Assessor’s office issues property tax scam alert
Malibu residents have been receiving what they call a misleading letter from private, nongovernmental companies claiming to help California citizens lower their property taxes for fees as high as $176.
The letters, which look like official government documents containing accurate information about a resident’s property, state that a $30 late fee will be issued if an application is not received by a certain date, which residents have found confusing because, they say, it seems mandatory.
However, property owners can have the Los Angeles County Assessors Office reassess their property for free. The assessor’s office has issued an alert on its Web site at www.assessor.lacounty.gov about the current scam by these private companies.
The county assessor’s office this year will be reviewing more than 500,000 single-family houses and condos that were purchased between July 2003 and June 2008 in Los Angeles County, and homeowners will be notified by the end of June about the results. Homeowners can check the assessor’s Web site after April 1 to see if their home is to be included in the review. Homeowners not included in the review can file for a Decline-in-Value form online, or at one of the assessor’s district offices. A local office can be found by calling 888.807.2111.
Corral Fire suspect to be sentenced
The sentencing of Corral Fire suspect Brian David Franks, who admitted to taking part in starting the Corral Canyon fire that destroyed 53 homes and injured six firefighters in November 2007, is scheduled for Thursday at the Van Nuys Courthouse.
Franks’ sentencing was originally scheduled for Jan. 26, but he arrived at the Van Nuys Courthouse three hours late (after being contacted by his lawyer) due to confusion from a circulating flier that apparently contained the incorrect date for the hearing. Attorneys said a community activist circulated the flier.
Attorneys also said Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Leslie Dunn opted to delay the sentencing to this Thursday because the flier prevented many Malibu residents, who wanted to speak at the sentencing hearing, from showing up.
Dunn said that as much as she hated to delay the case, she wanted to give Malibu residents “some degree of closure” given the magnitude of their loss.
Franks pleaded no contest Oct. 1 to a felony charge of recklessly causing a fire and faces five years probation and 300 hours of community service. As part of his plea deal, Franks agreed to be available to testify against the other four defendants in the case.
Arraignment for two of the five defendants, Brian Alan Anderson, 23, and William Thomas Coppock, 24, is scheduled for March 2.
The remaining pair, Eric Matthew Ullman, 19, and Dean Allen Lavorante, 20, are due back in court Feb. 26 at 8:30 a.m., when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for them to stand trial on the same charges.
Topanga gas station coming to life soon
The long vacant and weathered gas station located at the corner of Topanga Canyon and Pacific Coast Highway may finally be in business again.
The Los Angeles County Department of Planning has approved an application allowing the construction of a new service station and convenience store at that spot, and also authorizes the selling of beer and wine at the site for off-site consumption.
The service station was closed in 2006 when Caltrans temporarily acquired the property through eminent domain in order to conduct slope stabilization measures. The 2.5-acre property currently contains vacant service station structures, including a 1,560 square-foot auto service building, a 1,512 square-foot, two-island pump canopy, and a 730 square-foot, one-island pump canopy. None of the structures are currently in use.
The approved application allows the conversion of the existing car service building into a 1,561 square-foot convenience store. The existing pump canopies will remain and new underground fuel storage tanks will be installed. A new trash enclosure, 1,682 square feet of landscaping and a new monument sign will also be allowed.
Currently, no other facilities within 500 feet of the subject property have licenses to sell alcohol for on-site or off-site consumption.
Council to address skateboarding ordinance
The Malibu City Council will discuss three diverse amendment proposals at its Monday night meeting at City Hall, which includes two appeals to the construction of the Trancas Canyon Park, an ordinance prohibiting skateboarding and similar activities in certain areas of the city, and staff-recommended remedies to the traffic and parking problems on Morning View Drive near Malibu High School.
The council will decide upon the construction of Trancas Canyon Park, which has been appealed twice by a number of residents after the Planning Commission approved the park project in November (see story A1).
The council will also consider an ordinance that would prohibit skateboarding and similar activities in certain areas of the city, particularly on public streets.
The city is insured by the California Joint Powers Insurance Association, which contacted the city due to recent articles in the media regarding skateboarding in the area and in other cities, some of which have resulted in injuries and litigation. The CJPIA suggested the city adopt a prohibitive ordinance to prevent possible injuries to members of the public, and to protect itself from possible litigation.
If adopted, the ordinance will include the issuance of $25, $50 and $100 fines to those caught in violation and will require the city to post signs in the areas where skateboarding is prohibited. Council staff recommends the adoption of the ordinance and direction to schedule a second reading of it at the March 9 City Council meeting.
Lastly, the council will hear staff recommendations to remedy the traffic and parking problems on Morning View Drive, which include the installation of limited parking signs on the north (school) side of Morning View Drive, the increase of law enforcement by the Sheriff’s Department during school drop-off and pick-up hours, working with the local school district to encourage students with on-campus parking permits to park on campus and not on Morning View Drive, and working with the district to send parking and traffic circulation information to students and parents. Council staff also recommends the city work with the district to search for alternate school parking.
Malibu actor’s son arraignment scheduled
An arraignment hearing for Redmond O’Neal, son of Malibu actor Ryan O’Neal, is scheduled for Friday at the Malibu Courthouse. Both father and son have been charged with felony drug possession.
Redmond O’Neal, 23, whose mother is Farrah Fawcett, was arrested and charged with drug possession Sep. 17 after Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a probation search at his father’s Malibu home. Prior to the arrest, O’Neal was on probation for felony possession of heroin and methamphetamine and misdemeanor driving under the influence.
Ryan O’Neal was also arrested Sep. 17 at his Malibu home when Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies found drugs in the actor’s bedroom after conducting the probation search. He pleaded guilty Jan. 9 at the Malibu Courthouse to felony possession of methamphetamine, but the charge will be wiped from his record if he completes a court-approved drug diversion program.
The “Love Story” actor must undergo 18 months of treatment and counseling to earn the dismissal, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Planning addresses LCP amendment regarding natural slopes
The Planning Commission on Tuesday night debated a citywide amendment to the Local Coastal Program and Malibu Municipal Code that would add a definition of natural slopes and clarify their general development standards. Commission staff recommended continuing the discussion of the proposed amendment to the March 17 regular Planning Commission meeting.
Also discussed were approvals of coastal development permits for four residences, including an application for the construction of a 9,529 square foot, single-family residence on Pacific Coast Highway submitted in July 2005 by Robert Chersky and Evans Family Trust.
The application includes requests to reduce the environmentally sensitive habitat area buffer, construct on steeper-than-usual slopes, allow grading of more than 1,000 cubic yards and allow construction heights of more than 18 feet. Commission staff had recommended approval of this application.
See www.malibutimes.com later this week for full coverage of the meeting.