Malibu City Manager Updates July 2, 2020

Press release from the City of Malibu:

July 2, 2020

UPCOMING

• Friday, July 3 – CITY HALL CLOSED
• Monday, July 6 - Planning Commission Regular Meeting- CANCELLED

BEACH CLOSURES

Pursuant to the County Public Health Order, all beaches, beach access ways, beach parking lots and bike paths will be closed from Friday, July 3 at 12:01 AM through Monday, July 6 at 5:00 AM. Parking along PCH near beach accessways will be restricted during this time. More information on this and all other County Public Health Order related information, go to the Los Angeles County Public Health’s Coronavirus Webpage.

FIREWORKS

Pursuant to the County Public Health Order, all public and private fireworks are prohibited over the Fourth of July weekend. There are no permitted firework displays in Malibu this year.

GATHERINGS/FOURTH OF JULY PARTIES

Pursuant to the County Public Health Order, gatherings of people outside of the same household are prohibited.

COVID-19 RESPONSE UPDATE

City staff continues to monitor the pandemic by participating in regular briefings and conference calls with partner agencies to coordinate the response to changing restrictions. The City’s emergency communications team has issued messaging regarding the new restrictions and has scheduled the messaging to go out over the weekend to advise residents of the closures and is prepared to respond with additional emergency messaging as needed. The City is also working closely with Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station to manage visitor traffic over the holiday weekend.

To address the risk posed to individuals who are homeless, the City recently received a $5,000 grant through the Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments to create hygiene kits that include items such as face coverings and hand sanitizer to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the homeless community. The Las Virgenes-Malibu COG homeless outreach coordinator will be distributing them to individuals in the region.

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION

Public Safety staff and the Malibu CERT Team are in the process of securing an additional AM radio frequency that was found to be available. A broad range of redundant radio communication capabilities is crucial to ensuring communication during an emergency. In addition, the City’s current AM frequency (1620) does not supply full coverage and is vulnerable to interference. Adding an additional frequency at 1610 is expected to improve coverage.

PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUT-OFFS (PSPS)

The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently adopted Phase 2 PSPS Guidelines for utilities. The new guidelines include establishment of working groups and advisory boards with local representation, improved notification plans to customers including outreach to Medical Baseline customers, increased coordination with communication companies, requirements for PSPS exercises with local agencies, establishment of Community Resource Centers to assist people while power is interrupted, and requirements to minimize the duration of a PSPS event.

Staff is reviewing the full guidelines and working with Southern California Edison to ensure the City’s interests are represented and all new required services and programs are being provided. The full text of the new guidelines as well as the Phase 2 Guidelines Fact Sheet can be viewed on the PUC’s website.

TEMPORARY SKATE PARK

The Temporary Skate Park will open to the public on Friday, July 3, at 1:00 PM. The skate park will be open daily from Noon to 8:00 PM/Sunset, with a limited capacity of 12 skaters at one time due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. An online reservation system is now available, which allows skaters to reserve up to one hour of skate time daily up to seven days in advance. For more information regarding Covid-19 Safety Guidelines for the Temporary Skate Park, or to make an online reservation, visit the City’s Skate Park Webpage.

NOVEMBER 3, 2020 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION

The nomination period for the November 3, 2020 General Municipal Election will open on July 3 and close on August 7, or August 12 if the incumbent does not file. You can find more information at MalibuCity.org/Elections. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an appointment must be made with the City Clerk to be issued or file nomination papers. To make an appointment, contact City Clerk Heather Glaser at HGlaser@malibucity.org or 424-395-6431.

PASSPORT SERVICES

In order to keep staff and the community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is not accepting passport appointments at this time. The U.S. Department of State has a phased plan for reopening services and is currently in phase one, which has limited appointments at passport agencies to customers who must travel internationally in the next 72 hours due to a life-or-death emergency. Visit www.Travel.State.gov to view the U.S. Department of State’s reopening plan and current international travel advisories.

FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 FEE SCHEDULE

The City’s newly adopted Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Fee Schedule is effective as July 1, 2020. Fees have increased to cover the level of effort as well as a cost of living adjustment of 3.4% based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

MALIBU REBUILDS

Since the Woolsey Fire, the Planning Department has approved over 554 applications including 53 since the pandemic began. Based on those approvals, Building Safety has issued 116 permits for single family dwellings and issued 12 permits for a 12-unit multi-family apartment complex. Five single-family homes have been completed, and several more are close to completion. Get all the up to date rebuild statistics on the City’s Rebuild Statistics Page.

MALIBU REBUILDS – REBUILD CONSULTATIONS

The Fire Rebuild team is available for complimentary one-on-one consultations about any fire rebuild project. Contact Aakash Shah at AShah@malibucity.org to set an appointment for a phone or online meeting. If needed, an in-person meeting may also be scheduled. For ideas about how to get started with your project, visit the City’s Rebuild Page, where you can view rebuild options and find all related forms and handouts.

