Meeting #10, Or Is It Meeting#12?  Still No City Manager

Malibu’s city council met behind closed doors for 5 hours Monday … to talk about hiring a new city manager.

No decision was reached.

This was one of a series of more than 10 closed door sessions this summer.

Malibu has been function with acting or interim city managers fro two years.

Caltrans Plan For Bike Lanes and 42 New Streetlights In Western Malibu Goes Before Planning Commission Monday

Major changes may be coming to Pacific Coast Highway in western Malibu.

Caltrans plans to add street lights and painted bike lanes along PCH … from Malibu Creek west to Zuma Beach and beyond … go before the Malibu Planning Commission next Monday night.

Caltrans .. the state agency that owns the roadway … is proposing to install the striped bike lanes along the highway from the Civic Center to Zuma Beach.

These would be bike lanes … unprotected lanes on the road shoulder and striped for one-way bike travel. 

A major Caltrans overhaul of PCH … from the Cross Creek signal west to Ventura County … needs a city construction permit.

More than 8 miles of painted bike lanes.

A narrower center median … to squeeze in the bike lanes with out losing onstrete parking.

Among some of the plans … more than one mile of sidewalks … mostly between Pepperdine and the commercial area near malibu lagoon.

And street lights … 42 new street lights in an area prized for its dark black skies.

The state plans to add street lights along Zuma Beach … they say they will comply with the city’s dark sky ordinance.

To see how well that works … look at the street lights on PCH at the Morning View and Guernsey avenue traffic lights … where light clearly spills onto the beach and into the surrounding neighborhood.\

One part of the plan is to reduce on the byway .. or on one side of the highway … at some highly-used recreation areas.

The idea is to reduce the number of people scrambling across the highway to reach popular beaches or hiking trails. 

The Caltrans people need a city permit .. called a CDP …. to do the work.

But … if the permit is denied by the city council. … it appears that Caltrans could technically appeal the city’s denial to the Coastal Commission.

City Council May Move To Force Sheriff To Enforce Tougher Anti-Camping Ordinance

Malibu city council members are not happy with the LA County sheriff’s department … over its enforcement of the city’s anti-camping ordinance. 

The U-S Supreme Court has given American cities wide latitude to arrest campers … or give them tickets … even of there is no overnight shelter available for sleeping people. 

But the L A County sheriff’s department has not tightened enforcement of Malibu’s anti-camping ordinance … however.

And they will not cite campers and tow away vehicles unless they have a spot to put this person in  the shelters.

City council member Bruce Silverstein want the city to write an ordinance that would allow deputies to to arrest peel camping on public property,.

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“We are allowed to criminalize living on public property.

“Some people don’t; want to.

“But once again I think we ought to look into what the right language is to accomplish that.  

“We can always choose not to enforce that.

“But once again we cannot enforce what we do not have.”  

So … what if that ordinance were to pass?  The county sheriff’s department is the city’s hired police department … and as a matter of policy … they will not arrest people for sleeping in public.

They work very hard to steer homeless people into shelters … but under the sheriff’s department policies … they will not arrest people for sleeping on public property.

Acting city attorney Trevor Russin told the city council Monday night … the city’s powers are limited.

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RUSSIN: “I don’t believe we can create felonies. We do have the power to create misdemeanor violations.

SILVERSTEIN: “So we don’t have the power to create any kind of proscription that the sheriff’s department has to enforce. Is that accurate?

RUSSIN: “Well, they are under contract and obligation to enforce our laws, and that includes misedanors. They have to power to do that and it actually under our contract with them that they would do that.

“If they don’t comply worth he terms of our contract and enforce the misdemeanors, it’s a contractual relationship.  

“We cannot force the sheriff to go in to do anything.” 

In other words … the sheriff’s office not enforcing Malibu anti-camping ordinances would be a matter of a breach of contract between the city and county. 

That has some city council members pretty unhappy.

Silverstein has in the past tossed out the idea of Malibu creating its own private police department …. to work under the sheriff’s office and enforce ordinances that the sheriff won’t/

But remember… the city Council on Monday night decided it cannot afford the $1 million a year or so for a tiny force of private security guards in the eastern Malibu burn area.

Council Leaning In Favor Of Grand New Library At Civic Center, Instead Of Book Depot At Pt Dume

In another news item about LA County control of Malibu … 

2 percent of the property taxes collected in Malibu go into a special account for library services.

LA County runs that.

And the vague plan has always been to build a new library in the Point Dume area.

But the city gets to make recommendations for spending that money.

This year … Malibu has 25 million dollars in the account,

But city council members say … its time to rethink the vague plans …. And come up with specific plans for a new generation Malibu Library.

Council member Doug Stewart,

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“You know, we used to have books.

“And now people read things on their digital tablets.

“The world has changed for libraries … and it need to be different than what we envisioned 20 years ago.

