Malibu weighs future of community lands
By Barbara Burke · Thu Aug 20 2026
City officials, commissioners and residents review plans for recreation facilities and other potential uses for three city-owned sites
The Malibu Community Project’s special meeting on Aug. 12 included the Public Parks and Property Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of City Councilmembers Marianne Riggins and Haylynn Conrad, and the Public Works and Parks and Recreation commissions to review preliminary design concepts for three of the five city-owned properties.
The meeting was a component of the Community Lands planning effort that began in March 2024 and is part of the public planning process to gather community input and develop a long-term vision for the future of five city-owned properties totalling more than 61 acres. The city has been working with design consultant Frederick Fisher and Partners to create a master plan concept design for a recreation center on the Heathercliff lot and sports playing fields on the Ioki property, which is commonly referred to as the Chili Cookoff Site. The concept design efforts were based on council instructions and community feedback.
At the meeting, public officials and attendees discussed preliminary concepts for the Ioki, Heathercliff and Triangle Lot properties that the city purchased in 2018 using Los Angeles County Measures R and M funding.
After newly appointed Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jane Albrecht was sworn in, Community Services Director Kristin Riesgo provided an overview of prior city commission hearings and community meetings concerning the parcels. Riesgo stated the city’s 2025-26 Strategic Plan included a goal for the commissions and the ad hoc committee to “explore new opportunities for educational, cultural and recreational establishments through the Community Lands Project.” She also noted the two commissions reviewed the preliminary designs in July and that the purpose of the meeting was to provide a recommendation for the City Council to consider regarding the preferred or alternative plans for the project and a public-private land exchange that was being considered in the Civic Center area.
“Nothing is set in stone with regard to these public lands,” Riesgo said, recounting that in January, the city council received an update on the project and directed staff to work with the commissions and the ad hoc committee and to bring back a plan for temporary sports fields on the Ioki property, specifically soccer fields. Further, the council directed staff to continue working on the Heathercliff project design, which included a multi-generational center, and to suspend work on the La Paz Property C project relating to a parcel located at the back of what is now the Cross Creek Ranch retail center.Finally, the council directed staff to explore potentially swapping lands in the Civic Center area with a privately owned property. The city-owned Trancas lot was not addressed in the process.
“Funding for projects on the three lots has not been identified yet. As we are identifying what engineering or construction looks like and once those preliminary designs are approved, staff will develop a budget and work with the council on a project financing plan,” Riesgo said. “The designs came out of the 2012-13 City Parks and Recreation master plan adopted in 2013 and community focus groups in 2025 and 2026.” Addressing parking considerations, she noted that the measures require the city to provide a specified number of parking spots for each parcel.
“The Parks and Recreation Commission met on July 21 and the Public Works Commission met on July 22 and some important consensus items out of both commissions included recreational amenities being identified as important, as was preserving Malibu’s natural elements, landscape and trees and creating native habitat as well as ensuring sustainability and resilience and identifying traffic plans,” Riesgo informed attendees, adding that staff would be interested in offering adult classes at one of the proposed locations and that many seemed interested in offering pickle ball.
The triangle lot
Riesgo noted that both commissions and the ad hoc committee did not support a private-public land exchange concept, identifying concerns about the proposed land for offer and the Ioki property’s current location in the Civic Center area. However, both commissions supported the general proposed concept for a potential visitor center or kiosk, and the measure-mandated number of parking spots, as well as identifying the feasibility and operational model for a trolley system on the triangle lot. Additional support was for public art, native trees and shade.
“As to suggested next steps for the triangle property, it is important to understand how the parking lot and trolley system would impact traffic circulation in the area, including how visitors would safely access the Civic Center area from the Triangle lot,” Riesgo stated, adding that city staff will develop more information about assessment district requirements to help fund the project.
Ioki property
Both commissions supported permanent multipurpose sports playing fields and endorsed using natural seating, maximizing shade and protecting existing trees on the Ioki property. There was also discussion concerning commissioners needing more information about the land having municipal uses, such as a tow or maintenance yard and a concession stand, according to Riesgo. Elaborating, she noted that the Public Works Commission requested data concerning the need and value of placing an impound lot at the location and whether the impound lot could be smaller and/or placed at another location. The Parks and Recreation Commission did not support placing an impound lot at that location. Both commissions asked to review options for a concession stand, additional sports storage, and they would like to understand the feasibility of placing a pool on the property.
