SEPTEMBER 2004 e.NEWS
	CTV WEB ARCHIVING
	NEW CIVIC CENTER PROJECT UNDERWAY
	WEST NILE VIRUS
	CARPOOL REGISTRATION WEBSITE
	CERT CLASSES
	IDENTITY PROTECTION WORKSHOP
	VEGETATION PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS
	HAZARDOUS MATERIAL DISPOSAL
	BACK TO SCHOOL
	FAMILY FUN NIGHT
	SECOND ANNUAL "SENIOR" PROM 2004
	"ARTIST ALLEY"
	FIRST ANNUAL MALIBU CREEK WATERSHED TOUR
	WARNING FROM CONTRACTORS STATE LICENSE BOARD
	INAUGURAL "CALABASAS CLASSIC" 5K AND 10K RUNS
	WHAT'S ON CTV
	EARLY VOTING AT LIBRARY
	CALABASAS MEETINGS & HOLIDAYS

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CTV is now available worldwide on the internet anywhere, anytime with webstreaming and the recently added web archiving.  The City of Calabasas is now offering all City meetings and CTV programs on demand on the internet through web archiving.  The archived meetings and programs are available on the City's website.  One of the best features of the service are "jump to" links that allow you to skip directly to agenda items in meetings.  There will be no more sitting through a long meeting waiting to hear your agenda item! This service works best with high speed internet connections.  For more information click here or visit the City's website.  Be sure to check it out!

The Calabasas Civic Center project officially kicked-off during the month of June!  The Civic Center will complete the Park Center Master Plan and is programmed to contain a 23,300 square foot Public Library, a 3,000 to 5,500 square foot Assembly Hall, and a 26,000 square foot City Hall.  On Aug. 16 the City Council Approved the in-progress schematic design plans presented to the Council at their Aug. 4 meeting.  The Council was also provided with updates of the library plans and exterior elevations.  Please take a look at the elevations on the Civic Center project website and let us know what you think!  Also, the City is seeking an Interior Design Consultant to provide Professional Services in support of the Civic Center Project. Requests for Proposals for furnishings, fixtures, and interior design for the Calabasas Library and City Hall Project will be received up through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2004.  For more information, please refer to the Civic Center project website or call the City at (818) 878-4225.

West Nile Virus has made its way to Southern California, threatening birds, horses and people.  According to the Los Angeles County West Vector & Vector-Borne Disease Control District, humans have only been known to contract West Nile Virus through mosquito bites, and less than 1 percent of the people who are bitten and become infected will become severely ill.  About 80 percent of those infected will not show any symptoms at all; up to 20 percent will display mild symptoms such as fever and aches; and less than 1 percent could experience high fever, disorientation, coma, tremors, paralysis, and rarely, death.  The L.A. County West Vector & Vector-Borne Disease Control District wants you to become as educated as possible about the West Nile Virus, so you can take the necessary precautions to protect you and your family and prohibit the spread of this disease.  Please remember to use insect repellent; call (877) WNV-BIRD to report any sightings of dead birds in your area; block out mosquitoes by closing windows and doors during dawn and dusk unless you have properly fitting screens; and look for anything in your yard that can hold water for more than a few days and drain/clean regularly as these are potential mosquito breeding sources.  For more information on the West Nile Virus, contact the L.A. County West Vector & Vector-Borne Disease Control District, the California West Nile Virus Surveillance Information Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the L.A. County Department of Health Services.

Getting to and from school has just been made easier with the City’s new carpooling data list website.  Now you can set up a carpool through the school district with paper applications that will be sent home to students on their first day of school asking them or their parents to join a carpool list. A new web-based application has also been made available on the Transportation Department’s website at Calabasas Carpool Survey to input the carpool data list information. A carpool proximity list will be made shortly after the beginning of school to give parents and students who drive to school, with tools to create carpools and reduce traffic on the roads.

