County, state senators urging Malibu to participate in speed camera pilots and lower the speed limit

By Barbara Burke

Special to The Malibu Times

​With dangerous perils for those driving on Pacific Coast Highway and those near the highway being top of mind given a tragic crash that left four Pepperdine students dead, the community is curious regarding why the approximately 5,700 square foot Los Angeles County Sheriff’s substation located on the campus of the new Santa Monica Community College is vacant. 

Some residents are perplexed about why Los Angeles County Sheriff Jennifer Seeto does not have keys to open the substation and commence operations, especially after the incident on Oct. 17 when Fraser Michael Bohm, a Malibu resident, lost control of his vehicle, careened into parked cars and killed four female Pepperdine students. 

​“We are trying to open the substation, but the cupboard is bare and Los Angeles County does not have any officers to allocate to the new substation,” Mayor Pro Tem Doug Stewart said. “We cannot pull officers staffed at Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station as it has jurisdiction all the way to Chatsworth and needs to serve citizens over the hill.”

“One of the first things the city did with regard to calendar year 2023 funding was to allocate monies to pay for a regional lieutenant and a sergeant as well as for vehicles for each officer and for a host unit vehicle for the homeless outreach team to use as well as for administrative and maintenance costs,” Stewart said. 

“The antenna remains a concern and the county has said we cannot open the substation until all outstanding issues are cleared up.” 

Stewart commended LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath for “taking the reins and trying to expedite permitting processing of a coastal development permit.” 

As with many things governmental, multiple municipal subdivisions have jurisdiction over the PCH. 

Councilmember Paul Grisanti noted the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) controls the speed limit. 

“There is legislation regarding using speed cameras in California on a limited basis and Capt. Seeto has written a letter asking for Malibu to be included in that effort,” he said. 

Commissioner Horvath is advocating that Malibu be included in the state’s pilot program using speed limits, according to Grisanti.

​Grisanti added, “Although there have been proposals to improve Pacific Coast Highway over the years, there is simply not enough space to make a lot of the modifications that have been suggested.”

Grisanti advocates deploying Arson Watch to help, noting that organization has a contract with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to use the department’s police radios.

“Arson Watch members could act as lookouts between Big Rock and La Costa and when they see cars racing, they could call the deputies on patrol informing them of the violations.” he suggested.

Residents advocate law reinstating California Highway Patrol on PCH

​Some residents of Malibu have other ideas: They think the state elected officials representing Malibu should take action.

“Senator Bill Allen and Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin are the two people who need to introduce a bill repealing California Vehicle Code Section 2400.6 to green-light the restoration of California Highway Patrol monitoring PCH in Malibu which would be funded by the state.” Ryan Embree, a former City Council candidate, community advocate, and former Malibu Public Safety Commissioner said. 

Embree referred to a law entitled “Enforcement of Laws Regulating Operation of Vehicles on State Highway 1 in City of Malibu,” enacted in 1993, which states that the California Transportation Commissioner “shall enforce all laws regulating the operation of vehicles on and the use of any portion of PCH in Malibu, if requested by the city, and if a contract is entered into between the state and the city. Any such contract shall require that an amount be paid to the commissioner that is equal to the costs incurred by the (California Department of Transportation) for services provided under the contract.”

​“The county and Sen. Ben Allen’s offices are working with City of Malibu staff to get the conditional use permit authorized,” Constance Farrell, director of communications for Horvath, said. “We are very focused on that.” 

Farrell added that Horvath is also working with the Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Senator Bill Allen to address safety issues on PCH, including her urging to have Malibu participate in speed camera pilots and lowering the speed limit.

​

Community invited to attend ceremony celebrating new chapter in local education supporting 21st-century learning 

A new, modern, and cutting-edge designed Malibu High School is about to break ground after many years in the planning. The public is invited to celebrate the momentous occasion as anticipated construction finally gets underway and the dream of a high-tech, educational space is about to become a reality.

According to the school district officials, the decades-old and outmoded Malibu High School was not just in need of a facelift, but entirely new construction. 

