Highway safety was the hot topic at Monday’s City Council meeting as city officials announced new parking enforcement measures at Malibu’s popular tourist spot Paradise Cove, and also directed city staff to draft an ordinance that would require valet employees who work on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu to wear reflective gear at night.
But perhaps the moment that resonated most at Monday’s meeting was when Malibu resident Katherine Cimorelli, 21, shared a traumatic story with the council.
On the night of Feb. 11, she witnessed the death of a tow truck driver in Malibu when he was struck by a car while assisting Cimorelli with her disabled vehicle on PCH near Pepperdine University. The tow truck driver, 45-year-old Ronald Carver, was pronounced dead at the scene. Jill Rose, 44, has been charged with one count of felony hit-and-run and another count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in the case.
“The whole thing was just horrifying,” Cimorelli told the council. “It really made me realize how important it is to have a safer PCH.”
Katherine Cimorelli asked the city for help in finding a venue to hold a fundraiser to increase awareness for PCH safety, and to help support Carver’s widow and three children, who were living paycheck to paycheck before Carver’s death. A benefit is also being planned in Newbury Park, where Carver lived.
Mayor Pro Tem Joan House commended Katherine for her efforts in the aftermath of Carver’s death.
“It is so refreshing to see positive steps when a tragedy has happened,” House said. “Some people don’t do that. They kind of sit back for a while and let life happen after going through tragedy.”
House and the rest of the council pledged to help find a Malibu venue for the benefit.
Katherine is a member of Cimorelli, a singing group from Malibu made up of six sisters. She said the group plans on performing at a Malibu benefit, once it is planned. After Katherine spoke, the group performed an a capella version of pop singer Justin Bieber’s song “Pray.”
“No parking” signs coming soon to Paradise Cove
Caltrans is planning to install “No parking” signs along 1000 feet of Pacific Coast Highway at Paradise Cove, Malibu city officials announced.
Paradise Cove has been an area of major worry in Malibu, with residents and officials often expressing concerns over the number of tourists the area attracts on weekends and during the summertime. The signs should curb the number of visitors who park on the northern side of PCH and try crossing traffic to get to the shore side of PCH.
“It’s a start,” Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal said. “It’s a very important start.”
“Caltrans willing,” the signs should be up in three or four weeks, City Manager Jim Thorsen said.
The signs will go along the guardrails located on either side of PCH near Paradise Cove Road.
Public Safety Commissioner Meril May applauded the signs, but said there is still more ground to cover.
“Maybe you can extend the signs to the Winding Way area [east of PCH and Paradise Cove Road],” May told the council.
Thorsen and Rosenthal said the city is slowly but surely working with state officials and Caltrans to remedy other safety issues at the popular tourist weekend and holiday spot.
Many have also complained that the left-turn lane at Paradise Cove Road is a major source of congestion and can stop traffic completely if cars refuse to give up on turning left.
Council directs staff to write ordinance requiring valet workers to wear reflective gear
In another measure to heighten safety on Malibu’s main drag, the city council directed staff to draft a city ordinance that would require valet workers to wear reflective gear such as vests and hats at all times.
With workers at restaurants on PCH such as Geoffrey’s and Moonshadows in mind, city officials asked for the ordinance after a valet safety report showed that valet workers were not wearing reflective gear in most cases since reflective gear has been recommended, but not required, by the county.
Construction road workers and law enforcement are required to wear reflective gear when they are in the public right of way, but not valets.
“At places like Moonshadows [in eastern Malibu] where you don’t have as many street lights, you would be able to see the vests [on valet workers],” Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal said.