Politics & Government

City Of Malibu: City Manager Updates February 18, 2022

See the latest announcement from the City of Malibu.

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Press Release Desk, News Partner
(City of Malibu)

Press release from the City of Malibu:

February 18, 2022

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(NEW) CITY HALL TO RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON FEBRUARY 22

With more than 70% of Los Angeles County residents fully vaccinated, county and statewide COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths steadily falling and now at levels even lower than before the winter surge, the City of Malibu will re-open City Hall to the public on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Regular City Hall hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Fridays 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Members of the public may come to City Hall without an appointment during public counter hours. An appointment will be needed for in-person assistance during any other hours. Visitors will be asked to remain outside the building until they can be helped by staff. Appointments can be made online. The City’s online appointment system will be available until further notice

Public Counter Hours

Find out what's happening in Malibufor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Planning: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, walk in. Other times by appointment only.
  • Permit Services: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-in and appointment. Other times by appointment only. 
  • Building Plan Check: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-in and appointment. Other times by appointment only.
  • Environmental Health: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-in and appointment.  Other times by appointment only.
  • Geology / Coastal Engineering: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-in and appointment. Other times by appointment only.
  • Public Works: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-ins. Other times by appointment only.

To make virtual appointments with City staff and Departments, please call or email: 

All Brown Act public meetings including City Council and Commissions will continue virtually as scheduled. The Senior Center is closed, but Senior Center staff are available to assist any seniors in the community that need help and the Dial-A-Ride program will continue to operate. For assistance, call the Senior Center at 310-456-2489, ext. 357.

(NEW) PRESIDENT'S DAY HOLIDAY HOURS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Malibu City Hall and the Community Swimming Pool will be closed on Monday, February 21 in observance of the President's Day holiday. City parks will be open 8:00 AM to sunset.

(NEW) FREE COVID-19 TESTING Saturday, FEBRUARY 19 IN CALABASAS

Free COVID-19 PCR (nasal swab) testing is offered on Saturday, February 19, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center located at 27040 Malibu Hills Rd., Calabasas. Click for a map. No appointments are needed, but pre-registration is required online. Results will be sent directly to you within 24 hours. The testing service is hosted by the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu and Westlake Village, and operated by Equity Health and LabLinq Diagnostics.

(NEW) MALIBU REBUILDS - STATISTICS

Staff continues to work with homeowners to rebuild. Here are the current Woolsey Fire rebuild statistics. See continuously updated statistics on the Rebuild Portal. 

  • Single Family Dwellings building permits issued - 223
  • Single Family Dwellings complete – 70
  • Multifamily building permits issued - 18 units
  • Multifamily building units complete- 12 units

MALIBU REBUILDS - PLANNING CONSULTATIONS AND REBUILD RESOURCES

The Fire Rebuild team is available Monday through Friday at City Hall for complimentary one-on-one consultations about any fire rebuild project. Contact Aakash Shah at ashah@malibucity.org to set an appointment for phone or online meeting. For ideas about how to get started with your project, as well as numerous handouts, forms and resources, visit the Rebuild webpage.

(new) COVID-19 RESPONSE UPDATE

City staff continues to monitor and respond to the pandemic by participating in regular briefings and conference calls with partner agencies and issuing alerts and notifications regarding changes to the situation. On February 15, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) confirmed 102 new deaths and 3,348 new cases. Other key updates from the County’s COVID-19 Dashboard as of February 15, 2022 include the following: 

  • 1,996 confirmed positive cases and 13 deaths in the City of Malibu to date
  • 2,769,372 confirmed cases and 30,081 deaths in LA County to date 
  • 1,835 current hospitalizations in LA County, a decrease of 1,875 since January 31

MALIBU SECURES STATE GRANT FOR WILDFIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION

As part of the City of Malibu’s ongoing efforts to be prepared for and help residents be prepared for wildfires, the City has secured a $65,000 grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for the City's Wildfire Prevention Education project. The project will provide training for residents in hardening homes against embers by hosting three sessions of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) home wildfire hardening courses, expanding the content of the City’s annual Wildfire and Disaster Preparedness Expo, providing focused wildfire preparedness handout materials, and purchasing a fire extinguisher training system to teach residents how to put out small spot fires caused by weed whacking and other ignition sources. Learn more about the City's fire safety efforts on the webpage. 

