Politics & Government

City Of Malibu: City Manager Updates March 4, 2022

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Press Release Desk, News Partner
(City of Malibu)

Press release from the City of Malibu:

March 4, 2022

Upcoming

 

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CITY HALL is open to the public on a limited basis 

With 74% 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 has re-opened City Hall to the public as of 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. Facemasks are required inside City Hall. Appointments can be made online. The City’s online appointment system will be available until further notice. 

Public Counter Hours

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  • 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-in. 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) 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 - 225
  • 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 a meeting by phone or online. 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

(NEW) neighborhod groups can meet with the public safety staff to discuss public safety issues

Malibu neighborhood groups and community-based organizations are invited to schedule virtual meetings with members of the City’s Public Safety Team. Any organization or neighborhood group that is working on, or concerned about, neighborhood crime and safety, wildfire or earthquake preparedness, or any public safety matter can schedule a virtual meeting with the Public Safety staff to get information and discuss options for addressing problems. Meeting in small groups offers the opportunity for more thorough discussions, dialogue and understanding. When COVID-19 restrictions ease, the Public Safety staff will also be available for in-person community meetings. Depending on the issue that a community group would like to have addressed, staff will try to arrange for additional subject matter experts to participate. To schedule a meeting or for more information, call Public Safety Manager Susan Dueñas at 310-456-2489, ext. 313  or email sduenas@malibucity.org.

(NEW) HEAR ABOUT AND GIVE YOUR INPUT ON A PROPOSAL FOR A DAY-USE IMPOUND TOW YARD ON CITY LOT AT HEATHERCLIFF AND PCH

Community members are invited to learn about and give their input on a proposal for a temporary day-use impound yard at the City’s vacant lot at Heathercliff Road and Pacific Coast Highway. On March 2, the Public Safety Commission approved the proposal and sent the item on to the Planning Commission for discussion about amending the City’s Temporary Use Permit Ordinance to allow the use for more than two weeks at a time. Video of the proposal and the staff report are available on the website. City staff is working on finding more location options and the City is seeking community input on the locations. A day-use impound yard in Malibu would allow LA County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) - approved tow operators to store towed vehicles temporarily until they are claimed by their owners or transferred to their regular impound yards in Thousand Oaks. Not having to make a round trip to Thousands Oaks for every vehicle would greatly increase the number of illegally parked vehicles that could be towed away in Malibu. The Planning Commission and City Council will discuss the matter in upcoming meetings and the public will have opportunities to comment. Written comments can be sent at any time to Public Safety Manager Susan Dueñas at sduenas@malibucity.org.  

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. 

DARK SKY ORDINANCE DEADLINES EXTENDED, city conducting outreach to help businesses and homeowners comply

The City Council on January 10, 2022 extended the deadlines for commercial, residential, and institutional zoning districts to comply with the City’s Dark Sky Ordinance to October 15, 2022. The extension is in response to concerns about non-compliance and community feedback requesting more time and information about the requirements. The Dark Sky Ordinance is meant to reduce light pollution to protect Malibu’s wildlife, habitats and quality of life. The compliance period for gas stations remains October 15, 2019. On February 14, the City issued a Request for Proposals for consulting services to assist with public outreach and implementation of the Dark Sky Ordinance, including workshops, with dates to be announced. On February 28, staff updated the City Council on the public outreach, the status of the lighting expert consultant, and enforcement and compliance to date. The video and staff report from the February 28 update to Council are available to view on the website. (Dark Sky item begins at 2:21:45). City staff is ready to assist anyone who needs information or guidance by phone or email at TEaton@malibucity.org or 310-456-2489, ext. 273. For more information about the Dark Sky Ordinance, including planning applications, Dark Sky requirements by zoning district, outdoor lighting basics, meetings and contact information, and to sign up for Dark Sky Ordinance e-notifications, 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 are currently permitted events on March 26, and every Sunday for parking for the Farmer's Market. 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).

(NEW) SCE OFFERS RESOURCES TO HELP RESIDENTS DURING POWER OUTAGES & DISASTERS

Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Customer Resources & Support webpage provides information on programs and rebates to help customers prepare for emergencies, such as earthquakes, wildfires or outages, including Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events and unplanned power outages. PSPS events occur when weather conditions create a high risk for a wildfire, and SCE temporarily shuts off power to certain areas to prevent their equipment from starting a fire. The rebates apply to solar power generation, portable backup batteries for medical devices, backup generators, and more, with special consideration for Medical Baseline customers. Learn more on the SCE webpage.

FREE SPRINKLER TIMER AND INSTALLATION THROUGH MALIBU SMART water conservation program

Malibu residents may be eligible for a free 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.

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) POETRY WORKSHOP March 19

Join Malibu Poet Laureate Ann Buxie on Saturday, March 19, 11:00 AM for the City's next poetry workshop, Caffeinated Verse. Pam Uschuk will be the featured reader, followed by an open mic format. For more information or to RSVP for this free virtual workshop, visit the Poetry web page or call 310-456-2489, ext. 350. 

 

(NEW) watch malibu's wildlife up close on the CHARMLEE WILDERNESS PARK WILDLIFE video CAMERAS

Community members can see the amazing array of wild animals living in the City's Charmlee Wilderness Park that are captured on the wildlife video cameras recently installed by the Community Services Department. Watch a compilation. The cameras are meant to offer education and inspiration about the wildlife living in the park that are part of Malibu's natural beauty. Sightings have included bobcats, quail, fox, coyotes, deer, rabbits, skunks, night hawks, and various birds. New pictures and videos will be posted periodically on the Charmlee Park webpage and the Community Services Department's social media accounts. 

(NEW) REGISTRATION OPEN FOR GIRLS SPORTS CLINICS 

Registration is now open for City’s excellent #PlayLikeAGirlMalibu Girls Sports Clinics, offered again this spring for female athletes in grades 6-8. The free clinics will be held in March, April and May at Malibu Bluffs Park (24250 Pacific Coast Highway). March 20, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Lacrosse. April 24, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Volleyball. May 22, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Skateboarding. Registration is required in advance.  

(NEW) SPRING BREAK DAY CAMPS 

Registration is open for the City’s fun, active Spring Day Camps, offered April 4 through April 14 during the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SM-MUSD) spring break. Choose from a range of Sports Camps, including skateboarding, soccer, surfing, and tennis, and  Enrichment Day Camps, including art adventures and rocket science. The Day Camps will be presented in a fun, educational and inviting environment that deliver each program's core skills. To register, visit the webpage. For more information, visit the Day Camps webpage. 

(new) VIDEO: SPECIAL JOINT PUBLIC WORKS / PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING on westward beach 

Video is available of the Public Works and Public Safety Commissions joint special virtual meeting on February 23 to discuss potential safety projects as well as the re-design of the proposed Westward Beach Improvements Project. The video and the staff report are available 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
  • Civic Center Water Treatment Facility - Phase 2 Pipelines and Pump Stations Expansion Project - due March 22
  • Civic Center Water Treatment Facility - Phase 2 Treatment Facility Expansion Project - due March 22
  • RFP - Earthquake Tabletop Exercise Consultant - due April 1

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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