Klessig seeks reelection in Westlake Village

Candidate wants to put Lowe's issue behind her


 

 


Most residents are happy with the way the city of Westlake Village is being run, Councilmember Philippa Klessig believes.

“Residents like the fact that we support the schools, that we’re helping homeowner associations fix up roads and that we’re partnering with the YMCA for a new facility,” said Klessig, who is running for reelection, seeking a second four-year term.

Voters will have a choice Nov. 6 of four candidates, including Klessig, for two open council seats. Councilmember Jim Bruno is not seeking reelection. The other candidates are physician Theodore Corwin, management consultant Ned Davis, and Carol Kirschbaum, a retired insurance administrator.

The election caps a difficult period for the city in which a measure to build a Lowe’s home improvement store on Russell Ranch Road was defeated by voters. The issue divided residents and council members.

In December, shortly after the election, then-mayor pro tem Bruno, who led the opposition to Lowe’s, was not chosen mayor by his fellow council members as had been the tradition. Instead, the council kept Sue McSweeney as mayor and voted Klessig in as mayor pro tem. In subsequent letters to The Acorn, some residents accused the council of punishing Bruno for his opposition to Lowe’s, a project Klessig supported. The Lowe’s proposal was part of the criticism by some that the city is becoming overdeveloped. But only about 45 percent of the 5.2-square-mile city is built out; more than 55 percent is open space, Klessig said.

She is concerned about future revenue levels and wants to make sure the “right combination of business” comes in, like the Four Seasons Hotel that opened in November on Lindero Canyon Road at Via Colinas. Claims that development projects have been too intense for the city are off the mark, Klessig said, pointing to the new Marriott on Lindero Canyon Road that was supposed to comprise 220 rooms but is only 160.

“Some people say ‘stick to the general plan.’ But it’s called general for a reason. It was written 25 years ago. I think the City Council has an incredible record for lowering density and raising income by tweaking that plan,” Klessig said.

While campaigning doortodoor Klessig hears requests for better lighting on city streets.

She’s looking into installing sidewalks citywide for pedestrians, a more pressing issue after several people walking or bicycling were struck and killed by vehicles.

“Public safety is a big issue,” Klessig said. “We have to balance that with the fact that the city was designed to look like the country.”

It’s a problem facing surrounding communities as well, so Klessig is in contact with neighboring councils about working together to create a solution.

Klessig would like to bring an art museum to the area so that residents don’t have to drive into Los Angeles. She also often hears constituents’ concerns over the city not having a hospital.

“Maybe it’s not as bad as we think,” Klessig said. “Maybe we just need defibrillators.”

The YMCA project, in planning stages, could include an indoor pool and basketball courts. Built on Thousand Oaks Boulevard across from La Baya Drive, the center could become the gathering place some residents have sought, Klessig said.

She takes pride in the improved landscaping, signage and use of less water and maintenance. The city was recently awarded a state grant of $250,000 toward a weather-based irrigation system. Klessig would like to make Westlake a leader in environmental practices.

“The community is looking great. The whole look is more welcoming, pleasing and functional,” Klessig said.

She is also proud of initiating better communication with residents through publications, advertising, mailings, and an improved city website.

“I felt that we had a great city but no one ever knows what we’re doing,” Klessig said. “We now have more people coming to our events and watching our council meetings.”

Born in Boulder, Colo., Klessig comes from a long line of Philippas, including her mother and greatgrandmother. Klessig continued the tradition, making her daughter Calla’s middle name Philippa. Klessig’s family moved several times between New York and California due to her father’s job as an engineer for General Electric. The family ended up settling in Goleta.

Klessig earned a psychology degree in 1972 from UC Santa Barbara. She held various jobs over the years working with her investment banker husband, Karl, in several businesses including a travel company and a leading office automation computer software firm. She opened an advertising firm in Calabasas and later earned a landscape design credential from Pierce College.

The couple moved from Sherman Oaks to Westlake Village in 1989 in search of “better schools, friendly people and a nice environment.” Klessig became an active volunteer at her daughter’s schools, befriending another mom, former Westlake mayor Kris CarrawayBowman. Klessig later worked on Carraway-Bowman’s City Council campaign as well as that of former councilmember Betty DeSantis.

“I thought it would be a good challenge,” Klessig said. “I like diversity and dissent. I like to hear different opinions, then come together to work it out.”

“Philippa understands what it takes to run a city, the fiscal responsibility,” Carraway-Bowman said. “There is very little growth in our city. We have to stay ahead to keep up.”

Philippa Klessig

Philippa Klessig

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