MHS field lights return to planning commission
The proposed Malibu High School field lights project went back to the City of Malibu’s Planning Commission Tuesday night, with a staff recommendation to approve the plan. If approved, the Coastal Development Permit and Conditional Use Permit would allow the installation and limited operation of four 70-foot permanent light standards on the main sports field at Malibu Middle and High School.
The proposed field lighting project has seen its share of controversy.
In October last year, the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s Local Coastal Program to allow for limited use of field lights at night at the high school. Temporary lights were used at the school from 2003 to 2009, which violated the city’s LCP. In 2009, the city applied for an amendment to its LCP to allow limited night lighting, but the proposal was rejected by the commission. Leading up to the October 2011 approval, more than 450 letters in support of the lights and more than 50 letters opposing them were submitted to the costal commission.
Project opponents argued night lights at the high school would disturb wildlife, including migrating birds, and ruin the rural ambiance of the nearby area.
In April of this year the school launched its “Bring on the Lights” campaign to raise funds to construct the lights. According to an email sent by principal Mark O. Kelly to parents earlier this year, in order for the lights to be installed next fall, the school needed to raise $600,000 by June.
California conducts primary elections
The State of California conducted its primary elections Tuesday to elect representatives for newly drawn districts and get the public vote on controversial propositions.
Candidates vying to represent the state’s 50th Assembly District, which includes Malibu, were Richard Bloom, Betsy Butler, Torie Osborn and Bradly S. Torgan. Torgan is a Republican and Bloom, Butler and Osborn are Democrats.
The top two candidates with the most votes in congressional and state races will earn spots on the general election ballot in November. The top candidates will get the spots no matter their party affiliations, so there could be two Democrats running against each other in some districts and two Republicans running against each other in other districts.
The ballot included two propositions, Propositions 28 and 29.
Proposition 28 would cut state term limits by lowering time in office from 14 years to 12 years. Additionally, while officials currently serve 14 years, they can only serve six in the Assembly and eight in the Senate. The proposition would allow them to spend all 12 in either the Assembly or the Senate.
Proposition 29 would add a one dollar a pack tax to cigarette sales with the money going to cancer research. The tax increase has been controversial, with supporters saying it is necessary to support cancer research and save lives and money, while the those opposed argue the money won’t be kept in California and will not help fix the state budget.
There were also two county measures on the ballot. County Measure H would continue the Hotel Occupancy Tax and County Measure L would continue the existing 10 percent tax on landfills.
Election results were not yet available at press time. Check malibutimes.com for the final results.
4.0 earthquake shakes Malibu
A 4.0 earthquake hit 30 miles off the coast of Malibu May 29 at around 10:15 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no reports of injuries or damage in Malibu, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
City starts water pollution prevention hotline
The City of Malibu has launched a new Water Pollution Prevention Hotline that allows residents to immediately report prohibited activities they witness that may negatively impact the environment or public health. The hotline is staffed by bilingual operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hotline number is 310.359.8003.
According to a release from the city, prohibited activities include overflowing onsite wastewater treatment systems, gray water or pollution flowing toward storm drains, or surface waters and contamination to creeks, lagoons or the ocean, among others.
For more information, visit malibucity.org.
School district accepting applications for District Advisory Committees
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education is accepting applications for openings on its District Advisory Committees. Committees with open seats include Early Child Care and Development, Health and Safety, Special Education, and Visual and Performing Arts. Applications must be received by June 19.
The board is scheduled to make appointments to fill the vacancies by the end of June 2012. Membership terms range from one to four years.
“District advisory committees provide a method whereby citizens and educators can understand better the attitudes and opinions that are held in the school-community environment,” a district press release stated.
For more information, visit smmusd.org/DAC.
Santa Monica Mountains visitor center opening
The National Park Service is hosting a grand opening ceremony for the Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center in the Santa Monica Mountains June 9.
An array of state and local politicians will be in attendance, including Los Angeles County supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, among others. The event will also feature a ribbon cutting, live music, food trucks and ranger-guided activities.
The visitor center was built using $9.5 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds. The interagency center unifies the local, state and federal park system for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area’s 35 million annual visitors. It will be jointly managed by the National Park Service, California State Parks, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.
“Through the common vision of this long-lasting relationship with our partners, we now have a one-stop shop for visitors,” SMMNRA acting superintendent Lorenza Fong said in a press release. “Whether they’re visiting local, state or federal parks and beaches, the experience should be seamless.”
The grand opening celebration takes place Saturday at the new visitor center at King Gillette Ranch, 26876 Mulholland Dr., ceremony at 10 a.m. and activities beginning at 12 p.m.
For more information visit nps.gov/samo.
City’s biology counter hours change
Effective July 1, the public counter hours for the City of Malibu Biologist will change to Tuesdays only, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The current hours, until June 30, are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. For more information contact Dave Crawford at 310.456.2489 ext. 277.
Calabasas storage unit theft suspects arrested
Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station Detectives arrested two suspects in connection with an investigation of several thefts from the Calabasas Public Storage facility. Victims of these thefts reportedly live near Malibu in Agoura Hills and Calabasas. A public viewing to return the items to their original owners will take place Saturday.
Leading up to the arrests, detectives were looking into different thefts from the facility that took place over the course of a month. Throughout the investigation, authorities suspected that a parolee, Richard Traber, was stealing from the locked storage units. Detectives checked his residence and discovered some suspected stolen items belonging to several victims of the residential burglaries. They recovered two truckloads of suspected property from Traber’s residence.
Richard Taber and his girlfriend, Colette Kurtz, were arrested for burglary and receiving stolen property.
Detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in locating the legal owners of the recovered items. A public viewing of the property is taking place Saturday at the 27050 Agoura Rd. in Calabasas at 10 a.m.
To provide further information about the thefts contact Detective Sergeant Holland at 818.878.5542.