Tyler LaTorre is the new Pepperdine Waves baseball head coach, after two years as head coach for NCAA Division II Westmont College. Photo from Pepperdine Newsroom.
Tyler LaTorre coming from Westmont College to become the 18th head coach in Pepperdine’s baseball history
The Pepperdine Waves baseball team has a new skipper.
Former professional baseball player Tyler LaTorre was announced as the Waves new head coach on June 14.
LaTorre, a pro catcher for 10 years before going into coaching, said he is excited to be Pepperdine’s coach.
“To all our players, past and present, you will see an unrelenting passion and energy from me for Waves baseball,” he said in a statement. “I will bring a tireless work ethic and an endless care for your university.”
Pepperdine Director of Athletics Tanner Gardner said LaTorre is a strong man of faith and a proven winner.
“We look forward to Tyler leading this storied program to national prominence,” he said.
LaTorre is the 18th head coach in Waves baseball history. He replaced Rick Hirtensteiner, who was relieved of coaching duties seven days after Pepperdine’s 15-38 season concluded in the first round of the WCC Tournament.
Hirtensteiner was the Waves’ head coach for nine years and member of the coaching staff for 28 years. He also played college baseball for the Waves and was an All-American and West Coast Conference Player of the Year.
LaTorre stepped down from being the head coach of Westmont College’s baseball team in order to step into the batter’sbox for Pepperdine.
LaTorre took over coaching duties at Westmont two summers ago. He guided the squad to a program-record 48 victories, a Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) regular season title, the GSAC tournament championship and the NAIA national championship. LaTorre was named the 2023 NAIA Coach of the Year.
LaTorre coached Westmont to a 33-15-3 record in 2024, the program’s first season in NCAA Division II, and was named the PacWest Coach of the Year.
He was the recruiting coordinator at Sacramento State and San Jose State before coaching at Westmont. LaTorre was the 2018 San Jose Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2019 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coach of the Year. For two years previously, he was the associate head coach at San Francisco State.
LaTorre helped a handful of players get picked in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 MLB Drafts.
LaTorre played in the San Francisco Giants organization from 2006-19. He was a catcher for the Italian National Baseball Team, competing in the 2012 European Championship and the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Before that, LaTorre was team captain at UC Davis. He helped the team qualify for the 2003 Division II World Series and was a first team All California Collegiate Athletic Association section the next year. LaTorre was an All-Independent League selection in 2006.
Pepperdine President Jim Gash said LaTorre has shown the highest levels of leadership in player development and preparedness in college and professional baseball.
“His extensive coaching experience throughout his career has exemplified the visionary leadership, strategic thinking, adaptability, and emotional intelligence required to navigate the world of college athletics,” Gash said. “I look forward to a new era of Pepperdine baseball under Coach LaTorre’s leadership.”
LaTorre thanked Pepperdine’s leadership for tapping him for the head coaching position and said the Waves baseball program will give its players a platform to glorify God and achieve excellence on and off the diamond.
“Through shared triumphs and adversity our players will build a belief that is bigger than baseball,” he said.“Pepperdine baseball will continually thrive on the field, in the classroom and in our community by building strong servant leaders that put others before themselves.”
102 students were celebrated at Malibu High School’s graduation last week on Tuesday, June 11. Photos by Samantha Bravo/TMT.
Leah Isaacs was remembered and honored with her classmates
On Tuesday, June 11, 102 Malibu High School students walked on the athletic field one last time to receive their 2024 diplomas.
The ceremony began with performances and speeches made by members of the Class of 2024.
To start off, the late Leah Isaacs was honored by graduating senior Thomas Drummond.
“Leah was trully a joy to be around with her contagious laughter and her silly little sayings, from laughing with her to crying without her, I never expected to see myself and my classmates graduate without her, always a smile on her face,” Drummond said. “She touched so many people’s hearts, and was incredibly welcoming to everyone around her.”
On Monday, June 5, 2023, 16-year-old Leah passed away, just days before last year’s graduating class. This was the loss of a beautiful and remarkable daughter and friend. While Leah could have graduated this year with her classmates, her friends acknowledged her absence and honored her presence.
