New Wastewater Treatment Rules Pass

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Malibu City Hall

Malibu Council covered a lot of ground at the Monday, June 26, meeting at Malibu City Hall, coming to a decision on revised onsite wastewater treatment system (septic tank) failure criteria, finalizing the 2017-18 budget, hearing public comments regarding Malibu Bluffs Park and Adamson House erosion, and more.

 

Sewer failure criteria finalized

Following a fracas in the real estate community, the city paused before eventually passing new criteria for septic failures, despite lingering concerns.

A combination of state mandates and resident complaints spurred the city to action on the updated rules, but public outcry caused the city to make modifications. 

Brian Merrick complained that the rules were too vague. “With city staff turnover, we don’t know what it’s going to be,” Merrick said. “I trust [Environmental Sustainability Director ] Craig [George] … but what about when he’s gone?”

Other concerns raised by Merrick and others regarded whether residential rehabilitation centers would be considered commercial uses by the ordinance. City Attorney Christi Hogin said they would not, per California state law. 

Council made a few minor changes to the ordinance before approval.

The ordinance stipulates any time a septic tank “is pumped three or more times during any 180 day period, or when pumping is required to eliminate the discharge of septage or effluent onto the ground or into a structure, such activity shall be reported to the city within 24 hours in a ‘septage pumping report.’”

Operating permits will be necessary for property owners of: restaurants, commercial uses, multifamily units and condominiums. 

The draft proposed ordinance (without council’s latest changes) is available at malibucity.org/AgendaCenter. Adoption of the ordinance is expected July 10.

 

Budget approved

Council approved the final version of the $57.37 million 2017-18 City of Malibu budget Monday. 

Changes since the last budget hearing included an increased projection revenues from transient occupancy tax collection (from short-term rentals) and increased projection for expenditures for the hiring of an environmental sustainability analyst, purchase of a new volunteers on patrol vehicle and an update to the city’s emergency operation plan.

 

Bluffs Park back on table

Longtime Malibu Parks and Recreation Commission member Carl Randall did not mince words when addressing council about Malibu Bluffs Park plans — put in indefinite hold earlier this year following a split vote by council.

Listing off areas he felt the slate — made up of Mayor Skylar Peak, Mayor Pro Tem Rick Mullen and Council Member Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner — has failed or, in his words, had a “bad go,” Randall urged council to take another look at a Bluffs Park environmental impact report (EIR).

“Please think before you make these decisions. Please look back at the EIR for Bluffs Park. You’ve managed to piss off [Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Chair] Joe Edmiston again, who was actually a proponent of ours in this situation, which is shocking as it is, but he wants recreational facilities there,” Randall said. “And Mr. Mullen, you’ve staked your political career on you saying camping will not occur there on your watch, even when your city attorney has said in open session several times that’s incorrect, that they can do this without you speaking. So I’d like to know who you guys are, what you stand for, and what you’re going to do for our community.”

Other notable stakeholders came to speak on behalf of increased recreational facilities at the park, including former mayor Pamela Conley Ulich and Malibu High School athletic trainer Marie Zweig. Zweig appealed directly to Peak, reminding him her daughter was coached by his father, longtime Malibu Little League Coach Dusty Peak.

“There were no fields that are present now available for them, so they walked across … to the Crummer fields, so they opened that up for the little girls to practice, and that was back, I mean, Megan’s 30 now, so that was 20 years ago,” Zweig recalled. “Back then, any day, any year, we were going to get two more fields.”

Speaking in response to comments on Bluffs Park, Peak said he would “support bringing back an item at this point based on our conversations with the property owners of the immediate area around city hall to further address this and see what can be done at Bluffs Park, if anything can be done there, and get an EIR done. We’ll see that item back, I don’t know if we’re going to fit that into July, but maybe August, and the same thing in regards to Trancas Park.” 

Earlier in the meeting, Council Member Laura Rosenthal had suggested bringing back an item proposing an EIR for the recently acquired Trancas Field, an idea which both Council Member Lou La Monte and Peak seemed receptive to.

 

 Contract with lobbyists

Council approved funding of $150,000 toward a contract with California Strategies & Advocacy, LLC, the city’s lobby firm in Sacramento, on a 4-0 vote with Wagner abstaining.

“I think it’s naive to think the city shouldn’t have excellent representation up in the halls of Sacramento,” Mullen said.

 

 Surfers speak out about Malibu Lagoon

A half-dozen members of the Malibu Surfing Association spoke before council Monday to voice concerns over what they claim is a failed redesign of the Malibu Lagoon that has resulted in worsened surfing conditions and increased erosion to the Malibu Adamson House property.

Association members warned of “extreme coastal erosion” that is “undermining” not only the Adamson House but destroying tide pools and surf areas near Sufrider Beach. 

Wagner, a longtime member of the Board of the Adamson House Foundation, said he too has noticed intense erosion at the State Parks-owned Adamson House, an area he cited as a major source of income for California State Parks in Malibu.