The Calabasas City Council voted unanimously on June 12 to rescind a series of local building code amendments that regulate construction and repairs to all properties in the city.

The move couldn’t come soon enough for some council members, who thought the regulations should never have been adopted in the first place.

The issue began in 2009 after the city received complaints about possible code violations relating to sewer systems. In response, the City Council approved a series of modifications to the city’s plumbing and septic system laws and allowed city officials to disconnect utilities if code violations were observed.

Then-Mayor Barry Groveman and Councilmembers Dennis Washburn and Jonathon Wolfson endorsed the new rules, saying they would ensure sewer system conformity and protect residents.

But Councilmembers James Bozajian and Mary Sue Maurer and other critics, mostly from rural communities, opposed the strict enforcement—and worried that the city could turn off private property utilities without suitable oversight.

Opponents also believed the regulations unfairly targeted property owners living in rural areas and in older homes.

And residents were concerned that the amended codes would set the stage for construction of a municipal sewer line, which could trigger unwanted development in their communities.

While the city says it tried to dispel undue concerns about the regulations, critics remained miffed. They saw the regulations as a burden on certain residents and a punishment against them.

The septic code changes were overturned in 2012.

Bozajian said the council ignored the public’s input regarding the sewer changes—and also ignored public sentiment when it adopted amendments in 2011 to the city’s building and safety ordinance.

Regarding the building ordinance changes, some residents feared they might be penalized for the work on their property done by a previous owner.

The building and safety amendments were overturned last week.

“This has a long and sordid history, and I’m glad the council is rescinding the rules,” Bozajian said. “These should never have been enacted.”

Calabasas follows plumbing, mechanical and structural codes issued by the state and will continue to enforce the codes “uniformly” throughout the city, said Tony Coroalles, city manager.

Bozajian suggested that any request to adopt local regulations in the future should require a full discussion from the council.

“I hope any future amendment request is fully justified, that it’s absolutely necessary to make the city function,” Bozajian said.

Calabasas will not shy away from its responsibility to enforce all local and state building codes, Coroalles said.

Library services for Hidden Hills

At the meeting June 12, officials also approved a contract with the City of Hidden Hills to provide library services for the 2,000 residents in the gated community that neighbors Calabasas.

In November 2012, Hidden Hills voted to withdraw from the Los Angeles County Public Library system because a bookmobile service in the community had been canceled.

Beginning July 1, Hidden Hills will pay Calabasas $258,000 a year for use of its library. Half of the money will be used to buy digital books and materials that will be chosen by Las Virgenes Unified School District. The materials will be available for the use of students, teachers and the general public.

Many Hidden Hills residents already have Calabasas library cards.

“This was perfect timing. . . . It’s something the library commission has been talking about for many years,” Councilmember David Shapiro said.

The arrangement between the two cities will benefit patrons, the library and the school district.

Calabasas Park Estates

In another matter, the city tallied ballots to determine whether residents in Calabasas Park Estates would support a 10 percent rate increase to maintain landscaping in their community.

At the request of the Calabasas Park Estates HOA, each homeowner was sent a ballot. Of the 191 ballots returned, there were 115, or 60 percent, that supported the increase. Only a 51 percent majority was needed for passage.

Effective July 1, Calabasas Park Estates will increase its annual rate for each property owner from $872 to $889 to cover rising maintenance costs.

Calabasas maintains common area landscaping in most homeowners associations within city boundaries. The city hires a contractor and oversees the work.

Residents pay to cover these costs in their community. The fee is determined by homeowners associations, and any increase requires a vote of the residents.

The residents decide what the fee should be, and the costs vary from one community to the next, Coroalles said.

“It depends on how much property they have and how much it costs to maintain the property,” he said.

Rates in other areas will be increased by about 2 percent to account for inflation, Coroalles said.

The increase does not require a vote. Fees are collected through property tax bills.