(new) watch for volunteers conducting the 2022 la homeless count in malibu February 23

Community volunteers will be participating in the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's 2022 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count in Malibu throughout the night on Wednesday, February 23. Please drive cautiously and watch for volunteers who will be walking and driving around neighborhoods conducting the survey. Learn more about the Homeless Count, visit TheyCountWillYou.org. For more information, contact Public Safety Liaison Luis Flores at LFlores@MalibuCity.org or 310-456-2489, ext. 236.

SCHEDULE YOUR HOME WILDFIRE HARDENING ASSESSMENT

The City continues to offer its no-cost Home Ignition Zone Assessment Program for homeowners. The Fire Liaisons will visit your home and give you a checklist of simple, often inexpensive steps you can take to harden your home against flying embers, a major cause of homes igniting during wind-driven wildfires like the Woolsey Fire. To schedule an appointment or for help with wildfire preparedness, email Firesafety@malibucity.org or call 310-456-2489, ext. 387 or visit the Fire Safety webpage. 

(NEW) DARKY SKY ORDINANCE DEADLINES EXTENDED

At its January 10, 2022 meeting, the Malibu City Council extended the deadlines for compliance with the Dark Sky Ordinance for commercial, residential, and institutional districts to October 15, 2022. The compliance period for gas stations remains the same. The City’s website has been updated with the planning applications, checklists, Dark Sky requirements by zoning district, and contact information. On February 14, the City issued a Request for Proposals for consulting services for public outreach and implementation of the Dark Sky Ordinance. The deadline for responses is March 11. On February 28, staff will update the City Council on the public outreach, status of lighting expert consultant, and enforcement. The staff report will be available online prior to the meeting. For more information, visit the webpage.  

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ORDINANCE HEARING MARCH 7 

On January 18, the Planning Commission postponed the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) draft ordinance hearing to Monday, March 7 due to the high volume of items on the agenda, including Woolsey Fire rebuild deadline extensions and other projects. In addition, on January 21, the California Coastal Commission issued two memorandums which affect the draft ordinance. City staff will address these comments in the March 7 Commission staff report. Community members are invited to attend, watch and give public comment. The State has identified ADUs as an important tool to create more affordable housing amidst the California’s housing crisis, and has passed several laws to make it easier to build ADUs. The City is preparing an ordinance to be consistent with State laws, and to ensure the regulations reflect Malibu’s needs and characteristics. The staff report, viewing and commenting instructions will be posted prior to the meeting on the website. For more information about the City's ADU regulations visit the webpage.   

MALIBU INN MOTEL PROJECT HEARING APRIL 4

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on April 4 on the Malibu Inn Motel project environmental document and project entitlements. The hearing was continued on January 11 to allow time for staff to contact the Regional Water Quality Control Board for clarification on whether the proposed project continues to be exempt pursuant to Table 4-zz. Previous meeting materials and more information about the project are available on the webpage.  

(NEW) SPECIAL EVENTS REPORT 

There is currently one permitted upcoming event, on Sunday, February 20. The City of Malibu Planning Department posts a weekly report of approved event permits on the website. In order for members of the public to be informed of pending event permit applications and to provide an additional opportunity for public input, the City has changed the Event Permit Report format to include all event permit applications deemed complete for review for consistency and compliance with the requirements of the Malibu Municipal Code and the Planning Director’s action on each application. The updated Event Permit Report  has been posted to the City's website. To sign up to receive an email or text message when an updated Event Permit Report is posted, visit the e-notifications page (scroll down to the "Special Event Permit Report" category).

MALIBU TO TRANSITION TO TIME-OF-USE RATES, customers can opt out any time

Malibu's electricity service from Clean Power Alliance (CPA) is transitioning to Time of Use (TOU) rates, which will reduce the cost of energy earlier in the day and late at night when demand is lower. Starting in March, customers can save money by reducing their energy use during peak hours between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM. That can help the environment because prices are lower during the day when clean, inexpensive solar power is abundant. It also reduces strain on the electric grid, which can help prevent power outages. Customers can opt out at any time. See your options and learn more on the website.

