Hoping to give Point Dume residents an opportunity to try out a kinder, gentler alternative to the widely despised speed bump, Mayor Pro Tem Walt Keller asked his colleagues at Monday’s City Council meeting to back his proposal to place a temporary speed table on Fernhill Drive. Council members voted down his proposal, citing a perception that Point Dume residents do not want any traffic-calming devices that even remotely resemble speed bumps.

The council voted instead to direct city staff to research the variety of traffic-calming devices available, and in a separate measure, voted to conduct a poll of Point Dume residents for a definitive take on their opinion of speed bumps.

Residents have long complained of racing drivers in their neighborhood, particularly on Dume and Fernhill drives, but many residents say they do not want speed bumps as a way to slow drivers down because they regard the humps as ugly and a nuisance. Emergency personnel say they tend to slow down their emergency-response time, as fire engines and ambulances must come to almost a complete stop before driving over each bump.

Keller thought speed tables, which are lower to the ground and flatter on top than speed bumps, might be an acceptable alternative. He said he wanted to allow Point Dume residents an opportunity to have one on a trial basis on one of their most speed-prone streets.

Point Dume residents Andrew Stern and Frank Basso encouraged the council to back Keller’s proposal, but Don McClay, another resident, said he did not think speed tables are appropriate for Malibu. “They are part and parcel of suburbia, which we are not,” McClay said.

Council members Tom Hasse and Carolyn Van Horn debated the location of the proposed speed table. Hasse said he would not support one on a public street, but suggested Point Dume Shopping Center as an alternative site. Van Horn, who supported Keller’s proposal, said it should go near Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School because of the speeders’ threat to children’s safety. “Let’s put it where we can save someone from being hit,” she said.

Hasse said he did not want to go against what he feels are the wishes of residents. “I don’t believe the majority of residents in your neighborhood want them,” he said.

Mayor Joan House prevailed on her separate motion that city staff provide an analysis of all the different kinds of traffic-calming devices.

Apparently in a poll-taking mood after approving one for parks and recreation earlier in the day [see story, A1], the council also backed a motion by Hasse to survey Point residents on the issue of speed bumps. “When I ran for council, we said we would listen to the neighbors,” said Councilman Harry Barovsky.

In other business, the council instructed city staff and the Planning Commission to propose an amendment to the temporary permit section of the zoning ordinance, in light of a recent concert party at a private home.

The city, in August, approved a permit for a performance by the rock band Hootie and the Blowfish for 800 guests at a Malibu Park home. Neighboring residents complained of the noise and because they were not notified of the party.

“We had no idea this was coming,” resident Hans Laetz told the council. He asked the council to amend the ordinance so permits for rock concerts would not be granted. Laetz also told council members that off-duty sheriff deputies working at the party ignored residents’ complaints. He asked the council to consider requiring that deputies be more responsive when they work off-duty at special events in the city.

The famed Malibu castle now has a queen. Renowned philanthropist and party giver Lilly Lawrence is turning the fairy-tale property into her palace by the sea. “Isn’t it exciting?” Lawrence said. “I just love the romance of it.”

Lawrence purchased the whimsical estate for $2.8 million and plans on making “a few little renovations.” Those renovations include the addition of an infinity pool, rock pool, numerous courtyard fountains, a gym room, an ocean-view ballroom and a rock-and-roll room to house her impressive collection of music memorabilia. When complete, newly renamed “Kashan Court” will provide the perfect backdrop for Lilly’s lavish bashes. “I do like to entertain,” she says in a playful tone.

Her eight-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot medieval fortress was built in 1978 by Dr. Tom Hodges. Dressed in natural stone, it was modeled after a 13th century Scottish castle and has become one of the city’s most intriguing landmarks.

Although she maintains homes around the world, Lawrence is no stranger to Malibu. Her late husband, Bunty Lawrence, grew up in the house next to Frank Capra’s, and his parents were among the area’s first non-Chumash residents. She remembers admiring the castle years ago. When she returned as a potential buyer, it was love at first sight. “There is something magical about it,” she says. “You have the Pacific laid out before you like a tapestry and the mountains embracing you on the other side.”

The ecstasy of Malibu is obvious, but between fires, floods and Caltrans, newcomers are wise to expect a little agony too. How will this strikingly beautiful, international jet setter fair under the next El Nino or slide or blaze? Have no fear, Lawrence already exhibits the true Malibu spirit. “Once you’ve been up there,” she says, “nothing else matters.” And so enter Lilly Lawrence, the effervescent, merry widow who’s ready for the good and the bad, come rain or come shine. She may sparkle in gems, she may throw a mean party, but she also drives an El Camino.

Residents will be surveyed next month to gauge their support for paying up to $40 million, through a bond measure, for the creation of parks, recreational fields and wetlands in Malibu.

The results of the Nov. 14 “baseline” or “benchmark” poll, approved during a special session of the City Council Monday, may determine whether a bond measure is even placed on the ballot in the April 2000 election.

