City Of Malibu: City Manager Updates October 29, 2021

Press release from the City of Malibu:

October 29, 2021

Staff continues to work with homeowners to rebuild. Here are the current rebuild statistics:

With the re-opening of City Hall, the City has resumed public counter hours. Appointments are not necessary, but can be made on the webpage or by phone.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT - Appointments: 310-456-2489, ext. x390Permits: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM -12:00 PM, and 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM for walk-ins and appointments. Other times by appointment only.Building Plan Check: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM -12:00 PM, for walk-ins and appointments. Other times by appointment only.Environmental Health: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM -12:00 PM, for walk-ins and appointments. Other times by appointment only.Geology/Coastal: Tuesday and Wednesday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, for walk-ins and appointments. Other times by appointment only.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - Call for appointments: 310-456-2489, ext. 391

PLANNING DEPARTMENT - Appointments: 310-456-2489, ext. 485 Public Counter: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM for walk-ins. Other times by appointment only.Biology Counter: Tuesdays, 9:00 AM -11:00 AM. Other times by appointment only.

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.

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 October 26, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) confirmed 11 new deaths and 909 new cases of COVID-19. Other key updates from the County’s COVID-19 Dashboard as of October 26, 2021 include the following:

As of October 27, the majority of people who had been camping in the Zuma Creek area have left, including two who are now housed as a result of the efforts by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) in coordination with City staff. The Department of Beaches and Harbors assisted by removing debris left behind. Under the requirements of their 30-day protocol for clearing large encampments, the HOST Team will begin clearing Zuma Creek of encampments starting November 9. Once cleared, the City, in conjunction with Beaches and Harbors, will close the area in accordance with the City’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) Ordinance.

Also on October 27, Malibu’s Fire Safety Liaison, in coordination with LASD, followed up on community concerns about two possible encampments in the Big Rock area of Malibu. One of the encampments found appeared to be old and abandoned. However, an person camping in a nearby area was arrested on an unrelated outstanding warrant. Public Safety staff will continue to work with and support the efforts of LASD deputies and HOST members to clear encampments from our hillsides.

On October 11, 2021, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency made on August 25, continuing a program for reducing the risk of fires associated with individuals living unhoused and otherwise engaged in unpermitted and unregulated camping. The resolution prohibits homeless encampments in VHFHSZs, which encompasses the entire City of Malibu, and directed staff to collaborate with the Malibu Outreach Team, LASD and the HOST Team to identify encampments, provide the necessary notifications, and remove encampments. For more information, visit the webpage.

Despite last week's much-needed rain, Southern California is in peak wildfire season. Fuels are below critical level, the drought has dried out local vegetation, and powerful, hot, dry winds, low humidity and high temperatures are still possible. Any Santa Ana winds events over the next few weeks could erase any moisture gains from the recent storm. The City tracks Live Fuel Moisture (LFM) as an important part of determining current fire conditions for our community. LFM is the percentage of water content to dry matter in live vegetation. As of September 30, LFM in the Santa Monica Mountains is at 60%. LFM can be as high as 200%, and 60% is considered critical and can cause extreme wildfire behavior. The Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Division conducts sampling approximately every two weeks and posts the results on their website. For current and forecast fire weather conditions and warnings for the Malibu area, visit the National Weather Service, Los Angeles/Oxnard website (type "Malibu" or "90265" in the search box).

You can watch the multi-agency virtual wildfire evacuation exercise organized by the City in partnership with the Los Angeles County Fire, Sheriff’s and Public Works Departments, Caltrans and other agencies on October 20 anytime on the City's YouTube channel. The exercise was a part of the City's ongoing efforts to be prepared and help residents be prepared for wildfires and evacuations. Residents, businesses, employees, students and other community members were invited to observe the exercise and ask questions to learn about the process, timeline, and roles of the responding agencies during a large-scale evacuation.

The video and presentation of Malibu’s annual Community Fire Season Briefing on September 23 as part of 2021 National Preparedness Month are available to view online. The presentation by LA County Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Drew Smith, a Fire Behavior Analyst, covered local Live Fuel Moisture, expected weather patterns, and what that means for wildfire conditions this fall in Malibu. Highlights include the September - December, 2021 forecast for hotter than normal temperatures, delayed and below-average rainfall due to the ongoing drought, and a near-normal level of Santa Ana wind events. All residents, employees, businesses, organizations, students and other Malibu stakeholders are encouraged to review the presentation so they can be prepared for dangerous wildfire conditions this fall. See the presentation. Watch the video online.

Did you miss the virtual home wildfire hardening seminar the City offered on September 23 as part of National Preparedness Month? You can watch it anytime online. Malibu's Fire Safety Liaison instructed residents about the dangers of flying embers that can rain down on a home and property during a wildfire, a leading cause of homes igniting and burning down during wildfires like the Woolsey Fire. If these embers land in receptive fuels or become lodged in something easily ignited on or near a house, like dry wood decking and fencing, dead vegetation, lawn furniture or uncovered attic vents, the home can burn down. The seminar demonstrated the simple and often inexpensive ways residents can harden and protect their home against the threat of flying embers ahead of time. Watch the video.

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.

Did you miss the City Council’s meeting on October 27 about the community’s desired qualities for a new permanent City Manager as part of the recruitment process? The City Council wants to hear from you. You can still submit your input to the City Council by email to citycouncil@malibucity.org. You can also watch video of the meeting online.

As part of its ongoing effort to form an independent Malibu Unified School District (MUSD), the City is launching a community visioning project to develop a set of community values to serve as a roadmap for the development of the proposed MUSD. As part of this process, the City is launching a survey to solicit feedback from community members regarding what they value and what they want from the future MUSD. The survey is available online. Survey responses are due November 12. All community members are encouraged to complete the survey regardless of whether or not they have school-aged children. For more information about the City’s school district separation efforts, visit the City’s webpage.