FREE SPRINKLER TIMER AND INSTALLATION THROUGH MALIBU SMART water conservation program

Malibu residents may be eligible for a free Rachio Smart Sprinkler Timer and installation as part of the Malibu Smart water conservation program, a joint effort of the City of Malibu, Los Angeles County Waterworks, and West Basin Municipal Water District. These timers, valued at $200, make it easy to control your sprinklers from your smart phone and automatically adjust water levels based on the weather conditions to reduce water waste. Malibu Smart also offers free installation, valued at $300. The timers are available for a limited time on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up on the webpage. 

fREE WATER-SAVING DEVICEs and $500 rebates for water-efficient laundry machines

West Basin Municipal Water District is offering qualified Malibu residents free indoor water-saving device kits as part of its Change & Save program, which aims to inspire residents to save water and money by upgrading to high-efficiency indoor water fixtures. Kits will be sent by mail to your home in two to four weeks. The program also offers a rebate of up to $500 for the purchase of a qualifying high-efficiency clothes washer. For more information and to sign up, visit the West Basin website.

Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste Collection February 19

Residents can drop off used paint, motor oil, batteries and electronics to be safely and properly disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Electronic Waste Collection on Saturday, February 19, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the City Hall Upper Parking Lot. When dropping off materials, please wear a face covering and remain in your vehicle with the windows closed. The event staff will only remove materials from your vehicle trunk or pick-up bed. For more information and the list of accepted materials, visit the webpage. 

(NEW) YOUTH COMMISSION RECRUITMENT

Applications for the 2022-2023 Harry Barovsky Memorial Youth Commission are now available on the Youth Commission webpage. The application period is open through 4:00 PM on Friday, March 25, for youth in grades 7 through 12 who reside or go to school within City limits during the 2022-2023 academic school year. The Commission makes recommendations to the City Council on City programs and projects that serve young people. For more information, e-mail Recreation Manager Kate Gallo at kgallo@malibucity.org.

 

(NEW) TRANCAS FIELD INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL

Removal work for two species of invasive plants at the Trancas Open Space began on February 9. The project will remove castor bean and tree tobacco from the property utilizing grant funds and will take eight weeks to complete. For more information, please call Recreation Supervisor, Chris Orosz at 310-456-2489, ext. 337. 

POETRY WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 19

Join Malibu Poet Laureate Ann Buxie on Saturday, February 19, at 11:00 AM for Malibu's next poetry writing workshop, “The Write Time.” The free virtual workshop will be held via Zoom. For more information or to RSVP, visit the webpage or call 310-456-2489, ext. 350. 

SPRING RECREATION GUIDE

The Spring 2022 Recreation Guide and City Newsletter is now available online on the Community Services Department’s webpage. The guide will be mailed to Malibu homes on February 6 and features information and news about the Community Services Department's excellent programs and parks, as well as informational articles and contact information for City departments and services. Registration for Spring 2022 programs opens Monday, February 14, at 8:00 AM on the webpage. 

(NEW) SPECIAL JOINT PUBLIC WORKS / PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 23 

The City will hold a joint Public Works Commission and Public Safety Commission special meeting virtually on Thursday, February 23, 3:30 PM to discuss potential safety projects as well as the re-design of the proposed Westward Beach Improvements Project. The agenda, staff report and viewing and commenting instructions are posted on the website. During a special joint meeting on January 20, the Commissions voted to recommend to the City Council to suspend the project. Community concerns were raised about the project related to the ongoing beach erosion that led to the recent collapse of the connector road leading from Westward Beach Road into the Point Dume Parking lot and other issues. The Commissions recommended further environmental, safety and coastal engineering review, and getting community input before moving the project forward. The item will be scheduled for a future City Council meeting, with details to be announced when they become available. 

(NEW) CURRENT REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS

The City has several bids and Requests for Proposals/Qualifications currently out or coming up soon. 

  • Request for Qualifications/Proposals for Assessment District Administration Services - due February 24
  • Request for Qualifications/Proposals for Construction Management Services for the City's Civic Center Water Treatment Facility (CCWTF) Phase II - due March 10
  • Bid for Contractors/Construction for the Malibu Bluffs Park Shade Structure Project - due February 24
  • Request for Proposal for Dark Sky Outreach and Implementation - due March 11, 2022

For more information about all of the City's current bids, visit the webpage. 

E-Notifications

The City maintains a robust e-notification system so the community can stay informed about all the City’s activities. Sign up to receive messages by text or email on the City’s e-notifications page. 

Further Questions

For questions or comments, contact the City Manager at SMcClary@MalibuCity.org.

See Past City Manager Updates 

This press release was produced by the City of Malibu. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

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