AGOURA HILLS TO WEIGH HOTEL-TAX SPIKE : RADISSON OWNERS URGE CITY TO KEEP BOOST IN LINE WITH AREA.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Increasing the city's transient occupancy tax could bring in money for road repairs, public safety and a library fund, but it would rely on the only hotel in town to bring in the funds.

The Agoura Hills City Council tonight will discuss whether raising the tax, set at 8 percent for the past 10 years, should be raised to bring more money into the city's general fund. But in doing so, council members will also discuss how much the tax will impact the Radisson Hotel, which wants to stay competitive with other hotels in the area.

Still, the need to meet rising costs probably will push council member Ed Corridori to vote in favor of an increase.

``Our hotel should remain competitive, but clearly our tax structure is a lot lower than other areas. In my mind, a small increase is appropriate,'' he said.

Though the proposal comes just one month after the council voted to refund a portion of utility tax money collected over 10 months from residents and local businesses, this tax is different, said City Manager Dave Adams.

The utility tax created controversy because the council voted in favor of it without getting a vote of the people. But the proposal to raise the hotel tax appeared on the ballot last fall and was supported by 67 percent of the voters, city officials said. And visitors, not locals, would pay the increased fee.

``It's very unusual to get voters to vote 67 percent in favor of anything,'' said Councilwoman Louise Rishoff. ``That's a pretty clear message that the council has the support of the community. Once something like this has gone to the people, those who don't like it don't have the grounds to argue it.''

This year, the tax will bring $360,000 to the city. Adams estimated that an increase to a 10 percent tax would bring in $450,000 and that a 12 percent tax would bring in $540,000.

Rishoff said it's time to raise the tax so that it compares with local communities.

Los Angeles County has a transient occupancy tax set at 14 percent; Calabasas' tax is at 12 percent and Westlake Village's is at 10 percent, according to a staff memo.

``We have to make sure the city is consistent with the surrounding area,'' Rishoff said. ``I'm perfectly comfortable if we bring it up to 12 percent. That gives us close to $200,000 in revenue that can be used for anything - road projects, public safety, funds for a new library.''

Radisson Hotel officials have not protested the tax, though they have voiced concern that the tax not be raised to the point that their rates exceed those of area hotels, the staff memo said.

The tax money cannot be designated for a specific project, which means the additional money would go into the general fund to be spent as the council decides, Adams said.

But the council has voiced concern about the condition of city roads - work that was put on hold once the utility tax was eliminated, Corridori said.