Congratulations to the present City Council for being the best listening and most integrated governing team this city has ever seen. In relation to the Malibu Bay Development Agreement, they have heard the community’s desires and objections. Then, in negotiation with Mr. Perenchio and the state, there is a new development plan tailored to meet the citizen voice.
How long have we yearned for a city park, a symbolic retreat of running streams and a green oasis of paths and beauty worthy of this remarkable Malibu? Remember how many people have expressed that dream. And how impossible it seemed. Under the new agreement it will be possible for us to purchase the crown jewel of the Civic Center, the Chili Cook-off site for 25 million.
How long have we wanted to clean up the creek, the lagoon and our famous Surfrider Beach? For years we have been silently living with a failing commercial septic system that has smelled up our neighborhoods, and fouled our shopping center streets. During storms, wastewater and storm water flooded out our residents, the creek and the ocean. This city has become known to the state as a health and safety hazard. The state has been grumbling again about putting in sewers. By placing a new treatment plant owned by the city on one small part of the parkland we can produce high-grade tertiary treated clean water to fill the parkland streams. And this becomes a way to make the park possible as well as get state aid to pay for this venture and environmental groups to back it.
Another dream is an Urgent Care Center. This new agreement provides for a building and a million dollars to start it off right. And then there are the ballparks. One and a half million dollars available to the city to be used for ballfields and the promise of the state parks that we may use Bluffs Park until we find a new location.
Congratulations to the council and staff who have listened and acted. What has happened here is a model of how well democratic government can work in accomplishing the needs and desires of the citizens.
Georgianna McBurney