The Malibu Times sent a questionnaire to all seven Malibu City Council candidates. Each was limited to 75 words per answer. One profile will be printed each week until March 29. Election day is April 10.
Name: Joan House
Birth date: 5/22/1938
How long have you lived in Malibu?
Since June 1975
What is your education and employment history?
Occidental College, San Diego State College (B.A.) [now San Diego State University]; Long Beach State College (Teaching Credential) [now California State University, Long Beach]
Employment: teacher, Peace Corps; teacher, Garden Grove Unified School District; teacher, Bureau of Indian Affairs for the Navajos. Small business administrator, Kenneth M. House, M.D., PhD ., Inc.
Why are you running for city council?
There are important, complicated issues facing our community. I would like to help resolve them. For instance, Malibu is a disaster-prone area. I would increase communication and outreach with all public and private agencies in order to ensure our readiness in the event of a fire, flood and/or earthquake. Also, I would work to enlarge the Michael Landon site at Bluffs Park to accommodate a new youth/community center. I would propose a shuttle system that would not only provide transportation to our schools and commercial sites, but would also reduce traffic on Pacific Coast Highway. And, like other candidates, I would do everything in my power to make PCH safer.
What makes you qualified to be on the city council?
Serving on the Malibu City Council for 12 years and the Planning Commission for six years has given me experience, knowledge and awareness of the city’s issues. Having volunteered and tutored at the schools and having worked to establish our youth sports programs has given me a unique perspective and understanding of our community.
What, in your opinion, are the most important issues facing the city at this time?
Many of important issues facing the City are water quality-related. Both the Regional and the State Water Quality Boards have mandated that we meet their strict standards. We must determine whether a wastewater treatment facility in the Civic Center is the best way to meet those standards. However, no facility can be built until the residents vote on whether they want to participate in an assessment district to fund the facility. Also, the Malibu Lagoon Restoration Project and the proposed commercial diversification ordinance are critical issues on which the new council, after public debate and thorough study, must take appropriate actions.
What is your opinion of the Malibu Lagoon Restoration Project? Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea?
The Malibu Lagoon Restoration Project is a State Parks project on State Parks land and therefore the city has little authority over this project. However, it is within the city limits, and therefore the city’s concerns should be addressed. Unfortunately, the project involves competing scientific evidence that makes a decision difficult. I support the City Council’s decision to hire an outside, qualified scientist (agreed to by the involved parties) to evaluate the data and render a recommendation. It is hopeful that a compromise can be reached that will meet the goals of each side.
What is your opinion of the city’s agreement with the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Board to build a centralized wastewater treatment facility (i.e., sewage treatment) for Civic Center businesses by 2015, and another one for central Malibu homes by 2019?
The wastewater treatment facility in the Civic Center area is undergoing scientific study, including an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). I believe we need to continue the feasibility studies and have as much scientific information as possible before anyone can make an informed decision. In the end, it will be up to the residents to weigh the evidence and then vote to approve or disapprove an assessment district. If a majority of property owners vote “no,” then the proposal will not occur as it is currently written. I support this democratic approach.
Are you in favor of a city ordinance that would require shopping centers to preserve a certain amount of space for local “mom and pop” businesses or for services such as cleaners that are geared toward residents rather than visitors? Or do you think that government involvement in business is counterproductive and that a “shop local” campaign or some other measure would be more effective?
My husband and I have always supported the local establishments. The proposed ordinance for a commercial diversification is indeed intriguing. However, it needs to have extensive public input and transparency. For instance, I recently spoke with a Malibu student who complained that the younger generation is never included in public outreach. I agree that we need to find out what every demographic wants in their neighborhood centers. Without careful outreach to the community and study by business experts, the city could face harmful and costly unintended consequences.