Today I begin with two weighty topics. Neither one is something to be solved today, but both are topics that your City Council takes very seriously. We are lucky to live in a community that is so cherished and respected, surrounded by the beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains. Our staff provides the highest level of service. We have top-notch facilities, amazing programs, and we invest in public safety. Our highest priority now is looking towards the future and making sure that we can keep these things that we love.

Fiscal Resiliency
For several years, the city has been tracking some alarming trends. First, our largest contract, the LA County Sheriff’s Department contract and the JPIA, its liability trust find, are increasing much faster than the City’s revenues. Other expenses like the State pension fund and employee healthcare are also rising and outside of our control. We created investment accounts and began funding them a few years ago and will need to continue allocating money there to keep up.

To fight these rising costs, the City has taken many steps including reducing the number of full-time employees, limiting salary adjustments to select underpaid employees, and going long periods of time without filling open positions. Meanwhile, attracting good employees has become challenging in our area and we need to adjust our pay and benefits to be competitive with other cities.

A few years ago, to balance the budget, we made indiscriminate material cuts of 5% across all departments. Woolsey Fire and ARPA (Covid Grant) funds have carried us through the last 7 years, enabling us to fix our parks and keep up with public safety. This year, however, we have held off on many needed improvements except for Audio Visual equipment in Founder’s Hall and security cameras in the Civic Center.

The fact is that this City is approaching 30 years old and some of its facilities are even older than that. While we have fought to keep our streets and building looking good, the infrastructure continues to age and will soon need repairs and improvements. The council began saving for these things back in 2020, but we have a lot of catching up to do. A recent study shows that we’ll need $2.8 million annually to keep up, or this beautiful city will begin to fade.

We had a public study session last night to discuss our options. The bottom line is that money in has got to equal money out. Dozens of interested residents attended and gave comment. We talked about cuts to our expenses and increases to our revenues – taxes. There was little desire to reduce the level of service in our City and nobody was able to identify cuts that would significantly affect our bottom line. In discussing taxes, there was no appetite for a business tax, property tax or parcel tax. Many people favored a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), a charge on hotel rooms, but that would amount to only $780,000 per year.

As the study session continued over into our City Council meeting, we came to believe that a fractional increase in sales tax is the likely avenue to close our $2-4 million gap. As such, we asked the City Manager to prepare more comprehensive information of what ½ and ¾ cent increases would look like, and what the schedule and procedures would entail. All of this will be coming to another public study session in October and there will be many more conversations, this year and next, before any decision is made.

Calabasas Landfill Fire Debris
In early March of this year, LA County Dept Public Health tested ash at the Eaton and Palisades sites and found elevated levels of Lead, Arsenic, and Cadmium. An elevated level generally indicates the need for additional testing and a future action plan. We are not aware of any additional testing that they may have done. In fact, the County and sanitation District blocked us from testing. On May 28, 2025, the City of Calabasas tested soil at a Palisades Property Site and found hazardous levels of Zinc. A month ago, the court finally granted an order for us to test at the landfill. On August 11, 2025, the City of Calabasas tested soil samples taken from 4 truckloads of fire debris at the Calabasas Landfill. We found hazardous levels of Copper.

With this evidence, the City attorney is moving forward with our case against LA County and the Sanitation District to stop fire debris from coming to the landfill. We are also formally notifying the governing bodies that verifiable test results definitively demonstrate that hazardous levels of certain compounds and metals are being deposited at the landfill. Those bodies include Cal Recycle, the State Water Resources Control Board, our State Assemblyperson, State Senator and Governor.

If there is any good news that came from our testing, it is that we tested for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other airborne contaminants and found they were not present at hazardous levels and would not require additional monitoring. Although the heavy metals are now buried, we are still deeply concerned for the environmental damage that could be caused with an aging Class 3 liner.

Finally, I want to remind the public that 100% of our drinking water comes from Sacramento via the State Water Project – the aqueduct alongside the 5 freeway. We have no accessible groundwater in the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.

