Westlake OKs Census of Businesses by C of C

The Westlake Village City Council has tentatively agreed to hire the Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce to conduct a business census.

The unusual count of merchants, manufacturers and other businesses is designed to ensure that the 4-year-old city receives its share of sales, council members said Wednesday night.

Despite its largely residential look, the 5.4-square-mile city is home to an estimated 800 businesses, City Manager James Emmons said. They contribute about $900,000 a year in taxes, a third of Westlake Village’s city budget, he said.

But the city does not require business licenses as most municipalities do, Emmons said. That means that there has been no way to accurately count businesses.

Council members said they will formally vote on the $9,178 contract with the chamber on Nov. 13.