A reworked deal would include the purchase of the Chili Cook-off site by the city to build a wastewater treatment facility. The Point Dume location would be taken out of the deal and a contribution for a community center and ball fields would be reduced from $5 million to $2.5 million.
By Jonathan Friedman/Special to the Malibu Times
There is a new Malibu Bay Company (MBC) Development deal on the table. City Attorney Christi Hogin announced the new proposal, called Plan B, at last Wednesday’s public hearing. Hogin is meeting with MBC representatives, as the two sides work out the details for a final version of Plan B, which could be ready by the end of this week. All the councilmembers praised the new proposal.
The most drastic difference between the original agreement, called Plan A, and Plan B is that Plan B includes the city purchasing the MBC’s Chili Cook-Off site for $25 million. There, it could build a wastewater treatment facility. The MBC would be able to hook up to the system, but be required to pay its share. However, with the new plan, the company would be removing its donation of an 18.87-acre site on Point Dume. Instead, it would develop the land under the current zoning laws. Also, the contribution for a community center and ball fields would be reduced from $5 million to $2.5 million and be used only for ball fields. In addition, the MBC would build a new urgent care facility. Lastly, the city would be able to perform a restoration project at Trancas Creek. All other details of the original agreement would remain the same.
In order to purchase the Chili Cook-off site, the city is applying for grant money. It already has $1 million it got from a 1992 Los Angeles County park bond. The city would also have to come up with its own money to purchase the developed properties on the site. In addition, the city is applying for a loan to build the facility.
Last week, City Manager Katie Lichtig and Councilmember Sharon Barovsky were in Sacramento where they met with several high officials from the California Environmental Protection Agency, the State Water Resources Control Board and other state agencies. Barovsky said they got word that these people are supporting a program that would protect and restore the Malibu Lagoon and Creek and Surfrider Beach.
Malibu Grant Writer Barbara Cameron said this is a major reason why Malibu has a good chance at getting the grant money. She said she has met with Sam Schuchat, director of the California Coastal Conservancy, who said he is behind the project. The conservancy’s board is one of the many organizations that have Proposition 50 money available that can be used to purchase the property. The city is also applying for grants from various other organizations. In addition, it has been put on the priority list for the State Revolving Fund Loan Program, with that money being used to build the facilities.
But one feature of the new plan put fear into some people. That is if the city does not come up with the money within a three-year period after an approval by the voters, the MBC would be able to develop the Chili Cook-off site as designated in Plan A, without the city receiving any of the public benefits.
One of the things Hogin will be approaching MBC about is modifying that portion of the agreement as well as other items, including allowing for the building of a 5,000 square foot community center on the Point Dume property. In addition, she will be asking about more flexibility with the $2.5 million donation, so that it can perhaps be used as an endowment for the urgent care facility. Hogin said talks are currently optimistic for both of those items.
Several issues were also raised at Wednesday’s hearing and the following hearing on Saturday about whether Plan B would require a new Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Hogin said an environmental review would have to be done, but that she does not believe an EIR would be required for the Point Dume development, since it would be done according to the city code.
If the City Council approves the plan by July, its grant proposal could be placed on the October agenda for the Coastal Conservancy Board.
At a public hearing Saturday on the proposal, Councilmember Jeff Jennings gave more insight into the negotiation with the California Department of Parks and Recreation over the Bluffs Park situation. He said the state is looking to purchase land through various agencies where ball fields could be built. In addition, the state might be able to build ball fields there through a grant.