“Today’s a celebration though, a celebration of her graduating class, her presence lives on through our class and everyone who has chosen to remember her legacy, her dancing spirit will live on forever and a part of her will be with Malibu and the 2024 graduates for the rest of our lives,” Drummond said.
Drummond then asked the audience to stand for the singing in the national anthem.
Malibu High School Band and Choir graduating seniors performed “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2 and “I Lived,” by One Republic.
Micah Fong, Cecilia Casas, Katie Dahm, Makenna Samsel, and Felix De Raspide Ross presented inspiring speeches.
“Today’s the day we get to make a name for ourselves, follow our dreams and only settle once we accomplish them,” De Raspide Ross said. “Here we are together, sharing this moment. Let’s appreciate each other, because very soon, we’ll lose the chance to do so.”
“I’m going to live my best life, chancing happiness, pride, and fulfillment,” De Raspide Ross said. “I’ve got a lot of love to give to the world and I hope you all of you feel the same, because love is what keeps us going.”
“My name is Felix De Raspide Ross, and I’m proud to have graduated from Malibu High School; I’ll never forget what this place and, more specifically, the people have done for me, the teachers, the students, the staff, Mr. Miller — the whole Malibu gang. My life begins a new every day I wake up, it’s always just beginning. Tomorrow, I wake up a high school graduate, but that won’t change the love I’ve got to give; after all, it’s the same I had yesterday, thank you, thank you, thank you,” he said.
Malibu High School Principal Patrick Miller presented the Class of 2024.
“Leadership is about making the right choice at the right time, doing so will inspire others to follow you,” Miller said.
Students were asked to line up to accept their diplomas. Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board members in attendance included Board President Jennifer Smith, Board Vice President Jon Jean, Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton, Deputy Superintendent Mark Kelly, and many more.
After receiving their diplomas, Miller asked the graduates to stand and to move their tassels to complete their commencement.
“It is my distinct honor to present to you the graduates of Malibu High School Class of 2024!” Miller shouted.
Anthony David Flores and Anna Moore dress up as John Lennon and Yoko Ono in this Fulton Yoga Collective Facebook photo from 2020. Photo from Facebook
A man convicted of swindling a Malibu doctor was sentenced Monday to 16 years in prison.
Anthony David Flores, a hairstylist from Fresno, was also known as Anton David. Flores pleaded guilty last year to nine felony counts.
He and his ex-girlfriend were charged with money laundering, conspiracy, wire fraud, and a host of other offenses in the case of Dr. Mark Sawusch. The wealthy doctor was befriended by the couple who moved into his beachfront home, drained his bank accounts, and mistreated Sawusch when he suffered through mental health conditions.
Sawusch died in 2018 of ketamine and alcohol poisoning complicated by a heart condition. After the doctor’s death, Flores and Anna Moore continued to steal money from the Sawusch estate. Moore is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 28.
More than 40 people attended the community meeting on Thursday June 13 to give their input on the future of the City's five vacant properties for the Malibu Community Lands project at Malibu West Swim Club. Photos courtesy City of Malibu
Attendees at community lands meeting discuss options for five properties, totaling more than 60 acres
By Barbara Burke
Special to the Malibu Times
It’s exactly what President Abraham Lincoln envisioned when he reverently discussed the aspirational role of government in our country in his Gettysburg Address — a “government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
The people — more than 40 of us — gathered together in a community meeting at Malibu West Beach Club on June 13 to learn about — and to individually and communally provide input regarding — the future of the City of Malibu’s five vacant properties which total more than 60 acres.
The participants learned about the five properties spanning over 60 acres, asked questions, and shared and discussed all their ideas about how the community lands could be used. Photos courtesy City of Malibu.
The meeting, the last of five outreach gatherings in this phase of the city’s engagement program, is aimed to identify residents’ top priorities for the use of the vacant parcels so as to ensure that the future uses of the community’s lands align with the locals’ priorities.
Some readers may, upon reading this article so far, experience a feeling of deja vu and wonder, “Hold on a minute!Didn’t the City of Malibu already conduct outreach meetings on this issue more than a decade ago?”
The answer is affirmative — outreach was done by the Parks and Recreation Commission from January to June 2012 when there were interviews, focus groups and stakeholder meetings conducted, all aimed at getting community input regarding parks, facilities, and community program needs.
