By Marcia Israel
I caught up the other day with Agoura Hills City Mayor Jeremy Wolf at a local breakfast spot to ask him about his term as mayor and his thoughts about the future of the city.
Mayor Wolf grew up right here in Agoura/Calabasas area where he attended high school as a scholar/athlete in water polo. Wolf feels that it is the “honor of a lifetime” to be able to serve the city where he was raised and where he now raising his own family.
His city council term began in 2022 and he is up for re-election December 2026. His intention as mayor is to make a difference at the local level in a thoughtful, measured way. As the youngest council member in Agoura Hills, Wolf balances work at the LVMWD with his dedication to the city, while finding time for his family. He sees himself as the ‘figurehead” of Agoura Hills who works in concurrence with the city council.
In college, Wolf developed his passion for protecting the environment and open space, working beside civic leaders who shared a similar mindset for saving the Earth. In 2013 he spent tireless hours at the Medea Creek Restoration Area, a naturalization project, helping to remove tons of trash from Medea Creek. Other projects followed, helping to defeat the Cornerstone Project shopping Village in Cornell and protecting Chesebro Meadow.
As LVMWD Legislative Program Manager for Government Affairs, Wolf feels his experience as liaison between our local water district and every level of government gives him added insight into how the city can work with all levels of government. He advocates often for more local control with the government – a delicate balance between all levels of government.
For Wolf, natural disasters are a great concern. Though the city works with residents, Wolf suggests, “Agoura Hills is in the high fire zone (and disaster zones for flood, earthquakes, and heat) and it will remain that way – residents must do their part to protect their homes.” He cites the Agoura Hills programs and materials available for residents through the “Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2026.”
For innovation, looking toward the future, Wolf points to the joint LVMWD and Triunfo Water & Sanitation District Pure Water Project, which will soon treat recycled water beyond drinking water standards. A demonstration facility is in place for the public to visit. The goal is to make local cities 30% less dependent on imported water—especially in the next drought. In the near future, urban run-off and rainwater will be diverted and turned into potable water.
Wolf related the basics of the Regency Center Project (Kanan and Agoura Road). The builder, in providing 20% affordable housing, has therefore bypassed local control. Wolf and the City Council continue to advocate at the state level for more inclusion in decisions that affect cities at the local level. The City Council has asked for more resources to address the impending density. Kanan, the main road between Agoura Hills and Oak Park, will be greatly impacted, as will streets, traffic, safety, evacuation and earthquake routes, flood and fire and heat. Always a champion for the environment, Wolf noted that this project is an “in-fill,” so there is no negative impact on the natural environment. They will build on the existing footprint.
Regarding the three Shopping Centers on Kanan Road and Thousand Oaks Blvd., Wolf explained that the city needed to be in compliance with certain state requirements (“The Agoura Hills 2021-2029 Housing Element” adopted in 2022; certified by the State). The plan is “like a place holder,” with no immediate plans for development at these sites.
Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Corridor at Liberty Canyon Road in Agoura Hills, which crosses the 101 Freeway, has created much public discourse in and about town for the past few years. Mayor Wolf grew up right near the bridge site and understands the inconveniences which the residents have had to endure with traffic and construction; he appreciates everyone’s patience and understanding. He is hopeful for the project’s completion at the beginning of December 2026.
Funding for the Wildlife Corridor came from the Annenberg Foundation, the initial $25 million grant, and federal and state public dollars– which were already allocated for wildlife preservation. Wolf emphasized that if this project did not utilize those dollars, the state would move those dollars away from Conejo Valley to other projects. He also wants the public to understand that inflation, tariffs on materials, as well as labor shortages, have increased some of the costs–plus the rains during the first two years of construction pushed back timelines considerably. The 2021 Caltrans costs of 92 million for Stage 1 construction held for years, but Stage 2 (2025) costs are projected at $114 million, including necessary design changes.
While the purpose for the wildlife bridge is primarily to save animal species (i.e. local mountain lions) and protect biodiversity in the Santa Monica Mountains, Wolf reflects that while humans created these ecosystem concerns, humans now have a way to correct these. The beauty of this project, says Wolf, is that the wildlife protection is here in “perpetuity.“ He is hopeful that science and learning about climate change will affect the political climate in a positive way—offering hope for new and better solutions to these problems.
As to local business and growth, Wolf feels that Agoura Hills could do a bit more to encourage business. He would like to see larger retail businesses come into the city, and he is exploring ways to incentivize small, mom and pop businesses to operate in Agoura Hills and thrive. He says, “Small businesses are the life blood of our city.”
