Malibu City Manager Updates June 19, 2020

Press release from the City of Malibu:

June 18, 2020

UPCOMING

Monday, June 22, 6:30 PM - City Council Meeting - via video conference.

COVID 19 UPDATE

The City activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on March 12, 2020. The City’s EOC staff is on-call 24 hours a day seven days a week monitoring information, keeping social media and other information channels up to date and are available to respond to any emergent situation that may arise. The City follows the direction of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Orders regarding the pandemic. The Los Angeles County Public Health Officer issued a modified Public Health Order on June 18, 2020. The modified order is available on the Los Angeles County Public Health website. The new Order includes protocols for the reopening of additional economic sectors including bars and wineries and personal care establishments such as nail salons and spas.

The modified order also changes the requirements for face coverings. Effective June 19, all persons are required to wear a cloth face coverings over both their nose and mouth whenever they leave their place of residence and are or can be in contact with or walking near or past others who are non-household members in both public and private places, whether indoor or outdoors. The California Department of Public Health also issued updated guidance on face coverings. The updated State guidance on face coverings is available on the State’s COVID-19 website. Effective June 18, Californians must wear face coverings in common and public indoor spaces and outdoors when distancing is not possible.

Although the County is proceeding along the Roadmap to Recovery, the Public Health Order still maintains that County residents should remain in their residences as much as practicable to limit their contact with others outside of their household in both indoor and outdoor spaces. In addition, gatherings of people who are not part of a single household or living unit are prohibited except for the limited purposes expressly permitted in the order.

CURRENT CITY OPERATIONS

Essential City staff, including the EOC team, continue to work both remotely and in City Hall. City Hall continues to be open to the public by appointment with protocols in place to protect public health and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Staff is answering the City’s main phone line (310-456-2489) Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Residents can also contact staff using the following departmental extensions or emails:

• Building Safety: 310-456-2489, ext. 390 or MBuilding@malibucity.org
• Environmental Health: 310-456-2489, ext. 390 or MBuilding@malibucity.org
• Public Works: 310-456-2489, ext. 391 or MPublicWorks@malibucity.org
• Planning: 310-456-2489, ext. 485 or MPlanning@malibucity.org
• All other City business: 310-456-2489, ext. 392 or info@malibucity.org

City staff can also be reached directly. A full staff directory is available on the City’s website.

ONLINE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM FOR CITY HALL

To facilitate the appointment process, the City has developed a new scheduling system for Building Safety, Environmental Health and Public Works. To further open City Hall and increase in-person services, the City has implemented COVID-19 physical distancing measures such as Plexiglas shields, rigorous sanitation procedures, and limitations on the number of staff and public that can be inside City Hall at one time, and other measures to protect the health and safety of the public and staff. City Hall is open by appointment only and all visitors will be asked to wear a face covering at all times while at City Hall. To schedule an appointment with department staff, go to: MalibuCity.org/appointments. To make an appointment with Planning staff, please call 310-456-2489, ext. 485 or email MPlanning@malibucity.org

VIRTUAL CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS

City Council and Planning Commission meetings have been held virtually since April 13. Agendas and videos can be found by visiting the City’s website MalibuCity.org and clicking the "Virtual Meetings" banner homepage or going directly to the Virtual Meetings webpage. There, you can either follow the instructions to sign up to speak during a meeting or watch a meeting. If you experience difficulty connecting to the live Zoom meeting you may contact Parker Davis, Media Technician, at 424-395-6433 for assistance during the meeting.

CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS RESUME VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE IN JULY

Effective July 1, the City will resume all commission meetings virtually. The Cultural Arts Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Public Safety Commission and Public Works Commission will meet via video conference on their regularly scheduled meeting days starting July 1, 2020. Meeting agendas, staff reports, and viewing and participation instructions are posted in the City Virtual Meetings webpage. Any newly scheduled meetings will be properly noticed and announced in the website Agenda Center, e-notifications, social media,and Nextdoor. Sign up to automatically receive an email and/or text when an agenda is posted by subscribing at MalibuCity.org/news and select the commission(s) of interest to you.

GENERAL FUND GRANT PROGRAM

The General Fund Grant Program provides funding to non-profit organizations located within the City of Malibu that benefit residents of the community. The City received 25 applications for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 General Fund Grants. The City Council’s Administration and Finance Subcommittee will hold a Special meeting to discuss the City’s General Fund Grant applications for Fiscal Year 2020 - 2021 scheduled to be held virtually via Zoom on Monday, June 29, at 9:00 AM. The agenda for the June 29 meeting will be posted in the Agenda Center on City’s website next week.

