Signs of Change Seen on City Streets

Street signs have been disappearing in broad daylight in Calabasas over the past few weeks. But it’s all been perfectly legal, part of the city’s efforts to eventually replace every one of the 1,500 or so street signs around town.

“The old signs are faded, or in a different style, and they look ugly,” said Robert Yalda, the city’s traffic and transportation manager.

The new street signs, he said, are of uniform design, and are larger and more visible, to make it easier for emergency crews to find their way around.

To date, officials said, 190 signs have been replaced.

City officials hope to receive a $150,000 state grant to complete the work, Yalda said. And Calabasas officials will invite the city’s roughly 26 gated communities--the streets of which are private--to participate, he said. That, Yalda said, would allow the city to purchase the signs in greater bulk and save money.

The old signs are being sold to raise money for Calabasas’ city library, which moved recently from a tiny room in City Hall to 23645 Calabasas Road. The old signs are sold each Saturday for $5 apiece at the Farmers Market in Old Town.

“They have proven to be a big hit,” said City Councilwoman Karyn Foley.

Signs from larger streets, such as Calabasas Road and Old Topanga Canyon Road, will be sold to the highest bidder at an auction this spring, Foley said.