Councilmember Sharon Barovsky insists on ‘open natural space’ to be high on list.
By Ken Gale/Special to The Malibu Times
The City Council acted Monday on three issues that reflect different aspects of future land use in Malibu. One issue involved setting priorities for using land to be purchased by the $15 million bond issue, known as Proposition K, if it is passed in the upcoming November election. In an attempt to appease opponents of the bond who have criticized it as not being specific about how the money will be used, the council wrestled with a list of top priorities, in order of importance. A first motion set priorities as construction of playing fields, then playgrounds, community centers, parks and trails. But Councilmember Sharon Barovsky insisted in putting “open natural space” high on the list. She prevailed. After proposing many different configurations, the council finally settled on a compromise list: 1) Playing fields and playing grounds for active recreation; 2) Open space for passive recreation; 3) A community center; 4) Trails. A second issue involving land use concerned priorities and objectives for establishing wetlands in the Civic Center and for cleaning up lower Malibu Creek as well as expanding and improving Malibu Lagoon. These objectives come from a highly complex UCLA study that was the fruition of nearly 10 years of planning for the restoration of the Malibu Creek watershed and Malibu Lagoon.
The Malibu Lagoon Task Force presented the objectives to the council. They include acquiring land adjacent to the lagoon, which now includes a golf course and an open field opposite the Chevron station on Pacific Coast Highway, for expansion of the lagoon. Water channels would also be dug to redirect the flow of water coming in from the ocean in order to flush the lagoon with the tide. Also, small island habitats for birds would be built in a channel next to the nearby Adamson house. Further, land surrounding City Hall as well as the Chili Cook-Off parcel across the street would be turned into natural wetlands that would be serve to treat water runoff from higher land. A long range objective would be to move some shops in the Civic Center “out of harm’s way” in order to allow Malibu Creek to “find its own direction.” The wetlands plan also includes exploring several different methods for controlling polluted water flow into the lagoon and Surfside beach as well as more efficient septic tanks and other forms of wastewater treatment. Much of the plan would hinge on property owners being willing to sell their land. In a separate but related item on the agenda, the council approved the plan to use $667,000 state grant for a two-year study on underground water resources and wastewater management solutions for the Malibu Creek-Lagoon watershed. City Building and Safety director Vic Peterson said the study would “bring some science” to the problems involved in treating wastewater and controlling water flow. Also at the council meeting, Malibu district Fire Chief Michael Dyer warned the dry season is due in the region in mid-October. He cautioned all residents to make sure they have cleared the brush around their properties, as required by law. He also said the fire department also now has new firefighting helicopters at their disposal. One, called a “praying mantis,” can snorkel up to 1,300 gallons of water from a pool as shallow as 17 inches in a minute or two. It then can fly much lower than fixed-winged “super scoopers” for a more accurate water drop. Two converted army Blackhawks, now called Firehawks, can also snorkel water, but they also can be used for medical evacuations.