Reducing Malibu Tri to one day, Malibu High issues on council agenda
The City Council on Monday will determine whether to continue with a two-race, two-day Nautica Malibu Triathlon. This has been the format since 2008, but several residents this year complained of traffic delays on Pacific Coast Highway and other inconveniences. The previous 21 editions of the September event prior to 2008 took place on a Sunday.
Also on Monday, the council will select members for the Arts Task Force, which will be asked to create a Strategic Arts Plan for the city along with help from a consultant. The council will determine what items should be included in the request for proposals (RFP) regarding the consultant.
Additional council agenda items include a discussion of field availability for city programs and parking issues at Malibu High School as well as a proposal from Council member Pamela Conley Ulich that city officials should approach County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky about putting a temporary Sheriff’s substation in Malibu.
Former council candidate hit with campaign violation fine
Kathy Wisnicki was recently fined $1,200 by the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for failing to file three financial statements regarding her 2008 City Council campaign. Campaign treasurer Colleen Baum was also named in the written decision for the fine. Wisnicki told The Malibu Times that it was a simple error.
“I think it’s something that happens pretty often,” she said. “It’s a complicated set of regulations that volunteers are expected to know and comply with. We paid our fine and made it right by submitting the requested documents.”
This is the second FPPC fine regarding Wisnicki’s council campaign. Chris Prentiss, co-director of the Passages Malibu drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, was forced to pay a $9,000 fine in August for failing to put his name on a mass mailer he sent out in support of Wisnicki. He also did not report the expenditure. Wisnicki as an individual was not involved in that fine.
Heal the Bay releases summer beach grades
Some Malibu beaches received poor grades in environmental watchdog Heal the Bay’s end-of-summer beach report card, which measures water quality on a scale of A to F.
Surfrider Beach and Solstice Canyon received Ds. Paradise Cove, which had recently begun receiving As on the weekly report card, earned a D for the summer’s dry months. This is due to the urban runoff treatment facility located near the mouth of Ramirez Creek that was completed in June. Factors during construction caused the beach to receive a lower grade. However, Heal the Bay expects Paradise Cove to improve again in the near future.
The report card provided grades for 453 beaches in California as well as 154 beaches from Oregon and Washington for the first time.
Approximately 92% of beaches throughout the state received grades of either A or B, making it the fourth consecutive year of excellent grades. Los Angeles County received fair grades, with 79% of sites receiving an A or a B. One of the most improved beaches is the Santa Monica Pier, which received an A this year despite numerous years of Fs. Its grade improved due to a storm drain and runoff diversion replacement project.
Data was collected between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The grades focus primarily on bacteria and pollution from numerous sources and do not include information about trash levels.
Due to a lack of funding, this could be the last year of report cards for California’s beaches. Regarding this, Heal the Bay President Mark Gold said, “We continue to see water quality improvements at California beaches. However without a sustainable source of beach monitoring funding, the public health of millions of ocean users will be jeopardized.”
Education groups make Board of Education endorsements
A group of influential Malibu education activists, including City Council member Laura Rosenthal and Laureen Sills, held an event last week in honor of four candidates they are supporting in the Board of Education campaign. The honorees were incumbents Ralph Mechur and Barry Snell as well challengers Nimish Patel, who sits on the district’s Financial Oversight Committee, and Patrick Cady, the lone Malibu resident in the race.
Two Santa Monica-based education groups, CEPS and LEAD, endorsed candidates last week following a joint-forum. CEPS is supporting Snell, Mechur, incumbent Oscar de la Torre and challenger Laurie Lieberman. LEAD, which Lieberman co-founded, is supporting Lieberman, Snell and Cady.
Malibu residents will have their one opportunity to hear from the candidates at a forum in this city on Tuesday. The forum, which is hosted by the Malibu High School PTSA and ASB, will take place at 7 p.m. at the school’s auditorium. There are eight candidates running for four seats on the board. The other candidates in the race are Brentwood teacher Chris Bley and political newcomer Jake Wachtel.
Malibu Inn liquor and music permit appealed
Two residents living near the Malibu Inn recently filed an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval for a conditional-use permit allowing the business to sell liquor and have live music. The appeal cites traffic and parking issues among many other grievances.
The popular Pacific Coast Highway hangout reopened last summer under new ownership with breakfast and lunch service. The commission approved a permit to allow the restaurant to be open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. with a maximum of 94 restaurant seats and 340 patrons for entertainment events. The appeal will be heard by the City Council.