Ramirez Canyon residents are encouraged by a recent state superior court ruling denying a motion by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to dismiss the action to stop its activities at the Streisand Center.

Last month, Judge Stanley Weisberg ruled against the Ramirez Canyon Preservation Fund’s motion for a preliminary injunction against the conservancy. In effect, the judge said based on sovereign immunity, he would not halt the disputed functions by the conservancy at the Streisand Center while the residents’ lawsuit against the conservancy is awaiting trial.

According to Mindy Sheps, board chair for the neighborhood group, now the coast is clear to proceed with all claims against the conservancy. saying that in no way did the judge’s denial of preliminary injunction indicate his ultimate opinion about the merits of the case. “He [Weisberg] refused to dismiss any portion of the actions, even those claims pertaining to sovereign immunities,” Sheps said. “It was very encouraging that the court understands and respects the rights of the homeowners against unlawful activities of the conservancy.”

The feud among the neighbors along the road leading up to the center and conservancy over activities including catered events that take place there has been escalating since the state took over the property formerly owned by Barbra Streisand. Complaints have focused primarily on noise and traffic hazards, as well as issues over whether the state agency is running a commercial operation by hosting paid social events at the center.

Sheps said the next step is for conservancy lawyers to respond to the neighborhood group’s complaints, to be followed by depositions. Sheps was pleased at the recent court decision. “The judge made a point of explaining that his initial ruling on the preliminary injunction was not indicative of his feelings about the merits of this case.” Conservancy officials were not available for comment at this writing.

Despite its own instruction to city staff and the Business Roundtable to propose a licensing program for businesses operating in Malibu, the City Council Monday rejected a proposal to transfer an L.A. County-administered business license program to the city. The council also voted to discontinue entirely the city’s participation in the county licensing program by the end of June.

A Business Roundtable subcommittee, working with City Manager Harry Peacock, drew up a proposed licensing program last fall that would have established an annual flat fee for storefront and home-based businesses. Under the proposal, the city would also have assumed the county’s responsibility for licensing certain categories of businesses in Malibu that may impact the public’s health and welfare.

The full roundtable rejected the proposal and recommended that the council not adopt any business license program.

But believing that the council wanted some kind of licensing program, city staff recommended the city take over the county’s licensing of local businesses. Those businesses include health clubs, car rental companies and ambulance companies.

But if any of the council members ever supported a business license program, their support apparently dried up when the public last year began airing its opposition to such a program.

The business community came to Monday’s meeting to voice their opposition to the proposed, more-limited licensing program mainly out of concern that it would snowball into one that would apply citywide.

Jeff Peterson, president of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce and general manager of Geoffrey’s, said he feared a future City Council would try to expand the limited licensing program. “The Pandora’s box would be opened up,” he said.

Councilmen Harry Barovsky and Tom Hasse, who were not on the council when the staff was instructed to draft a program, came out with the strongest opposition to the proposal.

“I’ve stated emphatically over the years that I try to avoid taxes as much as possible,” said Barovsky. “I don’t want to tax the community any more than they’re already taxed.”

Upon hearing from City Attorney Christi Hogin that the county is collecting its licensing fees at the city’s behest, Hasse motioned that the city discontinue its participation in the county program by the end of June, unless the county can justify the need for the program.

“Kill it unless we otherwise have some new and exciting evidence to keep it,” he said.

In other matters, the council adopted improved security measures for City Hall, including closed circuit television and the installation of a gate at the front counter to restrict entry into the staff’s area. On Mayor Walt Keller’s motion, the city will also now require visitors to wear passes when they go anywhere behind the front counter.

The council also agreed to apply for funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for proposed projects along PCH, including a traffic signal at Serra Road and a bus turnout at Zumirez Drive.

The city may also add to its holdings on Las Flores Canyon Road. The council agreed to make an offer of $25,000 to the U.S. Marshal Service for three unimproved dirt lots in the 3900 block of Las Flores Canyon Road. The properties are in the city’s flood control district and can not be developed for housing.