“And yeah, at some point we are going to lose our money pot here, and at some point we have to decide what we are going to want it to look like.”

And that may not be a traditional branch library branch in western Malibu.

Councilmember Bruce Silverstein,

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“I don’t believe western Malibu is the answer by the way.

“I think the Civic Center library space is the answer.

“I think we need a modern library which serves as a community center and a library.

“If you look around the world you will find see examples of these: majestic libraries.

“Not a place just to get books ..  but place for people to see movies, to listen to music, to see concerts, to gather in a library.

“It would be a perfect use of this money and it would solve Malibu’s need for a community center.”

Building a grand new library on city owned land … behind the Cross Creek ranch shopping center … is one possibility. 

But council members on Monday night were leaning towards building a new library in space occupied by the Malibu Courthouse.

Malibu’s two courtrooms were taken over by the state judicial system more than a decade ago. 

Then .. they were closed in a budget crunch.

The two Malibu Courtrooms were relocated to the courthouse at LAX.

The grand center of Malibu’s 1960s-era Civc Center has been empty and vacant for 15 years now.

Perfect site for a new library, right?

Mayor Marianne Riggins says there is one big problem.

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“One of the problems with doing anything at the current library situation is the State of California Superior Courts will not take and make a decision on the courthouse … 

“They keep punting it further and further out.”

In Los Angeles … a similar problem with an unused courthouse, right in the middle of the West LA Civic Center..

It took years of campaigning by the City of Los Angeles to convince the state judicial system to give up the West LA Courthouse … which was torn down last year.

Malibu Residents Get Tepid Council Response To ‘Blue Highway’ Plan For Ferries From Malibu To SM

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“Imagine how much more enjoyable it is to look at our coastline from the sea, rather than staring at brake lights on a congested highway.”

That’s Michel Shane … painting a picture last night for the Malibu city council of a proposed 

Ferry service from Malibu Pier to Santa Monica and on to Long Beach. 

They call it the Blue Highway.

Patricia Keeny-Maschoff (phonetic) is one of the Blue Highway advocates … she unveiled the ferry concept at last night’s city council meeting.

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“These vessels are beautiful.

“They are hundred foot, 149 passenger catamarans that are are carbon neutral.

“We will coordinate with (MTA bus) 149 passenger carbon neutral catamarans. 

“We will coordinate the scary times with the 130 for you around the country mart to a possible city of Malibu parking lot.”

The idea is divert traffic from the PCH to the ferry.

How much for the fare??

Thirty dollars per person at first … but maybe lower if the state government sends a subsidy down.

Blue Highway Organzier Kevin Keegan told the city council last night that the Blue Highway people have done their homework.

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“The Blue Highway is unique example of Malibu inspiring a region-wide coalition to help implement a large-scale solution.

“Today we have the following partners actively involved:

• Senator Ben Allen 
• Assembly member Jackie Irwin
• Supervisor Lindsey Horvath
• Supervisor Janice Hahn
• Coastal Commission (Regional Director) Steve Hudson
• California State Parks (deputy superintendent) Richard Fink.

“We have spoken with Senator Henry Stern, the city of Santa Monica, Caltrans, the Coast Guard, Catalina Express Ferries and we reached out to the LA 2028 (Olympics) Planning Committee.”

So how did the Blue Highway land at the city council Monday night? 

Not so good. 

Councilman Bruce Silverstein said … he is not enthused.

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“I perceive that this brings people to Malibu … not takes people from Malibu.

“It’s not a benefit to our community … it’s a benefit to more tourists.

“And the statement that every passenger on a ferry is one less car on the highway is not true. 

“Many of the passengers are people that weren’t going to come here many passengers come here come here on the ferry, and I think I heard there is alcohol available on the ferry.

“And I think I heard there’s alcohol available on the ferry, so we will be bringing people that are drinking alcohol into Malibu on a ferry..

“Great.”

Other council members said they could not give Blue Highway a letter of support this week … lie the organizers asked for. 

It was a generally lukewarm reception.

The city council turned down the group’s request for a letter of support … because Blue Highway had failed to get in a a equest to put the matter on this week’s agenda. 

Organizer Michel Shane told the city council last night … this is not a dream … it’s a practical proposal with some government agencies already signing off on it.

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`“It’s no longer just an idea. It’s a credible,  researched proposal receiving serious attention at the state level. 

“It’s a plan to replace what can be a 90 minute crawl on PCH with a 25 minute journey on the water.”.

City May Put Up $17 Million Towards Undergrounding Comm Lines In Fire Area

Residents of the burned-out area of eastern Malibu -may- get all of the wires on overhead poles removed and out underground.

The city would have a 17 million dollar city cost . 

But that may get passed on to the residents in the specific area … through a special tax district..

Southern California Edison is putting many of its power lines underground … as it restores the infrastructure to the burned out area.

