Lorenzo Romar’s time as head coach of the Pepperdine men’s basketball team will end at the close of this season. The university announced on Tuesday that Romar, 65, will no longer be the Waves’ coach after six seasons. 

Pepperdine Senior Vice President for Strategic Implementation Tim Perrin said the school benefited from Romar’s leadership on and off the court and owed him gratitude for the way he cared for Pepperdine overall. 

“The university thanks Coach Romar for his dedication to the men’s basketball team, and wishes him the very best in his future endeavor,” he said. 

Pepperdine plays Pacific on Thursday in the first round of the West Coast Conference Tournament. The team concluded the regular season on Feb. 29 with a loss to Saint Mary’s. The squad has a 12-19 record, its third consecutive losing season. 

Romar was hired as the Waves head coach to much fanfare in March 2018. He came to Pepperdine two years after a successful 15-year tenure as the University of Washington’s men’s basketball coach. Romar guided Washington to six NCAA Tournament appearances and three Sweet 16 runs. He also coached several future NBA players. Romar spent a year as the Arizona men’s basketball team’s associate head coach before taking the reins of the program in Malibu. 

This was Romar’s second stint as the leader on the Waves’ sideline. He coached the Waves from 1996 to 1999 — his first head coaching gig — before moving on to be Saint Louis head coach and then Washington’s. The high point of Romar’s second tenure as Pepperdine’s coach was perhaps leading the team to the College Basketball Invitational title in 2021. He also coached two players — Kessler Edwards and Maxwell Lewis — who were selected in the NBA Draft. However, the losses on the court outnumbered the wins. Pepperdine finished last season with a 9-22 record. The Waves went 7-25 in 2021-22 and 15-12 the season before. 

LAPD officers followed a stolen box truck throughout Los Angeles, Malibu and Ventura yesterday afternoon.

The driver was seen swerving in and out of traffic and reaching up to 75 mph along Pacific Coast Highway.  

California Highway Patrol officers eventually took over the pursuit at about 1 p.m. as the chase moved through Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks. 

CHP vehicles trapping the truck and officers surrounding the vehicle with their guns drawn.

The driver tried to flee on foot but was quickly taken into custody by officers. 

CHP said the man was taken to Ventura County Medical Center “for precautionary measures.”

His identity has not been released.

On Friday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., the Planning Commission will hold a special meeting to consider a coastal development permit for a Caltrans project that includes infrastructure upgrades to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety at an existing crosswalk, approximately 1,500 feet west of Carbon Beach Terrace, near 22521 Pacific Coast Highway. The project includes 1) the removal of two existing 35-foot-high pedestrian crossing signal poles with continuously flashing yellow beacon lights; 2) installation of two new 35-foot-high pedestrian crossing signal poles with two traffic signals on each pole; 3) installation of two new 10-foot-high signal poles with safety signaling for vehicles; 4) installation of two new 10-foot-high signal poles with pedestrian crossing timers; and 5) restripe the crosswalk in same location. This item was previously considered by the Planning Commission on Feb. 20, however, the Planning Commission continued the item to a date uncertain requesting additional information from Caltrans. The March 8 Special Meeting agenda and staff report is available online at malibucity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03082024-2243?html=true.

Malibu residents can now help the sheriff’s department solve crime quickly, efficiency, and effectively 

When an incident occurs, home security cameras are one of the tools law enforcement uses to identify criminals and solve investigations.

In efforts to enhance emergency response, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is asking home residents and community members to join their camera registry program and register their cameras online to give the sheriffs department direct access to your cameras feed in case of an emergency.

“Your participation will greatly enhance emergency preparedness by enabling police, fire, and public safety professionals to better assess and rapidly respond to criminal activity and emergency situations,” the website says. “It will also enable investigators to easily gather evidence in case of an incident.”

Camera registration takes less than one minute through their secure online portal. Registering your cameras does not allow the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department access to your live video stream — it only enables investigators to know a camera is present at your location and easily request video evidence should an incident occur. An investigator from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will contact you via email if they need your assistance solving a crime near you.

Businesses can take community security one step further by giving the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department direct access to your camera feed in case of a nearby emergency.

Readers who keep up with our Sirens column on A3 may notice a trend when it comes to incidents, including vehicle and residential burglaries. “There are no security cameras available for evidence,” is common in those reports. Installing a security camera can not only deter thefts, it can also help assist when an incident does occur in your neighborhood.

Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Soderlund announced the program during the Malibu Business Roundtable meeting last Friday.

“When we get a report of a crime in the area, we can go on into this registry system and we’re going to send him a message and say “Hey can you check your camera at this time and this date and see if you possibly caught the suspects walking/driving away, or whatever the case may be, and that’s the basis of this camera registry,” Soderlund said. “It’s your camera, we can’t go into it, there’s no way for us to look at it, there’s no cost to it, we don’t share your information with anyone, all it does is that it tells us you have a camera and it’s at this location and so if a crime occurs at this location well send you a message through your contact information that you put in this registry.

