After several wet days, I hope you enjoy a warmer, dryer weekend and can get out in the beautiful nature that surrounds us, or spend time at your favorite local spots and shops. You may even want to start planning your next family gathering, party or other event. The City of Calabasas rents out several facilities for events so you can host locally and, hopefully, with less stress. We also have several events coming up that you can read about below. As a reminder, City meetings and events can always be found on our website. 

I am excited to share that the City of Calabasas recently earned the prestigious California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS) Award of Excellence in two categories: Marketing and Communications for its Premier Recreation Brochure, and Champion of the Community for the Caring Calabasas Club. These highly competitive awards represent CPRS’s highest honors. This recognition emphasizes the Community Services Department staff’s exceptional work and contributions to the community, highlights its innovative practices and elevates its reputation in the parks and recreation field.

Calabasas Landfill
On Wednesday, February 12, the City Council met to discuss the disposal of fire debris from the Palisades and Eaton fires at the Calabasas Landfill. Colonel Sawser of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was in attendance to provide additional information on the Phase 2 cleanup of fire debris. The room was filled with over 50 residents who came to hear what he had to say and 30 of them spoke during the public comment period. The community is clearly concerned with the amount of toxic material that may end up in our landfill. Before the evening began, it was our hope that the Colonel’s explanations might soothe those concerns. Unfortunately, the community left with more questions than answers and the understanding that the fire debris will be arriving on Monday.

Based on the information presented and the concern for our residents, we passed three unanimous motions. The first and foremost was to vehemently oppose any fire debris from being brought to the Calabasas Landfill. Since this is the largest disaster of its kind, we insist that the decision-makers provide assurances that they are not bringing hazardous materials to the Calabasas landfill, and to date, nobody has been able to do that. In fact, the L.A. County Supervisor’s office has been unable or unwilling to tell us who the decision makers are, when these decisions are being made and how our voices can be heard.

Our second motion had six points, the first and last of which aligned with the first motion. The first was to convince the State and Federal authorities to haul this debris to remote landfills that would not affect residential communities. The last point was to instruct our City Attorney to explore an injunction or a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against state and federal agencies to halt the process.

The four additional points of the second motion were to oppose any expansion to the operations of the Calabasas Landfill. Although the timing of this action requires it to be simultaneous with our first motion, it is only a second line of defense. The City Council agreed to oppose any expansion of tonnage in the daily allowance, any expansion of the hours of operation, any acceptance of debris outside of our wasteshed area and any expansion of the maximum capacity of the landfill.
 
Like the second, our third motion is not meant to diminish the first. We vehemently oppose any fire debris from being brought to the Calabasas Landfill. As it appears that the fire debris will be arriving next week, we will insist on rigorous testing and inspections as outlined in our agenda. These include testing to ensure hazardous wastes are not disposed at the site, prohibiting non-hazardous wastes containing asbestos, certifying that loads transported to the landfill are safe, requiring that loads transported to the landfill are covered to prevent all debris and fugitive dust from dispersing along roadways, conducting third party inspections at the landfill entrance with violators cited and/or banned from transporting to the landfill, South Coast Air Quality Management Department providing continuous air monitoring at the landfill and along the hauling routes, The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board providing continuous monitoring at the landfill, creating an earth cover at the landfill within 8 hours of waste disposal and third party continuous on-site inspections.

Our Council, staff and legal team are working diligently on these matters. It is our number one priority. The City of Calabasas will continue to research and share information as we receive it. This information can be viewed here.

E-Waste Collection
Thinking about doing some spring cleaning? Don’t let hazardous waste enter our landfill! The City offers free E-Waste collections, on the first Saturday of the month at the Albertsons Shopping Center Back Parking Lot, 26521 Agoura Road. Stop by on March 1 between 10 a.m.–3 p.m. to drop off items such as TVs, monitors, printer, cell phones, laptops, keyboards and servers. Learn more about accepted items.

2025 Homeless Count 
The 2025 Homeless Count for Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills and Westlake Village will occur next week, February 18-20. Like prior years, the event involves pairing up with two or three individuals to canvas certain areas of the community via car to visually report on sightings of homeless individuals or encampments. The total time commitment for the evening is approximately three hours.

An overview of the Homeless Count page can be viewed at: https://count.lahsa.org, while those looking to volunteer at the Calabasas Senior Center can do so on the deployment site’s dedicated page. 

Environmental Forum 
Don’t forget to join us on February 20 from 6-8 p.m. in the Founders Hall for an informative evening with the Calabasas Environmental Commission and other local agencies and groups. Participants will learn about coexisting with wildlife and hear updates on the Wallis Annenberg wildlife crossing. This event is free and open to all. Learn more.

Public Workshop: Las Virgenes Creek Restoration Project Phase III Design
Mark your calendars for a workshop about the Las Virgenes Creek Restoration Phase III Project. The workshop will be held on Thursday, February 27 from 5-7 p.m. in the Community Center Sycamore Room. This will be an opportunity for residents and community partners to understand the scope of the project and provide feedback that could impact the final design. Learn more.

Sweethearts Night Parent Night Out
Looking for a date night? Let us take care of the kids! Drop your kids off at the Calabasas Community Center on Friday, February 21, from 6–9 p.m. for a fun-filled evening of crafts, entertainment and dinner while you relax and recharge. Open to kids ages 5–11. Cost: $25 per child. Pre-registration required at www.calabasasreg.org. 

Enjoy time with loved ones and the long weekend,

-Peter