Underneath the politeness, the two City Council candidates, Sharon Barovsky and Robert Roy van de Hoek, have different perspectives on what is best for the city’s future.
While both views are interconnected in some ways, Barovsky focuses on items pertaining to solutions for the problems of Malibu’s citizen’s and van de Hoek spotlights environmental and natural concerns.
Barovsky said she wants to continue what her late husband, Harry Barovsky, started.
“My family has lived here for 30 years, and we have fought for the residents,” she said.
Barovsky indicates she is well- acquainted with issues that matter to both younger and older citizens in the community since she has raised four children here.
Van de Hoek has resided in Malibu for only a few years, but he said he has been coming to this city for more than 40 years as a visitor. He strongly believes that his environmental knowledge is imperative for the city’s future.
“I want to make it clear, our views are very different,” said van de Hoek, who wants to separate himself from his opponent.
As she spoke about development and conservation matters, Barovsky said: “We want a slow, reasoned approach to development and recognition that we have a responsibility and must start meeting the needs of both the younger and senior citizens in the city.”
“Children need places to go and things to do,” said Barovsky. “We became a city so we could design our community to meet our needs. So far, I don’t think we have.”
“Inactive kids are just a recipe for disaster,” she said.
When van de Hoek spoke about recreational facilities, he said sports fields should remain on school grounds. Van de Hoek said he is a friend of several school district officials in Santa Monica and he believes he can have an influence on the district to make the sports leagues and schools work together to share available fields.
However, Barovsky said the council has approached the school district before and it was not true the district was willing to do so.
There simply is not enough school land available for playing fields, said the officials to the council at the time.
Van de Hoek’s platform focuses on rehabilitation of the environment because he said funds would be made available by working on those matters.
“We’re a special city with a lot of potential for finding funds,” said van de Hoek, supporting his position that development agreements are not needed.
Rehabilitating eagles and steel trout would benefit the community in many ways, he said. The rehabilitation of endangered animals would generate interest from federal and state authorities who are looking for places conducive to rehabilitation. Funds would become available to the city as a result, he said.
As a minority on the council, van de Hoek feels that he would play an important part because he would be both the watchdog and the environmental educator to the council, he said.
“I agree with much of what his position is in terms of conservation, but no specifics have been given as to how we go about getting the funds,” said Barovsky.
“We do differ on emphasis,” she continued. “Our habitat has to be equally protected for children and the environment.”
Barovsky also wants to help the city solve the current Coastal Commission dilemma.
“I was very opposed to the bill that singled out Malibu,” she said.
Van de Hoek, however, points the finger at the City Council for delaying the Local Coastal Plan (LCP) process. He emphasized the importance of streamlining the LCP.
Both Barovsky and van de Hoek oppose a citywide sewer system. Such a system could cause more problems than it would solve, said Barovsky.
If the sewer goes down, you pollute the entire coastline, but septic failures have much smaller consequences, she said.
Van de Hoek stated that the septic systems should be upgraded.
“This is another possibility for the city to look for matching funds to go that route,” he said.
He also brought up the fresh water supply issue, stating that fresh water supply is going to grow increasingly limited as time goes by.
Van de Hoek said he would like to have another debate with Barovsky because the Malibu Township Council (MTC) forum was only a discussion and did not delve into issues deeply enough.
But Barovsky responded she has not heard from him since the MTC debate.
The two discussed possible future debates, said Barovsky: “I suggested he call the coordinator to find out what date is free and he has not done that.”