For homeowners who have lived in fear that an unpermitted addition or modification to their home may be found by the city and penalized, there may be good news.

A subcommittee of the Code Enforcement Task Force, headed by James Schoenfield, has drafted recommendations, that were accepted unanimously by the entire Task Force. The recommendations are intended to help unpermitted structures to be legalized, at a reasonable cost to the homeowners.

The recommendations would allow homeowners to obtain permits for structures that were built without any. Since proving when additions were actually built has been an expensive and often difficult task, the way the subcommittee handled it was to recommend the creation of a rule that presumes additions or modifications were built at the same time as the primary structure on a property. The applicable law would be the one that was in existence at the time the original structure was built.

Also, to control costs, the subcommittee recommends that fees do not exceed $1,500 in aggregate.

“They are responsive to public needs,” said Anne Hoffman, spokesperson for Malibu Homeowners for Reform, a group that was instrumental in moving the city toward code revisions.

“We’re happy that they have been doing something for the public interest,” she said.

While some were concerned that the recommendations were too liberal and could lead to widespread misuse, ultimately the group voted unanimously to accept the recommendations about improvements to residential properties as written.

In a previous interview, John Miller, chairperson, emphasized the task force’s role. They are making recommendations that will go through three other steps before they go to the City Council for approval.

“There is a protocol of flow for this and our recommendations will go to building and safety, planning and legal,” he said.

The task force also discussed minority reports since some members were concerned that the council may not hear the voices of those who opposed some of the recommendations.

The task force voted to report a vote count to City Council in future recommendations and suggested that minority reports can be initiated by task force members if they so wish.

The group also voted unanimously to approve an Interim Zoning Ordinance subcommittee report that allows a cap of 28 feet for height without having to go to the Planning Commission, unless there is a blockage of the primary view.

The IZO recommendations also discussed facilitated setback guidelines, geology requirements and more.

The task force will meet Sept. 5, at City Hall, and will vote on code enforcement policy and planning department procedural recommendations.

The La Costa Beach Club was the venue for a barbecue held in honor of the Malibu Rotary Club’s most recent crop of Japanese high school exchange students.

Margo Neal and I hosted for the club, assisted by Gerry Steffen, Geoffrey Ortiz, and Doratka Daniels, with Tom Loo hosting for the Santa Monica Club.

The students, all from the Tokyo area, were enjoying the end of an activity-packed, three-week visit and welcomed the opportunity to put the R in their R&R and to sit quietly, contemplating the beautiful Malibu sunset, sharing experiences with the other students and kicking around a soccer ball. Their host families, Rotarians from throughout the district who had volunteered to provide shelter, food and transportation for the students, accompanied the them. They, too, welcomed the respite from museums and amusement parks, and enjoyed the beach, fellowship and the great food. Chef d’ Cuisine was local attorney Tom Loo, who presented hungry guests with his delicious teriyaki chicken and steak marinated in his secret sauce.

Rotary International sponsors the world’s largest student exchange and international studies programs, ranging from short-term high school exchanges to fully funded graduate level scholarships and business to business exchanges throughout the world. The Malibu club meets on Wednesday mornings for breakfast at Pepperdine’s student cafeteria.

Both the Malibu and Santa Monica Clubs are actively seeking new members. For more information on Rotary membership, scholarships and other programs contact Karen York at 310.317.8568.

Flooding in Malibu is not just Malibu’s problem, but also that of L.A. County, State Parks and neighboring communities.

With all those entities involved, the solution, it is not always simple.

A Zuma Canyon rancher, attending the recent flood mitigation public meeting on Thursday, told a story about his own unique flooding problem. He explained that the local creek overflowed onto his land and he got into the creek and tried to divert it so it wouldn’t keep flooding. Fish and Game came, saw what he was doing and pulled out their guns to stop him. Apparently, the government doesn’t allow residents to divert creeks that have overflown, even in an emergency.

“Putting dirt in the creek is just a Band-Aid,” he said, “But the neighbors to the north, the park people, don’t do anything.”

“Run-off from one district to another can be addressed,” said Gregor Blackburn, Natural Hazards Program Specialist from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), region 9.

“Adjacent communities should be informed when a flooding problem occurs which affects areas below them,” said Blackburn.

“It will take a bit of coordination and effort to do that,” he added.

Historically, the City of Malibu is one of the highest-ranked cities in the state in claims for damaged properties. As a result, the federal government, along with the state, put together a federal flood mitigation program.

The FEMA program includes six categories: Prevention, property protection, natural resource protection, emergency service, structural projects and public information.

Among the suggestions were a zoning ordinance modification so that additions and new homes would include a building pad of one-foot above the ground in a V-Zone. A V-Zone (velocity zone) is a designation by FEMA.

The V-Zoning affects all the properties along the ocean or next to creeks that may overflow during a storm.

“It’s the zone you pay most for [in] your insurance,” said Ed Lipnick, Flood Mitigation Committee member.

“People will not be required to make any changes, but some may be suggested,” said Lipnick. “It may be possible for a community to get additional money to implement changes.”

“Addressing percolation, the ability of the soil to absorb water, in unstable areas is an important factor of the plan,” said Bergson.

“Percolation can cause major landslide problems,” said Lipnick.

Suggested preventive activities include enforcement of floodplain regulations and zoning ordinances for new structures, new developments, or substantial improvements to existing conditions. The establishment of a fee, based on additional run-off generated from a site, may also be implemented.

One structural project activity recommended that all roof drainage systems be designed to drain toward the ocean side for coastal properties.