Suicide cults. Concerned Christians. Armageddon. Y2K. Wag-the-dog. Wiretaps. Right-wing conspiracies. Contrition. Polls! Polls! Polls! Sexual McCarthyism. Viagra. Moral decay. Paula Jones. Ken Starr. Linda Tripp. Youthful indiscretions. High crimes. Monica! Monica! Monica!

Outrageous, absurd and often obscene, 1998 was a year that could have been produced, written and directed by John Waters. By New Year’s Day, a lot of us were shaking our heads, covering our eyes and wondering what on Earth is next? Will Clinton go to the clinker? Will Weight Watchers get a new spokeswoman? Will our computers crash? What about the market? To find out what 1999 has in store, we spoke with the experts. The future may be unpredictable for many, but not for Malibu’s top psychics. Here’s what they say is on tap and in the cards.

Starting with the president, the seers are split on the outcome of impeachment. That side of the crystal ball may be murky, but there is a consensus on probing prosecutors and partisan rancor. “We have issues about sexuality,” notes psychic/clairvoyant/tarot/ astrology reader Antonia Lau. “These issues are within our selves. We need to wake up.” Malibu’s longest-serving resident psychic Avery Torres agrees. “Look at the dialogue,” she says. “It’s forcing people to discuss these issues and look inside themselves.” Once the thong show is over, both see the opportunity for growth and change.

Kyle Mathews, another psychic to the stars, says the wackiness seen in Washington is everywhere. “The craziness that is out there is not just certain people,” he explains. “It’s everyone.”

Despite sex scandals in the White House, Wall Street continues to roar. But will it stay that way?

“There is a lot of money to be made, but it will be a difficult market,” says Torres. Lau, on the other hand, foresees a slump. “The economy will see a downturn.” Mathews is less optimistic. He predicts “a major market crash.”

In addition to cult suicides, an earthquake in June and plenty of plane crashes, Mathews sees hard times for hard drives — the Y2K bug will crash many computers around the world resulting in a shutdown of government services, blackouts and shortages of food and water. “I’m not saying to the desert and hide,” he says. “But we are going to have some big problems.”

Torres sees similar writing on the wall. “My biggest concern with Y2K is that our fears could create mass hysteria,” she says. “I feel we should prepare for it like we would prepare for an earthquake.”

Nonsense, says Lau. “Y2K is a publicity deal. It’s not going to happen. I think it’s overblown media hype.”

In recent days, Mathews has seen spiritually inclined celebrities such as Shirley MacLaine, as well as stockbrokers and CEOs. “Tons of people come in here and ask what is wrong. There is a lost feeling, and they don’t know where it’s coming from.”

To feel a little less lost, Mathews suggests a spiritual base. “This year has a lot of work for people,” he says. “They need to buckle down and go inside.” Torres gives similar spiritual guidance. “Everything that is going on is for our souls,” she explains. “We create many of the dramas in our lives so we can learn from them.”

Yes, it’s true, some psychic predictions did not come true. One forecaster declared that Elvis would return to earth in a UFO the size of Texas. As far as most of us are concerned, king is still dead. But in case you think this psychic stuff is all abracadabra and hocus pocus, consider this: In September 1997, a fortune teller named Elizabeth Joyce predicted President Clinton would be impeached over a sexual dalliance with a young, dark-haired woman named Veronica. Close enough. Happy New Year.

At least four dead sea lions, apparently some with bullet holes, have recently washed up on city beaches, and local environmentalists suspect that the deaths are tied to squid fishermen currently plying the waters off Malibu.

Surfers and residents who live on the beach say they have heard what sound like gunshots while the boats are offshore. Under state law, fishermen are permitted to shoot sea lions if the animals are significantly interfering with the catch.

Members of Save Our Coast alerted the City Council Monday about the sea lions’ deaths in hope the city can stop the shootings if that is what is taking place.

The council promised to alert appropriate government officials and to ask them for an investigation into the deaths.

This is squid fishing season, and the fishermen’s boats are regularly seen offshore during the daytime and at night with their stadium-like lighting.

