5 Things To Know In Malibu This Week: Fire Prep, Budget Season

MALIBU, CA — As summer starts, so ends the fiscal year. Doesn't sound very exciting, does it?

But in Malibu, the leadup to June 30 happens to bring a number of important milestones you should know about. Here's five things to know this week.

1. The City Council on Monday, June 26 is set to finalize the city's budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Proposed is a $93.2 million spending plan that covers everything from public safety to public works.

You can check out the proposed budget here. Got feedback for the council? You can go to the meeting in person at 6:30 p.m. or join virtually on Zoom.

2. As the effort to rebuild the damage caused by the Woolsey Fire continues, an important deadline is approaching. The last day to apply for a rebuild-fee waiver is June 30.

The waivers cover permitting fees for homeowners who are rebuilding their homes for similar or slightly larger houses.

More information is available on the city's website.

3. The gift of precipitation earlier this year comes with a troubling corollary: fuel for wildfires. But there's some good news. City officials track the level of moisture in vegetation and as of June 9, it's well above the historical average (116 percent versus the critical level of 60 percent).

"This year, several months of above-average rainfall, coupled with cool, cloudy and foggy days in Spring and early summer, have kept moistures levels high for live and dead vegetation. This should delay the traditional wildfire season," City Manager Steve McClary wrote in a recent update.

But city officials say it's still important to begin preparing for the inevitable dry-out. That includes brush clearance, which you can learn more about on the Los Angeles County Fire Department's website.

4. Construction is slated to soon begin on the city's PCH Traffic Signal Synchronization Project, which officials are calling the most significant effort to date to improve safety on the busy highway.

Crews will install communication lines between traffic signals on PCH from Topanga Canyon Boulevard to John Tyler Drive to synchronize them and allow them to be controlled remotely by Caltrans.

The $34.6 million county-funded project is expected to take a year to complete.

5. As Malibu prepares for the Fourth of July next week, a stop by the Malibu Farmers Market on Sunday is a great way to get a head-start on your party planning. Offerings include everything from artisan food to fresh veggies. It runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Malibu Library.

Have a great week, Malibu!