In their last council meeting of the year on Monday night, the City Council certified the Nov. 7 election unanimously, and then watched their newest member, Sharon Barovsky, be sworn in.
The certification was subject to a hand recount of Proposition P on Wednesday to verify results.
David Reznick, from the Malibu Bay Company, received clarification from the council that, despite rumors to the contrary, it was the council’s position that Proposition N knocked out Proposition P because it received more votes. Therefore, only Proposition N would become law.
In the council contest against Robert Roy Van de Hoek, Barovsky won by 675 votes, and was elected to fill the remaining two years of her late husband Harry Barovsky’s term. She was sworn in by retired Judge John Merrick.
“It was a vote of faith that I would carry my late husband’s agenda,” said Barovsky.
She reaffirmed her three priorities, which include a Local Coastal Plan that will be satisfactory to everybody, the implementation of a shuttle service to provide transportation for youth and older citizens, and the support of a local bond issue that will provide recreational opportunities and open spaces to the community.
“We have much more in common than our rhetoric implies,” said the new councilmember, who hopes to unify the city.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the City Council received a draft copy of the Trails Master Plan, which was 11 years in the making, but was apparently still unfinished because Committee Chair Ralph Waycott refused to share it with the press.
“It’s a perfect gift for the entire Malibu family,” said Waycott of the plan.
“It will map all the trails and establish them for equestrian people,” said Kearsley. “That is critical to a lot of people in this town.”
In other matters:
– The city saved $30,000 as they awarded a contract for a sidewalk project on Morning View Drive to Deco Asphalt. They initially expected the project to cost $80,000, but the actual contract cost is $50,178. This project will be in line with the trails plan because it will be made of decomposed granite.
– Two new motorcycle traffic officers will patrol Malibu intermittently. The officers’ time, paid for by a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services (Brulte) Grant amounting to $100,000 for the upcoming year, will be shared with four other local cities.
Lt. Tom Bradstock, of the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, said motorcycle officers have more maneuverability abilities than patrol cars. They are able to get places quicker, especially during rush hour and their invisibility allows them to write more tickets.
– The grant funds will also be used to provide a DUI enforcement deputy, maintain youth programs aimed at crime intervention, a community service officer, parenting classes and a community alert network.
– Another Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG.) will provide part of the necessary funds to hire a Community Service Officer to help direct school traffic at Webster Elementary and Our Lady of Malibu.
– Malibu resident Ryan Embree complained that the council should have publicly announced a meeting taking place last night at Point Dume Elementary between MTA and city staff, pertaining to bus scheduling in that area.
At the last council, MTA officials came to hear concerns of residents who felt that buses were too frequent and regularly speed on neighborhood streets at the Point. The council instructed staff to review the situation with the MTA.
– A much-awaited updated Housing Element Document continues to be much-awaited as the Housing and Community Department (HCD) of the state is still reviewing it. The city submitted an updated document, a statement of the city’s current and future housing needs and proposed actions to meet all income housing needs to the state on Nov. 13. But, apparently, not early enough to meet the Dec. 31 deadline for finishing the project. This situation, a late submittal, is not unique, said City Manager Christi Hogin. However, Barovsky indicated she was bothered by the delay.
“I have a fear there is this little committee in Sacramento that doesn’t care about other cities,” said Barovsky, who wants to expedite the process for fear that Sacramento would end up writing the housing element for Malibu.
“We have made good faith efforts in complying with the deadline, but we can’t adopt it until we get written documents back from HCD so we can respond to the comments,” responded Hogin.
Hogin, aware of the Local Coastal Plan dilemma in which planning authority was taken away from the city and given to the state, reassured Barovsky that the HCD is not that way. Additionally, she said Malibu has a housing element and this is just an update.
– Agreeing with Malibu resident Mary Frampton, who came to speak against a Navy low frequency sound-testing program, the council agreed to reiterate its position against the testing to the Coastal Commission because it is thought to be detrimental to marine life.
– The Lechuza Beach legal battle came in front of City Council on Monday as Norm Haynie, the developer and property owner, came to ask for the city’s support in the legal battle between himself and the Malibu Encinal Homeowners Association.
Haynie has tried to build private homes on his property since 1990, but has been thwarted by local residents and the state. He is currently in the process of trying to sell it to the state, but has been blocked by a homeowners association lawsuit.
Haynie came to request the council’s guidance and support. But Hogin strongly discouraged the council from making any decisions on the matter since it currently is in litigation.
A homeowner, who is part of a local association, said the lawsuit was to ascertain what the actual property rights are.
– The City Council approved the implementation of a Geographical Information System (GIS) on Monday. The system, which uses new technology, will help map the entire city and allow people to find out where important archeological sites or fault lines are located. They will be able to find all the information online. They will also be able to complete applications and find all the constraints beforehand, said Councilmember Ken Kearsley.
Before, “You had to go into a big drawer and pull it out and, as a result, a lot of information got buried,” he said.
When the GIS is in place, people who want to build a house will have access to all the information before they buy a property.
“That’s the best $45,000 we could spend,” said Kearsley. “It will save time and anguish.”