A consultant firm also says a wastewater/storm water treatment project can be implemented in less than five years.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor
A consultant firm hired by the city of Malibu says a complex wastewater/storm water treatment project can be implemented in the city in less than five years. Questa Engineering presented its report to the City Council on Monday, where, as expected, it declared the Pepperdine University-owned property behind the Old City Hall would be the best place for a wastewater treatment facility. But this would be just one element of a project that could cost in excess of $50 million.
According to Questa, a wastewater treatment plant would operate as a sewage collector for nine areas in Malibu considered “high priority.” They include the Civic Center commercial area, portions of Malibu Colony and Malibu Road, and Serra Retreat. The wastewater would then be treated and sent to a dispersal point. Questa has recommended the Chili Cook-Off Site, the 20-acre property stretching along Pacific Coast Highway from Webb Way to Cross Creek Road, as the best option for that, with the water being dispersed into vegetation and groundwater. The Chili Cook-Off property could then be used for storm water management through the creation of wetlands, a small pond and other habitats.
The most significant reason for the desire by Malibu to treat the wastewater and manage the storm water by curbing the amount of water runoff is to limit the amount of pollution entering the Malibu watershed. With new rules coming down from the Regional Water Quality Board about the amount of nutrients that are allowed to enter the watershed under the threat of severe fines, the city must find a way to clean up the water.
Malibu must raise a great deal of money to get this project going. The Malibu Times reported last week the city has received word from Pepperdine that it is willing to donate two acres of its Wave property to accommodate the wastewater facility. And city officials are confident that grants and public money will allow Malibu to raise the $25 million needed to purchase the Chili Cook-Off site.
According to Questa, the wastewater project, outside of land acquisition, could cost more than $21 million. And a person familiar with the situation told The Malibu Times that environmental issues could make that price even higher. Malibu will receive a portion of the money to pay that tab through payments from landowners who hook up to the wastewater facility. To determine how best to acquire the rest of the sum, the city has hired a consultant to do an economic feasibility study. A report is expected sometime next month.
The Ugly Duckling
La Costa resident Richard Green spoke to the council under public comment about a home on his street, Villa Costera, which he said has been a deteriorating eyesore for years and is dangerously sitting on a landslide that threatens the neighborhood. City Attorney Christi Hogin told the council the issue is a high priority on the city’s list because of the potential danger. The house has been condemned by the city but property owner Joan Lavine has challenged that. And Lavine is asking for the city to pay for the property, which she says the city ruined. A trial is scheduled for August.
Lavine said in a Tuesday telephone interview that in 1998 she attempted to get a permit to repair the home, but it was denied by the city. She blames that as the reason the property has reached its current status. “I don’t know whether those repairs would have completely prevented what had happened,” Lavine said. “But the city has created a great deal of havoc.”
Hogin said in a telephone interview Tuesday that she disagreed with Lavine’s recollection of what occurred in 1998.
The city attorney added that debris is falling from the property onto the road, creating a dangerous situation. Hogin said the city wants Lavine to remove the structures on the property and to fix the slide so it doesn’t block the public road.
Although the August court case is only about the issue of whether the city is at fault for the condition of the property, if Lavine loses, Hogin said she would most likely be forced to do as the city has requested.
Welcome Back!
Former Malibu senior planner Vince Bertoni was introduced Monday as the city’s interim planning manager. worked for the city from 1992 to 1997. He currently heads his own planning consulting firm.
Former Planning Manager Mike Teruya stepped down last month for health reasons.
Welcome aboard!
Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich has been named to the County Library Commission. Conley Ulich has become a major force in Malibu to get the city the amount of services from the library comparable to the amount of money it pays the county.
She said at the council meeting that on May 23 at 3 p.m., a meeting at the Malibu Library would take place to discuss the results of the residential survey on what people want with the added services that have been promised for the Malibu Library.