Council announces that four movies are slated to screen at Bluffs Park during summer months. And, Farmers’ Market could open by early August.
By Jonathan Friedman/ Assistant Editor
The City Council approved new language at its meeting Monday for a prohibition on the sale of food packaged in containers made of certain kinds of plastic foam, more commonly known by the trademark name Styrofoam. The council must hear a second reading of the ordinance on July 11 and then the law will go into effect 30 days later.
This was the sixth time the council addressed the plastic foam ban issue. Earlier this year, it had prohibited all products that were classified under the scientific term, polystyrene. It was later discovered that this included items such as coffee lids and containers that were never intended to be banned. The new ordinance outlaws expanded polystyrene, which includes plastic foam cups, plates and certain containers.
“I think we’re doing the right thing,” said Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich, who added that she would like further research to be done on the possibility of banning all non-biodegradable products and prohibiting people from bringing plastic foam products to the beach.
A few restaurant owners and the president of the Chamber of Commerce came to the meeting to voice opposition to the ban. Chamber President Christine Rodgerson said a better idea would be to form a task force with the city to address the problem of littering. Rodgerson said littering was the greater problem, while banning plastic foam would hurt certain businesses.
“We [the chamber] were hoping that they [city council] would have waited until they had more facts,” Rodgerson said. “I think that the amended ordinance is an improvement. It is not as restrictive. But we felt more studies should have been done on this one.”
Rodgerson said the chamber would help businesses comply with the new law. She added that she was still interested in forming the task force to address litter issues.
Malibu could be leading a campaign on the path toward making Southern California a non-plastic foam region. It was announced that Santa Monica had contacted Malibu about the prohibition. Mayor Pro Tem Ken Kearsley said he had heard other cities were interested as well.
It’s movie time at the park
Also at the meeting, it was announced that four films, with the possibility of an additional two, would be screened at Malibu Bluffs Park from July through September. No titles were mentioned, but they will be movies that have already been released on DVD. The first screening is scheduled for July 29.
Earlier this month, the council designated $35,000 toward the purchase of equipment for outdoor screenings. According to city staff, the cost of purchasing the equipment will be less than that. The film equipment could be used for additional city events in the future.
The summer screenings will be free. The Kiwanis Club will sell food during the events.
City Manager Katie Lichtig announced at the meeting that the city is trying to find a solution to the permitting issues with the Farmers’ Market, which is run by the nonprofit group, Cornucopia. Lichtig said if things go smoothly, the market could open on August 7.