We will continue to fight for the health and wellbeing of our community, as well as the environment. Although we cannot share everything in real time, due to the nature of our lawsuit, we will do our best to keep the public apprised of our progress. More information can be found at this link to Fire Debris information.

National Preparedness Month – Fire Preparedness
Wildfires can spread quickly, and as we move deeper into wildfire season, it’s important to take steps to protect your home and family, including:

• Clear defensible space around your property
• Keep important documents accessible
• Make an evacuation plan with your household 

The City of Calabasas’ Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Department offers many resources to help you stay ready. Local organizations such as Calabasas Firewise and Emergency Preparedness in Calabasas Fire Safe Council (EPIC-FSC) also play a key role in reducing wildfire risk and strengthening resiliency in Calabasas.

Expanded Fitness Membership Options at the Community Center
Building on the success of SilverSneakers, the Calabasas Community Center now accepts Renew Active, One Pass and Aaptiv — nationally recognized fitness and wellness programs available at no additional cost for seniors 65 and older with eligible UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans.

Qualified participants receive a Gym2Gym membership, which includes full access to Community Center amenities such as the weight room, gymnasium, locker rooms and shower facilities.

Enrollment is quick and easy — our front desk staff are ready to verify your eligibility and get you started. Bring both a valid photo ID and your program ID to the Community Center reception desk and start enjoying the benefits today.

Learn more.

Calabasas Flyer Launches Sept. 15
The City of Calabasas is excited to introduce the Calabasas Flyer, a new origin-to-destination transit service launching Sept. 15 for Dial-a-Ride users and Sept. 20 for the general public on weekends.

The Flyer replaces the City’s Dial-a-Ride and Calabasas Micro transit services, offering the same hours, fares and destinations with a more convenient booking experience. Rides cost just $2.50 within Calabasas or $4 outside City limits. Rides are free for the first month.

Book your trip using the app or by phone, and enjoy a simple, reliable way to connect to shopping, medical appointments, restaurants, schools, jobs and more.

Learn more.

• Wednesday, Sept. 17, 6-7:30 p.m. – Calabasas Community Center
• Thursday, Sept. 25, 6-7:30 p.m. – Calabasas Council Chambers

I encourage you to explore the website, attend a workshop and complete the public survey by Sept. 30 to share what matters most to you. Your input will help guide efforts to strengthen preparedness and resilience in our community.

Celebrate Cinema at the Calabasas Film Festival
Don’t miss this year’s Film Festival, running Wednesday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 21. Directors and Co-founders Kelley Fries Miller and Nicole Fries are bringing our community together to celebrate emerging talent and established voices through premieres, student films, documentaries and shorts.

Festival goers will enjoy screenings, filmmaker panels, social receptions and culinary experiences. Venues include Regency Theater, the Motion Picture & Television Fund and the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center, with receptions at local favorites such as Superba, the Mulholland, Porta Vila, Cadillac of Calabasas and the Calabasas Civic Center.

Take a look at this year’s schedule of events and get your tickets today. 

Share Your Ideas for Shade at Wild Walnut Park
Join the Community Services Department for a public workshop on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9–11 a.m. at Wild Walnut Park.

This is your chance to help shape improvements at the park by sharing ideas for shade structures at the playground and dog park areas, including preferences for size, type and location.

The team will also gather feedback on the design of a custom Wild Walnut Park sign. Your input is vital to ensuring these upgrades reflect the community’s needs and vision.

Monte Carlo Night at the Calabasas Senior Center
The Calabasas Senior Center invites residents ages 50 and better for an elegant evening of casino-style fun at Monte Carlo Night on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Calabasas Community Center.

Enjoy classic games like Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and Poker using fun money for the chance to win prizes. The evening also features light bites, music and plenty of opportunities to mingle. Guests are encouraged to dress in cocktail or Monte Carlo chic attire.

Tickets are $40 per person and includes starter chips. Register today at calabasasreg.org.

Your voice and involvement make all the difference in shaping Calabasas. From fiscal planning to community programs, your participation helps us preserve what we love while preparing for the future. I encourage you to stay engaged, attend upcoming workshops, and share your ideas.

Wishing you all the best this weekend,

– Peter