Staff recommended that they gather data about the value of an impound lot, explore options for reducing the lot size or identifying alternative locations, including renting space near the current city yards. Riesgo noted that the Parks Department is outgrowing its space at Malibu Bluffs Park and extra storage would enable the city to purchase items in bulk as there would be storage room available. She also said that if the city lot is implemented, staff propose separate access spaces and landscaping to block off the yard area from the rest of the lot. Further, the staff noted that it would be wise to identify the site’s geotechnical limitations, including how the water table may impact site options such as the inclusion of a swimming pool. “LA County Health Department requires locker rooms, showers, storage, staff offices, and there would be maintenance fees if there is a pool,” Riesgo stated.
Heathercliff lot
Riesgo reported that both commissions supported building a multi-generational recreation center, a pool consisting ofeight lanes, and exploring potential uses for the location where a sports field is currently proposed. The commissions also wanted the facility designed to integrate the lot’s natural elements and to enhance the surrounding habitat, including maximizing the native gardens and trees.
“Both commissions also raised concerns about access to the facility, stressing the importance of conducting a traffic study as well as exploring having dedicated senior parking,” Riego reported. “The commissions also wanted to understand how sustainability and resiliency will be incorporated in the facility’s design, including the use of solar solutions.” Finally, she stated that both commissions sought to better understand whether and how to set aside funds currently proposed to reimagine the Civic Center Library branch could be used to advance the Heathercliff project.
Accordingly, staff recommended that a traffic and circulation study be undertaken and that staff conduct dedicated outreach to members of the Heathercliff neighborhood and Malibu’s senior citizen community. She also recommended that staff explore alternatives to the currently proposed parking garage to reduce the project’s overall size and height.
Financial challenges to proceeding with the projects for the three parcels
City Manager Joe Irvin emphasized that there is no identified funding for these projects. “I think the city should finalize a conceptual plan that will be incorporated into our capital improvement plan which means our public works engineers will start the design process that is then run through the City Council in our annual plans,” Irvin explained. “Once we start the design process, private fundraising can be a part of this. What we need to do first is to work through the community involvement process and present the design plans to the council for the properties.”
Given that, he noted, “This is a really critical point because the last thing we want to do is to start construction without getting community input. The process of getting public input has been robust through the years, albeit interrupted by disasters. However, now the momentum is really positive with the ultimate goal of getting the council to approve a general plan.”
The public’s input
Advocating that Civic Center land serve both east and west Malibu, Jo Drummond suggested building a city pool incorporating a warm water therapy spa that would be beneficial to the community. Drummond added that utilizing the currently segregated library funds for a library facility on the west side of Malibu would make most sense given that the city has limited funds.
Speaking on behalf of the Malibu Monarch Project, Ann Jones, a retired architect who has worked in Malibu for 30 years, suggested building a pool at Ioki. She also suggested building a community center with a kitchen and a makerspace at Heathercliff and including spaces for workshops, art studios, and storage. “We would like to restore the entire slope area at Heathercliff to native habitat,” Jones stated.
Patt Healy spoke on behalf of The Malibu Coalition for Slow Growth, saying, “We’re here to protect the residents from over-development. As to the Ioki project, we advocate two soccer fields, with elimination of the tow yard and storage yard, as those can be placed on a rented location. Alternatively, we propose consideration of the site without the pool and more open space.” Healy stated that the Coalition supports elimination of the gym at the Heathercliff location and constructing an emergency center in both properties. “The multipurpose field is already at Bluffs Park and you could put in a botanical and wildlife garden at Heathercliff instead,” Healy urged.
Scott Tallal of the Malibu Film Society addressed the Heathercliff lot, noting that one in 12 Malibuites live in the Point Dume Club and saying, “We 800 residents of PDC have no sidewalk and to get to the Heathercliff lot, we would have to walk in the middle of the street which isn’t very safe.” As to the Ioki lot, he strongly recommended that the city conduct a full geological survey because he has dealt with the Ioki parcel when showing films on that lot. “Bedrock is at grade for almost all of the entire Ioki lot, so please look at that before putting playing fields on that parcel,” Tallal said. “Also, please encourage the council to put Parcel C before the Arts Commission for the film society to develop a proposal for that lot.”
Ed Niles admonished that the council should be made aware that the Ioki lot is in the flood zone, while Meril May noted that many people don’t want to see a parking structure impeding the view on Heathercliff. “We need sidewalks and for traffic patterns to be safely designed.” May opined.
Paul Grisanti admonished that if the council gets too many things on the table, it may then not proceed at all as to public lands, a result that has occurred in the past. He noted that the two playing fields on the Ioki lot could be installed quickly, leaving decisions as to the rest of the property to be decided later.