So why inquire about all this again?
“Malibu is committed to inclusivity and equity in community decision-making and recognizes that a lot of things may have changed since the last survey that was done more than a decade ago,” a handout by the city states. “The city has developed an innovative outreach program designed to engage a diverse cross-section of the community and the city’s strategic approach is available on the website: MalibuCommunityLands.org.”
That said, the handout also explains that Malibu acknowledges that decisions regarding the vacant lands can impact those who work and play in the city and therefore the engagement process extends beyond just our residents and invites participation from all community members.
What’s at stake
The five properties vary significantly in size and configuration. The largest tract at 6103 Trancas Canyon Road spans 29.67 acres and was acquired by the city in November 2016. The smallest, dubbed the Triangle, measures 1.11 acres and sits between Pacific Coast Highway, Civic Center Way, and Webb Way. The property used for the Chili Cookoff at 23575 Civic Center Way measures 9.29 acres. The 19-acre parcel at 29136 Pacific Coast Highway is dubbed the Heathercliff lot. The city acquired the Triangle, Chili Cook-Off, and Heathercliff lots in April 2018. A 2.3-acre lot, located at 23467 Civic Center Way along La Paz Lane, is the final city-owned parcel. The La Paz lot was dedicated to the city in February 2020.
Possible land uses discussed
The suggestions made by residents concerning possible uses for the vacant parcels were varied and intriguing. How about a disaster staging area? A dog-walking and hiking trail? A movie theater? A community theater with a performance space? A community indoor and outdoor pool? Tennis courts? Pickleball courts?
Community gardens that would include providing residents of all ages the opportunity to learn about regenerative and biodynamic farming? Softball fields? A golf driving range? Athletic fields for soccer, football, and rugby, possibly with a running track, a pool and a skate park? Horseback riding areas? A parcourse, which is a trail for jogging that hasregular intervals that offer calisthenics such as pull-ups and sit-ups? A children’s environmental center? A meeting place for car clubs? Additional space for the California Wildlife Center which rescues native sea life and sea mammals?Those making that suggestion noted that the center is rapidly running out of room at its space way up on Piuma in the Santa Monica Mountains. What about a permanent tow yard?
What about a historical trail? A movie theater? A cultural center showcasing the vast history of the Chumash and other tribes, as well as possibly celebrating the surfing and beach life that Malibu embodies? Some suggested there be a place for people to park, perhaps including a shuttle service to beaches and shopping, given that our small town receives approximately 15 million visitors a year. What about providing electric vehicle infrastructure? Many queried, “What about offering affordable housing for Malibu’s workforce? What about residential assisted living facilities for seniors and disabled people?”
Two people piqued attendees’ interest when they discussed low-impact uses that are respectful of Malibu’s precious environment as a possible use for one or more parcels.
“We could set aside one vacant lot for a dynamic ecosystem,” Biodynamic soil advocate Linda Gibbs suggested. “It would be a space that changes over time naturally.” Many murmurs indicating approval of that idea spread throughout the audience.
Bruce Schultz suggested that one publicly-owned parcel could provide, “a biodynamic composting site where all residents could get involved and take waste back to nature.”
Pondering how that parcel usage would work in practice, Schultz added, “We could designate a time each week when people will bring their composting items, such as clippings and food waste, and we could have a worker there with a tractor to add it to a composting pile — it would be a great thing to do for the next generation!”
What about that library in Western Malibu?
Malibu’s Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner, a former city councilmember and mayor, handed out a fact sheet discussing the need to use the $21 million that has been set aside for years by Los Angeles County for a Western Malibu Library.
“This use was originally proposed in my City Council position statement during my 2008 to 2012 term on the council,” Wagner said. “I proposed this again in my council position statement when I served on the council from 2016 to 2020.”
The Malibu Times caught up with Wagner after the meeting regarding the proposed library.
Time is of the essence in this arena, Wagner emphasized, stating that when it comes to such set aside, segregated funds, when you snooze you can lose.
“We need to get a proposal into Los Angeles County for constructing the library ASAP,” Wagner stated. “I propose that we lease two of the acres on the Heathercliff parcel to the county at a very nominal rate, and then, we can have the county use the set aside funds to build the library, which would be 34,000 square feet.”
