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Agoura Hills council outlines proposed goals, finance staff forecasts revenue drop; subcommittees to refine priorities
Summary
City manager presented a multi-step process for a two-year budget and proposed goals across land use, public works, environment, community services and public safety; finance staff cited an 11.5% sales tax forecast decline and set a budget adoption date of June 25.
City Manager Nathan Hamburger and Finance Director Diego Abanas presented proposed city goals and an initial revenue outlook at the Agoura Hills City Council goal-setting workshop, laying out a two-year budget process and assigning topics to subcommittees for detailed review.
Hamburger described the meeting as the first step in a “multilayered process” that will route proposed goals through subcommittees for cost, timeline and funding analysis before final council consideration. He said subcommittee recommendations will return to council at the next goal-setting workshop scheduled for May 14, and the city plans a budget workshop on June 11 with final budget adoption targeted for June 25.
Diego Abanas, the director of finance, told the council that the sales tax forecast for fiscal years 2025-26 has declined by 11.5% from the current adopted budget, while property tax is forecast to increase by about 4%. Abanas said the city will pursue federal and state grants, implement a recently adopted fee study and consider ways to maximize current high interest rates on city investments.
Council members outlined proposed goals for five subcommittee areas:
- Land Use & Economic Development: create Old Agoura commercial overlay design standards; consider code updates for solar and generator screening, hillside ordinance changes, artificial turf restrictions, rent-stabilization options, a downtown civic area public-private partnership and review of group home legislation and legal rulings.
- Environmental Sustainability: implement the Styrofoam and plastic utensils ordinance education period; continue the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan implementation; replace non-native trees with native species; and explore Liberty Canyon Creek restoration.
- Public Works: complete predesign and survey work for the Chesebro Road trailway; explore more stormwater diversion locations (project bids due April 1); seek funding for Lake Lindero water-quality and amenity improvements; expand trails and bikeway designs in Old Agoura; identify median landscaping options on Canyon Road; add or upgrade electric vehicle chargers; and study hillside slope stabilization and monument entry signs.
- Community Services: complete Chumash Park restroom and Morrison Park playground installations (noting a remaining funding gap for play surfaces), reexamine community events to increase neighborhood focus, and coordinate public art for the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.
- Public Safety, Fire & Emergency Response: consider an MOU with Southern California Edison for post-PSPS support, pursue secure backup internet for hard-to-reach areas during outages, explore speed-camera locations, expand home-hardening programs with the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council, enhance evacuation education, evaluate e-bike regulation and consider a Lost Hills Sheriff Station liaison deputy. Council members emphasized wildfire preparedness and grant opportunities to make home-hardening affordable and permit processes faster.
The council approved the workshop agenda at the start of the meeting by a 5-0 vote (moved by Council member Chris Anstead, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wolf). No other formal actions were taken at the workshop; staff will return with cost estimates and funding proposals after subcommittee review.
Mayor Sylvester and several council members asked residents and stakeholders to attend subcommittee meetings, which staff described as the forum where priorities, costs and financing will be resolved.