Soderlund said they’ll send out a link, and residents can upload the video to their online evidence system.

“It would be a tremendous help for us to deter crime and solve crime by getting your cameras registered,” Soderlund said. “So I highly recommend you register your camera.”

According to the Los Angeles County website, there are 712 registered cameras in the system. Between Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Westlake and Malibu. As well as in the unincorporated areas, such as Topanga, Chatsworth, and West Hills.

To learn more about the program, visit connectlosangelescounty.org.

Silverstein refuses to attend closed sessions on threatened skatepark litigation

Malibu City Councilmember Bruce Silverstein has made good on his threat to report his fellow City Councilmembers for alleged violations of the Brown Act, a long-standing California law that generally requires deliberations by legislative bodies to be held in public. Silverstein sent a letter to the Public Integrity Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office to report that a majority of councilmembers met twice in February to discuss a threatened lawsuit by luxury property developer Scott Gillen in connection with a permanent Malibu skatepark in the works for more than a decade. 

The litigation threat was made during a public hearing to consider approval of a Coastal Development Permit to construct the skatepark, to which the developer of the nearby homes objected. Gillen appealed the Planning Commission’s approval of the skatepark, demanding the skate bowl be lowered by 2 feet and moved 10 feet to the west to ameliorate noise leakage to the estates he’s building on the property abutting Bluffs Park, where the skatepark is to be constructed. 

Gillen offered to pay $150,000 for the changes. Any overruns would presumably be absorbed by the city. Silverstein contends that under the Brown Act, the City Council was not permitted to move to a closed session to discuss the matter absent an initial finding by the City Council that there is a “significant exposure” to a lawsuit. 

Under Silverstein’s interpretation of the Brown Act, where the city attorney advises that a significant exposure to litigation exists, the council can move to closed session solely for the purpose of forming its own opinion as to whether a significant exposure exists. If it so finds, the City Council must return to open session to report its finding. At that point, the council could return to closed session to discuss the merits or possible responses to the threat. Silverstein alleges that here, after the council went into closed session, it discussed the issue without making a finding of significant exposure or alternatively failed to appropriately notice the purpose of the meeting. Silverstein conceded that prior practices of the Malibu City Council and other municipalities have followed the city’s approach, but he believes notwithstanding that it violates the Brown Act’s plain meaning. 

If a Brown Act violation were found to have occurred, possible consequences under the law could include the voiding of the City Council’s actions at that meeting and assessment of court costs and attorney’s fees against the city’s general fund. The genesis of the skate park site, which was transferred to the city in connection with the Planning Commission’s approval of the development of the gated enclave of uber-luxury homes, was also discussed. 

“You also realize the whole reason we have this piece of property is because they made a deal to give it to the City of Malibu,” Councilmember Paul Grisanti said Feb. 26. “The temporary skatepark they put in, they paid for that.” 

Grisanti said he favored avoiding litigation by agreeing to the developer’s demands and “making the deal on the table” in order to speed construction. 

Councilmember Doug Stewart suggested that absent such agreement, litigation by Gillen would delay the skatepark by at least a year. Stewart praised the city’s legal counsel for the advice to meet in closed session. 

“Our legal counsel is the largest municipal legal counsel in the State of California,” Stewart said. “They opined we’re following the rules.” 

Silverstein countered both councilmembers saying, “It’s difficult to kowtow to a threat that’s frivolous. But I don’t know that because we’re not allowed to know a damn thing about the merits of the appeal … because our legal counsel won’t let us know that … My guess is it’s damn close to frivolous … I think it’s the height of irresponsibility and recklessness of this council to be making changes at the drop of a hat because one person who’s got a lot of money says, ‘I’m going to sue you.’ What message are we sending to deep pockets?

“Paul’s an apologist for developers. Of course, Mr. Gillen gave up the property. He got things in exchange. He didn’t just graciously give up the property. He got to develop his five $50 million homes. What kind of nonsense from our real estate member here? This is all about money, all about power and it makes it difficult to make decisions that aren’t going to have negative impact down the line.”

Silverstein reiterated his belief on the alleged Brown Act violations, and countered Stewart’s statement on legal counsel.

“I believe these closed-session meetings this council had are illegal,” he said. “I know our esteemed counsel from BBK [Best, Best, and Krieger], who Doug says is the preeminent municipal firm in the state, they’re not one of the top firms in the state, but they are a municipal firm. There are plenty of firms substantially better.

“They’re telling us this is lawful. They have to tell us that, because this is the way they do closed sessions. They couldn’t possibly take the position upon being shown the language and having a discussion about what the statute says that you’re right we can’t do this. They’ve been doing the same thing for time immemorial.”