The mitigation activities also include protection of natural resources and the consideration of acquiring properties that have more than five claims.

“The community that follows this type of plan can apply to ISO, the Insurance Service Organization, for insurance and premium reduction,” said Blackburn.

This plan acts as a business plan for the future of the community.

“We in the disaster business always have a grim view of future,” he said. “We know that there will be another flood and if there is a presidential declaration many things get mobilized.”

When such a declaration is made, “The community that has a plan ready to go, can step up to the plate sooner.

“This is FEMA’s goal in granting the planning grant to the community,” said Blackburn.

“The plan will serve as an initial document presented to the state should there be a disaster,” said Ken Bryant, Disaster Assistance Program specialist with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Service. Other considerations include wave up-rushes and tsunamis, and sewage problems that become a health hazard.

“This may become too large and beyond the scope of what we are trying to do here,” Bryant said. “But that’s not to say it shouldn’t be addressed.”

Environmentally sensitive areas can be very restrictive since preservation is also an issue. To have a better chance of funding this type of project, it helps to ask for the money during the disaster times, said Blackburn.

“Did I just hear you say that we need a big disaster before we can solve the problems?” asked John Wall, Flood Mitigation Committee member.

Blackwood agreed that this is kind of awkward, but true.

“It’s time to find something different and new,” said Mary Lou Blackwood, executive vice president of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, as to why she is resigning after 12 years of service.

Blackwood, a Texan native, came to live in Malibu in 1973, from the city of Alhambra, with much resistance. Having established herself in her home at the time, Blackwood said she did not want to move, little realizing that she would be moving to a place she now calls “magic, mystic.”

“It is famous and infamous . . .,” she said of Malibu. “A place where everyone wants to live.”

The reason she and her husband of 46 years, Jack, decided to buy a home in Malibu may surprise some — it was the most affordable area they could find at the time.

Her husband having been in the Navy for 20 years, and the family moving 13 times out of those 20 years, Blackwood and her children did not want dad too far away from home. With Jack’s workplace on Wilshire Boulevard, they stuck a pin in a map, and a 20-mile radius from that pin point was where they looked for a home.

The price of their present four bedroom home back then — about $74,000.

After having the “privilege of not having to work” and raising her three children, sending them off to college, Blackwood opened an antique business, which subsequently failed, she said.

This is one reason why she believes she is good at her job — she can understand people who own businesses, their concerns and where they are coming from.

Working as an executive in Pacific Palisades, the impetus for Blackwood’s arrival at the chamber was “rescuing” the Malibu Chamber Business Directory, she said.

The current directory is overseen by Blackwood, but designed and published by Image Maker, Publishing, owned by Beverly Hammond, immediate past president of the chamber.

“Her focus has always been on fostering the health of Malibu businesses and the good of the community,” said Hammond of Blackwood.

“Mary Lou has the ability to guide and adapt to new personalities and gently remind them of fiscal responsibility,” she said of Blackwood’s working relations within the chamber. “That’s one of the things that has kept the chamber viable.”

Indeed, Blackwood lists as one of her responsibilities, “making sure the chamber stays solvent.”

Other responsibilities include business promotion, interfacing with the government on behalf of the business community and listening to business owners, sometimes giving her advice or opinion on issues.

A “biggie,” Blackwood says, is the Malibu Art Festival.

The annual festival brings in artists from all over the world to display and sell their work. In addition to the art, music and food attract thousands to the July event.

It is orchestrated by the chamber, Blackwood being a major organizer, and sponsored by the Malibu Art Association and various local clubs and businesses.

“I was in awe during the last festival,” said Hammond. “In her [Blackwood’s] ability to manage the many demands [of the festival] with such apparent ease.”

This, along with other fund-raisers, is what helps the chamber to survive, says Hammond.

Both Hammond and Mark Ball, another past president of the chamber, say Blackwood has the ability to help guide each new president and board of director in their new position and in the business of running the chamber.

“She was not only a colleague, but a mentor,” said Ball. “Her impact on Malibu is going to be sorely missed.”

“A unique strong point for her,” said Ball, “[is], she is capable of bringing two polarities together in consensus on an issue.”

This ability of Blackwood’s is demonstrated by what she said were the ground rules that were laid for discussions in the Business Roundtable, a group that came out of an economic development workshop, which eventually led to the creation of the Malibu Economic Plan.

“Everyone gets to speak,” said Blackwood of the rules, “and everyone must show respect to [the speaker].”

And respect from her colleagues is what Blackwood says is one thing she cherishes most about her work. That people trust her, and she them.

Though she demands respect for all, Blackwood can be a hard nut to crack sometimes.

“She can be very opinionated and strong in her beliefs,” said Hammond, “[however], in many respects that helps give you a strong touchstone.

“There have been times that issues have come up,” she explained. “My experience is that if you provide enough argument on your side, a compromise can be worked out.”

One of the toughest things Blackwood says she encountered while at the chamber were the ’93 fires.

“Such loss and pain,” Blackwood says of that time.

The brighter side is that people and the city came together as a team to help solve problems caused by the fires and then later the rain and slides.

As to the best parts of working with the chamber, and therefore with businesses and the local goverment, Blackwood says it has been challenging and exciting.

“It can be an aphrodisiac,” she said. “[Working within the] air of powerbrokers.”

Blackwood says she is not sure what she wants to do next, but plans to take some steps to find out.

“I will have to do some soul-searching,” she said.

Meanwhile, a new search is on for someone to replace her, as she plans to leave by Nov. 15, ready or not.