The Malibu City Council heard reports at its quarterly meeting April 27 on subjects ranging from damage at Las Flores Creek Park to the possible move of Papa Jack’s Skate Park and the delay of development projects in Malibu that developers have referred to as a “de facto building moratorium.” The city’s financial status, deemed healthy, was also discussed.
Vic Peterson, the director of the Environmental and Community Development Department, reported that approximately 15 significant projects were being delayed by the refusal of Water District 29 and the county Fire Department to grant building permits to individual properties that do not meet water flow standards. Peterson said he and other city staff had worked with Water District 29 and the Fire Department to “leverage some movement,” but with no success. In a previous story in The Malibu Times, developers referred to the delay as a “de facto building moratorium.”
Parks and Recreation Director Bob Stallings reported significant damage to Las Flores Creek Park in recent months. First, a motorist drove into a fence at the park, damaging the control system that operates the parks’ irrigation system. Stallings said it cost approximately $16,000 to repair the damage and install a guardrail near the control system.
The park sustained more damage during heavy rains on March 20 that flooded Duke’s Malibu Restaurant. Stallings said Las Flores Creek’s banks overflowed at the north end of the park, damaging sections of the park fence, landscaping, walking paths and sprinkler heads. In addition, water and mud covered the playground. Although usable, the playground requires repairs to the safety surface and some of the footings in the play equipment, which have not been completed yet.
Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich asked Stallings about the possibility of moving Papa Jack’s Skate Park to Malibu Bluffs Park. Stallings estimated it would take 15 days to resurface the parking lot and move and assemble the skate ramps. City Manager Jim Thorsen said the move depended on securing approval from the owner of a private lot adjacent to the park to use his property as extra parking.
“We haven’t reached [an agreement], nor do I know that we’ll be able to,” Thorsen said. “I know there’s issues that the individual property owner needs to discuss with lenders … before he ever agrees to some kind of parking arrangement.”
Assistant City Manager Reva Feldman reported that the budget for the current Fiscal Year 2010-11 was on track, and said she expected the city to be “well within budget” at the end of the fiscal year on June 30. Feldman then made a presentation on the city’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011-12, which will continue to undergo revisions until the council approves it at its June 13 meeting.
The council gave staff the authorization to include a new department focusing on water quality issues in its planning for Fiscal Year 2011-12. Under the departmental reorganization, the ECD Department (which currently includes the planning division) will be replaced with a planning department and a new department focusing primarily on water quality issues. The new department will be called the Environmental and Sustainability Department.
Thorsen said the new department would aggregate employees working on storm water, wastewater, and building and safety into one group, headed by current ECD director Vic Peterson. Under the reorganization, Peterson would be the point of contact for any resident with a question about environmental issues. Thorsen added that the new department would include a “green building team” that would be a leader for green innovation “not only [in] the community, but the entire state.”
Public Works Director Bob Brager reported that his department had submitted six grants in recent months related to safety improvements. The various grant proposals seek funds for bus stop improvements and median enhancements on Pacific Coast Highway, truck escape route improvements on Kanan Dume Road and a master plan for PCH safety. Brager also noted that Public Works Superintendent Richard Calvin was retiring within a week.
Stallings reported that Parks and Recreation staff had installed a portable restroom facility adjacent to the upper field at Malibu High School, after receiving approval from the school district. The restroom will serve city-sponsored programs and AYSO soccer matches. Stallings also said that a clinic for Malibu children would be held with women’s professional basketball player Candace Parker. The clinic is the third of four funded by the NFL’s “Play 60” campaign to curb childhood obesity. Previous clinics focused on softball and tennis, while the fourth and final clinic will feature beach volleyball, Stallings said. Recreation manager Amy Crittendon added that a “Battle of the Bands” competition would take place on May 13, the first Parks and Recreation event in the new City Hall.