Passage of a bond measure requires 67 percent voter approval, so if the survey shows public support at less than 35 percent, “You should give up,” said Bryan Godbe, who was hired by the city to conduct the poll.

A $30 million bond is “as high as you would want to test” because any higher amount would be “out of passage range,” Godbe said. Mayor Joan House and council members Tom Hasse and Harry Barovsky asked that the survey test public reaction to a $40 million bond.

If approved in the April 2000 election, the bond would be paid by increasing property taxes on homeowners and increasing rent on residents of mobile-home parks.

How much more in taxes homeowners would pay depends on the assessed valuation of a home, said City Manager Harry Peacock, who estimated the average assessed valuation in Malibu to be $500,000. Godbe figured that much over $46 per year per $100,000 assessed valuation “is not happening.” At $46, that would mean an average property tax increase of about $230 per year.

Residents of mobile-home parks, who do not pay a property tax because they rent, would pay only about $15 per year on a $30 million bond and about $20 per year on a $40 million bond, Peacock estimated.

A working draft of the questions to be asked will be prepared by next week, Godbe pledged. He encouraged councilmembers to send him their suggestions for questions by the end of this week. Hasse already had his questions prepared.

Barovsky wanted the survey to test people’s reaction to the bond measure if they knew that plans were being submitted to commercially develop the Chili Cook off site, as well as a parcel west of City Hall, and that increased development would mean increased traffic congestion.

About 400 people are expected to be surveyed by telephone for 15 minutes at dinnertime, and they would be asked between 75 and 95 questions, Godbe estimated. Councilwoman Carolyn Van Horn suggested that if the poll lasts longer than six to seven minutes, people would become annoyed, so they would more likely give negative responses. Since the issues concern the community, “people are more likely to stay with it than a product survey,” Godbe replied.

Considering the recent economic turmoil, especially in the stock market, House wondered whether people would be less willing to spend money. “It certainly will have an impact,” Godbe said.

The councilmembers expressed concern over the chances of success this time because a survey performed last year showed little support for increasing taxes to pay for public works. Godbe pointed out that there were multiple ballot questions last year, whereas this survey will be more focused. Also, he said, “If the bond measure is preceded by grants or private money, that’s useful.” Besides, he said, “Potholes are not as fun as parks.”

Based on the results of the baseline or benchmark survey, a program to educate the community will be formulated and implemented. With education you can “push support up to a level that can put it on the ballot,” Godbe said.

House suggested “a little education beforehand so people aren’t hit totally cold” by the survey, but Godbe said he would rather “find out where people are without information because you can’t predict what information may or may not work.”

Hasse questioned the legality of an education program sponsored by the city. “This city has to be very careful. What is advocacy versus what is education? The law is vague. I don’t want the city of Malibu to be a test case,” he said. He preferred to see the public educated through an “independent entity separate and apart from the city,” which, he thought, could include councilmembers.

Regardless of its legality, the public’s perception of an education program sponsored by the city would be too damaging, according to Godbe. “The politics would kill you long before the legal problems,” he said.

After education, there would be a “tracking” survey conducted to determine “if, in fact, [education] moved public opinion” Godbe said. Based on his experience, moving the public from 37 percent approval to the required 67 percent would take between 12 and 18 months.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Executive Director Joe Edmiston came to the City Council meeting Monday armed with a proposal to ward off possible litigation with the city over zoning issues. The council was mum about the proposal, but City Attorney Christi Hogin later said that in closed session, the council members indicated they are prepared to file suit if one final option is not resolved to their satisfaction.

The Streisand Center for Conservancy Studies, an affiliated agency of the conservancy, holds private, catered functions at the facility in Ramirez Canyon to raise funds for its operation. The rental fees from the functions are also used to maintain the grounds at Barbra Streisand’s former estate, which she donated to the conservancy in 1993.

Residents are trying to end the functions, which they say have ruined the canyon. The events, often large weddings, bring noise and traffic into the private community almost every weekend, they say.

The city says the functions violate zoning laws because the conservancy has never applied for a special event permit for any of the three or so events held there each month.

The conservancy says it does not have to apply for a permit because, as a state agency, it is sovereign to the city.

Hogin agrees that the state normally has superseding authority over a city, but she maintains that the state must submit to local zoning laws when it rents out its property for reasons that have nothing to do with an agency’s purpose.

Edmiston touched only briefly on that issue at the meeting by acknowledging a difference of opinion on the matter.

“Your counsel and our counsel probably disagree over the extent to which the city can regulate the state of California,” he said.

Instead, Edmiston proposed having all future functions fulfill the requirements for obtaining a special event permit from the city, which he said would mainly mean lowering the decibel level of amplified music.

Edmiston said he hoped an agreement could be reached with the city, and he joked about sparring with City Manager Harry Peacock.

“If it doesn’t work, then Mr. Peacock and I can duke it out,” he said.

The council would not comment on the dispute. Hogin later said that during the closed session, the council members indicated they are concerned about the events at the center. The city is considering one final option, which she did not disclose, before proceeding with a lawsuit.

“The council wants it to go back to being a residential neighborhood,” she said.