City to FEMA: Where's The Science?
By Emily Sawicki · Thu Sep 28 2017
The City of Malibu is taking no risks when it comes to controversial new flood maps recently released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The new maps, designed to help guide property owners, insurance companies and government regulators when it comes to development along the Southern California coast, came under fire almost immediately from stakeholders and experts who questioned the methodology of the sometimes inconsistent maps. Projections appeared to show neighboring properties facing vastly different fates under storm and wave conditions, with no known reasoning as to the contrasting figures.
On Monday, city staff sought direction from council about how to move forward with the maps—whether to begin using them when evaluating new developments within the zone—but all five council members tapped the brakes, citing overwhelming community concern.
City of Malibu Assistant Public Works Director Rob DeBoux requested council determine whether city staff should work off of the new FEMA maps or continue to use the old maps until the new ones are completed—which won’t be until August 2018. Consultant Don Schmitz likened the question to rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship.
“It’s like talking about choosing the location of the patio furniture on the deck of the Titanic,” Schmitz said. “It’s not what it’s about.” Schmitz pointed out nearby Ventura County worked closely with an outside firm to ensure the accuracy of maps, adding Malibu had “a lot of resources” and should do the same. Schmitz and others felt Malibu was behind the curve.
Realtor Paul Grisanti also voiced concerns, saying the methodology behind the creation of the maps was not clear, and FEMA representatives were unable to provide information. Grisanti described confusion among the FEMA representatives who attended the Aug. 22 meeting where the maps were revealed.
“If it isn’t transparent to the people who actually study this stuff and do it for a living, how are the people whom this is going to affect going to know they’re getting screwed?” Grisanti asked.
Council agreed.
“They’re presenting their scientific reasoning for the new maps’ adoption, but the reasoning and the science is not there for us to review… if we can’t review it, how can we make a fair assessment?” questioned Council Member Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner. Wagner pointed out that the FEMA maps are in direct conflict with maps produced by the Army Corps of Engineers. “Whose science do we believe?”
City Manager Reva Feldman appeared to take some of the blame, saying the city “didn’t give [council] enough information to work with.”
“Just listening to the conversations and concerns, I want to provide everyone with the right information and I think we can do a better job of that,” Feldman said.
City Attorney Chrisi Hogin eventually made the suggestion that council voted unanimously, 5-0, to undertake—requesting staff push FEMA for more information, and make it quick.
“I would suggest … to let staff figure out how we can more aggressively engage with FEMA about the standard that they used, and maybe come up with a better understanding of what the risks are to the property owner in using the current instead of the new information,” Hogin said.
In addition to those two requests, the city will also come up with an estimate for how much an outside consultant would cost.
Local developer Norm Haynie, who said he has connections to expert coastal engineers, also pitched in his help.
“I can get the ocean engineers that have done most of the work here in the city of Malibu to respond and I can also get them to make a proposal to the city,” Haynie told council. “I think the city needs to appeal.”
Council expects to hear back from staff—and Haynie—by the next meeting on Oct. 9.
The appeal period for the new FEMA maps ends on Nov. 6.
Council actions:
- Directed staff to review Community Choice Aggregation options as a way for residents to opt in to green energy sources
- Appointed Mayor Skylar Peak as city’s representative during negotiations to form a Joint Powers Authority (to work with other communities to purchase power from green energy sources)
- Authorized staff to hire a consultant to provide recommendations on Community Choice Aggregation
- Authorized Mayor Skylar Peak to send a letter in support of pumping sand in to Broad Beach from a barge, rather than sending trucks loaded with sand into Malibu
- Authorized City Manager to execute a contract with a vendor for installation of six new electric vehicle charging stations in the Civic Center area and two new stations at Malibu Bluffs Park, as well as establish appropriate fees for electric vehicle charging stations citywide
- Authorized Mayor Skylar Peak to send letters to the Federal Aviation Administration and Los Angeles World Airports CEO requesting solutions to excess noise from airplanes overhead
- Nominated Mayor Pro Tem Rick Mullen and Public Works Director Bob Brager to attend LAX Community Noise Roundtable meetings