Wagner also noted that using one of the vacant parcels for an “experience library” was also discussed when the city conducted the survey of residents regarding how to use the vacant public lands in 2012.
Experience libraries exist in several cities spanning both coasts, he noted. There are such libraries in San Francisco, Seattle, and Spokane, as well as in Washington, D.C., and even in Calgary, Alberta. Experience libraries provide residents with the opportunity to use electric sewing machines, 3D printing machines, and even acquire seeds for planting. Such libraries, modernized for our digital age, also provide tools for repairing home appliances, bicycles, and tires and, importantly, they offer a technology section that provides residents with the opportunity to experience robotics and use printers, chromebooks, and Macbooks as well as to use podcasting booths.
Next steps in the city’s public land use decisions
As the community conversation came to an end, attendees inquired what steps are next in the city’s deliberations regarding how to best use each parcel and in the decision-making process.
“We’ve had a very robust discussion about how to use the vacant lands,” said consultant Ryder Todd Smith of the Tripepi Smith Firm, the company the city has retained to conduct the citizen engagement. “Some attendees had never met one another before today’s meeting, so this process is phenomenal on that level. All of the discussions are postedon our website — this is a very transparent process.”
Deputy City Manager Alexis Brown stated that there will be an outcomes report generated concerning the five community meetings.
“We want to make sure that this is a resident-driven process,” Brown stated. “We are currently in Phase 1 of the process, gathering all ideas in these community sessions, whereupon we will review the data collected in Phase 1. Then, in Phase 2, which we anticipate will be finished by the end of September, we will get more detailed feedback and address details regarding site-specific ideas with residents.
“Ultimately, we will provide these proposals to the city council which will decide what the best uses are for the vacant lands.”
Brown also noted that if the city needs to acquire services to execute any planning for the vacant lands or for design and construction services, the city will need to issue requests for proposals and go through the public procurement procedures.
Further, once the City Council has decided what the best uses are for the five land parcels, a complete application must be submitted for the city’s approval processes, which can take between six and 11 months. Next, the city will need to obtain approval from the Coastal Commission. Further, if the city’s ultimate decision concerning the usage of any parcels are appealed, then the process might be delayed up to another six months, Brown explained.
The City Council will review next year’s proposed budget on June 24, and will consider the proposed allotment of $200,000 for a master planning architect, Brown added, noting that the council should receive a report regarding the first two phases of the community lands usage community engagement process by October.
If you missed the public meetings, you needn’t miss out
To promote a robust community conversation, the city is using a platform called FlashVote to collect input about land use options through short, one-minute surveys that will be distributed every few months. Readers who have not been able to join in any of the meetings can share input on the project’s website at malibucommunitylands.org/contact-us
Citizens can also view videos of the lots and sign up to vote at that site.
Assistant General Manager Alexander Pension, with Gladstone's employees, smiles for a photo before opening the restaurant on Thursday, Aug. 24. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT
Gladstones is open, has a great new menu, and invites locals to celebrate the iconic eatery’s new summer fare
By Barbara Burke
Special to the Malibu Times
In August 2023, locals and visitors alike were dejected when they heard that Gladstones, the more-than-50-year-old iconic restaurant at Sunset and the Pacific Coast Highway, was slated to close in the following October. Before the pandemic, there was talk that Wolfgang Puck and some investors might reopen the property as a redesigned eating establishment. Puck had promised to deliver “an approachable, high quality cuisine space in a distinct architectural setting,” when his redevelopment concept was first announced in 2018.
Many who grew up going to Gladstones were aghast that the iconic restaurant would close indefinitely in the Fall of 2023. The loyal employees and management team simply could not abide the classic restaurant closing. So, instead of simplyresigning themselves, bemoaning the idea, and acquiescing in the eatery’s closure, they rallied and formed Gladstones Legacy Group, a consortium of long-standing employees, including Jim Harris, who serves as general manager, as well as chefs, members of the management team, and the guy who runs the parking lot.
Determined to keep operating the restaurant while Wolfgang Puck and his investors went through the protracted, bureaucratic process of getting county approval for their project, Gladstones Legacy Group secured a contract to operate the iconic site from the County’s Department of Beaches and Harbors. They have authority to temporarily operate Gladstones through Sept. 15, 2025.