MALIBU REBUILDS - FEE WAIVER DEADLINES

On June 22, City Council extended the fee waiver deadlines to give eligible home owners more time to submit their rebuild projects and receive fee waivers. Fee waiver applications must be received by December 30, 2020, all required Planning Department applications for the project must be deemed complete by December 30, 2020, and all required building permits must be pulled by June 30, 2021. Note that Council also clarified that all fees associated with post-approval revisions to the project’s Planning Department approval or building permit issuance will not be waived and will be charged in accordance the City’s Adopted Fee Schedule. See FAQs for more information.

MALIBU REBUILDS - DEADLINES FOR NON-CONFORMING STRUCTURES

To rebuild non-conforming homes and structures without having to bring the structure into compliance or seek variances, property owners must apply with the Planning Department by November 8, 2020. Extensions may be requested for extraordinary circumstances and will be considered by the Planning Commission. Please contact the Fire Rebuild Team at AShah@malibucity.org or call 310-456-2489, ext. 385 to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT ONLINE SERVICES

The Planning Department is continuing to provide all services online, by phone or by appointment. All planning staff are working remotely and at City Hall. For a complete list of planning services, visit the City’s Planning Page.

LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

A Letter of Authorization to Submit a Project must be submitted as part of a new planning application submittal or when there is a change in the applicant representative. The Letter of Authorization to Submit a Project requires the property owner(s) to sign in front of staff or to obtain notarization. The Planning Department is now offering in-person appointments to witness the signature of property owner(s) in lieu of obtaining a notarization. To schedule an appointment, contact Planning staff at mplanning@malibucity.org or 310-456-2489, ext. 485.

TEMPORARY RESTAURANT RECOVERY PROGRAM

On June 8, City Council approved a Temporary Restaurant Recovery Program in order to help local restaurants recover from the impacts of the pandemic. The ordinance allows local restaurants to get a permit to temporarily expand their seating areas to adjacent common areas or sidewalks with physical distancing and other public health protocols in place to continue the fight to slow the spread of coronavirus. Restaurants must obtain a permit before expanding seating. More information about the program, including the permit application form and contact information to request assistance, is available on the City’s Restaurant Recovery Program Page.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS – ZTA AND LCP AMENDMENT

The Planning Commission will hold a special virtual meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 to consider a Zoning Text Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment pursuant to Council’s December 3, 2019 direction to closely follow the home-sharing ordinance implemented by the City of Santa Monica. The special meeting for this item was originally scheduled on March 30 and was cancelled due to the pandemic. For more information, visit the project webpage at MalibuCity.org/STR. You can also sign up for alerts by text or email on this subject. For complaints or concerns regarding short-term rentals, contact the STR Code Enforcement hotline via email at STR@malibucity.org or by phone at 310-456-2489, ext. 308. After hours calls should go to the One-Call-City-Hall Hotline: 310-456-2489, ext. 311, which is monitored by an operator, or call the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station at 310-456-6652.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS – INTERIM ORDINANCE

On Monday, June 22, City Council directed staff to bring back the ordinance presented to the City Council on December 3, 2019 establishing interim provisions to regulate short-term rental of property, until the Local Coastal Program amendment on short-term rentals (discussed above) is certified by the California Coastal Commission. The item is tentatively planned for a City Council meeting in August. For more information, visit the project webpage at MalibuCity.org/STR.

PROHIBITION OF PESTICIDES AND RODENTICIDES – LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AMENDMENT

On June 19, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) deemed the City’s Local Coastal Program amendment complete and will be proposing modifications to the City’s proposed amendment. As such, the amendment cannot be processed as de minimus/administratively. A CCC hearing date has not been scheduled. Until the amendment is certified, a condition of approval regarding the prohibition will be added to coastal development permits. For more information, visit the Project Page.

FIRE-RESISTANT LANDSCAPE AND MAINTENANCE

In March 2020, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 461 which amended the Malibu Municipal Code and the Local Coastal Program to foster more fire-resistant landscapes. Last week, the California Coastal Commission deemed the City’s Local Coastal Program amendment complete. The amendment is tentatively scheduled for the Coastal Commission meeting in August at which time the Executive Director is expected to present his determination that the City’s LCP amendment is minor in nature and can be approved administratively. Unless the Commission objects to the Executive Director’s determination, the amendment will take effect automatically upon approval by the Commission.

HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE

The City of Malibu, along with all jurisdictions in California, is mandated by California State Government Code Sections 65580 to 65589 to prepare Housing Element updates to its General Plan for State certification within a specified time-frame covering a range of years. Efforts to conduct a comprehensive update of the Housing Element for the 6th planning cycle are underway. On June 19, the City issued a Request for Proposals to obtain contract planning services to update the General Plan Housing Element, as well as the Safety and Health Element, for submission to the California Department of Housing and Community Development. For additional information, visit the City’s Housing Element Page.

VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

The Environmental Sustainability Department’s Virtual Environmental Center allows residents to enjoy virtual activities from home and learn about the City’s environmental projects. Virtual activities include Smart Gardening webinars (June- July), California Friendly Landscaping and Turf Removal webinars (June -August), and recycling tips.

