The City of Malibu hired a new high-profile lobbyist in an attempt to be heard by the California Coastal Commission on the issue of the Local Coastal Plan for Malibu. The Coastal Commission has drafted a version of a local coastal plan for Malibu, ignoring an existing city draft.
Mike Roos, a former assemblymember, will be paid $10,000 a month to assist the city in collaborating with the Coastal Commission to come up with a plan that is consistent with Malibu’s General Plan.
Roos is a political strategist and was a legislative leader in California for more than 14 years. He served as a member of the California State Assembly from 1977 to 1991. During his second term, he was chosen by his caucus as a majority floor leader. He was later elected as a speaker pro tem of the state Assembly.
Because of citizens’ and political groups’ opposition to the Coastal plan, the City Council on Monday night continued its hearing on the LCP draft created by Coastal Commission staff.
Meanwhile, residents spoke out again on the matter. Additional parking at the Point Dume Headlands Park became an issue for residents.
Harry Salzberg, who spoke on behalf of the Point Dume Homeowners Association, pointed out that the city already made concessions to offer public access to the Point Dume Headlands when it established a bus service. Now the CCC wants to provide public parking along Heathercliff Road, he complained.
“The association believes the settlement agreement, where the shuttle was established, provides adequate access,” he said. “Opening Point Dume to public parking will create more problems.”
Other speakers highlighted that local control is threatened by a non-elected agency staff.
They are also upset about the lack of notification for the upcoming meeting with commission staff at Webster Elementary School, which takes place Oct. 30. Council asked residents to pass the word. The more residents attend, the better.
Another speaker confused the council. Corin Kahn, an attorney representing Taxpayers for Livable Communities (TLC), said if the city presents an LCP that conforms to the Coastal Act, then it should be implemented. Yet, at the same time, the organization is suing the city because of its attempt to influence the Coastal Commission as it drafted the LCP.
Kahn clarified his statements in a phone interview. TLC, a group that represents residents and homeowners associations, wants to ensure fairness in the LCP process, he said. But the LCP the city adopted this year does not conform with the Coastal Act, said Kahn, who also objects to the way it was generated.
There was no public process when the previous LCP, drafted in March of 2000 by citizens and an Ad-Hoc committee, was taken into consideration, he said. “The city changed its position and the council said the old draft was dead on arrival, but there is no such evidence,” said Kahn.
Kahn said his statements do not contradict TLC’s current lawsuit against the city.
In other matters:
- The council turned down an appeal by Cher’s representative, Alan Block, to overturn a Planning Commission decision denying an application for a variance request to increase the wall height on the actor’s property on Pacific Coast Highway. The existing wall is 2-and-a-half feet higher than allowed by current codes.
“We’re not requesting to raise the height of the wall,” said Block, “merely to keep the present height.”
But Councilmembers unanimously disagreed. They did not want to grant special privilege to the applicant.
Since the wall surrounds a tennis court, they suggested alternatives such as fencing or netting to mitigate the danger of tennis balls flying onto the highway.
- Council continued a zoning text amendment matter that would amend slope/density requirements for certain properties zoned in rural residential areas. If changes are approved, it may increase subdivisions within the city.
A land-use subcommittee will hold a workshop on the matter and speakers are invited to comment on changes at that meeting. Councilmember Jeff Jennings hinted that he had an idea, which would solve the slope/density issue, and said he will reveal it at the next subcommittee meeting. A tentative meeting is scheduled for Oct. 30 at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall.
- A Planning Commission approval for an office building in Point Dume at Portshead Road is up for appeal. Frank Basso, Malibu Township Council president, said the Point Dume Homeowners Association is appealing the decision because of impending, cumulative problems concerning traffic and Environmentally Sensitive Area encroachments. Architect Ed Niles designed the building.
“I do not oppose the building per se,” said Basso to the council. “I just want to rectify some of the problems.”
Basso also asked for a brake on the fee, which would be $4,300.
- Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting camping in vehicles on public property. According to the ordinance, no person shall camp, lodge, or sleep overnight in any public park, beach or near a street.
- City joins lawsuit. Last week, the city joined a lawsuit filed by the Marine Forest Society to challenge the way Coastal Commission members are appointed. A brief will be filed with the Court of Appeals in November, stating what the city sees as problematic.