The City of Malibu’s long-awaited Earth Friendly Pest Management Policy—years in the making—has been sent back to staff once more for another round of revisions, following outcry from Poison Free Malibu, a local environmental group, and its supporters. Why? The language of the ordinance’s latest draft seemed to invite the use of pesticides, which the group fought to exclude from the policy as far back as 2013.
In some cases, city staff and council members tried to argue, infestations grew out of hand and needed to be controlled in “emergency situations”—but activists were having none of it.
A dozen or so Poison Free Malibu members sat stone-faced at City Hall Monday night, watching a video of termites squirming and skittering in the kitchen at Malibu City Hall.
“We all have termites!” a voice cried out. But to the city, the termite issue may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
As Mayor Mullen pointed out, though the policy has been years in the making, the city has been successfully avoiding the use of poisons since the first draft was written two years ago—right before the death of former Parks and Recreation Director Bob Stallings, which led to a delay in the proceedings as his position was filled.
“I want to point out, during that entire time, you’ve been compliant,” Mullen said.
“We have been pesticide-free,” Feldman replied. “Every single employee and contractor we’ve had working on city property has followed that to the books.”
Now, the policy is back in the hands of staff. Council voted unanimously to “refer this new policy, with consideration of input by the original author—suggested changes—to be considered, and reviewed and cross-checked with the original earth-friendly document, by the environmental sustainability subcommittee and, once you’re comfortable with whatever it is, bring it back here for consideration.”
As for the termites: Council will be tackling that issue separately at its meeting in two weeks.
Balloon Ban Approved
From plastic bags to styrofoam to plastic straws and now, balloons: Malibu’s list of banned items continues to grow.
If council’s policy is enacted, the sale and distribution of all balloons in the city will be banned—including latex, mylar and even water balloons.
“Balloons are one of the most harmful things to wildlife and marine animals when they’re released into the air,” Feldman said while reciting the staff report for Monday’s meeting. According to information the city shared from Southern California Edison, balloons caught in wires caused 600 power outages last year.
But the 3-1 vote, with Council Member Lou La Monte abstaining, did not sit well with Council Member Laura Rosenthal, the one dissenting vote. First, Rosenthal suggesting a clause stating balloons would have to be sold with weights so they couldn’t fly away. She also suggested banning just mylar balloons, which are considered more harmful than their latex counterparts. She suggested a public education campaign, or a ban on balloons filled with gas lighter than air. In the end, she argued that the ban represented overreach by the council. Mullen and Council Member Skylar Peak, who attended the meeting via Skype from Bali, were having none of it.
“I don’t think we should be selling them at all in the city,” Peak said.
“I don’t have a problem with banning them all together, to be honest with you,” Mullen later added. “There are a lot of sea creatures who probably don’t have birthday parties who have to deal with this stuff.”
In the end, Peak, Mayor Pro Tem Jefferson Wagner and Mullen voted in favor. Alongside her “no” vote, Rosenthal said, “I’m just going to say no, and it’s really for the overreach. I just needed to say that.”