Jonathan Friedman/Staff Writer
At Monday night’s meeting, the council voted 4 to 1 to approve a request by the Malibu Stage Company to be able to have 102 production days per year at its location on Pacific Coast Highway in Point Dume. Earlier this year, the Planning Commission had given the company a conditional use permit for 80 production days per year-60 for regular performances, 18 for children performances and two for fundraising activities. However, the company appealed the decision, requesting 22 more regular days.
Some residents who live near the theater complained about the request. They said they had concerns about noise and that the septic tank might not be able to accommodate the extra days. Environmental and Community Development Director Vic Peterson said city staff had reviewed the company’s application and no septic tank or noise issues were discovered. However, he said city staff would monitor the situation on some event days. Also, people could contact the city if any further problems are discovered.
Only Mayor Ken Kearsley voted against the company’s request. He said the children’s performances could be accommodated at a future community center at Point Dume, therefore the company did not need the extra days. One of the possibilities of the Malibu Bay Company Development Agreement (Measure M), to be voted on Nov. 4, is the building of a community center.
Council meetings go live
In just a few months, Malibu residents will be able to follow City Council deliberations without leaving the comfort of their homes. At Monday’s meeting, the council approved an extension to its cable franchise agreement with Charter Communications. As part of the deal, Charter will make it possible for government meetings at City Hall to be shown live on television at no extra cost to the city. City Manager Katie Lichtig said this would also give the city the opportunity to use the council chambers as a television studio for other purposes.
The city gets some other goodies with the extension, including cable for City Hall. Therefore, people coming to the senior center can watch cable on the large screen television and cable modems can be used for the computers. All of these components of the agreement are given to the city at no charge.
The agreement extension is the culmination of several years of negotiations between the city and Charter. The city had hired consultants and attorneys to work out an agreement, bringing the cost of the process to more than $280,000. However, last year, rather than continue negotiating with Charter at the high costs, the city chose to accept the deal the company has with Los Angeles County, which includes the items mentioned earlier.
The new features such as live television will be ready for the city in no more than 120 days. But Lichtig said she hopes it will be much earlier than that.
City credit card revenue goes
to youth
In addition, the council unanimously approved that all revenue received from the new Malibu credit card to go to school district and city youth programs. The total revenue would be split in half, with one portion going to each destination. The city will receive $20 for each card issued and a percentage of all purchases made. So far, only four cards have been issued, but the city is planning to hold an event soon to kick off a promotion for the card.
Also, the council named nine of 10 members to the Civic Center Way Blue Ribbon Committee. The committee will meet with the Public Safety Commission to determine solutions for traffic safety issues on Civic Center Way. The committee was created after the Civic Center Way closure fiasco in late summer.