Agoura Hills council defers decision on Canaan–Agoura gateway monument after split over one vs. two signs

Agoura Hills City Council on Wednesday continued a decision on the design and final details for a proposed gateway entry monument at the Canaan Road–Agoura Road intersection, asking staff to return in two weeks with the item so an absent councilmember can participate.

City Engineer Charmaine Yambo presented two conceptual monument designs developed with Kimley-Horn & Associates and asked the council for direction on four items: the number of monuments (one or two), the wording to be engraved, whether to include the city logo, and whether to add landscaping. The monuments are the final element needed to complete plans, specifications and cost estimates for the larger intersection improvement project, which also includes undergrounding overhead utilities.

The project’s environmental clearance was previously completed as part of the Agoura Village Specific Plan update; the staff report noted the council adopted the initial study and mitigated negative declaration in May 2024. Yambo said staff estimated final monument design would take about two months, right-of-way work six to nine months, final design package two to three months and construction 12 to 18 months. She also said directional, low-intensity lighting would be included for safety and that staff had a rough cost estimate of $50,000 to $100,000 per monument.

Councilmember Deborah Klein Lopez said she preferred two offset monuments and favored a simple northbound face reading “City of Agoura Hills — Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains” with a small oak-leaf logo and minimal landscaping. “I like simple. I like number 2. I like the small oak leaf to the side,” Klein Lopez said.

Councilmember Chris Anstead and others said they favored a single northbound monument because they questioned the need for a second monument to mark entry into the Santa Monica Mountains and expressed concern about added cost and ongoing irrigation and maintenance if landscaping were installed. Mayor Pro Tem Jeremy Wolf said he supported two monuments but said low, targeted lighting was appropriate for visibility and safety.

Design consultant Laura Farnash noted the monuments would be offset from the travel lanes and recommended low-level lighting so drivers could clearly see and avoid the monument: “Given the proximity to the roadway... we want to make sure that they see it, and in the event that they have to pull over or not running into our monument sign.”

Because the council was split on whether to install one or two monuments and councilmember Anderson was absent, Klein Lopez moved to continue the item so Anderson could participate; Mayor Pro Tem Wolf seconded the motion. The council approved the continuance on a 4-0 roll-call vote (Councilmembers Anstead, Klein Lopez, Mayor Pro Tem Wolf and Mayor Sylvester voting aye). Yambo told the council staff can finalize other details ahead of the return date to minimize delay.

The presentation included options for materials (including native “lava rock” referencing nearby Ladyface Mountain), placement (one monument facing northbound traffic versus two offset monuments), wording variations that ranged from “Welcome to the City of Agoura Hills” to the shorter “City of Agoura Hills” with the tagline “Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains,” and whether to recess or attach the city’s oak-leaf emblem. Staff reiterated that Measure R and Measure M funds would fully finance the design and construction for the overall intersection project.

The council’s requested follow-up includes returning with the absent councilmember present and any final refinements on wording, logo placement, landscaping and lighting. The item was continued to a future meeting date so the council can reach a single direction for the project’s final monument design.