The Malibu City Council was to meet Wednesday, June 12, after The Malibu Times went to press, and name a new mayor and mayor pro tem. Also on the council’s agenda was a contract extension for City Manager Jim Thorsen, the Volunteers on Patrol parking enforce- ment, the three-hour parking limit on Cross Creek Road, and hear reports on the View Preservation and View Restoration Program.
Traditionally, the mayor pro tem is selected as the next mayor, which would make Mayor Pro Tem Joan House the next Malibu Mayor and end current Mayor Lou La Monte’s term.
However, the last City Council reorganization in August 2012 broke away from tradition when a majority of the council, com- prised of House, La Monte and Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal, voted to install House as mayor pro tem rather than Councilman Skylar Peak. Peak was the leading vote-getter in the 2012 municipal elections and that would typically have made him mayor pro tem. At the time, Peak was under a police investigation for allegedly threaten- ing a security guard at Point Dume Village Shopping Center. Rosenthal and La Monte said he should not serve as mayor pro tem while the investigation was open and added that he needed more experience as a councilmember. The charges were later dropped.
In addition to picking a new mayor and mayor pro tem, the coun- cil’s agenda included a decision on an extension to City Manager Jim Thorsen’s contract. Thorsen became Malibu’s City Manager in May 2006. If approved, Thorsen’s contract would be extended for three more years.
Additionally, the City Council will discuss authorizing the Volunteers on Patrol to give parking tickets in the City of Malibu under the direction of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The council was expected to approve the resolution.
Among the other items on tap at the meeting is the parking limit on Cross Creek Road, which would establish a three-hour parking limit on the road and require the installa- tion of 10 restricted parking signs in the area. The resolution was expect- ed to be approved.
The City Council will also receive results from the View Preservation and the View Restoration Program studies. After hearing the reports the council will decide whether to go ahead with drafting an ordinance that would apply view restoration rights.
The City Council meeting takes place at City Hall Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m.
Check malibutimes.com for reports on the meeting actions.