Mayor Mary Sue Maurer will present the 11th Annual City of Calabasas Mayor's State of the City Address on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 in Founders Hall at the new Calabasas Library.  The Calabasas Chamber of Commerce will host a mixer at 6:00 p.m. and the speech will begin at 7:00 p.m.  Members of the public are invited to attend.  The speech will be replayed on CTV-3 in Calabasas and available on demand via the Calabasas website after January 21, 2009. 

The State of the City address is an annual presentation by the Mayor of Calabasas bringing residents, City staff and civic leaders together to reflect on City accomplishments from the past year and to review plans for the future. For more information about the Mayor's State of the City Address, please call (818) 224-1600.

Southern California Edison (SCE) has scheduled a power outage between 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 and 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2009 in Calabasas.  According to SCE, power may be off for the whole period or may be turned off more than once.  This Planned Outage may not begin exactly at the stated start time.   To prepare for the outage, SCE recommends you take the following steps:

• Safeguard your computer to prevent loss of data.

• Unplug sensitive electronic equipment.

• Check garage door openers and security gates for manual operation.

• Minimize opening of refrigerator and freezer doors to maintain temperature.

• Notify any security companies you use that monitor your home.

• If you plan to operate an emergency generator, notify SCE before the outage so they can protect their employees from electrical backfeed.

• For business customers, if you do not have a backup power supply, rent a portable one if needed.

"Snow Snow Snow Day" returns on Sunday, January 11, 2009 at Gates Canyon Park in Calabasas.  As always, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., TONS of snow will be on the ground for frolicking by children of all ages.  Admission is only $5 per child ages 2-12 and children under 2 are free!  The mid-day event will also feature refreshments and arts & crafts (available for purchase).  Bring an innertube, sled or saucer and get ready for snow-filled fun in southern California!  For more information, please call (818) 880-6461.

Have a septic system and live in the City of Calabasas?  If you do, you are one of about 170 properties which have been identified as yet to be hooked up to a conventional sewer system.   Because these systems rely on natural underground processing to dispose of waste and raw sewage, there are tremendous pollution and health risks associated with such systems when they are not operating properly.  In order to ensure that all septic systems in the City of Calabasas are safe and non-polluting, the City Council has directed staff to develop a program of inspection and certification.  The program will be ready for Council discussion and potential adoption by late spring 2009.

The City estimates that the average cost of a septic system inspection under a future inspection and certification program will be approximately $350 to $500 every few years.  As a comparison, the approximately 8,000 other properties in the City hooked-up to the sewer system pay an average of about $900 per year for sewage disposal as part of their water bill.  Information about the proposed ordinance can be found by selecting the “On-site Water Treatment System” (OWTS) link at www.cityofcalabasas.com.

The State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board is moving forward with Assembly Bill 885.  The Bill is intended to provide regulations on a State Wide Level for the monitoring of On Site Waste Water Treatment Systems or “Septic Tanks.” All properties within the jurisdiction of Calabasas would be subject to the terms of the new law along with all homes within California.   A draft of the legislation has been stalled with the Senate and the Governor’s Office for many years; however, the Regional Board is ready to move the Bill forward and has a rule making committee formulated which is intended to educate and receive comments from the Public.

The Water Control Board is presenting a number of community workshops throughout the state.  A workshop close to Calabasas will be held at 7:00 p.m. on January 15, 2009 at Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive, Malibu, CA.

If there are any questions regarding the workshops, legislation or goal of the State Regional Water Quality Control Board, Mr. Todd Thompson may be contacted at (916) 341-5518, or tthompson@waterboards.ca.gov.