An emergency could strike at any time, so please make sure that you, your family and your neighborhood are prepared and safe.  Learn steps that you can take to ensure your family's safety by signing up for CERT (Community Emergency Readiness Team) classes.  CERT Training will be taking place right here in Calabasas, so mark your calendars to take advantage of this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge to protect you and your community. This class will be held at the Countrywide facility, located at 4500 Park Granada, and Countrywide will be providing refreshments as well.  The Los Angeles County Fire Department will be providing instructors and class materials; Captain William McCloud of the L.A. County Fire Department is the CERT Program Coordinator and is scheduled to be the primary instructor for this class.  Anyone is welcome to join these informative classes.  For more information or to sign up for the classes, contact Maria Grycan, Community Services Representative for the L.A. County Fire Department Central Region, Division VII at Fire Station 70 in Malibu.  She can be reached by phone at (310) 456-7923 or by email at mgrycan@lacofd.org.

Class dates and times are as follows:
Sept. 10 Auditorium 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Sept. 17 Auditorium 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Sept. 24 Auditorium 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Oct. 1 Auditorium 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Oct. 8 Auditorium 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Oct. 15 Auditorium 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Oct. 22 Auditorium 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Oct. 29 TBD (likely Countrywide’s headquarters in Simi Valley) 8:15 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

State Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-41) and the California Office of Privacy Protection will be hosting an Identity Protection Workshop on Thursday, Sept. 9 from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at Agoura Hills City Hall, located at 30001 Ladyface Court in Agoura Hills.  The workshop will cover topics such as: identity theft prevention tips; protecting your financial information, social security number and medical privacy; what to do if you are the victim of identity theft, reducing the flow of unwanted information, and credit card fraud protection programs.  If you have any questions, please call the office of Assemblymember Pavley at (818) 596-4141 and speak with Jennifer Toder.

Last fall, Southern California witnessed some of the worst fires in recent history.  In order to prevent such disasters from occurring in Calabasas this season, citizens should take all necessary precautions to fire proof their homes and businesses.  Click here for fire safety tips from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Everyone needs to do his or her part to increase fire safety, clearing grasses and shrubs around our residences. The LA Bureau of Street Services in abatement of City-Wide Nuisances, Fire Prevention and Weed Abatement (in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Fire Department) mails notices to property owners regarding clearance requirements, and due dates for performing proper weed abatement.  Please contact the Planning Department for local permitting requirements on clearing certain types of vegetation particularly Oak trees and Scrub Oak (shrubs), which are protected under the City’s Municipal Code.  For more information, call (818) 878-4225 and ask for Glenn Michitsch.

If you have any hazardous waste materials to dispose of, the Household Hazardous Waste Collection program is here to help.  Bring your items to Calabasas City Hall, 26135 Mureau Road, on the second Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  This month, the Hazardous Waste Collection will take place on Saturday, Sept. 11. Waste will also be collected at other local sites throughout the month.  The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works will collect used oil, oil filters, anti-freeze, and latex paint for free.  For more information on recycling locations and reducing hazardous waste at home click here.

The Las Virgenes Unified School District is back in session as of Wednesday, Sept. 1.  Welcome back, and please remember to drive safely, especially in and around school zones.  The speed limit in these areas is 25 mph, so please obey it or you may face a traffic ticket from our newly added Sheriff enforcement.  Instruction hours depend on the school, but most school hours range somewhere between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., with some exceptions and after-school activities taking place beyond these hours.  Please be aware of school schedules and increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic around schools, plan accordingly and be patient.

Bring your bathing suit and come prepared for an evening of family fun at the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center "Family Fun Night" on Saturday, Sept. 11.  The evening swim begins at 6:45 p.m. and the fun carries on until 8:45 p.m.  Free tickets are available at the Tennis and Swim Center Front Desk.  Contact the Tennis & Swim Center with questions at (818) 222-2782.
 

The Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center's second annual "Senior Prom" will be a special time for local Senior Citizens. Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for a night to remember on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.  Highlights include live swing music by the Johnny Vana Trio, appetizers, and a raffle drawing with a variety of prizes!  Be sure to get your tickets in advance to take advantage of the discounted price. Be there to vote for a Prom King & Queen! Please call (310) 456-2489 x 357 or (818) 880-2993 for more information.

