AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE
Agoura Hills City Hall - City Manager's Conference Room 30001 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills, California 91301
Monday, October 6, 2025
4:00 PM
Please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices during the meeting.
NOTE: The Subcommittee and City staff will be participating in this meeting in-person in the City Manager's Conference Room. Members of the public have the opportunity to participate in-person in the conference room.
For public participation on items listed on this Agenda, refer to "Public Comments" below.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (PUBLIC COMMENT)
Option A: To provide public comments in-person at the meeting Members of the public have an opportunity to attend the meeting in-person and speak or submit a written comment on any item listed on this Agenda. Public testimony is limited to three (3) minutes per speaker; a speaker’s time may not be transferred to another speaker. Written public comments submitted at the meeting are not read aloud by staff.
To request to speak in-person at the meeting. The Subcommittee will open the floor for public comment and any in-person attendee who raises their hand will have the opportunity to speak. Public testimony is limited to three (3) minutes per speaker; a speaker's time may no be transferred to another speaker.
Option B: To submit written public comments by e-mail (prior to the meeting) Members of the public have an opportunity to submit email correspondence on any item listed on the Agenda by sending an email to: [email protected]. All public correspondence received by 3:00 p.m. on the meeting date will be provided to the Subcommittee prior to the meeting. Public comments are not read into the record. Any public comments received after 3:00 p.m. on the meeting day will not be considered as part of the Subcommittee’s deliberations or entered into the official record, but will be provided to the Subcommittee the next day.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
Mayor Penny Sylvester
Councilmember Chris Anstead
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(This section is reserved for persons wishing to address items not listed on the Agenda that are under the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. Please refer to “Public Participation” above for full details on how to speak or submit written public comments under this category.)
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. E-Bicycle Rules and Regulations
2. Morrison Park Playground Project Update
SUBCOMMITTEE OR STAFF COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
Date Posted: October 2, 2025
REPORT TO COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE
DATE: OCTOBER 6, 2025
TO: HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE FROM: NATHAN HAMBURGER, CITY MANAGER
BY: AMY BRINK, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
SUBJECT: E-BICYCLE RULES AND REGULATIONS
The following report is presented to assist in discussions scheduled for the October 6, 2025, Community Services Subcommittee Meeting.
During this year’s budget process, the City Council identified amending Electric Bicycle (E-bikes) rules and regulations as one of the goals for Fiscal Year 2025/26. The City is receiving many concerns and complaints from community members regarding e-bike use and the blatant disregard for laws surrounding them. The purpose of this discussion is to understand what is occurring, what the options are to ensure a safe environment for everyone in the community, and what is the best approach to implementing those.
Staff has been reviewing and identifying how other local and Southern California cities have been dealing with the issues that surround e-bikes. In collaboration with the City’s Traffic Engineer (Kimley-Horn and Associates), Lost Hills Sheriff Station, and the Las Virgenes Unified School District, staff will be presenting the Community Services Subcommittee with information to provide a comprehensive discussion on e-bike regulations, enforcement, and education.
The discussion will include what is currently in the Agoura Hills Municipal Code, State of California Vehicle Code Requirements, feedback and approaches from local agencies, and options for consideration related to education and enforcement.
There has been a growing concern over the use of e-bikes, motorized scooters, and bicycles in the community.
Residents are witnessing and reporting unsafe use and reckless behavior from individuals utilizing different forms of electric bicycles on city streets, sidewalks, and in city parks. The discussion will begin with an evaluation of existing rules and regulations in order to better understand potential amendments to them. Education and enforcement will also be part of the discussion as ultimately; the goal will be to offer solutions that will enhance public safety. Currently, there exists e-bike regulations that provide definitions of the different types of bicycles, ebikes, motorized scooters and bicycles, where and how one can operate bicycles and scooters, who can operate ebikes, and who can prohibit the use of e-bikes.
The City’s Municipal Code (AHMC) defines motor vehicle to include motorized bicycles, mopeds, and motor-driven cycles,(Section 4900.1) and provides regulations that prohibit any person from operating any bicycle on a sidewalk, walkway or parking area within shopping or business district or center (Section 3206). The AHMC further prohibits reckless driving of motor vehicles in parks (Section 4900.2).
The State of California Vehicle Code (CVC) provides regulations on the operation of bicycles, which includes ebikes, but allows the local jurisdictions to regulate if bicycles are allowed on sidewalks, recreational trails, bicycle paths, and parks (CVC 21200-21214). The CVC also provides regulations on the operation of motorized scooters (CVC 21220 to 21235) and motorized bicycles (CVC 5030 to 5039). Motorized scooters are prohibited on sidewalks.