On September 18, the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Committee on School District Organization concluded the preliminary public hearing on the City’s petition to form an independent Malibu Unified School District and voted 8 to 2 to move the City’s petition forward into the regular petition process. The County Committee will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, November 10, 6:00 PM, followed by a public hearing to review the feasibility report and vote on the City’s petition. Details and the meeting link will be posted on the webpage prior to the meeting. This will allow the City to demonstrate that its petition will substantially meet all nine of the criteria for school district organization established by the California Department of Education. For more background information, facts and FAQs, visit the City’s webpage.

The November 8, 2021 deadline to submit a Planning Verification (PV) application to rebuild nonconforming homes and structures without having to bring the structure into compliance or seek variances is fast approaching. Homeowners are encouraged to submit their PV applications prior to the November 8 deadline or request an extension. Extensions may be granted by the Planning Commission when the request demonstrates that due to unusual circumstances, the deadline creates an undue hardship. See the PV checklist. To submit your PV application or to submit your request for a time extension, contact the Rebuild Team at 310-456-2489, ext. 385 or email Ashah@malibucity.org.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 1, 6:30 PM to consider amending the compliance deadlines of the Dark Sky Ordinance. On September 27, 2021, staff provided the City Council with a status update on the City's Dark Sky Ordinance. Although City staff started working with gas station owners on compliance with the Dark Sky Ordinance in 2019, commercial enforcement and outreach has been delayed to due the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the compliance deadlines have passed, staff recommended the Council process an amendment to the Dark Sky Ordinance to extend the compliance deadlines to bring existing outdoor lighting for commercial, residential and institutional zoning districts into compliance. The City Council directed staff to proceed with public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council to amend the Ordinance. See the notice for more details on the hearing. For more information about the ordinance, visit the webpage.

The Planning Commission public hearing on the Malibu Inn Motel project environmental document and project entitlements scheduled for November 1 has been postponed to Monday, December 6. On September 8, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the Malibu Inn Motel project environmental document and project entitlements, and the item was continued to November 1. The Commission requested a supplemental report from staff clarifying the project’s required and proposed floor area ratio. The December 6 staff report will be available on the website prior to the meeting. Based on the required entitlements and because no code amendments are required, the project only requires a hearing before Planning Commission. The project is subject to a local appeal period and is within the Appeal Jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission. If the project is not appealed, the Planning Commission's decision will be final. For more information about the project, visit the webpage.

On Monday, November 15, 6:30 PM the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to the City Council on the 2021-2029 update of the City of Malibu General Plan Housing Element which establishes and implements specific goals, policies and objectives relative to the provision of housing for all income levels consistent with the state housing element law. The staff report will be available on the website prior to the meeting. For more information see hearing the notice or visit the Housing Element webpage.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SM-MUSD) will hold a virtual and in-person meeting on Tuesday, November 2, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM to present the Malibu Middle and High School Specific Plan project and the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The purpose of the meeting is for staff, parents, students and community members to learn about and discuss the findings of the DEIR. The meeting takes place in-person in the multipurpose room at the former Juan Cabrillo Elementary School (JCES) campus at 30237 Morning View Drive in Malibu. (Click for a map) . It can also be attended remotely by Zoom Meeting or by phone at (669) 900-6833 (Meeting ID: 884 3565 9261. Passcode: 797355). Written comments may be send by email or U.S. Postal Service during comment period through November 29, 2021. For more information, see the press release.

Caltrans has suspended its Corral Canyon Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Crosswalk Project due to the City of Malibu’s and residents’ concerns about the proposed pedestrian traffic signal and Coastal Development Permit (CDP) requirements from the City to conduct an environmental impact studies. Caltrans is removing the proposed pedestrian hybrid beacon traffic signal from the proposed project. As an interim safety measure, Caltrans will be installing flashing beacons and traffic signs. Caltrans will work with the City on alternatives for a future project and will conduct additional community outreach.

The City's first CineMalibu outdoor movie event of 2021 will feature the family friendly, animated Halloween hit film “Coco” on Saturday, October 30 at Malibu Bluffs Park. The event begins at 6:00 PM with physical distancing circles in place and face coverings required when ordering from the food trucks for COVID-19 safety. For more information, visit the webpage.

The Malibu Library Speaker Series presents Dr. Jessie Christiansen, a project scientist with the NASA Exoplanet Archive at the California Institute of Technology, who will take viewers on a free virtual tour of fantastic exoplanet discoveries, including some famous fictional planets, on Tuesday, November 2 at 7:00 PM. No RSVPs are needed. Watch live on the City's YouTube channel. For more information, visit the webpage call 310-456-2489, ext. 350.

Malibu Park Drainage Improvements Project - Construction crews continue to finish up work at the Cuthbert Road, Morning View Drive, Busch Drive and Harvester Road locations. This includes the new asphalt berms and final items. Crews are also coordinating fence repairs at the Morning View Drive location. Work started at the Birdview Avenue location with the installation of the new asphalt berm and the new concrete rip-rap dissipater. All project-related work is expected to be complete within the next few weeks. Work at all locations will include temporary lane closures with flaggers. Please drive cautiously and watch for workers and work vehicles in the road.

Annual Street Maintenance Project - Due to the recent rain event and wet conditions, striping work was temporarily delayed. The contractor expects to continue and complete all new thermoplastic striping next week. Estimated completion for the project is the end of October 2021.

Civic Center Stormwater Diversion Structure Project - City staff is working with the contractor to secure County required permits and reviewing project related submittals.

There are three permitted events October 22 through 28, 2021. The City posts a weekly report of approved event permits on the 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).

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.

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.