The council heard more than two hours of pleas from the public at the Feb. 26 City Council meeting urging the council to move forward on the skatepark.  

“We have a responsibility here to make improvements for our community and make sure our residents have the facilities that they are clamoring for,” said Councilmember Marianne Riggins. Grisanti added, “We are all trying, some of us are trying to get things done … other people are trying to get things not done.” 

Mayor Steve Uhring responded, “No, what I am trying to do is make things better.”

The council meeting ended well after midnight.

In a shocking incident on Thursday night, the Tracy Park Gallery in Malibu fell victim to vandalism when a homeless man threw boulders through all of its windows. The assailant was swiftly apprehended by diligent security guards and handed over to the Lost Hills Sheriff, leading to his immediate arrest.

Gallery owner Tracy Park expressed relief that none of the artwork was damaged or stolen during the rampage. In a statement, she commended International Protection Service (IPS) security for their quick response, saying, “I would like to thank IPS security for catching the [jerk] who threw boulders the size of my head through the windows of my gallery, and I would like to thank the Lost Hills Sheriff for arresting this [jerk]!”

The incident occurred at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday night, prompting the former mayor Jefferson Zuma Jay Wagner and others to rally to Tracy Park’s assistance. The vandal targeted each window of the gallery, shattering them with boulders, but miraculously, the art within, including works by Toohda Slee, remained unscathed. The gallery was forced to close for two days due to the extensive damage.

Unfortunately, Tracy Park revealed that the gallery does not have insurance, making her personally responsible for the repair costs as a triple net lessee. Despite the financial setback, she expressed gratitude that the gallery is now back in business.

The perpetrator was arrested on the scene, but to Tracy Park’s dismay, she discovered the next day that he had been released on his own recognizance. The gallery owner is determined to seek justice and ensure that the individual responsible faces the consequences for the vandalization. 

Malibu City Council holds special meeting, goes into detail about the landscape for the skatepark plan

Concerns about trees, bushes, and branches were raised at the Special City Council meeting on Monday night regarding the Permanent Skatepark at Malibu Bluffs Park. Although the project was approved by the Planning Commission on Nov. 30, 2023, the project continues to hit speed bumps along the way.

At that meeting, over a dozen speakers signed up to thank the city for the temporary skatepark but urged the planning commission to approve the permanent project and request for no more delays. Despite hearing excited and hopeful remarks about the project moving forward, City Manager Steve McClary announced the appeal at the following city council meeting. 

The project has hit many hurdles in the last year; for instance, during the Environmental Review Board on Oct. 11, 2023, concerns in regards to wildlife, ESHA, and noise complaints were raised by certain board members.

Since then, skaters, parents of child skaters, and advocates have attended every city meeting in hopes of the project to begin construction. 

At the Planning Commission on Nov. 30, mother and skatepark advocate Heather Gardner showed a video made in 2019 where the kids (now in high school) thanked the City of Malibu for building their temporary skatepark. Gardner has been speaking at every meeting that involves the skatepark.

“I am here now just very frustrated and I don’t know what to do with that,” Gardner said. “It’s really in your hands now. I am in a loss for words because I am kind of sick of it; I’ve looked at probably seven or eight different city council groupings and have done this with my kids for way too long. This is kind of sad, we should all be ashamed of this.”

Gardner was at the last City Council meeting, where councilmembers had a heated discussion about the appeal. Gardner said she was unable to watch the meeting in person and left but was shocked with the lack of professionalism the council showed. 

“I left and I had to go home and then I saw even more drama going on; this needs to be done professionally,” Gardner said. “I feel like it’s never going to end … try to be unified please.”

Gardner thanked the council for resolving the Malibu Marlins issue and hopes the council can do the same for the skatepark.

“You guys fixed that problem so fast, and it really encouraged me, ‘Look at what our City Council can do,’ but then I’m here going, ‘I’ve been doing this for 10 years’ — it’s very discouraging,” Gardner said. “So please give us something good to talk about.”

The Malibu City Council organized a special public open hearing on Monday, March 4, to hear the settlement proposal. Councilmembers asked city staff and skatepark designers remaining questions about the project and their concerns with the appeal. 

City Attorney Trevor Rusin was asked if there was a reason for recusal from any councilmember who would have any connection to this project, to which he said no, there was no conflict of interest from any councilmembers for this project.

Mayor Steve Uhring motioned to wait until Monday’s City Council meeting to approve the settlement; the motion failed.

“To me, the most secure way of making sure the skatepark gets built as quickly as possible, is going to our next meeting, doing the appeal, and deciding where that comes out,” Uhring said. “My motion would be is, let’s not sign this tonight, let’s do the appeal next and decide with the settlement agreement after we figure out what the answer to that is.” 

After discussion, the settlement agreement was approved without changes. Motioned passed. The city is working on getting a more detailed statement on the item for the public. The next City Council meeting is on Monday, March 11.