There are four candidates running for three City Council seats in the March 5, 2013 Calabasas General Municipal Election. The term of each seat is four years. An official 2013 Calabasas General Municipal Election website is available online and will be updated throughout the election season with an election calendar and information about candidates, candidate forums, and voting. Be sure to tune in to CTV's Election coverage including "Meet the Candidates," "Candidate Forum," and live election night coverage.

If you have not yet registered to vote, you can do so by visiting rtv.sos.ca.gov/elections/register-to-vote/. February 19 is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in the March 5, 2013 Calabasas General Municipal Election.

If you are interested in obtaining a Vote-by-Mail Ballot, and you are not already registered to permanently vote by mail, visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/elections/2013/vote-by-mail.html to complete, print, and sign a Vote-by-Mail application. Ballots will be received during the period of February 4 to February 26.

March 5, 2013 is election day when polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CTV will once again provide live election night coverage on CTV-3 in Calabasas, via online streaming, and will post live election results on the 2013 Calabasas General Municipal Election website.

The City of Calabasas has begun the process of updating the Housing Element of the General Plan for the 2013-2021 period as required by State law. The Housing Element establishes policies and programs to address Calabasas’ existing and projected housing needs, including the City’s “fair share” of the regional housing need (or “RHNA”).

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 6:00 p.m., staff is hosting a study session with the Planning Commission to discuss goals and objectives for this update and to seek input from the public. The study session is open to the public and will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Staff encourages you to attend the meeting if you are interested in contributing to the Housing Element update.

Individuals who have completed the requirements to obtain their Amateur Radio Technician Entry-Level FCC License are invited to a free class on how to program and use their Ham radio. The class will take place on Sunday, February 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station (27050 Agoura Road, Agoura). For additional information, please contact Norm and Naomi Goodkin at (818) 222-7893.

The City of Calabasas Earth Day Celebration/Green Expo will take place on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Las Virgenes Creek site on Agoura Rd (behind the Starbucks at 26531 Agoura Road) in Calabasas. Over fifty exhibitors from all over Los Angeles County will be participating in the event to help participants take actions that will save them money through efficiency while protecting our planet. The festival is free of charge and the Calabasas Earth Day event will have something of interest for everyone. The festival will also feature numerous children’s activities to teach kids about the environment while they have fun.

The City of Calabasas invites public agencies, non-profit organizations and private companies that provide green services or products to participate in this event. Each exhibitor will be provided with one 6-foot long table to set up educational and promotional materials. A large turnout of Calabasas residents are expected for this event. More than 2,200 people visited the 2012 Earth Day Celebration/Green Expo. This is a great opportunity to educate the public on benefits of being “green”, on sustainability, energy conservation, and ways they can help the environment. The Exhibitor Application is available on city’s website at http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/environmental/Earth-Day-Exhibitor-Application.pdf.

Getting children to and from school safely has always been a priority in the City of Calabasas. As part of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Federal Grant awarded to the City in 2011, Safe Moves, a non-profit organization, recognized as a leading authority in traffic safety education, was hired to create an educational safety program for schools in Calabasas. Chaparral Elementary and A.E. Wright Middle School were selected for this pilot program because of the proximity of the targeted road and neighborhood improvements.

With direction from the City, Safe Moves studied the developed walking/biking route maps and existing pedestrian facilities implemented by the SRTS project improvements at each school, met with Principals, staff and parents, and formulated an education program at each school that specifically addresses the needs at that facility. Each school will have a combined program of instructional workshops and walk/bike rodeos. Workshops are grade specific and will be conducted at Chaparral and A.E. Wright beginning the week of February 4, followed by rodeos. Rodeos involve teaching road safety by moving around a simulated city that will be brought to the campus. Instruction is given by Safe Moves’ enthusiastic, full-time professional employees. Fourth and fifth grade students with signed consent forms, will be given the opportunity to ride bikes through the city. Students can either bring their own bikes and helmets, or can use those provided by Safe Moves. With successful completion of this pilot program, the City will be looking for opportunities to conduct educational programs at other Calabasas schools.

Do you know what to do to take care of yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the aftermath of a major disaster such as an earthquake or other emergency? Following a major disaster, police, fire and medical professionals may not be able to meet the demands for emergency medical attention. Residents and neighbors may need to rely upon one another to help with immediate life saving needs, particularly in isolated neighborhoods that may be cut off from the main roads. The Los Angeles County Fire Department Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) wants to train you on basic fire safety and life-saving skills you will need to be prepared. Calabasas classes will take place at Founders Hall in the Calabasas Library from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursdays (January 31 through March 28). You must attend all eight sessions in order to receive a certificate of completion. Please note that missed classes can be made up at a different time and at a different location. To pre-register and obtain class schedule, call (818) 224-1620 or visit www.fire.lacounty.gov/cert.

Registration for the 2013 Spring T-Ball and Coach Pitch Leagues is happening now at de Anza Park and will continue until leagues are full. T-Ball is for ages 4-6 and Coach Pitch is for ages 7-8. Leagues run from March 16 - June 1 and each team will play one game per week on Saturdays at either Grape Arbor Park or Creekside Park. There will be one practice per week based on the coach’s schedule. There are no try-outs and players will be placed on teams based on friend requests or the school which they attend. The league fee is $140 and includes uniforms, team pictures, and a trophy.

Parents, we need your help! Please volunteer to be a coach. A coaches meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25 at de Anza Park. For more information, please call (818) 880-6461 or email lwilhelm@cityofcalabasas.com. Emphasize fun and learning while building character one swing at a time!

The City of Calabasas is requesting proposals for the purpose of selecting a concessionaire to manage, operate, maintain, and promote a gift shop concession at the Calabasas Library. All proposals must be received by Wednesday, February 27, 2013 by 4:00 p.m. Any questions, requests for more information, or tours of the facility should be directed to John Bingham, Senior Management Analyst at jbingham@cityofcalabasas.com or (818) 224-1663. Visit  www.cityofcalabasas.com/pdf/rfps/RFP-Library-Gift-Shop-022713.pdf to obtain the official Request for Proposal (RFP).