Municipal Bluffs
Park acquisition could be soon
The city of Malibu’s acquisition of the 10-acre portion of Bluffs Park containing the ball fields, the Michael Landon Center and a running path could happen within the next 60 days, City Manager Jim Thorsen said Monday.
The deal, which included the city and several state agencies, was proposed last year and involves Malibu paying $2.5 million for the property. But the transaction had been stalled due to a conflict among state agencies about the technicalities of the deal.
Thorsen said that the Bluffs Park acquisition was being included on what is called a trailer bill, which is associated with the state budget. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger approved the budget last week. Thorsen was short on specifics, but he said he believed a trailer bill was before Schwarzenegger on Monday, and then some “paper work would need to be done to finalize the deal.”
State officials could not be reached for comment.
City gets grant for
Las Flores Park
The city of Malibu learned last week that it will be receiving a $925,000 grant from the California Resources Agency for the construction of Las Flores Canyon Park. The park has had some minor development, but full plans for the property are still in the design stage. The City Council is expected to vote on hiring a firm to complete the design at its meeting on Monday.
Topanga Canyon road project to commence
Work is expected to begin this week on an 11-mile construction project on Topanga Canyon Boulevard from Pacific Coast Highway to Mulholland Drive.
The $5.5 million project will replace existing pavement with rubberized asphalt concrete and includes restriping, installing new metal beam guardrails and widening roadway shoulders at a limited number of locations. Construction is estimated to take approximately a year to complete.
Construction will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nighttime work near residential areas will not be allowed. At least one lane will be open to traffic at all times.
Initial work will involve K-rail (moveable concrete barrier) placement between Pacific Coast Highway and north of Old Topanga Canyon Road. One lane will be closed within that area at various locations, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. from July 10 to July 12. Flaggers will be in place to manage traffic.
Malibu Labor Exchange names new president
Suzelle M. Smith of Malibu-an internationally known lawyer, author and lecturer-has been installed as president of the Board of the Malibu Community Labor Exchange. The Labor Exchange is a nonprofit charity that operates a day-worker hiring site. Smith and her “life and law” partner, Don Howarth, have been MCLE Board members for three years. They have two sons.
For more information on the Labor Exchange, go to www.laborexchange.org.
Smith has gotten Bernie and Hillary Safire to agree to dedicate the money generated from their annual Cut-a-Thon for the Malibu Labor Exchange. The Cut-a-Thon will take place on Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Malibu Country Mart. Activities will include entertainment, live music, a silent auction and activities for children. Attendees will also have a chance to taste homemade tamales from various countries south of the border.
Celebrities Dick Van Dyke, Thomas Gottschalk and Martin Sheen will serve as masters of ceremony and honorary co-chairmen for the event. Admission is free. For further information, call 457.1614.
Malibu Yoga headed on philanthropic trip
Students from Malibu Yoga and yoga students from New York will travel on Tuesday to Peru and visit with the children at the orphanage of Casa de Milagros. Those who would like to donate materials for the orphanage can drop them off at Malibu Yoga, located at 22333 Pacific Coast Highway, on or before Monday. Monetary donations can go directly to the orphanage through its Web site at www.chandlersky.org.
For further information, call Barbara Sottile at 457.2592.
-Jonathan Friedman