City of Calabasas Shuttle Bus riders during peak hours are now required to register for a free Peak Hour Shuttle Pass.  Applications are available on the City website or at City Hall.  Please note that every passenger must fill out an application and minors are required to have their parent or guardian sign the form.  The new Peak Hour Shuttle Pass will be issued to applicants in January and the passes must be shown to the Shuttle Bus driver upon boarding.  Every rider, adult or minor, will need to show a valid pass to ride the Shuttle during peak morning and evening hours. Fully completed applications may be returned to: Traffic & Transportation Division, City of Calabasas, 100 Civic Center Way, Calabasas, CA 91302.  For a brochure with City of Calabasas Shuttle Rules and Regulations, please visit the Calabasas website.   Please note that violators of these rules and regulations may be subject to removal and suspension from the Calabasas Transit System.  The Peak Hour Shuttle Bus schedule (Lines 2-5) is available online.  Please note that Line 1 and the Calabasas Trolley are exempt from the Peak Hour Shuttle Pass.  For more information, please contact the Calabasas Transportation Department at (888) 287-7929.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department will be offering CERT Training classes on Thursday evenings from January 15 to February 26, 2009 (7:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.) and Saturday morning, February 28, 2009 (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.).  All classes will be held in Founder’s Hall of the Calabasas Library, 200 Civic Center Way in Calabasas.  This free CERT training is open to all interested community members so participants do not have to be residents of Calabasas in order to attend.  Please click here to view the class schedule. 

Participants must attend all classes in order to receive a certificate of completion.  Previous CERT students who need to “make-up” a missed module or would just like a “refresher course” on a particular subject of interest are welcome to attend just that module. To sign up to attend these classes, please contact Debbie Larson, Calabasas Risk Management Analyst, at (818) 224-1616; or Maria Grycan, Los Angeles County Fire Department Community Services Representative, at (310) 456-7923.

The City of Calabasas is pleased to present a very special concert featuring music by Grammy nominated pianist Freddie Ravel.  The concert will take place inside Founders Hall at the Calabasas Library on Friday, February 20, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $20 per person and the ticket price includes an upscale dessert reception provided by Mi Piace, gourmet coffee and fine wine.  Seating is limited and will call tickets are available. For ticket information, please call (818) 224-1600.    

The City of Calabasas hosted “A Day Without a Bag” in front of Calabasas supermarkets on December 18, 2008 to promote the use of reusable carry-out bags and to encourage shoppers to give up the use of disposable plastic bags.  Hundreds of shoppers received free reusable bags and educational materials from City Council members and Environmental Commissioners.  The campaign was organized in coordination with Heal-The-Bay and it was supported by ten other cities in Los Angeles County.   

Plastic bags are recyclable, however less than five percent are actually recycled.  Due to their expansive and lightweight characteristics, they are easily windblown and end up littering landscaping, streets, streams, storm drain systems and, ultimately, the ocean. Plastic bags are a significant source of marine debris and are hazardous to birds and marine animals. The California Coastal Commission estimates that 60-80 percent of all marine debris, and 90 percent of floating debris, is plastic.  

The 2009 Calabasas Municipal Election will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2009.  There are three City Council seats to be filled in the upcoming Election and five candidates are officially on the ballot.  The term of each seat is four years.  The last day to register to vote for the March 3, 2009 General Municipal Election is February 17, 2009.   Voters may request vote-by-mail (absentee) ballots beginning February 2, 2009 until February 24, 2009.  The City will be hosting a Candidate Forum at Founders Hall in the Calabasas Library on February 4, 2009.  The Forum will feature moderated discussions between candidates and will be replayed until the election on CTV.   For more election information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (818) 224-1661. 

The Calabasas Klubhouse Pre-School has a newly redesigned website.  Calabasas Klubhouse is one of the region’s top pre-schools with programs for ages 2 through pre-Kindergarten.  The new school website features information about the school, teaching philosophy, the curriculum, Summer Camp details, annual events and parent testimonials. The Klubhouse Pre-School at Creekside Park is located 3655 Old Topanga Canyon Road in Calabasas and parents can get more information by visiting http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/Schools/klubhouse.html or by calling (818) 222-9791.

2009 WINTER RECREATION BROCHURE

Stumped about what recreation activities are available in the City of Calabasas? Make sure to check out the 2009 Winter Calabasas Recreation Brochure.  The brochure features detailed information about adult and youth classes, senior citizen programs, community news and information, sports activities and much more. 

