Malibu council raises traffic concerns after pier event backs up PCH

By The Malibu Times · Sun Aug 16 2026

Traffic generated by a large weekend event at Malibu Pier prompted Malibu City Council members last week to question whether the city should have a greater role in traffic planning for events held on state- and county-controlled property within Malibu.

The discussion followed Sunday Sessions, a music and lifestyle event held Aug. 9 at Malibu Pier. The event featured multiple stages and activities at the pier and surrounding venues.

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Uhring said the complaints he received Sunday were not about the event itself, but about the traffic congestion it created along Pacific Coast Highway.

“The calls I got were not related to the fact that there was an event going on,” Uhring said. “They related to the fact there was a traffic jam on PCH.”

Uhring said motorists attempting to turn left into parking areas that were already full contributed to backups and suggested that organizers of large events be required to develop traffic management plans.

“If we build these plans and people want to do more stuff, a traffic management plan will give us a little better control over what’s going on,” Uhring said.

City Manager Joe Irvin said the suggestion was worth exploring and told the council he would discuss the issue with the city’s development services staff.

The conversation then turned to a more complicated jurisdictional question: What authority does Malibu have when an event takes place on property controlled by another government agency?

Councilmembers noted that events on Malibu Pier or certain beaches may receive permits from state or county agencies rather than the City of Malibu, potentially leaving the city with little direct involvement even though attendees travel through Malibu and use local infrastructure to reach them.

Mayor Bruce Silverstein questioned whether the council should consider developing a policy addressing events that significantly affect traffic and residents, regardless of which agency controls the property where the event takes place.

Silverstein said the city should determine the extent of its legal authority over such events.

“It’s our infrastructure,” Silverstein said. “And it’s our quality of life, and we should have a say, or at least some education, on what time the traffic jam’s going to end.”

Councilmember Haylynn Conrad also joined the discussion over the jurisdictional complications surrounding Malibu’s beaches and other government-controlled properties.

Officials acknowledged that Malibu presents an unusual situation because beaches, the pier and other properties within and around the city can fall under the authority of the State of California or Los Angeles County.

Councilmembers compared the situation with private-property events in Malibu, where residents hosting large gatherings may be subject to city requirements intended to mitigate impacts on neighbors.

The question, councilmembers said, is whether similar protections can be established when a large event is permitted by another public agency but creates traffic and quality-of-life impacts inside Malibu.

City staff agreed to research what authority the city may have and how other coastal communities address events on property controlled by outside government agencies.

The discussion could ultimately return to the council for consideration of a policy aimed at improving coordination and requiring stronger traffic mitigation for major events that affect Malibu.