New mayor Weber promises infrastructure improvements

AGOURA HILLS



Weber

Weber

With the City of Agoura Hills’ government reorganization comes the requisite change of ideas and leadership, but for 2017, the new mayor, Denis Weber, said he doesn’t want to burden the city with new pet projects until other, much-needed work is completed.

Weber asked his colleagues to forgo any “new or experimental projects that might burden an already busy staff” and instead focus on issues that have been on their “collective plate” for some time.

Weber said he wants to complete the Palo Comado Bridge and widen Roadside Drive between Kanan and Cornell roads, two projects that will enhance safety for residents and visitors.

“The passing of Measure M (the L.A. County transportation tax) will have the funds to accomplish that,” Weber said.

He also wants to review the Kanan Road bridge design to make sure it meets the needs of traffic flow in and out of Agoura Village, a proposed retail, residential and commercial hub that has been discussed by the City Council for more than a decade.

Weber also mentioned California stormwater treatment mandates that he said could bankrupt some cities unless their leaders can convince state agencies that some of the regulations being proposed are too costly for smaller cities.

In Agoura Hills, Weber said, the “considerable cost” for such improvements is estimated at “tens of millions of dollars,” a budget-busting sum.

Stormwater compliance means that cities like Agoura Hills might need to construct a water treatment plant and filtration systems at local parks. Estimated costs to the city could exceed $85 million by 2021. The filtration plant is just one of the mandates being proposed, Weber said, and the costs could affect the city’s ability to afford basic services for residents, including police, roads and parks.

Weber said the state mandates were based on “bad science.” He said the Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments, a group of five local cities that collaborate on joint issues, is working to negotiate the terms and conditions of the stormwater mandates.

The new mayor pledged to work with businesses large and small to help them succeed and grow.

In his outgoing remarks, former Mayor Harry Schwarz said, “This has been a year I have had personal moments of fear, and moments of joy and reflection.”

On the joyous side of Schwarz’s mayoral year, he said that the move of the L.A. Rams’ headquarters to Agoura Hills was a thrill.

“I was hoping it would make a difference in their record,” he joked.

Other goals that Schwarz set at the beginning of his term also came to fruition. A large portion of Medea Creek was naturalized and now serves as one of the city’s many parks.

“It’s now a respite . . . one of my many dreams,” he said of the restoration of the once-concrete channel.

Under Schwarz’s watch the city widened Agoura Road, which he said was a precursor to the long-awaited Agoura Village. That project might get underway in the next year.

The One City, One Book event starring Dick Van Dyke was another memorable 2016 moment. The event that showcased Van Dyke, 90, singing and dancing drew an overflow crowd to the city’s recreation center.

Finally, the long battle to keep Chesebro Meadows as open space came to an end this year, Schwarz said.

The land “has slipped into eternal open space,” he said, adding that the acquisition by several environmental agencies was a “momentous achievement” for wildlife habitat and citizens. He said the city’s purchase of the land in 2010 took “courage and foresight,” and the purchase allowed the city to act as a placeholder until an open space deal could be made with various agencies.

“One person is a real hero, one outstanding pioneer: our first mayor, Fran Pavley,” Schwarz said, adding that her enduring legacy will be the meadow, which has been named after her.

The meadow and the Liberty Canyon wildlife overpass will remind residents of Pavley’s “unflinching commitment to nature,” he said.

Schwarz received numerous commendations from local officials, including Assemblymember Richard Bloom, U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu and Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

Weber and Mayor Pro Tem Bill Koehler were sworn into office by Chief William McSweeney of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A dessert reception in the city’s community room followed the ceremony.


FRESH START—From left, Mayor Pro Tem William Koehler and Mayor Denis Weber share a light moment as they receive the oath of office from Chief William McSweeney of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at the Agoura Hills City Council Reorganization last week.

FRESH START—From left, Mayor Pro Tem William Koehler and Mayor Denis Weber share a light moment as they receive the oath of office from Chief William McSweeney of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at the Agoura Hills City Council Reorganization last week.

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