The approach that our neighboring communities have taken in regard to e-bikes varies from soft to hard stances.
The following is a summary of e-bike regulations from our neighboring jurisdictions:
1. Calabasas: E-bikes are permitted only on designated roads and parking areas in City parks. They are not allowed on trails or turf. No restrictions on sidewalks or designated bike facilities
2. Oak Park: Ventura County does not allow riding on the sidewalk in business areas or where signs say “no riding.”
3. Thousand Oaks: Allows people to ride bicycles on sidewalks, as long as they yield to pedestrians and the sidewalk has not been posted with signs prohibiting it.
4. Westlake Village: Banned e-bikes and scooters from all sidewalks, parks, trails, fields, and drainage basins.
The regulation of e-bikes will have a community-wide effect. Staff met with both the Lost Hills Sheriff Station and the Las Virgenes Unified School District to understand the impact that regulating e-bikes would have on their staff, programs, and students.
Staff has had multiple meetings with the team from the Lost Hills Sheriff Station to discuss e-bike regulations and enforcement. They have been focused on educating the community on the different classes of e-bikes and electric motorcycles, along with what is required to use them. The team also stressed the importance of educating the community on basic traffic laws that surround the use of e-bikes. They provided some feedback on how to further define “unsafe” use as referenced in the Agoura Hills Municipal Code.
After meeting with the Las Virgenes Unified School District, they are very supportive of any educational and incentive programs proposed by the City. As long as the City is not asking for additional resources from the District, they will support all efforts. They recognize that being able to not only ride a bike or e-bike to school, but riding it in a safe manner, is critical to school children.
RECOMMENDATIONS
After conducting research, collaborating with local partners, and considering other local agencies new policies, staff recommends the following options for consideration.
Expand Definition in Municipal Code
1. Expand definition to include bikes and e-bikes, or to include Electric Mobility Devices
2. Expand the areas where they are banned, to include public sidewalks, culvert, ditch, public drainage facility, or channel; any public park, athletic field, athletic/sports court, or gymnasium in the City; any equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail
3. Expand the definition of unsafe to include unsafe manner in any public area.
Exemptions would include and rules would not apply to:
1. Person with mobility disabilities utilizing a wheelchair or other power-driven mobility device in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act.
2. City and other public agency personnel who operate electric mobility devices at any place in the performance of their duties.
Education
Educating the community will involve continued outreach which includes social media posts, website information, presentations at school parent/faculty clubs, and incentive programs from the City and Sheriffs Department. While the communication can still include information on different classes of e-bikes, traffic laws, the vehicle code and Agoura Hills Municipal Code need to be at the forefront.
Enforcement
Enforcement is a tool used to ensure the success of the options that have been identified. These recommendations have been reviewed and discussed with the Sheriffs Department.
1. Signage
a. Signage posted on sidewalks in known areas of non-compliance to reinforce city code
2. Law Enforcement/Sheriff
a. Cities typically rely on law enforcement officers to enforce city code and issue citations b. For the first 60 days after the prohibition comes into effect, a warning notice is often issued c. After the first 60 days, a violation of the ordinance results in a fine
3. Citizen Reports and Code Enforcement Officer
a. Residents can file complaints about potential code violations, on which code enforcement officers can follow up
b. Code enforcement officers identify violations, investigate complaints, and implement corrective measures to individuals into compliance
c. Contract Code Enforcement to assist with challenged City resources
REPORT TO COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE
DATE: OCTOBER 6, 2025
TO: HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE FROM: NATHAN HAMBURGER, CITY MANAGER
BY: AMY BRINK, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
SUBJECT: MORRISON PARK PLAYGROUND PROJECT UPDATE
City Staff is presenting an update on the Morrison Park Playground Project. During this year’s budget process, the City Council identified the completion of the Morrison Park Playground Project as one of the goals for Fiscal Year 2025/26.
The City is partnering on the project with Rotary Club of Westlake Village who has raised almost $500,000 for the project. Earlier this year, the group gave the City enough funds for the purchase of the play equipment, which was the first step in the project.
Last month, City Staff worked with M6 to complete the design and plans for the playground installation and new sidewalk system, or path of travel. The path of travel is being funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds after City Council approval. The pre-bid meeting was held on Tuesday, September 30, with 24 contractors in attendance. The project is currently out to bid with a closing date of October 16, 2025. Staff will be bringing the contract to the City Council to be awarded at the City Council Meeting on October 22 or November 12, 2025, depending on how quickly the administrative process goes. Taking weather into consideration, City Staff is hoping to begin construction on the project in mid-November 2026.