Santa Monica College takes first step to buying Malibu land
At its meeting on Monday, the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees voted to allow SMC President Dr. Chui L. Tsang to enter into an agreement with the Yamaguchi Family Trust for the college to purchase for $8 million a seven-acre property located next to City Hall. Measure S funds would be used for the transaction. The property is in a 90-day escrow, according to a press release issued by SMC.
The college plans to use the property for the construction of a small Malibu campus. During the 2004 campaign for Measure S, the $135 million bond measure, SMC officials said they wanted to use a portion of the money to buy land for SMC classroom facilities and ball fields. Earlier this year, $2.5 million of SMC money was used to aid the city in its purchase of the Chili Cook-Off site.
Mayor Ken Kearsley said in an interview on Tuesday, “We welcome them [SMC], and it is not in the commercial area. So it’s a property that is pretty good for the use as a community college campus.”
However, Kearsley cautioned that the property is still only in escrow, and anything could happen.
Although state law does not require SMC to follow city zoning laws if it builds a campus in Malibu, an agreement between the city and the college forces it to do that. For the purchase to happen, it must be approved by the Joint Powers Financing Authority, which consists of city and SMC officials.
Trial date to be set for man involved in Ferrari Enzo crash
A motion hearing will take place at a downtown Los Angeles courthouse on Friday for Stefan Eriksson, the Swedish businessman who in February allegedly crashed an Enzo Ferrari on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu while traveling at nearly 200 mph.
Eriksson has been charged with three counts of embezzlement, three counts of grand theft and illegal gun possession. He has also been charged with two misdemeanor counts of drunken driving. Eriksson pleaded not guilty to all the charges in May.
School facility fees
to go up
As of this week, the school facility fees have been increased to $2.63 per square foot for residential construction and 42 cents per square foot for commercial construction. These fees are required for all new structures and for additions over 500 square feet.
Under the old rules, there was a cap of 5,000 square feet for residential construction. That cap has been eliminated.
Malibu beaches unhealthy, environmental
group says
Two Malibu beach locations are in violation of the law because they do not meet federal clean water standards, according to a press release issued by Heal the Bay. The locations are Marie Canyon at Puerco Beach and the Latigo Canyon Creek mouth.
According to Heal the Bay, 18 of the 65 beaches tested in Santa Monica Bay have violated the Clean Water Act since the July 15 deadline to enforce clean water standards at area beaches.
“More than 25 percent of the beaches tested in Santa Monica Bay have exceeded the new beach bacteria standards in violation of the Clean Water Act, demonstrating how widespread this problem is,” said Mark Gold, executive director of Heal the Bay, in a press release. “We urge the coastal cities responsible and L.A. County to protect public health by immediately posting warning signs at the beaches, to come forward with plans to clean up these beaches and do everything possible to comply with the law as soon as possible.”
According to Heal the Bay, people who swim in contaminated water are far more likely to develop ear infections, sinus ailments, upper respiratory problems or stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.
Last month, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board decided to postpone a vote to make the beach water quality standards more easily enforceable beginning July 15, rescheduling it for a vote at the board’s Sept. 14 meeting.
Grant to pay for program expansion at Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
A $150,000 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services will enable the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium to expand its field trip curriculum and create a new high school mentoring program.
“This funding is integral to the organization,” said Vicki Wawerchak, director of the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium in a press release. “Creating grade-specific curriculum for pre-K through fifth grade allows teachers to bring their students to the Aquarium each year, where they will learn new concepts built on previous years’ visits and receive a solid foundation of environmental education.”
The award, part of IMLS’s “Museums for America” grant program, will also provide for the development of a high school mentoring program, allowing high school students to partner with the aquarium to fulfill service learning requirements.
Casino fundraiser to benefit Meals on Wheels
A casual casino-themed event will take place on Aug. 26 at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel on Aug. 26 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to raise money for Meals on Wheels.
The event will include poker, black jack, craps and roulette. Attendees have the chance to win valuable dinners, trips, apparel and more in a Chinese Auction.
Admission is $50 in advance and $60 at the door. For more information and to obtain a registration form, Meals on Wheels at 394.5133 or go to www.mealsonwheelswest.org/charityevents.html.
The Loews hotel is located at 1700 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica.
-Jonathan Friedman and Heather Laird