The first $98,000-study phase of the Library Design Services project will kick off if, during its Monday night meeting, the city council authorizes the negotiation for an agreement with architectural consultant firm LPA, Inc. and amends the city’s 2008-09 fiscal budget.
Also on Monday night, council members will consider an ordinance to impose residential restrictions on sex offenders in addition to those already imposed by the state, and decide whether to receive and file recommended solutions to the traffic and parking problems in the Malibu Park area in connection with the Malibu High School campus improvement project.
Malibu Library was built and established in 1970 by Los Angeles County, which also owns the Civic Center property on which it resides. Aside from minimal changes to its interior design, the library has physically remained unchanged since it was built.
An uproar occurred in 2004 when it was discovered that nearly a half million dollars Malibu had been paying in taxes per year was not being spent in Malibu, but was going to other areas of the county’s library system. Soon afterward, the county agreed to spend those tax dollars within the city, which resulted in the library project.
A memorandum of understanding with the county regarding the Malibu Library was approved last July. It includes the use of $3.6 million from the county to do interior and exterior improvements on the library.
The city has chosen architectural consultant firm LPA, Inc. out of 42 different firms that responded in December to the city’s request for design proposals for the remodeling of Malibu Library. The firm will handle design services from schematic plans through construction.
The top five of the 42 firms were interviewed on March 3 by a panel consisting of the city’s library consultant, a representative from the Los Angeles County Library, and representatives from Malibu, Agoura and Calabasas. Of the firms interviewed, a city report states that LPA scored the highest.
LPA’s bid was $98,900. The firm has designed more than 20 public libraries, including some within Los Angeles County.
If the council authorizes City Manager Jim Thorsen to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement with LPA, Inc. for the first phase of the Malibu Library remodel, it must also amend the budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year to include the $98,900.
The city will, however, be reimbursed for LPA’s bid by Los Angeles County, which will use funds it has set aside from property taxes intended for library services, which total $3.6 million. Upon completion of phase one of the remodel, LPA will present the city with estimated costs for the remaining phases of the project.
The project will consist of two phases of renovation and reconfiguration based on a building program as outlined in the 2005 Community Library Needs Assessment.
A city report states that several public meetings will be held in the future to integrate the needs and input of the community into the final library design.
Solutions for traffic at Malibu High
Lastly, city staff has stated in a recent report that they will return at a later date with improvement recommendations to remedy the traffic and parking problems in the Malibu Park area. Staff has recommended that the council receive and file suggested solutions that were derived at a meeting regarding the issue at Malibu High School on March 11.
The meeting was attended by Mayor Andy Stern with Conley Ulich, city staff, the Sheriff’s Department, representatives from the Harry Barovsky Memorial Youth Commission, the Malibu Park Safety Coalition, PTA, parents, students and school officials who participated in a discussion of possible solutions for congested traffic and illegal parking along Morning View Drive.
Most of the attendees agreed that recommendations for short-term improvements along Morning View Drive should include additional crossing guards/traffic enforcement, some parking restrictions and additional law enforcement. Attendees also agreed that before any street parking spaces were eliminated, an equal amount of alternative spaces should be made available.
Council member seeks restrictions on sex offenders
Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich has requested that the city council consider directing staff to prepare an ordinance that would place residential restrictions on sex offenders living in Malibu, in addition to laws currently implemented by the state.
California residents in November 2006 voted to enact Proposition 83, also known as “Jessica’s Law,” which prohibits registered sex offenders from residing within 2,000 feet of a school or park, and from residing in a single-family residence with another registered sex offender while on parole. Proposition 83 also authorized local governments to implement ordinances of additional residential restrictions.
Conley Ulich has requested that the Sheriff’s Department provide a report in one year about the effectiveness and possible unintended consequences of the ordinance, along with any recommendations. Currently, the cities of Palmdale, West Covina, EI Monte, Long Beach and Pomona have adopted similar ordinances.
An online neighborhood predator report from the National Alert Registry on Tuesday stated that four registered sex offenders currently reside in Malibu.
Calls to the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station for an official count were not returned.