School’s out for Summer, and Gladstones is open for business.
In life, it’s good that some things seldom change and, as one enters Gladstones, it’s heartening that the familiar, large entry deck that is open to the public warmly embraces visitors, evoking the comforting and familiar sense one feels when visiting an old friend.
The Malibu Times recently attended a tasting highlighting the summer menu. Harris and his entire team warmly welcomed guests and treated us to a first look at — and delicious tastes of — specialty cocktails with fun names such as The Lovely One, featuring Meili Vodka; fresh market peaches; pineapple; Coco Lopez; Coral Champagne and dark rum; fresh, tasty salads; and seasonal dishes creatively using summertime ingredients.
From the delicious beet salad with feta cheese, candied walnuts and a lemon poppy seed dressing, to coastal crab cakes, creatively presented with chipotle aioli and a fennel and orchid salad, to surf and sand dabs, to New England diver scallops with risotto, to grass fed wagyu skirt steak with shaved brussels sprout salad, to Dick’s Summer Split, a dessert with caramelized banana, chocolate and vanilla ice cream — the food is fresh, fantastic and fun!
After 50 years, Gladstone’s is set to close for good. The last day to order from the iconic restaurant at Sunset and Pacific Coast Highway is said to be Sept. 15. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMTThe entrance to Gladstone’s is shown at Sunset and Pacific Coast Highway. The iconic Malibu restaurant is set to close in September. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMTAssistant General Manager Alexander Pension. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMTAfter 50 years, Gladstone’s is set to close for good. The last day to order from the iconic restaurant at Sunset and Pacific Coast Highway is said to be Sept. 15. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT
What’s next for the Gladstones property?
Through a competitive process, PCH Beach Associates, LLC/Wolfgang Puck, was selected for the redevelopment of the restaurant site, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office.
None other than the brilliant architect Frank Gehry has designed the new space. The Gladstones site is owned by Los Angeles County and sits on a 2.8-acre parcel abutting the Pacific Coast Highway and Will Rogers State Beach — an idyllic setting for a space exuding Gehry’s architectural genius.
PCH Beach Associates’ project is in the permitting process and is on track to submit a Coastal Development Permit application, according to Horvath’s office.
However, in the interim, many locals are patronizing Gladstones because there’s something, well, so very American, when a customer knows that employees cared enough about the place they work, and were so proud of its ethos, that they went to the trouble to save the establishment.
Well done, Gladstones Legacy Group! It makes locals want to help celebrate the legacy!
I was unable to attend the May 28 City Council meeting because I was home with COVID. If I had been able to attend, I would have respectfully, but strongly, taken exception to Mayor Steve Uhring’s defense of his publicly disrespecting our assistant planning director at our meeting on May 13.
Uhring said, “If someone is doing something wrong, how are we to correct them unless we bring it up to them, and I am more than happy to give everyone the respect they deserve — and I do that, but in some cases they have to go out and earn that respect …”
As members of the City Council, we may from time to time be disappointed with the performance of a city employee, but it is not our role to rudely humiliate the employee in a public setting. If we disapprove of the conduct of a particular employee, we can bring the matter to the attention of the city manager. In an extreme case, someone may request to attend a meeting with the employee and the city manager but anyone experienced in HR would advise against such a meeting.
To publicly disrespect and demean an employee does nothing but lower morale at City Hall, make it more difficult to attract qualified employees, and expose the city to costly litigation.
Last night at the City Council meeting, the mayor compounded the error by renewing his attacks. He needs to start acting like a sober responsible adult instead of a 16-year-old bully. When you find yourself in a hole, it is important to realize you should stop digging
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters. Six Malibu beaches are Topanga Canyon, Sweetwater Canyon Storm Drain at Carbon Beach, Malibu Lagoon at Surfider Beach, Trancas Beach at Zuma Beach, Malibu Pier, and Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach.
BEACH AREA WARNINGS:
Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State beach. Near Will Rogers Tower 18
100 yards up and down the coast from the creek.
Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu
100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.
Sweetwater Canyon Storm Drain at Carbon Canyon Beach
The entire swim area.
Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey
The entire swim area.
Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach
100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms.
Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.
Trancas Creek at Zuma Beach
100 yards up and down the coast from the creek.
Malibu Pier in Malibu
100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.
Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro
The entire swim area.
Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach
The entire swim area.
These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.
Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24- hours a day on the County’s beach closure hotline: 1-800- 525-5662.To view the map of impacted locations and for more information, please visit PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.
I am a frequent participant and/or observer of our City Council meetings, as well as other department and commission meetings. I take exception to what Councilman Doug Stewart wrote in last week’s Letter’s to the Editor section titled “Respect and proper decorum must return to Malibu council meetings.” I attended that meeting by Zoom and I just reviewed it again on YouTube to make sure my first impression was correct.
Regarding Mr. Stewart’s assertion that there was “verbal abuse of city planning staff by one or more members of the council,” I find that to be untrue. Common sense questions were asked of the staff planner, and there was a back-and-forth discussion, but it was not a verbal assault in any stretch of the imagination. Mayor Steve Uhring ran the meeting in a professional manner as he always does. Mr. Bruce Silverstein raised questions about staff procedures that were important, and read letters from residents opposed to this project. I imagine staff was embarrassed when shortcomings were revealed, but the questions needed to be asked.
As to the members of the audience reacting to what was said at the council meeting, the audience was not raucous or out of line from what I could tell as a Zoom participant. They did not disrupt the meeting in any way. This is not a judge’s chamber, and sometimes reactions such as laughter or light clapping are not out of order, especially in this situation. Sometimes spontaneous responses just happen. This was an important appeal that the residents had to pay for, and obviously they were invested in the outcome. Were they supposed to remain completely silent? And if a funny comment is made by a council member are they not to laugh?
I am happy that Mr. Stewart intends to ensure compliance in the future, but I hope proceedings will not become so strict we lose our humanity. I belong to many groups and over the years have attended many, many governmental and private meetings, so I do have a sense of what goes on. I thank our council people for their long hours of work, and their commitment to the Malibu Mission Statement.
Lonnie Gordon Executive Director MalibuSafeforTech.org
Families enjoyed The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriffs on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT.
Community members were able to meet and greet various public safety units
By Samantha Bravo
Of The Malibu Times
The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station held its annual Open House over the weekend, giving community members anopportunity to meet their local law enforcement officers, discuss public safety issues, and get a tour of the sheriff’s department.
Brian Knott of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriffs community relations team said the annual event is held for the community to meet the different vendors.
“We have everyone from the CERT team, we invite the fire department, we have the water district, we have different vendors,” Knott said. “It’s a family event, to have the family come out.”
Knott estimated 500 people in attendance.
“Each year it gets bigger and bigger, and each year we try to do better and better,” Knott said.
Commander Mark Reyes and Capt. Jennifer Seetoo were at the Open House meeting members of the community and families of the department.
“This is a great place to be today, I know a lot of people brought their family members, it’s great,” Reyes said.
Since the contract with California Highway Patrol, Reyes said, “Traffic and enforcement is their cup of tea; and when you see a CHP officer, it makes everyone slow down, so having those cars on PCH is a great idea; I believe they’re doing a great job, and they’re making a big impact.”
Reyes said Seetoo has been doing a great job as captain.
“Capt. Seetoo is loved in this community,” Reyes said. “She knows all the key players by their first name, so she’s doing a great job managing this station.”
For the Open House, Reyes said he heard the miniature horses and the SWAT team were a big success.
“It’s amazing to see how many jobs we have here,” he said. “We’re hiring, and a lot of young kids don’t realize all the opportunities in the Sheriff’s Department that we have.”
The event included equipment and booths from Malibu Search and Rescue, Volunteers on Patrol, the K-9 Unit, Sheriff’s Mounted Posse (horse patrols), Mini Therapy Horses, as well as horse rescue equipment, a Sheriff’s Department helicopter, and jail tours.
Malibu Volunteers on Patrol (VOP) team leader Mark Russo said they answered questions about the sheriff’s and volunteer program.
“They’re not aware that not only do they have patrol like we do, but they have Arson Watch they have the disaster of communication, so they have a number of volunteer programs that they can do,” Russo said. “A lot of it is informational on what you can do and how you can volunteer for the station.”
