The California State Assembly overwhelmingly voted, 66-8, in favor of a bill that would help fund an effort to draft a coastal plan for the City of Malibu.
SB55 would reappropriate $100,000 from the California Coastal Commission’s general fund to help pay for the commission’s expenses as it prepares a Local Coastal Plan for the City of Malibu.
Sen. Sheila Kuehl, who represents California’s 23rd Senatorial District, which encompasses Malibu, has been the driving force behind Bill SB55.
According to a senate bill analysis, which is posted on the California legislature’s Web site, the Coastal Commission claimed that it needed to shift $100,000 of already appropriated funds from its local assistance programs so that resources can be brought to bear on finishing the Malibu LCP by the deadline of Sept. 15, 2002.
Although last year Bill AB 988 mandated the commission to take over the LCP process for Malibu, because the city had not completed it in a timely manner, city staff has drafted its own plan.
“The city and the Coastal Commission ostensibly share a goal,” said Christi Hogin, city manager. “This goal is for Malibu to adopt and the commission to certify an LCP for the city.
“The draft enjoys the legitimacy of having been prepared in the manner set forth in the coastal act and by representatives accountable to the voters,” she added.
“It is my hope that the Coastal Commission will use whatever funding it receives from SB55 and various sources to review the city’s draft,” continued Hogin. “It would be unfortunate and counterproductive to our shared goal if the commission were to attempt to draft its own LCP for Malibu.”
Hogin said she is not aware of any other draft LCP created by the commission.
Robin Podolski, press deputy for Sheila Kuehl, said, “There was a legal requirement for the plan and the city had not developed it, therefore the coastal commission has taken on the task.”
SB55 was proposed by Kuehl in an effort to enable the commission to meet the deadline. The Coastal Commission submitted its draft plan on May 1.
According to Podolski, the draft includes a good deal of input from Malibu, but it appears that funds have fallen short to pay for a consultant who would evaluate the viability and feasibility of the plan before it can be implemented.
“Sheila is interested in helping out and making sure that everyone comes out of the process happy,” said Podolski.
A finalized initial draft is expected to be completed by Jan. 15, 2002.
The city’s draft LCP is being circulated among technical experts for final revisions. At this point, the city expects to conduct hearings on it in May.