The Calabasas City Council met last week to begin work on their annual budget, and while a staff report showed the city is expected to continue on its path of fiscal stability, one item on the expenditure side of the ledger stood out as excessive in the eyes of the council majority.
Calabasas spent $49,450 on a holiday and awards party that was budgeted for a quarter of that amount, and some members of the City Council voiced concern that the party—the city’s annual year-end fête that was held Jan. 5 at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu—might have been too lavish for a government staff that represents a community of only 24,000 people.
The gala party also landed just two months after the Woolsey fire, the timing of which was not appreciated by some critics of the city.
City Manager Gary Lysik, who oversaw the party’s planning, said the expense was justified by its turnout—more than 300 people attended.
Estimates for attendance at previous holiday parties range between 80 and 150 people.
Each year the holiday party serves as a staff-appreciation event, and Lysik said this year he wanted to extend an invitation to every member of the city’s work force as well as members of outside agencies who assisted the city during the 2018 fire.
“ Why not? It’s because they’re important to me, and their work is important to the city, and without them, frankly the city doesn’t operate at the same quality, high-standard level that it does,” Lysik said. “The cost per person is less than what it was last year or any year in the past.
The city paid Calamigos Ranch $29,100 to rent the space.
Lysik said the city negotiated savings on costs such as outdoor heating, folding chairs, and valet parking, which were discounted or provided for free.
Among the expenses were a $300 payment to Wu Penniman, Lysik’s sister-in-law, and a $490 payment Lysik made to himself for party supplies he purchased with his personal credit card. Penniman was paid to work the door and tell guests where they were seated.
“It was a last-minute thing, like, who’s going to do this? I even think that she came from Beaumont or wherever they live to help out,” Lysik said. “It was a favor to me more than anything else that the optics might present.”
The bill also included $6,600 for entertainers, musicians and stand-up comedians.
Lysik said he spent “several thousand” dollars on party supplies the city can use for future events rather than renting the materials again.
Budget implications
During budget discussions at the May 30 meeting, City Council members Mary Sue Maurer, James Bozajian and Alicia Weintraub questioned the need to have an expensive holiday party.
Lysik said adjusting for inflation, the city spent “in the mid- $20,000” range on the parties between 2003 and 2007.
During that period some of the parties were held at private venues such as the Calabasas Country Club.
For the last 10 years the events were moved to the city’s own Calabasas Civic Center to save money. Former city manager Tony Coroalles moved the event to the then newly constructed civic center in a purported cost-cutting move.
Councilmember Fred Gaines said the parties at the civic center were not well attended and failed to show the city staff that their work was appreciated. And while Gaines said at last week’s meeting that it was important for Calabasas to “stay conservative” in its spending, it was clear that with the 2019 party the city leaders wanted to up their game.
Bozajian believes the $35,000 being proposed for the 2020 party, while cheaper than the 2019 affair, is still excessive.
The City of Agoura Hills, with a population only slightly less than that of Calabasas, spent $2,000 on its 2018 holiday party at the city recreation center, records show.
Weintraub suggested the Calabasas city staff be surveyed to see what kind of celebration they would like in the future as long as it’s both satisfying and reasonably priced.
Lysik said he’d be happy to consult with staff about what they want, but “I already know the answer, because (after the January gala) 99 percent of them said it was a fantastic event, that they finally felt like they were part of the city.”
Burgers ‘r us?
A big concern for Lysik is staff morale and promoting interdepartmental relations. He canceled an annual visit by the In-N-Out food truck that provided lunch for the staff because, he said, “People all sat in their own little department circles; they didn’t really mingle. It didn’t really increase morale.
“It was a nice gesture, but why am I spending that money to bring in an In-N-Out food truck?” Lysik said.
The city hosts several events throughout the year to thank the staff for their work, but Lysik said putting money toward a holiday party is the best way to keep the workers smiling.