Pre-Registration Cost:  $20 per person
                                $30 per couple
At the Door:               $25 per person

From Sept. 6-Oct. 15 the main hallway at the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center will be featuring the work of artist MaryAnn Panopoulos.  Stop by the “Artist Alley” and be sure to see this unique and beautiful art!  For more information, call the Tennis & Swim Center at (818) 222-2782.

Saturday, Sept. 11 will be the First Annual From the Headwaters to the Lagoon: the Malibu Creek Watershed Tour.  This event will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.  In the morning there will be a Poster Session with coffee and treats and then a Malibu Creek Watershed Advisory Council Outreach Event, featuring knowledgeable speakers who will talk about water qualit and the current health of native species and habitats, and explore how communities can work together toward shared ecological goals. The afternoon will consist of a tour of the Malibu Lagoon where boxed lunches will be served, comments on Rindge Dam and Steelhead Trout, a tour of Tapia Water Reclamation Treatment Facility/presentation on water conservation, a talk on the acquisition of Ahmanson Ranch, and networking at a restaurant in Malibu.  Busses will be provided for the tour, as a courtesy of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, but participants must pre-register as seating is limited.  Contact Melina Sempill Watts, Malibu Creek Watershed Coordinator for the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, at (310) 455-1030 ext. 104, or simply call Calabasas City Hall at (818) 878-4225 and ask for Robin Hull.

Homeowners should be cautious when deciding to be their own general contractor.  As an “owner/builder,” it is the homeowner (not the person hired) that assumes responsibility for the overall job.  If a worker is injured while working on the property, the homeowner could be asked to cover the medical costs.  By signing a building permit application as an owner/builder, homeowners should understand that they assume full responsibility for all phases of their project and its integrity.  When citizens hire a licensed, experienced contractor to confer with knowledgeable tradespersons, the contractor becomes responsible for all phases of construction.  For more information, please contact the Contractors State License Board at (800) 321-CSLB.

Registration is already underway for inaugural "Calabasas Classic" 5K and 10K runs sponsored by the Talbert Family Foundation, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13 and wind through the scenic Calabasas Park.  The course is relatively flat and begins at the Calabasas Library then takes runners through tree-lined streets around scenic Calabasas Lake, with a double loop course for 10k participants.  The proceeds will support the Patient Care and Research for Blood-Related Cancers.  The 5Kand 10K entry fees are $25, if paid by Oct. 30, and $35 up to and including race day.  Entry fees for the “Kids 1-Miler” (for ages 7-12) and the “Family Fun Run” (all ages) are $10 before Oct. 30 and $15 thereafter. The fees include short-sleeved t-shirts or tank tops, post race food and beverages.  The 5K is set for 8 a.m., the 10K begins at 9 a.m., and the other two family runs are slotted to take place after 11 a.m.  There will also be a series of “kiddie dashes” sponsored by Sports Plus Day Camp.  Sean English, an Iron Man Brazil finisher will entertain at the start/finish line throughout the event.  Click here for additional information on the Calabasas Classic, including directions, course map, sponsors, accommodations and additional fund-raising opportunities.  Don’t forget to register early and come out for this community-wide charity event!

Be sure to tune in to CTV on cable channel 3 in Calabasas or online webstreaming to watch your favorite CTV programs.  New programs this month include:

Visit the CTV Channel Guide for a complete listing of programming.  All shows are televised only on CTV -The Calabasas Channel 3. Be sure to tune in to CTV on cable channel 3 in Calabasas or online webstreaming to watch your favorite CTV programs.

Make your voice heard by voting in the November 2004 Election.  The County of Los Angeles will be  providing early voting from Oct. 20-29 in the multi-purpose room at the Calabasas Library.  As a Los Angeles County registered voter, you will be able to cast your vote through touch-screen ballot machines.  Since ballots are specific to each voter's residence, voters will be able to participate in local elections this way, as well. 

City Council Agenda Items are available online, the Thursday prior to a City Council Meeting.   Agendas for all commissions are available online the Friday prior to the commission meeting.

As a reminder, City Hall will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.  City Hall will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 7 during normal business hours from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.  Please have a safe and enjoyable 3-day weekend! For a complete calendar of events and meetings during September, please visit our Calendar Page.