LOCKING BIN LID ORDINANCE

To prevent the use of rodenticides, City Council amended MMC, Chapter 8.32 Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials to require all commercial solid waste bins (one to six cubic yards in size) to be kept closed and locked at all times (24 hours/7 days a week). Commercial businesses should arrange for locking lid service by calling their waste hauler, Universal Waste Systems at 800-631-7016 or Waste Management at 800-675-1171.

BUILDING SAFETY ONLINE SERVICES

To help facilitate Building Safety reviews, Building Safety has transitioned to electronic plan check submittals, permits, and invoices. Visit the City’s Building and Safety Page to find out how to start an electronic plan check submittal and permit request or email mbuilding@malibucity.org for more information.

HOME IGNITION ZONE ASSESSMENTS

As part of the City of Malibu’s ongoing efforts to promote community-wide wildfire preparedness, the City re-started its no-cost Home Ignition Zone Assessment Program to help residents harden their homes against flying embers, a major cause of homes catching fire during wildfires. There are simple and often inexpensive ways to make homes safer from wildfire, including modifying landscaping around the home, sealing eaves, and moving flammable materials away from structures.

To ensure the safety of everyone, the service is provided by a single staff member, using personal protective equipment (PPE) and maintaining physical distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus and protect seniors and vulnerable groups. Fire Safety Liaison Jerry Vandermeulen, who provides the service, is a former Ventura County Fire Battalion Chief. He is certified in “Assessing Structure Ignition Potential from Wildfire” through the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in identifying specific areas that wildfire embers can find receptive fuels in and around a home. He will inspect your home and make recommendations on how to make it more fire resistant. To schedule an appointment, visit MalibuCity.org/FireSafety and click on “Book an Appointment,” or contact Jerry Vandermeulen at 310-456-2489, ext. 387 or JVandermeulen@malibucity.org.

CIVIC CENTER WAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

In March, an appeal of the Coastal Development Permit was filed with the California Coastal Commission. The appeal is scheduled for a virtual hearing by the Commission on Friday, July 10 . The staff report is available on the Commission’s website. The Commission staff’s recommendation is that the appeal presents no substantial issue.

GUARDRAIL REPLACEMENT PROJECT

The Guardrail Replacement Project consists of replacement of the damaged guardrails from the Woolsey Fire at various locations within the City. The contractor will be working following locations:

• Encinal Canyon (between Avenida Del Mar to Avenida De La Encinal)
• Birdview Avenue (between Westward Beach Road to Bluewater Road)
• Wildlife Road (between Zumirez Drive to Selfridge Street)
• Latigo Canyon (between PCH to Ocean View Drive)
• Corral Canyon (PCH to Seabreeze Drive)

Construction is anticipated to be completed by end of July, 2020.

SCE UTILITY WORK- ENCINAL CANYON (PCH TO VIA VIENTA)

SCE will be performing maintenance work on numerous utility poles along Encinal Canyon. Work will include temporary power outages and lane closures with traffic control being implemented. The schedule of work and outages is as follows:

• Wednesday, July 8, from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM; Outage from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM
• Monday, July 13, from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Outage from 8:00 PM to 2:00 PM
• Tuesday, July 14, from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Outage from 8:00 PM to 3:00 PM (work to be conducted on Avenida de la Encinal only)
• Wednesday, July 15, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Outage from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

FEMA PRELIMINARY FLOOD MAPS APPEAL

The City is in the process of appealing the revised FEMA Preliminary Flood Maps. These revised maps change the flood zone and flood depth along the City’s coastline. The proposed changes could have an impact to all existing properties and any new development along the beach. Since December 2019, the City’s consultant (Moffat & Nichol) conducted several conference calls with FEMA regarding the City’s proposed methodology to determine the base flood elevations along the coastline. They also performed a new land survey and then re-calculated the depth of flooding along the coastline. The majority of the sections analyzed showed a lower base flood elevation. Last week, the City’s consultant submitted the revised calculations to FEMA for their review. The City is expecting FEMA’s review process to take until November 2020. More information can be obtained on the City’s Floodplain Management Page.

PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH

The City of Malibu Community Services Department invites you to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month during July by safely visiting City parks and participating in virtual activities. To learn more about Parks and Recreation Month, visit MalibuCity.org/PRMonth and National Recreation and Park Association’s website. Also, make sure to follow the Community Services Department on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and activities.

DAY CAMPS

The Community Services Department will open a limited number of Day Camps beginning Monday, July 6. The camps will follow strict new guidelines from the LA County Department of Public Health with lower child to instructor ratios, physical distancing measures, and sanitizing schedules. Space is still available in many of our sports and enrichment camps, and you can register online at the City’s Day Camp Page.

COMMUNITY POOL

The Community Pool is scheduled to reopen on Monday, July 13 with new safety procedures in place pursuant to County and State COVID-19 safety requirements.

E-NOTIFICATIONS

The City maintains a robust e-notification system so the community can stay informed about all of 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 RFeldman@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.