The City of Malibu was formed more than 13 years ago to assure Malibu residents greater local control over the future. Since that time, a variety of outside entities have challenged that control, and local controversies have left the decisions that shape our city to the courts, government agencies and special interest groups.
As many readers know, a citizen-driven, apolitical non-profit Malibu Coastal Vision, Inc., recently secured funding from the city to begin a visioning process. Through this process, Malibu residents have an opportunity to develop the tools to expand local authority, including: a clear vision for the future, feasible options for managing changes occurring in our locality, and the ability to build local consensus regarding a shared view of our future.
This visioning process officially began in early November when Cameron and Karen Farrer graciously opened their lovely home to volunteers dedicated to bringing the full community into this process. Volunteers developed plans for community round-tables, a Web site, a Vision Fair and a guest lecture series.
Malibu Coastal Vision will soon begin gathering community input through a series of community roundtables taking place between January and June. Through the roundtables, residents will establish those aspects of Malibu life we most hope to preserve, identify trends we see as endangering that way of life and opportunities to further improve the quality of Malibu life. Using this picture of Malibu’s strengths, interests and challenges, Malibu Coastal Vision will then seek to identify feasible, clear means for the city to manage the many challenges we face.
Malibu Coastal Vision is actively soliciting community involvement through outreach to homeowners associations, and community, service, faith and business groups. For a schedule of community round-tables, to request a visioning session for your community group, or to volunteer, please contact Danielle Killian at 310-924-4166 or at malibu2020vision@yahoo.com.
More information about Malibu Coastal Vision, the visioning process, and community round-table schedules will be available on the group’s Web site and this paper’s community calendar in January.
Margaret Shultz