Malibu Mayor: 'You Don't Control Development by Septic Systems'

The city of Malibu was founded to prevent the county government from installing a sewer system that many residents feared would destroy the rural lifestyle of this community. Since the city was created in 1991, most Malibu properties have used septic systems, based on the philosophy that development is restricted if property owners have to get rid of their wastewater on-site. Mayor John Sibert said at Monday’s  meeting that this was an outdated way of thinking.

"That’s wrong," he said. "That's backwards. I’m sorry, you control development with sound zoning practices."

Among those sitting in the audience listening to Sibert's comments was Lucille Keller, who—along with her husband Walt—was one of the leading activists in the successful sewer battle and cityhood movement of the late '80s and early '90s. Sibert noted that she was shaking her head, and then directed further comments at her.

"You don't control development by septic systems," Sibert said. "I'm sorry, it's just an archaic way to look at how you do this kind of thing."

After the meeting, Keller told Malibu Patch that Sibert was wrong. She called requiring property owners to get rid of their wastewater on-site, "the only realistic way [to limit development]."

"It's physically impossible to have high-density development without the infrastructure to support it," she said.   

Keller added that "sound zoning practices," do not do enough because you must have a City Council majority that "will stick to the ordinances."

"Since 2000, there has not been the political will not to develop," Keller said.

Since Walt Keller was ousted from the City Council in the 2000 election that triggered a new era in Malibu politics, he and his wife have not been as active in the city. Walt Keller briefly reappeared for a failed City Council run in 2004, but since then has mostly stayed away from political meetings and other activities.

Lucille Keller attends meetings occasionally to give the Malibu Township Council's view on major projects and other development issues. She was at Monday’s meeting to oppose  on a plan to hook up properties in the Civic Center Area to a sewer system.

"It is just very frustrating that we've gone full circle in 20 years," said Keller after the meeting. She said she disagreed that building a sewer would prevent the pollution of Malibu Creek and Malibu Lagoon, noting  that found fecal bacteria samples in the lagoon originated from birds, not humans.

"Let's talk about where it's coming from before we try to fix it," Keller said. "They're talking about 35 to 50 million dollars [ Jim Thorsen's estimated cost for the complete system]. What if it doesn't work? They've blown their whole wad, and we still have pollution.”

Sibert has been involved in Malibu's wastewater discussion for more than two decades. In 1987, the former head of Yale University's Chemistry Department provided some of the information that led to the County Board of Supervisors' rejection of an $86 million Malibu sewer system proposal. He then sat on a local committee that determined a small sewer system was needed in Malibu.

"The first time around, Sibert was considered a local hero," a Los Angeles Times reporter wrote in 1989. "The second time around, some considered him an enemy of the people."

Sibert was quoted in the Times' article, "Somebody asked me what were the ups and downs of serving on the committee. I told him the upside is that they throw a lot of mud your way. I told him the downside is that there are sometimes rocks in the mud."