Phase one of the new Malibu campus plan is designed to offer a 21st-century learning environment and provide progressive educational spaces for Malibu students. The building’s design harmonizes with Malibu’s coastal community aesthetics, and offers a more seamless blend into its beautiful surroundings.

Importantly for many in the community, this phase will also lead to the separation of Malibu Middle School from the high school. The demolition of the former Juan Cabrillo Elementary School, completed in 2022, cleared the way for construction. Additionally, all hazardous materials, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), that have been an issue for the past decade have been removed from the site.

The impressive new building spans more than 70,000 square feet and will include general classrooms, art classrooms, special education facilities, science, technology, engineering, and math classrooms, campus food services (with separate spaces for the middle school), a library, and high school administrative offices.

“There will be plenty of room to display student work and glimpses beyond to student activities in action,” a Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District announcement on the project states. 

For a building so close to the coastline, the campus plan envisions a student eating area that will feature panoramic Pacific Ocean views previously mainly visible from the athletics fields.

Students will have access to an adaptable, spacious, light-filled, double-height commons area that opens to the outdoors, encouraging social connection, dining, collaboration, and private study. The innovative design incorporates concrete and copper-clad walls that draw inspiration from the natural surroundings, fostering a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Photovoltaic panels on the overhead canopy will provide both shade for students and contribute to energy conservation.

Noemi Avila-Zamudio, SMMUSD deputy bond manager, remarked, “The journey from concept to realization in building a new high school is often filled with challenges, but it’s a testament to the collective effort and determination of everyone who believed in the importance of this project.”

Dr. Antonio Shelton, SMMUSD Superintendent, expressed his excitement. 

“This school will allow our students to have an educational experience that encourages exploration, project-based learning, and the importance of collaboration,” he said. “Our students will have classrooms that are safe, conducive to learning, and large enough to facilitate instructional practices that are cutting-edge.”

The project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2025 and is funded by Measure M, which was overwhelmingly approved by Malibu voters in 2018. Phase 1 of construction is estimated to cost $110 million. NAC Architecture is collaborating with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, and C.W. Driver Companies is the contractor overseeing the project.

To celebrate this remarkable achievement, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) will host a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m. The event promises to be a significant milestone in the history of Malibu High School and the community. Many community members have called the construction of the new Malibu High School campus “long overdue” and have said it’s a symbol of hope, dedication, and the unwavering commitment of the Malibu community to provide the best educational opportunities for its students. As the new MHS takes shape, it promises to be a beacon of learning, innovation, and community pride for years to come.

Those who wish to attend the groundbreaking event are encouraged to RSVP via this link: https://bit.ly/MHSGrndbrkng1023. Sturdy, closed-toed shoes are required, as the ceremony will take place on an active construction site. Parking will be available in the student parking lot adjacent to the pool and behind the bus barn.

9/25
Vandalism
A vehicle parked on Topanga Canyon Boulevard was broken into and ransacked. The victim was notified by a neighbor about their window being smashed, and saw the driver-side mirror broken, the door handles removed and the gas cap broken. There were no security cameras available for evidence.

9/26
Grand Theft
An estimated $4,000 worth of construction tools were stolen from a property in Malibu Cove Colony. The victim said there were security cameras, but due to lack of lighting, the suspects were indescribable.

9/28
Burglary
A vehicle parked near Topanga Beach was broken into and ransacked. The victim hid the key under the front passenger wheel, went surfing, and upon return, the key was missing and his vehicle was ransacked. The victims wallet, phone, and $160 in cash was stolen. There were no security cameras available for evidence.

9/29
Petty Theft
A wallet was stolen from a guest dining at the Malibu Farm Cafe at the Pier. The victim placed their purse on the side of chair, walked away for a brief moment and upon return, their purse was knocked down and their wallet was stolen from inside the purse. There are cameras available, but the victim was not sitting where the cameras could have captured the incident.

9/30
Grand Theft
A package was stolen from a home on Carbon Mesa Road. The victim said they saw someone enter their property and take the packages and drive away in a grey Toyota Tacoma. The security footage was submitted to LASD for evidence.