Maryam Zar, the CEO of the PaliBu Chamber of Commerce, advocated for the triangle lot to include a trolley and visitor center. “The Chamber wants to be a partner in developing the triangle parcel,” Zar stated. “There might be public money available for development of the land — we’ve spoken to the congressman who has informed us that there is an omnibus bill that might provide funds for such a local project for the surfacing of the parking lot on the triangle lot.”
Linda Gibbs addressed water flow concerns regarding the Heathercliff property, noting that the Woolsey Fire wentthrough the gully that abuts that property and traveled to her family’s property, burning their family home. In light of that, she urged the city to “Please really consider how to keep every drop of rain and keep as much water as possible infiltrated into the ground.” Gibbs noted, “We need to take each property as its own watershed and try to mitigate the property andwe need to have a complete biology in the soil as it aggregates the soil particles and it holds the water in the ground.”
Carl Randall noted if one looks back on the masterplan from when the city incorporated, many of the ideas being considered now were idealized and it’s now time to see some of them come to fruition.
The commissioners’ takeaways
Following public comments, members of both commissions discussed various options, as did ad hoc committee members. Kevin Keegan, chair of the Public Works Commission, suggested that the guiding principles going forward inthe planning process should first focus on the city’s vision and mission statement. “Preserving the unaltered natural resources and rural characteristics of Malibu should be a main focus as should addressing multigenerational uses,” he advocated.
Public Works Commissioner Tiffany Murray suggested that those who are planning the improvements understand how soil and water move across the properties rather than treating drainage as an engineering problem at the end of the project.“Soil regulates hydrology, and hydrology is part of both the larger water cycle — at Heathercliff, there is a stream that drains to the ocean,” She said, suggesting that the project could be designed to thoughtfully slow the water flow by creating gathering pools that children could explore and she advocated for a vegetable garden so children could learn where their food comes from. “I don’t think the goal is to create another collection of amenities," Murray said. "The goal is to make a place that people feel connected to, and that is distinctly and unmistakably Malibu. If we get the intention right, the design will follow.”
One commissioner opined that the triangle lot is the most problematic lot being discussed, while others noted that the design for that parcel should include as much greenery as possible. Some commissioners noted that Malibu had tried trolleys before, but they went largely unused. Other commissioners advocated that the properties should be designed to bring members of Malibu’s artistic community out to interact with one another. Still others emphasized that native habitat needs to be preserved.
Several commissioners noted that the Bluffs complex is bursting at the seams and teams must rent space from SMMUSD for practice fields, with one commissioner noting that older kids who are interested in sports attend upper school over the hill to fully participate. Commissioner Jane Albrecht noted that swimming, pickleball, and tennis are activities that people can do well into advanced age. She also recommended that the Point Dume Community Services District should be included in deliberations concerning the Heathercliff lot, a step she believes will help to get the neighborhood to approve whatever projects are ultimately implemented.
Other commissioners advocated approaching the effort utilizing a progressive design-build concept approach, whereby the city can collaboratively work with a design firm to create projects that are financially realistic.
Wrapping the session up, Conrad noted that the ad hoc committee got good direction from the commissions and the community and that there is a general consensus to build regulation-sized soccer fields at the Ioki lot. “We have to approach this effort realistically and be mindful of the costs,” she said. “I’ve heard we all want a pool at Ioki and most people are supportive of it and that while most people don’t want a tow yard, it is also nice to make some money from some of our efforts.”
“The estimated costs of constructing two regulation soccer fields, a bathroom, parking and paths is approximately $6.5 million,” Conrad added, opining that the soccer part of the project could be fast-tracked, to be followed by conducting geological and other studies to assess the feasibility of building a pool at Ioki. “It’s forefront in our minds to entrap water, be resilient, and have native gardens.”
Riggins supported building the soccer fields, restrooms, and storage facilities at Ioki as well as the necessary parking for those using the fields as soon as possible. She also stated that she liked participants’ suggestions that the architecture for the projects align with the city mission statement’s focus on the rural nature of Malibu.
Keegan proposed that because there is agreement that there be soccer fields on the Ioki lot, those attending should urge the council to proceed on that effort as soon as possible, in the hopes that will start the momentum toward building other parts of the discussed uses. Irvin noted that the council would need to issue solicitations for competitive bids for contractors to conduct a geotechnical evaluation as a necessary step in launching construction efforts.
Further community involvement and input opportunities
Residents can still voice their opinions and concerns by taking the active online survey available at malibucommunitylands.org by Aug. 31. That website also links to historical information concerning the public lands and links to all of the commissions’ meetings. This fall, the city will hold further public community workshops and meetings to review feedback regarding the projects. The city council will meet on Sept. 26 to address community lands.