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1. Does the City need more tax revenue?

The cost of providing services to Westlake Village residents and businesses increases each year. Such services include law enforcement, park facilities and programs, street and sidewalk maintenance, and community events. The City is reliant on property tax and sales tax revenue to fund these services. If the annual increases in tax revenue do not keep pace with the annual increases in cost, the City will eventually be required to reduce the services it provides. Residential development projects increase property tax revenue by increasing the assessed property valuation and increase sales tax revenue by increasing the number of customers shopping at local businesses.

2. Does Westlake Village have a rental-to-homeowner ratio? Is the proposed project all rentals? What does the proposed project do to this ratio?

The City does not have a rental-to-homeowner ratio.  There currently are no apartment complexes in Westlake Village, but individual property owners may choose to rent their single-family home, townhome, mobile home, or condominium. The goals of the North Business Park Specific Plan and the General Plan Housing Element include introducing new housing types to the community and providing new housing options that do not currently exist. The applicant has indicated that the proposed project would consist entirely of rental units. The City has no ability to control whether a developer builds rental or owner-occupied housing.

3. Does Mayor Pearl have a conflict of interest as the Executive Director of the California Housing Consortium?

Mayor Pearl’s employment as Executive Director of the California Housing Consortium does not disqualify him from the City Council’s consideration of the proposed project.  Shortly after starting his first term on the City Council in December 2018, then-Councilmember Pearl directed the City Attorney to request a conflict of interest analysis from the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) related to the City Council’s consideration of the North Business Park Specific Plan.  The FPPC concluded, in a May 23, 2019 advice letter, that then-Councilmember Pearl did not have a conflict of interest in the City Council’s consideration of the Specific Plan because of his job.  Additionally, in a May 12, 2023 letter, the FPPC rejected a complaint that Mayor Pearl has a conflict of interest in the City Council’s consideration of the proposed project because of his job.