City critic appointed to Malibu commission

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John Mazza, a frequent opponent of City Council and Planning Commission decisions, will now be able to put in his two cents as a city official.

By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor

One of the Malibu government’s biggest critics, John Mazza, is now part of the system following Monday night’s appointment to the Planning Commission by City Councilmember Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner. Joining Mazza on the commission will be political rival, former Mayor Jeff Jennings, who was appointed by Councilmember John Sibert.

“That will be the best ticket in town,” said Wagner Tuesday morning about the expected conflicts between the two at future Planning Commission meetings.

The Planning Commission is considered to be the most powerful government body in the city other than the City Council. It has the power to approve and reject permit applications, although commission decisions can be appealed to the City Council and California Coastal Commission. The Planning Commission also makes recommendations to the City Council on major development projects.

Jennings and Mazza are rarely on the same side regarding development issues. The two ran against each other in the 2004 City Council campaign during which Mazza referred to Jennings as a “radical property rights advocate,” and Jennings said Mazza had “[never] put forth any plan for dealing with Malibu’s problems” and his only participation in local politics was “to oppose any proposed solution.”

Mazza, who also ran for council in 2006, has attended nearly every Planning Commission and City Council meeting for several years. When he speaks during those meetings during the public comment period, it is almost always in opposition to proposed projects. But Mazza said he is capable of being a “fair and balanced” commissioner, and it is a mischaracterization that he opposes everything.

“Obviously when you go before the Planning Commission, you want to point out the errors in the staff reports,” Mazza said. “You’re not there to just to say, ‘Gee you’re wonderful’ all the time. But a large majority of projects, I never commented on.”

Wagner said he had a few long talks with Mazza recently to make sure he knows that projects can go forward as long as they properly follow city code restrictions. Wagner said Mazza understands this.

“He is one of the most well-educated residents we have in Malibu on zoning and the LCP,” Wagner said. “We need balance in this town and I think he’s the balancing guy. I think he’ll help find clarity.”

Wagner said during the past eight years the commission has stretched the zoning laws to allow people to get too much, and this has set precedents for other applicants to expect those same advantages.

“Eventually it’s going to catch up to us and lead to lawsuits,” Wagner said.

He said although Mazza will only be one vote on the commission, he will “bring a spotlight to each planning decision.

“We may not prevail in our efforts, but we will bring light and possibly some clarity to some of the zoning issues,” said Wagner, speaking about both his election to the council and Mazza’s appointment.

Wagner said the selection of Mazza, which had been rumored prior to the official announcement on Monday, had irked some in the community.

“I can fairly say that several attempts to persuade me otherwise to the John Mazza selection were suggested,” Wagner said. “Some people had said Mazza will be a real pain. And I said, ‘That’s right. And that’s why he’s going to be there. But he’s only one guy.'”

Mazza has several times gotten into heated arguments with council members and planning commissioners during meetings. City Councilmember Sharon Barovsky, who has been involved in several of those clashes, said she looks forward to Mazza being on the commission because “John will finally have to deal with the law, and the rules.”

“It’s always easier to criticize than to solve,” Barovsky said. “And this may give him an opportunity to be a problem solver rather than just a critic.”

Barovsky said she was pleased Sibert appointed Jennings, who is out of the country until next week and could not be reached for comment.

“Nobody knows our planning laws better than Jeff,” she said. “He has been the LCP expert. It would be a shame to lose that expertise.”

Although Barovsky’s commission appointments do not expire until 2010, she had to make a selection to replace Sibert, her appointment since 2004. She named 2006 City Council candidate Ed Gillespie to the post. Barovsky said Gillespie had approached her about being named to the post.

“I met with him and I liked his philosophy,” said Barovsky, who described that philosophy as being “very fair and wanting to rule on the law and not on emotion.”

Gillespie had planned to run for council this year as well, but did not enter the race because of the death of his brother. He has already stated his intention to run for council in 2010. Barovsky said his appointment does not mean she has endorsed him for that race. Gillespie said on Tuesday his intention to run for council was not the reason he wanted to join the commission.

“I want to be part of the city and this is a way to do it,” said Gillespie, who has never served on a city commission. “I’m still a new kid on the block and this might be an educational experience for me.”

Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich reappointed Regan Schaar to the commission, although she said she would be making another appointment soon. Neither Schaar nor Conley Ulich returned calls on Tuesday to comment on the matter.

Joan House remains as Mayor Pro Tem Any Stern’s commission appointment.

Sibert named Kathy Wisnicki to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and Wagner selected Susan Tellem for the Public Safety Commission. Tellem has publicly stated she plans to run again in 2010. Wisnicki has not said whether she will run again.

Regarding his selection of Tellem, Wagner said, “She is very well-read on the issues. I think she’ll tone down her rhetoric and be a little more accommodating to suggestions other than her own opinion. We’re talking about the toadies [referring to a term used by former Councilmember Kearsley earlier this year to describe those politically aligned with Ozzie Silna]. And the toadies are going to come of age. We can’t nail people for every utterance they make. I had these discussions with everybody … we need to learn to be civil with each other and take the emotion out of all this controversy and look at it more as adults.”

Additional commission appointments

Conley Ulich-Parks and Recreation: Pat Greenwood, Madonna Slattery and Doug O’Brien; Public Safety: Rick Mullen; Public Works: Jo Giese

Conley Ulich said her appointments would each serve a third of a term beginning with Greenwood.

Wagner-Parks and Recreation: Graeme Clifford; Public Works: Steve Karsh

Sibert-Public Safety: undecided; Public Works: undecided

The new commissioners begin therr terms next month.