Westlake bids farewell to Philippa Klessig

City council member moving to New Mexico



SMILES—Klessig with Agoura Hills City Councilmember Bill Koehler during a March 18 farewell reception at Stonehaus restaurant in Westlake Village.

SMILES—Klessig with Agoura Hills City Councilmember Bill Koehler during a March 18 farewell reception at Stonehaus restaurant in Westlake Village.

The best thing an elected representative can do is listen and lead, said Westlake Village City Councilmember Philippa Klessig, who practiced what she preached.

Klessig is retiring from city service after 12 years on the job.

Local officials, residents and city employees gathered at Stonehaus restaurant in Westlake Village on March 18 to bid farewell to Klessig.

The council member and her husband, Karl, recently sold their Three Springs home and are moving to Santa Fe, N.M.

“The city is going to miss her, but this is a good move for her and her husband, and at some point of time you’ve got to follow your dream,” Klessig friend and former Westlake Village Councilmember Bob Slavin told The Acorn.

Klessig joined the council in 2003. Her current term would have ended in November.

Officials have 60 days to decide whether they will appoint a replacement or leave the seat vacant until the next municipal election.

A special election is unlikely due to the high costs involved to fill a short-term vacancy, offi cials said.

During her three terms on the council, Klessig said, she always tried to listen to people and bring their ideas forward.

“Part of the joy of being on this council is that it is a small city and you get to know the residents and businesses, and people will reach out to you and tell you what’s wrong or right in your decision-making. So you always feel very connected,” she said.

Whether it’s at Costco, in a public park or at a local restaurant, city leaders must be in tune with the community and willing to pause when constituents want to talk to them, she said.

Klessig, 64, has lived in the city since 1989.

She worked in the travel industry and was a founding partner of an advertising print production company. She later became a landscape designer, working for residential customers.

Karl Klessig, 73, is vice president of a document-recording company.

After visiting friends in Santa Fe, the Klessigs decided to buy the property they’d been using as a vacation home.

Although sad about leaving Westlake Village, Klessig said she looks forward to a change of scenery—and a change of pace.

The vacancy on the council will bring new opportunities for the city and its residents, she said.

“It’s invigorating to get new people on the council. You can’t get into the habit to think you’re the only one with the answers,” Klessig said.

Over the past two decades, she has devoted many hours to the city and has assisted local schools as a parent volunteer.

Rocki Mende, a 13-year resident of Westlake Village, said Klessig was an attentive and caring leader.

“She listens very carefully and really thinks things through before making a decision. She is very good at evaluating a situation,” Mende said.

Thousand Oaks City Councilmember Claudia Bill-de la Peña said, “What I’ll miss the most about Philippa is her charm, the way she interacts with people, so easygoing and professional. These are rare qualities in a politician.”

Slavin said Klessig devoted a great deal of time to council projects.

“She is probably is the most prepared council member I’ve ever met or worked with. She not only reads the agenda and the staff reports, but she rereads them and does site visits,” he said.

Slavin said Klessig worked hard to create and maintain an attractive city.

“Beautification has always been a passion of hers, and our city in the last 12 years has really turned into a metamorphosis of public improvements and beautifi cation,” Slavin said.

Klessig said that she and the other Westlake Village council members have strived to find a balance between competing interests, working to maintain the quality of life and services residents want while attracting businesses that complement the community.

“It’s really about the look and experience of the city, keeping it as is and making it better. Leading is forming coalitions and working on a compromise that works for everyone,” she said.

When asked what advice she would give her successor, Klessig said, “Listen and lead. You can’t be afraid of speaking from your heart and mind. You also have to do your research and keep an open mind.”

The city hosted a presentation at a meeting yesterday to recognize Klessig and the contributions she made during her time in offi ce.


POWER PLAYERS—From left, husband Karl joins Philippa Klessig and city council members Claudia Bill-de la Pena of Thousand Oaks, Sue McSweeney of Westlake Village and Illece Buckley Weber of Agoura Hills.

POWER PLAYERS—From left, husband Karl joins Philippa Klessig and city council members Claudia Bill-de la Pena of Thousand Oaks, Sue McSweeney of Westlake Village and Illece Buckley Weber of Agoura Hills.

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