Accomplishments & Goals

By James R. Bozajian

An open letter to the Calabasas Community summarizing James Bozajian's accomplishments and goals.

Since my election to the Calabasas City Council in 1997, I have been proud to participate in our city¡¯s many successful ventures. Consider that in the last 16 years alone the City Council has:

¡ñ Acquired several parks and recreational facilities, including the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center, Calabasas Creekside Park, Wild Walnut Park, Highlands Park, Gates Canyon Park, and the Calabasas Bark Park.

¡ñ Adopted sound fiscal practices that, even in the wake of a protracted recession, have allowed the city to remain financially secure and maintain an impressive general reserve fund of approximately $18 million.

¡ñ Designed, constructed, and dedicated a beautiful Calabasas Civic Center to serve our community. Completed in 2008, this state-of-the-art complex features a City Hall, Municipal Library, assembly rooms, amphitheater, and other supporting facilities.

¡ñ Pursued slow-growth policies to preserve Calabasas¡¯ unique natural environment. The city has acquired thousands of acres of strategically located property for designation as permanent open space and trail use. I drafted and was the primary sponsor of both the voter-approved Calabasas Open Space Initiative (2005) and the Calabasas Historic Preservation Ordinance (2008).

¡ñ Supplemented our contract with the Sheriff¡¯s Department to bolster public safety and improve traffic circulation. I have used my background as a career prosecutor to bring innovative community policing initiatives to the city such as the Calabasas Teen Court, a program which I helped found in 1997 and continue to operate as the judicial officer. These pro-active measures have contributed to keeping our city¡¯s crime rate low.

¡ñ Forged a strong relationship with the Las Virgenes Unified School District by providing critical financial support for special programs and adopting creative joint use agreements. I proudly supported and campaigned for all five school bond measures submitted to voters during my tenure on the Council in order to raise necessary funds to maintain the outstanding quality of our public school system.

¡ñ Worked cooperatively with the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce and community leaders to bring attractive private enterprises to Calabasas, such as The Commons in Calabasas Park and Creekside Village in Lost Hills.

¡ñ Steadfastly opposed developments in neighboring jurisdictions that threaten to cause significant negative impacts to Calabasas. I helped lead the successful fights to acquire and preserve Ahmanson Ranch/Upper Las Virgenes Preserve (2003) and Soka University/King Gillette Ranch (2005) as public parkland.

¡ñ Sponsored an ongoing series of special events specifically designed to serve our senior citizens. We recently inaugurated the wildly popular ¡°Savvy Seniors¡± organization, created a Senior Task Force, and took the first steps toward building a Senior Center.

¡ñ Implemented neighborhood beautification plans devised to enhance area aesthetics while maintaining the distinct nature of our diverse communities.

¡ñ Joined with other municipalities to maximize the level of services available to our residents. I was able to focus much of my attention on these issues in my capacity as President of the California Contract Cities Association (2011-12).

¡ñ Approved extensive renovations and streetscape improvements to our roadways, bridges, and freeway interchanges. Along with the operation of a growing network of shuttles and trolleys to provide better public transportation services, these changes have helped alleviate traffic congestion.

¡ñ Encouraged the work of our staff and volunteer city commissions to offer hundreds of educational and recreational programs and services to Calabasas.

Working together we have accomplished much. But there remain many goals yet to be realized. If re-elected, I will continue to advocate the kind of protective land use policies that have safeguarded our community against over-development. Moreover, I will advance this philosophy when confronted with projects outside city borders that threaten our quality of life. I will also seek broader, regional solutions to meet our transportation demands.

I will adhere to the fiscally conservative practices that have sustained Calabasas¡¯ excellent financial stability even through turbulent economic conditions like the ones we face today. I will work tirelessly to ensure that revenue raised locally remains here and is spent locally.

Good leadership requires not merely attending City Council meetings ¡ª and I have never missed a single meeting or a single vote in my 16 years in office ¡ª but a willingness to approach the task of governance with an open mind, accessibility, and a professional, respectful demeanor at all times. Not only do I personally respond to all communications from constituents, but I make it a top priority to regularly attend and enthusiastically participate in community events and local homeowners association meetings.

I was raised in the local area and care deeply about our community. Of all the accomplishments and goals I could enumerate, nothing is more important to me than dedication and positive interaction. The city has faced many difficult challenges during my tenure on the Council. Through it all I have practiced the politics of inclusion, providing a balanced and thoughtful approach to governing.

My positions are evidenced not only by what I have said, but by my actions. And in every action I undertake as a Councilmember, I am always mindful of the trust you have placed in me. I have enjoyed the privilege of serving on the City Council for the past 16 years. Election Day is March 5th. I respectfully request your support so that I may have the honor of serving you again.

Sincerely,

James R. Bozajian Calabasas City Councilmember

James Bozajian for Calabasas City Council 2013 P.O. Box 8416 ¡ñ Calabasas, California 91372-8416 ¡ñ (818) 878-3945 jrbozajian@earthlink.net ¡ñ http://www.jamesbozajian.com