The results are in and landowners across Malibu’s Civic Center have just saved themselves and the City of Malibu a big headache, according to Assistant City Manager Reva Feldman, by submitting 98 percent of ballots in favor of the forthcoming Malibu Civic Center Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Vote counting took place during a recess of the Malibu City Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 25, during which City Clerk Lisa Pope counted ballots.
So what do the numerous “yes” votes (49 out of 50) mean for the $63 million project?
“It’s going to allow the city to construct the Civic Center Wastewater Treatment Facility,” Feldman explained to The Malibu Times on Tuesday. “Without the Assessment District, we can’t do anything. The whole project would have stopped, and we would have been in violation of the (upcoming septic system) prohibition.
“Property owners would have been charged up to $10,000 a day; so it’s pretty critical.”
Of the 57 parcels included in the first phase of the wastewater assessment district, 50 ballots were cast, the vast majority of which were in favor of forming the district.
Properties in the assessment district will foot the bill of their portion of the sewer, “based on the type of parcel, what the use is, flows … all those things,” Feldman said.
This includes the City of Malibu which, in addition to City Hall, will pay for buildings at Malibu Bluffs Park and “commercial buildings” at Legacy Park, such as the Malibu Lumber Yard, assessed at $1.97 million.
Undeveloped parcels were assessed based on “the maximum floor area ratio allowed by the City (0.15) and an eighty percent (80%) retail and twenty percent (20%) restaurant use mix; or submitted development plans,” according to the meeting’s staff report.
Property owners have two options when it comes to paying off the cost of the district: up front or via taxes over 30 years.
“Property owners will be mailed information about the cash collection period,” explained the presentation given by Feldman Monday. Owners have 60 days from Monday to submit the full assessment, or else will have the “assessment levied annually on property tax bills” over the next 30 years. The lengthier period comes with a “higher cost due to costs of administration, financing and interest.”
In May and June 2015, the sewer project gained various approvals, including support from the California Coastal Commission and amendments to the Malibu Municipal Code approved by City Council. As of June, construction was set to begin by December of 2015, but current projections estimate it could still be months away.
“We’re hoping [construction will begin] in the next couple months,” Feldman said, though the city will still be on track for a June 2017 completion — in line with the septic prohibition date handed down from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
When asked what could happen if construction lags behind the imposed June 2017 deadline, Feldman replied with confidence.
“At this point, I think we’ll meet the deadline,” she said.
Phase 2 of the project, which will include residential properties, is set to be completed by November 2022.
Following the vote tally, Mayor Laura Rosenthal commended those who cast votes in favor of forming the district.
“Goodnight,” Rosenthal said. “Congratulations, City of Malibu.”