The event was held the week after the Memorial Day weekend, and Russo said parking was an issue.
“Summer always brings the crowds for us, the beach was a little overcast, but we still saw a steady stream of people coming to the beach, the hiking trails we’re extremely busy so we were out there,” Russo said. “When people park illegally, a lot of time they’re creating an obstruction and road hazards, so we do the best to educate and enforce, but it was busy, we had a lot of people in Malibu, but nothing major that went on.”
The station is located at 27050 Agoura Road in Agoura. For more information, call the station at (818) 878-1808.
Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Capt. Jennifer Seetoo (left) and Commander Mark Reyes attend the annual Open House at the Agoura Hills location. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT.
Thousands of families enjoyed hours of carnival rides, bowls of award-winning chili, and live music for the 41st Annual Malibu Chili Cook-Off over this Labor Day weekend. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT
Planning director says the cities online portal has been successful with over 1,000 requests
To start off the Planning Commission meeting on Monday, the commission raised its concerns with the amount of code violations they have received from properties in Malibu. In response, Planning Director Richard Mollica said the city is planning on stepping up code enforcement on the weekends.
“Instead of having one weekend during the summer, we are shooting to have seven days a week code enforcement in the city, so we are trying to get that started,” Mollica said.
Commissioners also asked if the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) have submitted documents for their paving project on Winding Way. Mollica said they have and found out that they have added cameras surrounding the project.
Mollica said the city is following up with MRCA on the cameras and the traffic turns they have implemented for the project.
Commissioner Drew Leonard was absent from the meeting.
Mollica provided a staff report and said there has been an increase in illegal parking near Winding Way and Escondido Falls Trails.
Mollica said they’ve been having great success with the online portal.
“To date, we’ve had 1,184 requests come through the portal and have collected and processed 1,373 documents through our portal,” Mollica said. “We currently have one person doing all that work, our consultant, and we’ve had great success, we have about 300 folks registered with us and the number continues to grow.”
Mollica said that if anyone has issues with the portal, they can contact Development and Operations Manager Patricia Salazar.
Senior Planner Raneika Brooks presented Coastal Development Permit No. 21-011 and Lot Merger No. 24- 003. The item failed 2-2.
The commission approved Coastal Development Permit No. 24-023 and Temporary Use Permit
No. 24-008 for the 43rd Annual Chili Cook-Off and Carnival. The four-day event takes place on Labor Day Weekend,and a one-day private fundraising event.
Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Chief Executive Officer Kasey Earnest attended the meeting to answer questions about the event and application.
The event includes a carnival with amusement rides, a chili cook-off competition, live music entertainment, and various booths that will be occupied by merchandise, food, and public service groups. As with last year, a private fundraising concert will also take place.
Chair John Mazza asked if the event would ensure they have fire extinguishers at each parking lot and ensure the event will pay parking tax for utilizing the parking lot. According to the report the event is requesting to utilize 75 parking spaces at Malibu Colony shopping center.
Mazza recused himself on Coastal Development Permit-Woolsey Fire No. 24-001 and since the vice chair, Leonard, was absent, Commissioner Kraig Hill took over the meetings. Motion passed, 3-0.
The commission approved Coastal Development Permit No. 22-068. An application to install a new 48-inch storm drain on Clover Heights Avenue with new catch basins and new inlets on Harvester Road and Clover Heights Avenue.
The commisssion approved Coastal Development Permit-Woolsey Fire No. 23-007 and Variance No. 23-033 — Anapplication to allow for installation of a new onsite wastewater treatment system and new landscape; including a variance for development within the required Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area buffer to allow for the replacement onsite wastewater treatment system.
The commission approved conditional Use Permit No 24-005; an application to allow a temporary tow yard on weekends and holidays from June 29 through Sept. 2 at the Malibu Middle and High School campus.
The commission denied Coastal Development Permit No. 23-026; an application for the construction of a test water well to establish a water supply to a proposed development including a variance for encroachment into an environmentally sensitive habitat buffer. The commission motioned to continue the item to a date uncertain with required documents.
The Planning Commission meeting has been cancelled for July 1, 2024.
