in her protest.


“The project will be with us forever. It will destroy the watershed, there will be eight years of construction, and it will destroy certain species (of plants and animals).


“That’s just the canary in the coal mine, because you and I are endangered …if we don’t save ourselves from this project, we can just kiss this area goodbye,” said Lee.


“It’s been 10 years and we’ve never been closer to stopping this project … When we’re talking about a budget, out of 10 years spending $1million, that’s the best damn bargain,” she emphasized.


Dr. Martin Atkinson-Barr, one of 10 people to approach to council on behalf of the funding, said he felt it wasn’t a high price to pay.


“One million dollars is $40 per person in Calabasas in 10 years,” he said. “If Ahmanson City is built, Calabasas will cease to exist as we know it.”


Bob Selvin said he wouldn’t oppose spending even 10 or 100 times the current amount.


“If this (development) goes through, most of us are going to move anyway,” said Selvin.


“Please continue against (the development)-you’ve come too far, this is not the time to stop,” said Tracy Arnold.


Mary Wiesbrock, representing Save Open Space, an Agoura Hills group of several hundred, said she felt “we are winning” against Washington Mutual.


Several Woodland Hills residents also spoke in favor of the funding.


“Know that you’re not alone out there,” said Christy Catlin, a member of the Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch, who read a supportive letter from the environmental group “Heal the Bay,” which cited alleged water hazards the development would bring.


Calabasas resident Marcus Allen Frishman (a recent candidate for city council) was the lone dissenting speaker.


“We are losing this battle … You have to revise your strategy,” he said.








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