After Malibu locals and city planning commissioners expressed overwhelming support to create thorough citywide lighting standards, the council will review subcommittee recommendations and likely greenlight plans to solicit help from a private consultant to help draft the ordinance with $25,000 in funding.
The Planning Commission, which has dealt with several community fights concerning lighting issues at Malibu High School in recent months, made a case for a lighting ordinance to the City Council in April. That prompted a unanimous vote by the council on April 9 directing a zoning subcommittee (ZORACES) to explore an ordinance.
ZORACES has recommended the city adopt a dark sky ordinance based on a template called the Model Lighting Ordinance, or MLO.
“The MLO outdoor lighting template is designed to help municipalities develop outdoor lighting standards that reduce glare, light trespass, and skyglow,” states a website for the International Dark Sky Association and the Illuminating Engineering Society, two independent groups which promote dark sky lighting.