City's fiscal health still good despite economic storm clouds

By The Malibu Times · Thu May 03 2001

A quarterly fiscal report indicates that the City of Malibu is doing well financially thus far, despite economic downturns that have taken place over the past few months.

But, in an effort to prepare for leaner times, the city plans to scrutinize its expenses because incoming funds from various sources have been reduced.

"The proposed budget for fiscal year 2001 - 2002" is balanced, said Julia James, administrative services director, in a report to the council at the quarterly meeting on April 25. Presently, General Fund revenues are estimated to be $1.2 million higher than expenditures.

Based on a Finance Subcommittee recommendation, the City Hall Fund ($1.2 million that was to be used for a new City Hall) was merged into the General Fund, which will create estimated reserves of $8.5 million by June 2002.

James said that funds for a new City Hall, though now kept in the General Fund, would still be held aside for that purpose.

After 10 years of cityhood, the state recalculates how funds are distributed to the city, which has resulted in a 50 percent decrease in revenue from motor vehicle license fees, gas taxes, and proposition A and C funds for Malibu. These reductions will bring a loss of $1.6 million in revenues to the city in the next fiscal year.

This loss will cause most of the reserves in special revenue funds to be depleted during the next fiscal year if the city maintains services at its current level. As a result, Malibu will need to look for new revenue sources or reduce service levels in the future. To get ahead of the downturn, the city has projected a lean budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

In other matters, the City Council quickly reviewed departmental performances. Each quarter, the council looks at the performance of each department, highlighting goals and possible problems for each.

• City clerk Virginia Bloom leaves her post on Friday (see letters, page 4). Lisa Pope, who has acted as secretary during council and Planning Commission meetings, will replace her temporarily while the city looks for a new city clerk.

• The Parks and Recreation Department remains on target for most of its goals. It continues to provide recreational activities for Malibuites and now has a complete staff in preparation for the summer months.

• The Public Works Department is working on a traffic information emergency radio system, but the implementation of the system has been delayed because the city is waiting for the cooperation of Caltrans, which is withholding consensus on the broadcasting frequency both agencies would share.

The stormceptor in Malibu Lagoon is currently operational, but the company that provides disinfections of the stormceptor free of charge is going out of business. Therefore, the city will have to take over the operation of the facility at an estimated cost of $65,000 per year to maintain the system. The city is looking at grant options to cover costs.

• The Public Works Department is also working on other traffic-related matters and on a flood mitigation plan.

A bridge water traffic in Malibu. City personnel will advise residents of the project time frame and water outages as soon as they know the work schedule.

• The Environmental and Building Safety Department recently hired Bruce Douglas, of Stone Environmental, to help develop a work grant proposal that will fund $676,000 for a series of wastewater and ground water testing programs.

• Building and Safety currently has 392 open code enforcement cases -- 91 deal with property owners building without a permit.

• The Planning Department presented a new Geographic Information Systems zoning map that was hot off the press. The colorful depiction of Malibu was hanging in the conference room for everyone to view.

Also, Barry Hogan, planning director, said that, in an effort to simplify and accelerate the planning process, the department has been working on a slope density formula, a development permit process and a plot plan review process that it will present to the council in June.

• Law Enforcement Services are working in preparation for the summer months when Malibu's population swells with beach-going visitors.

A Beach Team met with officials from the Lost Hills / Malibu Sheriff's Station, State Parks, Lifeguards, Animal Control and the District Attorney's office to coordinate efforts and clarify expectations on the conduct of people who come to the beach.

• The Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff's Station is undergoing leadership changes. Capt. John O'Brien filed for medical retirement. A search is currently underway to appoint an acting captain, who will eventually become captain. Operations Deputy Jim Glaser is currently filling in as temporary acting captain.

The City council said it would present O'Brien a tile for his years of service.

The city also hopes to transfer some Pacific Coast Highway patrolling responsibilities from the California Highway Patrol to the sheriff's department in an effort to unify law enforcement methods in Malibu.