Attempted rape on Cavelleri Road in Malibu
An attempted rape took place on Pacific Coast Highway near Cavalleri Road in Malibu Feb. 16 at about 9:15 p.m.
The 24-year-old female victim was walking on the highway when the suspect grabbed her from behind.
The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 30-35 years of age, 5-feet, 5-inches tall, with black hair, and wearing a light blue windbreaker and dark pants.
The suspect appeared from the bushes along the roadside, grabbed the victim from behind and pulled her off the roadway and down an embankment and into the brush, where he attempted to rape her. The victim was able to free herself and fled from the location to her residence.
The victim had walked to the market to buy a bottle of water and was returning home when she was assaulted.
Council to discuss extending negotiations on septic systems ban
The City Council will discuss the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s prohibition of septic systems in Malibu and the request to re-initiate the city’s design of the Civic Center wastewater treatment facility at its meeting Monday next week. The council will also consider Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich’s proposal to establish an agency fund in order to purchase property on Pacific Coast Highway at Heathercliff Road with the plan to build a park on the property.
Regarding water quality control, the council will first receive an update on the Civic Center discharge prohibition, to then direct staff to re-initiate the City’s Civic Center Wastewater Treatment Facility design efforts and finally request that the city attorney negotiate a six-month extension on the tolling agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The tolling agreement was established to allow time for the respective agencies to resolve differences prior to the potential of filing any litigation. The current agreement is set to expire March 31.
The City Council allocated more than $2.6 million for the design of the Civic Center Wastewater treatment facility. Estimated cost of construction ranges from $30 million to $52 million.
On Nov. 5, 2009 the Regional Water Quality Control Board banned the use of septic systems in the Malibu Civic Center area and on Sept. 21, 2010 the SWRCB approved the same resolution, amending the State Basin Plan. The amendment of the plan went into effect on Dec. 23, 2010.
Regarding the city’s purchase of land, the council will on Monday consider the establishment of an agency fund with the intention to purchase property at 29151 Pacific Coast Highway, and build a park on the property. The property is owned by Zan Marquis, owner of Point Dume Village shopping center. The fiscal impact of the project is unknown at this time. If the agency fund were established, it would allow individual donors to contribute money to the city in the event the city purchased the property for a park.
The City Council’s regular meeting will take place Monday, Feb. 28, at City Hall, 23815 Stuart Ranch Rd., at 6:30 p.m.
Deputy Mee allowed to proceed with lawsuit
Former Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Deputy James Mee will be allowed to proceed with his lawsuit against Los Angeles County in connection with his 2006 arrest of Mel Gibson, according to City News Service. Defense attorneys filed a motion arguing that Deputy Mee’s Sept. 7 filing of charges was post-deadline, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John A. Kronstad denied the motion Tuesday, allowing Deputy Mee to continue with his case.
Deputy Mee has filed a discrimination and harassment lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles as a result of alleged mistreatment he received after arresting Gibson for driving under the influence in August 2006. Deputy Mee, who is Jewish, was reportedly instructed to remove Gibson’s anti-Semitic quotes from his arrest report and received maltreatment as a result of his refusal to do so.
Mee was moved off of his Malibu beat and was reassigned to patrol Agoura Hills. On June 16, 2010 his lawyer said, Mee was relocated to the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s station “on an emergency transfer,” according to a previous article in The Malibu Times.
Verizon hosts grand opening event
Verizon Wireless will host a grand opening event for its Malibu store Friday at 4 p.m. There will be food and refreshments in addition to a raffle at the event.
Saturday, the store hosts an appearance by the Los Angeles Laker girls at 11 a.m. The girls will sign photos in addition to Laker and Verizon give-a-ways at the event.
The new Verizon Wireless store is at 22333 Pacific Coast Highway.
Shuttle service, parking meters on public works agenda
The City of Malibu Public Works Commission was scheduled to discuss a potential city shuttle service using Proposition A transportation funding, and the possibility of installing parking meters within city limits at its meeting this week Wednesday.
The commission’s biannual report, a record of its activities from the second half of 2010, will also be reviewed for approval before submitting it to the City Council.
The Public Works Commission’s regular meeting will be Feb. 23 in City Hall’s Council Chambers, 23815 Stuart Ranch Rd., at 3:30 p.m.
Multiple vehicle burglaries reported, public warned to take caution
Between Jan. 7 and Feb. 13 there have been 12 incidents of vehicle burglary near hiking trails in Malibu and other local unincorporated areas, according to a press release from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station. The suspects target vehicles owned by hikers out on the trails.
With the owners hiking, the suspects break car windows and steal purses, credit cards, cell phones and other valuables in plain sight. The break-ins have occurred most commonly on the weekends between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Hikers are reminded to avoid leaving their valuables in their vehicles, especially in plain view, while hiking. Anyone with information concerning these robberies is encouraged to contact the Malibu/Lost Hills Station Detective Bureau at 818.878.1808.
Rain delays completion of Malibu Canyon Road construction
The date of completion for the Malibu Canyon Road construction has been pushed back to March 4 due to rain and low temperatures, according to Los Angeles County Public Works Public Information Officer Mike Kaspar. “Wet weather and cold weather delay that kind of road work that we’re doing,” Kaspar said. “We were within a couple days of completion when the rain started coming in.”
In the event the weather stays warm and dry, crews are scheduled to complete the work by next Friday.
New coastal slope trail acquired near Malibu
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority announced Feb. 14 that there will be new additions to the Coastal Slope Trail in Carbon Canyon north of Malibu. The proposed trail alignment would extend northwest from Topanga State Park to Leo Carrillo State Park.
The trail additions include three full parcels of land in addition to a trail and conservation easement through a fourth parcel. Two parcels were donated by supportive owners and the other two were bought using Los Angeles County Proposition A funds, including supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s third district competitive trail funds. The trail has been a part of the Los Angeles County Trails Master Plan since the early 1980s, but it was not until 2007 that efforts toward completing the trail began.
Bob Barker aids in animal rescue
Malibu resident Bob Barker, former host of TV’s “The Price is Right,” was present at Denver International Airport on Feb. 16 for the arrival of 25 abused circus lions from Bolivia which he had a part in rescuing, according to the Digital Journal.
Barker, a longtime vegetarian and animal rights activist, donated $100,000 to Animal Defenders International (ADI), an organization that rescues mistreated animals.
A law was passed in Bolivia in 2010 prohibiting the use of animals in circus acts, but the abuses continued to occur, prompting the ADI’s recent rescue mission.
“They will be the happiest little babies you ever met,” Barker said of the cubs.
Barker added that he hopes no animals will be a part of circus acts in the future.
MHS students chosen as semifinalists in photography contest
Malibu High School students Nic Vazelakis and Maggie Harrington have been chosen as semifinalists in the photography category for the 23rd annual Music Center Spotlight Awards. The Music Center chose 15 semifinalists out of hundreds of applicants from high schools throughout Southern California. The organization awards $100,00 in scholarships to winners. Pictured above is Vazelakis’ chosen entry in the contest. “We have a very talented pool of students at MHS as well as an excellent photography department,” Malibu High Principal Mark Kelly said. View photo on Photos Page.