Suspects sought for annoying minors
Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s deputies are on the lookout for four unknown males suspected of annoying a minor.
The two male victims, ages 13 and 10, were walking home in the 5600 block of Parkmor Street in Calabasas on Saturday when four male suspects drove by in a black four-door sedan or possible SUV similar to a Chevy Envoy with silver trim on the sides, a report states. While driving past the victims, one of the suspects said to victims a statement regarding the victims’ genitals. The suspects drove away, turned around and drove toward the victims a second time. One of the suspects made a comment to the victims regarding a sexual act.
The suspects stopped the vehicle near the victims. One of the suspects-described in the report as a white male, approximately 16 years old, 5′ 9” tall with black hair, a black goatee beard, and wearing bluish/green boxer underwear and a black shirt-exited the vehicle. This suspect said to the victims, “Come on little boy, why don’t you get in my car.” The 13-year-old victim told the suspects he was calling 911 on his cell phone. The suspects left in the vehicle and were last seen heading south bound on Parkmor Street towards Thousand Oaks Boulevard.
Those with information on the suspects are asked to contact Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station Detective Bureau at 818.878.1808.
City files formal request against septic ban
The City of Malibu in a press release Tuesday announced it has filed a formal request asking the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board to reconsider and amend its Nov. 5, 2009 decision to prohibit septic systems in Malibu’s Civic Center over the next five to nine years.
The regional board adopted an expansive septic prohibition encompassing nearly 550 residences and businesses in Malibu’s Civic Center, which still awaits approval by the State Water Resources Control Board.
The proposed prohibition boundary, as identified by the regional board, would require a large wastewater treatment facility (capable of treating 600,000 gallons per day) to be constructed. The city states that technical feasibility issues have arisen with the board’s prohibition plan. One such issue is that the available percolation area may not be sufficient to disperse the large quantity of treated wastewater.
The city has proposed an alternate plan that includes a smaller wastewater treatment facility that would handle up to 240,000 gallons per day and could be constructed in phases. The first phase would involve installing a wastewater treatment system (capable of treating 190,000 gallons per day) for the central core of the Civic Center area where the commercial properties and the highest potential users of a new wastewater treatment system are located. These properties also are in close proximity to Malibu Creek.
The second phase would expand the wastewater treatment system (adding 50,000 gallons per day) to include homes in Serra Retreat, where the city states residential properties have a potential to impact water quality in Malibu Creek.
In addition, Malibu Colony homes and two commercial zones along the east side of Malibu Creek and adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway would be required by city ordinance to install disinfection treatment to their existing septic systems. The city currently requires property owners adding new sinks, toilets, showers, etc. to add disinfection. Approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of Malibu Colony homes already have advanced treatment systems that include disinfection, the city stated in a recent press release.
Under the City’s proposed implementation schedule, Phase I of the alternate plan would be completed and operating by April 2015 and Phase II would be operating by 2018. All disinfection systems would have to be installed and operating by 2018.
Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station gets top ranking
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station was recently ranked the highest-rated patrol station for policing services in the U.S., according to an independent study conducted throughout 20 different countries on five continents.
The rankings were based on visits to 211 police and sheriff’s patrol stations worldwide during an international Police Station Visitors Week. More than 5,000 local community members rated the quality of services offered by participating police departments. The U.S. was the only country participating in the North America division, with 97 people visiting 23 stations in eight cities.
Rankings were based on community orientation, physical condition of the stations, transparency and accountability, equal treatment of the public without bias and detention conditions. The hours-long visit consisted of a tour of the station and informal conversations with officers and staff.
Malibu-Lost Hills scored a 96 out of 100. The global average was 62.09. The U.S. overall average was the highest, coming in at 79.22.
The station, however, came under scrutiny last September, a month before the survey, after 24-year-old Mitrice Richardson went missing after being released from custody.
Richardson, whose car had been impounded after she was booked into the station for failing to pay a bill at Geoffrey’s Malibu, disappeared after walking out of the station at 1:25 a.m. Her family filed a claim against the county in January, citing negligence in her release.
Council to adopt night light ordinance
Malibu City Council at its April 12 meeting will conduct a second reading, unless waived, and adopt an ordinance that will allow limited lighting of the main sports field at Malibu High School.
The council two weeks ago voted to allow Malibu High School a maximum of 18 nights of light per year at its main sports field until 10:30 p.m. The Planning Commission had proposed 16 nights. The council also added a feature that was not part of the Planning Commission concept by allowing an unlimited number of lighted nights at the field until 7:30 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. Also, the word “temporary,” which was part of the Planning Commission recommendation, was removed.
The council plan is included in amendments to the city’s Local Coastal Program, or LCP, and Municipal Code. The LCP amendment must get approval from the California Coastal Commission. The Coastal Commission is expected to meet in Long Beach for its June meeting, but there is no guarantee the item could get on the agenda.
City submits comments on draft EIR of overnight camping plan
The City of Malibu has submitted its comments on the draft environmental impact for the proposed Malibu Parks Public Access Enhancement Plan recently released by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and its sister organizaztion, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.
The plan, long opposed by numerous Malibu residents who say it increases the risk of fires, will create overnight camping sites at Bluffs Park and Latigo, Ramirez, Escondido and Corral canyon parks; a total of 183 parking spaces within those five parks; and improvements to local trails to create the Coastal Slope Trail that will connect the east and west ends of Malibu. All five parks targeted for overnight camping have, in recent years, been burned or threatened by a wildfire. Though the proposed plan would prohibit campfires, residents doubt the extent to which that rule would be enforced.
The draft EIR is available on the SMMC’s Web site (www.smmc.ca.gov) and the MRCA’s Web site (www.mrca.ca.gov), as well as on the City of Malibu’s Web site (www.ci.malibu.ca.us) and at the Malibu Library.
The final EIR will include all comments received, along with the SMMC’s and MRCA’s response to those comments.
LAUSD rescinds plan to disallow interdistrict permits
The Los Angeles Unified School District rescinded plans to stop approving most permits that allow students to attend schools in other districts.
The plan could have affected approximately 1,200 students at the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and more than 12,000 students throughout the county.
A proposal that went before the LAUSD Board of Education at its Tuesday meeting called for exempting high school students from this policy.
Find out the details of the LAUSD decision and read local reaction next week.
By Olivia Damavandi