TEMPORARY RESTAURANT RECOVERY PROGRAM

Restaurants and dining out are a vital part of the community which we all look forward to returning to safely as part of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery. The Malibu City Council approved a Temporary Restaurant Recovery Program during its Council meeting on Monday, June 8 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 spread of coronavirus. 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 Webpage.

temporary skate park

Contractors completed the construction work for the skate equipment this week. Inspections and final adjustments will take place over the next week, and the Temporary Skate Park will open once the Los Angeles County Public Health Order regarding skate facilities is lifted. You can view photos and find information regarding the skate park project on the City’s Skate Park Webpage.

PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021

The City Council will consider the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 for final adoption during the Council meeting on Monday, June 22 at 6:30 PM. The staff report is available on the City website. The item is a follow up to the budget workshop held on April 29 and the public hearing on the proposed budget held on June 8 during which the Council provide direction to staff on the Proposed Budget and Annual Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.

WOOLSEY FIRE REBUILD FEE WAIVERS

During the June 8 Council Meeting, the Council directed staff to bring back a resolution to extend fee waivers an additional six months. The resolution to extend the fee waivers will be presented to Council for consideration on June 22. The staff report is available on the City’s website.

Short-Term RentalS

The Planning Commission will hold a special virtual meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 to consider Council’s December 3, 2019 direction to closely follow the home-sharing ordinance implemented by the City of Santa Monica. The special meeting originally scheduled for this item on March 30 was cancelled due to the pandemic. For more information, visit the project web page. 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 to the Lost Hills Sheriff – 310-456-6652.

NOVEMBER 3, 2020 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION

The nomination period for the November 3, 2020 General Municipal Election will open on July 13 and close on August 7, or August 12 if the incumbent does not file. You can find more information on the elections page. 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, please email hglaser@malibucity.org or call (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. Please visit www.travel.state.gov to view the U.S. Department of State’s reopening plan and current international travel advisories.

MALIBU REBUILDS

Since the Woolsey Fire, the Planning Department has approved over 554 applications including 46 since the pandemic began. Based on those approvals, Building Safety has issued 111 permits for single family dwellings and issued one permit for a 12-unit multi-family apartment complex. Four single-family homes have been completed.

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 phone or online meeting. For ideas about how to get started with your project, visit the Rebuild Page, where you can view rebuild options and find all related forms and handouts.

MALIBU REBUILDS - DEADLINES

City Council approved several measures to assist fire victims with rebuilding. There are important timelines to pay attention to. 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.

• Fee Waivers – Fee waiver applications must be received by June 30, 2020; all required Planning Department applications for the project must be deemed complete by June 30, 2020; and all required building permit must be pulled by December 30, 2020. See FAQs for more information. Note: On June 8, Council directed staff to bring back a resolution to extend fee waivers an additional 6 months. On June 22, City Council will consider a resolution to extend the fee waiver deadlines.
• Rebuilding 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. Contact the Fire Rebuild team for details.

FIRE-RESISTANT LANDSCAPE AND MAINTENANCE

In March 2020, the Council adopted Ordinance No. 461 to foster more fire-resistant landscapes which amended the Malibu Municipal Code and the Local Coastal Program. Staff submitted the Local Coastal Program amendment to the California Coastal Commission this week. Staff has requested that the LCPA be processed as a de minimis amendment to expedite the application.

HOME IGNITION ZONE ASSESSMENTS

As part of the City of Malibu’s ongoing efforts to promote community-wide wildfire preparedness, the City is offering a 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 safety, 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 the Fire Safety webpage and click on “Book an Appointment” or contact Jerry Vandermeulen at 310-456-2489, ext. 387 or jvandermeulen@malibucity.org.

Public Safety Power Shut-Offs (PSPS)

The California Public Utilities Commission 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 and 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 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 is available online. The Phase 2 Guidelines Fact Sheet is available online.

Evacuation Planning

The City recently received a notice from the California Office of Emergency Services outlining Statewide Standardized Evacuation Terminology. The revised terminology includes the following new terms:

• Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
• Evacuation Warning: Potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.
• Shelter in Place: Go indoors. Shut and lock doors and windows. Prepare to self-sustain until further notice and/or contacted by emergency personnel for additional direction.
• Evacuation Order(s) Lifted: The formal announcement of lifting evacuations in an area currently under evacuation.
• Hard Closure: Closed to all traffic except fire and law enforcement.
• Soft Closure: Closed to all traffic except Fire, law enforcement and critical incident resources (i.e. Caltrans, city/county roads etc. or those needed to repair or restore infrastructure).
• Resident only Closure: Soft closure with the additional allowance of residents and local government agencies assisting with response and recovery.

