Edelston new mayor of Agoura Hills




John Edelston

John Edelston


The Agoura Hills City Council may still comprise the same five men, but for John Edelston, Monday’s changing of the guards was particularly sweet. He was sworn in as mayor for the first time since his election to the panel four years ago.

Councilmember Denis Weber took the helm as mayor pro tem. Mayor Dan Kuperberg stepped down from the top post; in June he was reelected to serve another four-year council term, his fourth in office.

The reorganization meeting at Agoura Hills City Hall on Dec. 3 was filled with local and state dignitaries armed with proclamations and commendations to celebrate the city’s successes and silver anniversary. Sat., Dec. 8 marks 25 years since the city incorporated.

Anniversary ceremonies will culminate Saturday night with a party at The Canyon club headlined by rock legend Pat Benatar.

Starting out

Edelston pledged to maintain Agoura Hills’ status as a unique suburban community and adhere to its mission statement through a commitment to the “preservation of its history, a high quality of life, a vibrant business community, and environmental sensitivity.”

Edelston said the city is wellmanaged, but sees more work to be done. He said his run for office four years ago was sparked by the Agoura Village concept.

“I’m excited about what I’ve seen so far,” he said, noting that five projects are in the preliminary stages of development. He thanked former mayor Ed Corridori for his early foresight on the Agoura Village concept.

Edelston introduced the “Healthy Cities” program to Agoura Hills last year, and he hopes to develop local programs to encourage health. He even invited residents to join him and his wife at ballroom dance classes at Agoura Hills Recreation Center and folk dancing at Agoura/Calabasas Community Center.

In that spirit of healthy living, he revealed that Lindero Creek Park will open in Agoura Hills in 2008 next to the new Yerba Buena Elementary school. The seventh community park in the city sprawls over 21 acres.

Edelston also called for more collaboration with the Las Virgenes Unified School District, and other agencies to leverage funds for joint programs and services.

Spending the city’s money

Kuperberg presented an overview of the city’s health. He said 2007 was successful, from its economic practices and balanced budget to collaborative ventures with the school district, and events such as Reyes Adobe Days.

“We have planned ahead, scrutinized carefully, prioritized well, and spent wisely, resulting in that balanced budget and healthy reserves,” he said.

Kuperberg said he’s particularly proud of the way the city handled the capital improvement project budget. The $8.6million budget paid for street and sidewalk improvements, signal synchronization, park improvements and the Kanan Interchange project.

“But the best part of this is that of $8.6 million, only threequarters of a million dollars is from our general fund. We are using nearly $8 million for capital improvements from grants and other outside funding sources,” he said.

Kuperberg also looked ahead, saying the council acquired funding for the Reyes Adobe bridge widening project; construction will begin next year.

Thirty percent of the city’s budget is allocated to law enforcement, Kuperberg said.

The city collaborated with the school district on many projects this year, he said. More than $250,000 was contributed to a historic fourcity technology program to help pay to train teachers on new computer equipment. Tennis courts at Agoura High School were repaired and some were added.

Kuperberg launched the One City, One Book, Agoura Hills Reads program, which included events at many schools.

He credited Councilmember Harry Schwarz with the idea to create a business task force, and said he and Councilmember Bill Koehler worked with staff and volunteers. Kuperberg announced The Latigo Kid Restaurant is the city’s 2007 Business of the Year.

Best wishes from VIPs

“This is a very well run city,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who presented a proclamation in celebration of the silver anniversary. He said council members have all proven to be “outstanding public servants.”

Hilda Garcia, representing state Sen. Sheila James Kuehl (DSanta Monica), congratulated the panel for a productive 25 years.

Louise Rishoff stood in for 41st district Assemblymember Julia Brownley. Rishoff, a former council member and mayor, said one of her best decisions had been appointing Kuperberg to the Parks and Recreation committee years ago.

Amy Brink, director of community services, presented Kuperberg a local artist’s original painting of the historic Reyes Adobe.

Yaroslavsky mentioned that Edelston is his brother-in-law and that he was happy there was finally a mayor in the family.

He said that when Edelston was first elected to City Council, people were suspicious that he’d run all city decisions past his relative for approval. That never happened, Yaroslavsky said.

The supervisor also commended Councilmember Denis Weber for his long commitment to the city.

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