Thursday’s meeting, which is open to the public, will mostly be dedicated to the topic of storm water management.
By The Malibu Times staff
The public will get a chance to learn about some of the preliminary plans for the city’s Legacy Park project this Thursday as the City Council and Planning Commission meet in a joint session at City Hall. The consultant for the project to transform the city-owned Chili Cook-Off site into Legacy Park, RMC Water and Environment, will also be at the meeting.
City staff and the consultant have been meeting for the past several months as they come up with the preliminary plan to develop the 20-acre property located along Pacific Coast Highway between Cross Creek Road and Webb Way. Although a final proposal is not on the table, the basic plan is to include Legacy Park as part of a wastewater/storm water treatment program, while making the park a traditional leisure area for walking and occasional events. The concept includes a wastewater treatment plant being constructed on possibly the Pepperdine University-owned Wave property behind the old City Hall on Civic Center Way (the university has offered to donate two acres of the land to the city in exchange for development benefits, but that site is not yet set as the land for the facility). The plant would operate as a wastewater collector for the Civic Center area properties and others located nearby, possibly including homes in Malibu Colony and on Malibu Road. The wastewater would then be treated and sent to the Chili Cook-Off site, where it would be partially dispersed into vegetation and groundwater, and be used for other purposes, such as various nondrinking uses. The Chili Cook-Off property would also be used for storm water management through the creation of wetlands, a small pond and other habitats.
City officials said Thursday’s meeting would mostly be dedicated to the storm water management discussion, while the topic of a similar workshop in the future will be the wastewater treatment issue.
This project will cost an estimated $12.5 million. City officials say they will raise this money through grants, private donations and possibly by participating in what is called the State Revolving Fund Loan Program. This involves a small interest loan that would be paid back by those hooking up to the wastewater treatment system, including local businesses and the city.
The city’s grants coordinator, Barbara Cameron, said Malibu has applied to the National Park Service for a $4 million grant. She estimated the city has about a 50 percent chance of receiving that money, noting that they are competing with cities from throughout the nation. She said the city is also applying for some state grants this spring. However, some of the granting agencies require a completed environmental impact review before they will consider a project, so applications for those grants could not be made until at least next year.
Meanwhile, the city’s salaried fundraiser, Susan Shaw, is on the prowl seeking private donations. She raised $1.5 million last year toward the city’s $25 million purchase of the Chili Cook-Off site. And this time, Shaw said she plans to raise $2.5 million. The city has acquired some money so far, but it has yet to receive a significant donation. Shaw said, next month, an invitation-only event will take place with potential major donors and sponsors.
Also, on June 24, Shaw said a major fundraiser will take place at Bluffs Park hosted by music and film producer Lou Adler, a Malibu resident. The event, called “Malibupalooza!” will include the screening of the concert film “Monterey Pop.” The movie is a 1968 documentary of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, a famous concert planned by Adler that is often considered the precursor to Woodstock.
Thursday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. City Hall is located at 23815 Stuart Ranch Road.