MINUTES
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Kraut called the special Study Session meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Peter Kraut, Mayor Pro Tem James Bozajian , and Councilmembers Edward Albrecht, David Shapiro and Alicia Weintraub
Absent: None
STUDY SESSION
1. Fiscal Sustainability and Revenue Initiatives
Mayor Kraut provided a brief introduction and background on the outcome of the special meeting of September 10, 2025, and an overview of the study session format.
City Manager Meik thanked members of the community for attending and participating. He provided an overview of the General Fund revenues, expenses, and fiscal forecast. Meik n oted the City’s structural deficit, need for additional revenues to cover expenditures and capita l improvement projects, and reviewed ways the City and Council have already made cuts to help reduce the burden on the general fund.
Comprehensive options and data were provided to address various Sales Tax Measure options, including consideration of a November 2026 General Election measure or a June 2026 Primary Election measure.
A breakdown of sales tax revenue was provided, indicating a larger portion of Calabasas’ sales tax comes from non-residents, and detailed comparison sales tax rates with other Los Angeles County cities ranging between 9.75% and 11.25%. The Council reviewed the anticipated revenue which could be generated from a potential ¾ cent or 1 cent sales tax, and it was n oted that all revenues generated from a sales tax measure would stay local to maintain essential services and provide for critical infrastructure and capital improvement projects.
City Manager Meik and Chief Financial Officer Ron Ahlers addressed various Council questions throughout the in depth discussion.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The Council opened the floor for public comments. The community participated and provided valuable feedback t o the City Council. The study session forum provided the opportunity for residents to ask questions and the Council and staff provided additional information to address questions and concerns.
Docusign Envelope ID: F1E69B92-83BD-4A74-BD2D-5273F6BF6881 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
October 6, 2025
Councilmember Weintraub indicated her support of a sales tax measure, specifically to ensure the revenues stayed local and the City was able to capture the available sales tax. She noted the need to inform the public of the risk the County or other agencies could claim the sales tax if the City did not take action.
Mayor Kraut provided a breakdown on the difference between a ¾ cent and 1 cent sales tax and how each would impact the City over the next decade.
City Attorney Lee clarified the requirements to place a sales tax measure on a ballot , indicating the measure must be placed on a ballot with local elected offices, which would be in November 2026. She reviewed two other options to place a measure on an earlier ballot, including a voter initiative or a declaration of a fiscal emergency. She confirmed the City would meet the definition for a f iscal emergency due to the demonstrated structural deficit, sharp decline in revenues, and inability to maintain essential services. A fiscal emergency would allow the ballot measure to be placed on the June 2026 Primary Election and would require a unanimous vote of the City Council.
Staff responded to questions and concerns regarding the City’s credit rating. Chief Financial Officer Ahlers indicated the City was recently reaffirmed by Moody with the highest credit rating, and would not likely not be reevaluated for several years.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmembers thanked the public for attending and provided feedback regarding the proposed sales tax measure options.
Councilmember Albrecht noted the City’s structural deficit and low property tax revenues; reviewing the City’s comprehensive efforts to make cuts and explore all other potential sources of revenue. He noted his support to pursue a 1% sales tax measure to continue providing the programs and services that make the Calabasas community so special. Albrecht requested the City establish a meeting to discuss outreach, workflow and a timeline.
City Manager Meik confirmed that the City intended to do a robust and comprehensive educational forum, including meetings with the Rotary, HOAs and neighborhood associations, and the Chamber of Commerce, and other community groups and stakeholders.
Councilmember Weintraub spoke regarding the City’s low property taxes, noting that other local cities receiv e a larger percentage than Calabasas. She noted her agreement and support to pursue a 1% sales tax measure followed by a TOT measure within a few years.
Councilmember Shapiro asked clarifying questions regarding the cost difference between a June Primary and a November General Election and the timeline for community surveys. He noted the need to look hard at future expenses and emphasized there is no quick fix or short - term solution but requested the City have a “plan B” as a back up to a sales tax measure. Shapiro expressed his support to consider a potential 1% sales tax with a TOT staggered in the future.
Docusign Envelope ID: F1E69B92-83BD-4A74-BD2D-5273F6BF6881 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
October 6, 2025
He noted his opposition to the State or County securing the remaining tax percentage and supported the city’s efforts to keep revenues local and protect those funds.
Mayor Pro Tem Bozajian asked clarifying questions regarding the benefit of a citizen petition and the percentage difference needed if submitted as a voter initiative, which was clarified by City Attorney Lee. Bozajian expressed his support for a June 2026 election and indicated his preference for staff to concentrate on a ¾ cent sales tax in polling the community. He noted it would be a risk to delay action due to other potential Statewide propositions which could require a higher percentage of votes . Additionally, Bozajian indicated his previous support for a TOT requesting a future ballot measure in 2028 and noted the City’s loss of revenue due to the pending annexation with the County which has stalled for over a decade.
Councilmember Shapiro asked clarifying questions regarding the mentioned State propositions and the timeline for a potential TOT initiative. He emphasized the need to ensure proper time to outreach and educate the community.
SUMMARY
Mayor Kraut provided a summary of the Councilmembers’ comments and direction, including:
• City staff to provide a resolution declaring a fiscal emergency sometime before February for Council’s consideration.
o The resolution s hould include rising costs ( including those outside of the City’s control), demonstration of a structural deficit, detailed analysis of delayed revenue due to the stalled annexation, and should include a 5-10 year history of prior efforts to control costs.
• Support to pursue community survey(s) and polling on proposed ¾ cent and 1 cent sales tax measures.
• Noted the majority favored a sales tax measure on the June 2026 Primary Election • Direction to create an extensive outreach plan to engage the community. • Support for a future Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) with direction to revisit consideration prior to the 2028 election.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Additional public comments were heard and residents expressed support for a June 2026 election to safeguard the sales tax percentage, ensuring the revenues stay local . They also supported a 1% sales tax measure now and a Transient Occupancy Tax initiative in the future.
Councilmember Weintraub indicated the need to confirm the community’s support and determine whether the measure should be proposed for June or November 2026. She emphasized the need to make sure everyone in the community is aware of the outreach.
City Manager Meik noted staff would work towards a June 2026 election due to the majority of Councilmembers in favor , and City Attorney Lee confirmed the City would work to prepare a Declaration of Fiscal Emergency for Council’s future consideration.
Docusign Envelope ID: F1E69B92-83BD-4A74-BD2D-5273F6BF6881 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
October 6, 2025
Chief Financial Officer Ahlers and City Manager Meik responded to Councilmember Shapiro’s concerns regarding any potential ramifications of declaring a fiscal emergency and emphasized that the upcoming energy and solar projects would not be impacted by the credit ratings.
Mayor Kraut closed the special study session with support to not waste any time in moving forward with the directives provided by the Council to pursue a sales tax measure.
ADJOURN
Mayor Kraut adjourned the special study session meeting at 7:03 p.m.
Approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Calabasas on October 22, 2025.
___________________________
PETER KRAUT, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________________
KRISTY BUXKEMPER, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: F1E69B92-83BD-4A74-BD2D-5273F6BF6881