The 2009 Winter Calabasas Recreation Brochure is available online and paper copies are available at City Hall, the Agoura/Calabasas Community Center and the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center.   Classes will run  from January to March 2009 so make sure to register early!   For more information about Calabasas recreation opportunities or for help with class registration, please call the Recreation department at (818) 880-6461.

The City of Calabasas  organizes two free monthly electronic waste collection events in addition to the usual monthly water based paint and used oil collection event. On  the first Saturday of each month (Saturday, January 3, 2009), an electronic waste collection will take place at the Albertson’s parking lot, 26521 Agoura Road (at Las Virgenes Road) in Calabasas from 10:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m. A second monthly electronic waste event will take place on the 3rd Saturday of the month on Saturday, January 17, 2009 in the Vons Shopping Center parking lot at 23381 Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills from 10:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m.  Acceptable items include but are not limited to CD players, laptops and personal computers, microwave ovens, printers, radios, stereos, telephones, and VCR’s.

On Saturday, January 10, 2009 there will be a free water based paint and used oil collection event at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center located at 23400 Park Sorrento from 10:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m. For more information, please contact the City of Calabasas Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator at (818) 224-1600.

The Calabasas Emergency Response Program (CERP), the Lost Hills Sheriff's Department, and Disaster Communications Service (DCS) would like to invite the public to attend an Amateur Ham Radio Study and Exam Session for an Entry Level FCC License on Sunday, January 11, 2009 at the Lost Hills Sheriff's Department.   The class will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and the exam will begin at 2:00 p.m. and last one hour.  There is a $20.00 class fee that includes class expenses, breakfast goodies, lunch, and snacks.  Please note that registration is required and walk-ins will not be accepted.  Register today by sending a check to Norm Goodkin, 22287 Mulholland Drive #162, Calabasas, CA 91302.  Please write "Ham Class" on the check memo.  For more information, please contact Debbie Larson at (818) 224-1616 or via email at dlarson@cityofcalabasas.com.

Conejo Players Theatre - Thousand Oaks
    The Music Man
    February 6 - March 7, 2009
    Thurs., Fri. & Sat. at 8:00 p.m.
    Sun. at 2:00 p.m.
    
Madrid Theatre - Canoga Park
     January 2009 Calendar

Scherr Forum Theatre - Thousand Oaks
     January 2009 Calendar

At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders. 

If you do not have a digital television, Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009.  The Program allows U.S. household to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.

Consumers have a variety of options including:
1. Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working after February 17, 2009, or
2. Connect to cable, satellite of other pay service, or
3. Purchase a television with a digital tuner.

You can visit the official Digital Television Transition website for information on whether or not you need a converter box, to obtain a coupon, for FAQ's and more information on the transition.

Be sure to tune in to CTV on cable channel 3 in Calabasas, through live online web-streaming, or watch any meeting or CTV program at ANYTIME through the new CTV archive.

This month on CTV:

Your City, Your Issues: Drive-thru Flu Clinic 2008
(View this program anytime with CTV Archiving)


Host John Loesing covers the Drive-Thru Flu Clinic 2008
held at A.C. Stelle Middle School in Calabasas, in mid-November

For more info about the Flu Clinic visit: http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/flu.html

Author's Night: Al Martinez
(View this program anytime with CTV Archiving)


Host Karyn Foley's guest is Al Martinez, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist
 for the Los Angeles Times, author of a dozen books, an Emmy-nominated
creator of prime time television shows, a travel writer and humorist.

Visit Al Martinez's page on the LA Times website

Visit the CTV Channel Guide for a complete listing of programming.

Calabasas City Hall will be closed  on Thursday, January 1, 2009 (New Year's Day) and January 19, 2009 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day ).  

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.  All City Council meetings and commission meetings take place in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Way in Calabasas.






For a complete calendar of events and meetings during
January, please visit our Calendar Page.