After several months of negotiation, local Realtors and city officials have come to an agreement on a proposal for requiring septic system inspections prior to the sale of property. At its meeting on Monday, the City Council approved the regulation, which is included in an updated version of the city’s law on obtaining operating permits for water treatment systems. Previous versions of the point of sale proposal presented to the council had been as stand-alone ordinance proposals.
A major change in the regulation approved by the council compared with previous versions is that an inspection does not need to occur prior to a sale if the property contains a permitted septic system that is not set to expire. Operating permits are valid for commercial and multifamily structures for two years. They are valid for five years for single-family homes with a conventional onsite wastewater treatment system. The permits for homes with a so-called alternative onsite wastewater treatment system, which provide enhanced treatment, must be renewed every three years.
If at the point of sale, the operating permit is either non-existent or expiring, a city-approved inspector must do an inspection. While in previous versions of this proposal, the inspection form had been lengthy, it has since been reduced to three pages. One of the complaints by Realtors about this legislation was that it was too complicated. They said on Monday they were pleased that it had been simplified.
“It isn’t often I get to take part in a love fest,” said Realtor and local activist Paul Grisanti. “Instead of being here to complain about things, I’m here to tell you it worked out.”
Septic systems that fail the inspection must be repaired or replaced.
After the ordinance takes effect, septic system operating permits must be obtained by commercial structures within one year and by multifamily buildings within two years.
The updated ordinance will slowly place Malibu’s septic systems into a city database. The city is required by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2004 with the Regional Water Quality Board to eventually have all the city’s septic systems catalogued to determine which ones are polluting Malibu’s watershed.
Also on Monday, the City Council appointed Councilmembers Sharon Barovsky and Pamela Conley Ulich to a subcommittee that will meet with Civic Center area landowners to inquire if they are interested in establishing regulations on development there. Conley Ulich had requested that the city develop a plan for the area. This had been done in the late 1990s, with the creation of the Civic Center Specific Plan by a committee and a hired consultant. But the document was never approved by a City Council.
Councilmembers said at Monday’s meeting that it was probably too late to try to do something like the Specific Plan again, since most landowners were in the process of getting projects approved. But, they said, the landowners might be interested in some sort of guidelines for features in the area.
City applies for state grant for Legacy Park
Additionally, without comment, the council approved a proposal for the city to apply for a $1 million federal grant administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation for the Legacy Park Project.
The development of Legacy Park, including the storm water treatment element and the creation of the park, would cost $12 million, according to the city. Malibu has received a $2 million grant from the Annenberg Foundation and more than $400,000 in donations and pledges, according to the city. Also, the city received a $1 million grant from Los Angeles County.
City Manager Jim Thorsen said on Monday the environmental impact report for the project should be ready for public review in two to three weeks.
Also, City Councilmember Andy Stern requested an item be placed on the next council agenda regarding “no parking” signs in the Malibu High School/Juan Cabrillo Elementary School area. Although the signs have been up for several years, recently the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station has been patrolling the area due to complaints, and handing out tickets. Several students and other locals have received these tickets. Stern said the Sheriff’s officials have since been asked not to patrol the area. He said on Tuesday he might request the signs be removed unless there is another solution.
Lastly, the council recognized outgoing Los Angeles County Fire Department chief Reggie Lee. The head of the fire division that includes Malibu is retiring after 34 years at the fire department.