In the spring of 1991, Malibu became a city. Part of the effort that resulted in cityhood was to gain more local control over the future of one of the most unique and beautiful towns in the state of California. From cityhood came an important document: the General Plan. As its name would indicate, this was the general plan for the future of this serene and rural coastal community that is spread along the front range of the Santa Monica Mountains. The introduction, or as I like to refer to it, the preamble, to the General Plan contains what is the most important guidance to anyone who is considering a City Council position. These are the words that provide the spirit in which decisions about the future of Malibu should be made.
The Vision Statement states: Malibu is a unique land, marine environment and residential community whose citizens have historically evidenced a commitment to sacrifice urban and suburban conveniences in order to protect that environment and lifestyle, and to preserve unaltered natural resources and rural characteristics. The people of Malibu are a responsible custodian of the area’s natural resources for present and future generations.
When considering a candidate’s fitness for City Council, ask yourself if that candidate is dedicated to this vision or are they unwittingly gravitating towards more suburban conveniences and away from that “commitment to sacrifice those urban and suburban conveniences in order to protect that environment and lifestyle, and to preserve unaltered natural resources and rural characteristics.”
It’s a very simple question and you will know the answer if you listen to them: “Are they moving towards suburban conveniences or are they willing to do without them?” It is also something that we must all ask ourselves periodically in order to “stick with the original plan” for Malibu.
Rick Mullen