Commission denies appeal of home approval
At its July 6 meeting, the Planning Commission upheld the planning manager’s approval of a 1,909-square-foot home on Zenith Point Road.
The approval of the proposed project had been challenged by the owner of a neighboring home on the basis that the new structure would block their ocean view and that an emergency vehicle turnaround being built for the new structure would encroach onto the neighboring property. The commissioners unanimously agreed that the appellant had presented no evidence that either of the allegations were true, with Commissioner Les Moss saying the argument made for this appeal was the least persuasive he had heard in his time as a planning commissioner.
The meeting marked the first for newly appointed Planning Commissioner Regan Schaar. Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich had recently named Schaar to the commission. Commissioner John Sibert was serving on the commission in his first meeting as an appointment of Mayor Sharon Barovsky. Sibert had previously been on the commission as an appointment of former Councilmember Joan House, whose council term ended in April. Barovsky had recently named Sibert as her replacement on the commission for Joel Walker, who resigned last month.
Also at the meeting, Sibert was elected commission chair. Moss was elected commission vice chair.
Coastal Commission to decide Perenchio settlement
The California Coastal Commission was expected to approve or disapprove the settlement amendment of Malibu Bay Company President Jerry Perenchio’s Malibu property at a hearing on July 14. Perenchio agreed to donate his 10-acre Malibu Colony golf course as open space to the state after both his and his wife’s death, in exchange for the property’s approval by the CCC.
Upon the couple’s death, the land will become public state property if the CCC votes to approve the agreement, and nothing other than drinking fountains, maintenance facilities, restrooms and picnic tables will be allowed as new structures on the land. The negotiation, made with input from Wetlands Action Network, will terminate any potential fines from the CCC that Perenchio may have received for building the course in 1982 without proper permit from the commission.
With the new deal, the billionaire agreed to improve his property’s drainage and landscaping, which the Wetlands Action Network alleges releases dangerous pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and other pollutants, harming water quality in Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach. An onsite water treatment plant will be required on the property.
SMMUSD race is on
The race is on for three seats on the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District Board, with board President Jose Escarce pulling papers Monday in a bid for reelection. Malibu resident Kathy Wisnicki previously announced her candidacy for the board and is seeking endorsements from the Santa Monica Malibu Classroom Teachers Association and the group, Santa Monica Renters Rights. Malibu’s lone representative on the board, Mike Jordan, has decided not to run again.
Also running for the board is Ana Maria Jara, a Pico neighborhood activist.
Maria Leon-Vazquez announced earlier that she was rerunning for her seat on the board.
Candidates have also pulled papers for the College Board of Trustees, including Rob Rader, Bayside District Board member, M. Douglas Willis, a Rent Control Board member, Susan Aminoff, a benefits negotiator for L.A . Community Colleges, and retired SMC faculty member Charles Donaldson.
There are three open seats.
Incumbent Margaret Quinones has said she will run again. The two other incumbents, Annette Shamey and Graham Pope, announced they would not seek reelection.
‘Simpsons’ ‘ co-creator funds Malibu Guide Dog program
Sam Simon, writer/director/producer and co-creator of the TV show “The Simpsons,” is funding a program that includes rescuing dogs from Los Angeles shelters and training them to assist the deaf.
Hearing dogs are trained to alert their deaf companion to common household sounds such as the phone, smoke alarm, oven timer, doorbell or knock, alarm clock and name call. The trained dogs are placed with deaf applicants in the Los Angeles area free of charge.
Hearing dogs have the same legal access rights as guide dogs, which assist the blind. Hearing dogs are identified by a blaze orange collar and leash. Hearing dogs also help deaf companions by paying attention to environmental sounds such as cars, carts and other surrounding activity.
In addition to the Assistance Dog program, The Sam Simon Foundation funds a spay/neuter van, which travels to specific locations Saturday through Monday in the Los Angeles City area.
More information about the spay/neuter van can be obtained by calling 888.DOG.SPAY, and the foundation’s president, Terry Austin, can be contacted at 310.457.5898.
Clerk moves up
Malibu City Clerk Lisa Pope has been accepted into the IIMC Master Municipal Clerk Academy.
The Master Municipal Clerk Academy Program encourages clerks to continue in their professional growth and development. Candidates must complete graduate work at IIMC-approved municipal clerks institutes or prove similar advanced educational attainment.
From IIMC’s 10,300 active membership records, only 1,844 municipal clerks have been granted a Master Municipal Clerk designation.