But the multitude of communications companies that also have overhead cables are not planning to underground the thick cables. 

They are not covered by the state law requiring that power lines be put underground in very high fire risk areas. 

Malibu Will Buy $150,000 Batteries For Caltrans Signals On PCH

Malibu will put up 150 thousand dollars to build improved standby batteries for traffic lights on Pacific Coast Highway.

Another 450 thousand dollars will be paid for by the state.

There was some grumbling about why Malibu has to pay anything for a state highway … 

Councilman Bruce Silverstein.

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“I understand it’s hazard mitigation. 

“But they are Caltrans’ lights. They go out when there is not sufficient power and they make the highway that Clatrans owns unsafe. 

“Not why are we doing this cuz I get it someone has to do it to protect our residents. 

“But why are they not paying the money to make sure that their highway is safe???” 

CITY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ROB DUBOUX: “That is a very great question. I asked them that all the time.

“But nothing is being done. It’s like we’re some to protect our res residents.”

Silverstein was answered by city manager Rob DeBoux. 

The batteries are designed to run up to 50 hours after power is cut off by Southern California Edison …

The power company has served notice that the Santa Monica Mountains region can expect three times as many intentional power cuts this fall … over last year … as the company intends to kill the circuits to protect against fire more frequently.

Edison is not paying anything towards the standby batteries … even though the power company is causing the issue of unsafe intersections during intentional blackouts.

City Of Malibu and LA County Talking About Resuming Brush Clearance After 40 Year Gap

Malibu and L A County are talking about large-scale brush reduction projects on the hills above Malibu.

City manager Candace Brown says high level talks are underway with the county.

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“We’re working with LA county to establish a wildfire mitigation pilot program to coordinate and fund wildfire prevention in the Santa Monica mountains. 

“The project will focus on planning, legal formation and financing strategies for long-term vegetation management and defensible space in high-risk fire zones, and aims to build regional capacity for wildfire resilience.”

The MRCA … the Mountain Resource Conservation Authority … has been given 30 million dollars from the state for fire mitigation efforts in the Malibu and Santa Monica Mountains area. 

But do far … that money has gone for scattered brush reduction efforts along a few canyon roadways.

There have been no large-scale fuel reduction projects undertaken for more than 40 years .. since the county gave up removing brush along what used to be called fire breaks in the Malibu mountains.

Covered 6 Contract Will Expire Quietly Monday

Sorry … we just can’t afford it anymore.

That was the message from the Malibu city council members last night … all five of them … when they voted to end private security guard patrols in the fire area.

The city council voted to let the contract with Covered Six run out … on next Monday.

Council member Doug Stewart on Monday night, said the security guards were brought in after the National Guard was withdrawn… last June.

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“We knew it was expensive but we also said it’s got to end some time.

“The city is in no position to keep putting out a quarter million dollars a month. 

“We told them all along. It’s gonna have to end sometime and it’s probably now.”

The city council last night voted against extending the private security guard service for another 3 months … at a cost of 58 hundred dollars a day.

Second Half Of Wildlife Bridge Construction Will Block Agoura Road For 8 Months

Construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 freeway is nearly finished.

At least … the first half is.

But it’s a bridge to nowhere … as the freeway frontage road and big canyon next tp the bridge are still to be bridged and filled in.

The old frontage road .. built as US 101 some 103 years ago … is now known as Agoura Road.

A tunnel is going to be built on top of it. 

Beginning this week … flaggers will be directing traffic on Agoura Road … as both directions share one lane. 

Sometime in October … Agoura Road will be closed to all traffic for construction. 

That leaves only the freeway as access to get back and forth between Agoura Hills and Calabasas. 

A shuttle bus for pedestrians and bicyclists will operate from 7 to 5.

But this will be weekdays only … but no service at night or on weekends. 

Bicycles may be on the freeway . As state law allows bikes to use a freeway shoulder when there is no …

Agoura Road will be closed until next June. 

Senate Republicans Open Probe Into Fire That Chewed Into Malibu

In Washington … two Senate Republicans yesterday opened yet another investigation into the deadly Palisades fire … which tore out of the unprepared City of Los Angeles and destroyed one tenth of Malibu.

This adds to a long list of ongoing probes aimed at Los Angeles officials … and what they did to prepare for the hurricane-force winds that were known to be heading towards us.

The fire killed 3 people in Malibu … 9 people in Pacific Palisades … and destroyed 770 houses in the City of Malibu. 

Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rick Scott of Florida said they want to “uncover and expose the truth.”

Republicans and the Fox News crowd are zeroing in on the democrats in LA and California … it’s become a political weapon.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said yesterday that he will “absolutely welcome” this additional review.

He said “it complements the thorough investigations already taking place … by the federal government, the state, and an independent review by the nation’s leading fire experts.”