The effort to create standard terminology arose from the catastrophic wildfires of 2017 and 2018, which exposed inconsistencies in the terminology that different agencies used when informing residents of the need to evacuate. The City will incorporate these new terms into all public education and planning documents.

Day Camps and Aquatics Programs

With Los Angeles County lifting the Public Health Order regarding day camps and public pools on Friday, June 12, staff is preparing to reopen a limited number of these programs in mid-July. The programs will reopen with limited capacity and increased safety measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Start dates for these programs will be available soon on the City’s Recreation Programs webpage.

Virtual Recreation CENTER

The Community Services Department’s Virtual Recreation Center allows residents to enjoy recreation programs from home during the pandemic. The Virtual Recreation Center features a wide variety of programs, activities, and classes designed to help residents of any age stay active and entertained. Programs include virtual museum tours, arts and culture classes, yoga, dance, and fitness. Programs are updated frequently, so make sure to check back.

Charmlee Wilderness Park Trail Repair

The contractor completed Phase 1 of the trail repair project this week, which addressed the trails near the ranger station and main entrance to the park. The contractor has moved on to Phase 2 of the project, which will address the primary trail system throughout the park. Once Phase 2 is complete, the park will partially reopen to the public. You can get updates and view photos of the progress on the Charmlee Wilderness Park web page.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT ONLINE SERVICES

The Planning Department has transitioned to electronic application submittals, permits, and invoices and is now accepting all new applications. Staff has replaced the in-person City Department consultations to obtain submittal application materials and fees with a staff routing processing (Department Specialists are still available by phone and email for specific applicant questions). Once this information is obtained, City staff within a week, will provide a Submittal Checklist filled out with fees and submittal requirements from each City Department. We look forward to your feedback as we use this new process together. To start an electronic application submittal, please email the following information to mplanning@malibucity.org: Project site legal address, description scope of work, project plans. Forms are available on the City website. For a complete list of planning services, visit the Planning webpage.

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 a firescaping webinar (June 23), 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 Universal Waste Systems at 800-631-7016 or Waste Management at 800-675-1171. Haulers typically charge a one-time welding fee and a monthly service fee.

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 on the project for the next few months.

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)

Tree Maintenance Program

The City will be performing tree maintenance services on trees that are located within the public right of way. The work is scheduled from June 22 to June 30. The work includes removing dead trees, grinding tree stumps, trimming and pruning.

Routine Street Maintenance

City maintenance crews continue to monitor and maintain all City streets and canyon roads. This includes but is not limited to signs, striping, litter removal, pothole repairs, storm drain maintenance and various other repair work. On Tuesday, June 23 maintenance crews will be implementing alternating lane closures along Malibu Canyon between Malibu Knolls to the City limit/Francisco Ranch Road for additional shoulder clean-up. Delays are expected and drivers should use alternate routes. Our annual weed abatement work is nearing the end of the citywide work and expected to be completed by June 30. Additionally, the Public Works Maintenance crews continue to assist with litter and debris removal throughout the City.

Santa Monica College – Installation of new water mainline along Civic Center Way

The majority of the water mainline work has been completed. Only final striping and clean-up work remains and that is expected to be completed by Friday, June 19. The project consist of upgrading the existing water main along Civic Center Way between Webb Way and the County Library. The project is for the upcoming Santa Monica College Project. Work will require shifting the travel lanes to the center median, however two lanes will remain open.

SCE (Hotline) Utility Work- Encinal Canyon(between PCH to Via Vienta)

SCE will be performing maintenance work on numerous utility poles along Encinal Cyn. Work will include temporary power outages and lane closures with traffic control being implemented. Schedule below:

1. June 6, 2020, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Outage from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. All poles are located on private property. No permit work required.
2. June 19, 2020, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Outage from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Typical flagging set up on Encinal Cyn Rd.
3. July 8, 2002, 8:00 PM – 6:00 AM. Outage from 9pm – 6:00 AM. Typical flagging set up on Encinal Cyn Rd.

PCH Guardrail (Caltrans)

On June 25, Caltrans will be closing the southbound lane on PCH at Kanan Dume to repair guardrail. The work will be from 12:00 PM to 15:00 PM.

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.