City gets environmental

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The council discusses environmentally conscious options for Bluffs Park.

By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor

The City Council at its meeting Monday asked staff to investigate the possibility of installing photovoltaic technology, a type of solar power, at the now-city owned Bluffs Park. The council also asked about using mulch, rather than chemicals, for soil maintenance. The requests were made, according to the council, as part of an effort to make the city more green friendly.

Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich raised the issue of having the city “walk the walk” on being environmentally and health conscious during the meeting. But her request that the two vending machines at Bluffs Park carry drinks that are considered healthy rather than soda, was not supported by the rest of the council.

“I believe we should be role models and set the bar high,” said Conley Ulich, who suggested soy milk would be a good idea.

She said a writer for a local pro-City Council Web site recommended a particular brand of soy milk that gives a percentage of its revenue toward environmental causes.

But other council members said the residents should not be forced to make so-called healthy choices if they don’t want to do that.

“I think we should have in those machines what the people want to drink, let the market determine it,” Councilmember Andy Stern said.

Mayor Ken Kearsley said he had heard rumors that food and drinks at Bluffs Park were being sold in expanded polystyrene containers. The council recently banned the selling of food and drinks in those products. Parks and Recreation Director Bob Stallings said he would look into the matter.

Council votes to request opposition to conservancy parks plan

Also at the meeting, the council voted to officially request that the League of California Cities oppose the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy’s proposed parks-enhancement plan. The city has opposed the plan because, although it involves land in Malibu, the Malibu government has no say over its approval.

“The plan is a direct effort to skip the LCP and therefore skip the city of Malibu,” the document approved by the council states. “The conservancy might object to the characterization on the ground that public works plan must be determined to be ‘consistent with’ the LCP; however, unless that finding of consistency is made by the city of Malibu, I think that the city can validly object that it is being shut out of the decision-making process.”

The SMMC board is voting on the plan this week, and it will eventually go before the California Coastal Commission for final approval.

Additionally, the council voted to extend its $3,000-per-week contract with public works specialist Granville “Bow” Bowman to June 30, 2007, with the option to allow the city manager to extend it an additional year. Bowman was originally brought to the city as the interim public works director. Since the city hired Bob Brager as the permanent public works head, Bowman has remained with the city as a special projects manager.

Lastly, Marissa Coughlan reported to the council on the condition of the soldiers from the company the city of Malibu has adopted from the 101st Airborne Division. She said the soldiers have all returned home. She added that a ceremony and day of activities was taking place on Dec. 9 in Nashville to honor the soldiers and others, and requested that Malibu residents donate the money needed to pay for the soldiers to attend the festivities. The cost is $55 per soldier. Those interested in making a donation should contact Coughlan at 310.456.6262.