Mary Frampton, of Save Our Coast, said a Paradise Cove resident, recently wandering the beach there, found a dead sea lion that appeared to have been shot.

Elaine Bear, who lives at the Malibu Bay Club, said a mangled sea lion pup washed ashore on New Year’s weekend. An adult sea lion, apparently its mother, barked in anguish for hours as people on the beach approached the dead pup. Since that incident, Bear said, two other sea lions, apparently with bullet holes, have been found near the county line.

“If they were shooting dogs, we would be hysterical,” said Bear. “And this ocean is our backyard.”

What served as a Hollywood retreat and weekend resort for the rich and famous for so many years is now clearly a full-time family community. Malibu has attracted rather than promoted a residential population that has forced the school enrollment to jump up to 2,000 and then some compared with a school population of approximately 1,000 students in 1990.

Councilwoman and former Mayor Joan House witnessed much of that growth as a city official and as a parent. She said this is not the first time Malibu has seen those numbers climb. “It was almost like the swallows coming back [in the mid-’70s]. We did have tons of kids when my kids were young. Then, in 1980, they closed the school at Point Dume because of a declining school population, and now we’re bursting at the seams again. All of a sudden, it’s very family oriented. We’ve gone full circle.”

Aside from indications of a baby boom for latent parents in the ’90s that may be a factor in the rise of Malibu’s youth population, what is the big attraction here for family life? “The community has a lot to offer. It’s a very safe place with good schools, clean air and a good environment,” according to House, who says there is care and concern among neighbors here.

The surge in school population leans toward a heavy attendance at Malibu High School of at least 1,200 students, with the elementary population at Juan Cabrillo and Webster at approximately 400 students each and Point Dume Elementary School with about 200 students.

The shift in Malibu demographics means more families are apparently functioning on a day-to-day basis here during what appears to be a mini population boom. Obviously, this changes the face of a community that has never had to grow into a city before.

The needs the community must serve are also no longer seasonal or bound to the drama of the latest environmental event. More specifically, statistics indicate recreational needs are among the most obvious areas for the city of Malibu to serve, with a total of more than 2,000 school age children participating in a variety of sports activities.

Ironically, recreational space is among the first growing pains now facing the city. Kristin Reynolds, president of PARCS (People Achieving Recreation and Community Services), said of particular concern is land owned by the state at Malibu Bluffs Park. “The state of California owns the land where the baseball field is located,” Reynolds said. ” What’s threatened is that the state is posturing itself to take back the land that facilitates essential recreational activity and is encouraging us to relocate the community recreation aspect.” PARCS was formed as a community advocate to locate permanent recreational facilities and enhance existing programming.

House considers the pursuit of permanent recreational facilities in Malibu essential to the community’s growth as well. “This is a critical issue, and having adequate playing facilities is a must. In fact, the city is going to hire a lobbyist, and I would support having the acquisition of Bluffs Park as a top priority.”

“This community needs to understand that Bluffs Park is currently a temporary site for play,” Reynolds said, “and the state and coastal commissions are actively pursuing our relocation.”

House’s take on the issue, however, is less alarming. “We’re at a very interesting place. My understanding is that when they [the state] have property within a city, they usually work out an arrangement that the newly incorporated city can have that land. They’ve done it in the past.”

Planning Commission Chair Jo Ruggles and Commissioner Charleen Kabrin overreached a bit in the eyes of their colleagues and Planning Director Craig Ewing when they sought last week to limit the proliferation of bright light emanating from the inside of hillside homes.

Ruggles and Kabrin said residents are regularly complaining to them that glare from the interior lighting of hillside homes — particularly the more contemporary homes that feature floor-to-ceiling windows and track lighting — are creating a visual blight and interfering with views of the nighttime sky.

“You look at the hills and they are no longer dark,” said Kabrin. “There are just lights everywhere.”

Residents are also saying a home’s bright interior lighting can invade the privacy of adjacent homeowners, when light is cast onto the patio or decks of a neighbor’s home.

Frank Angel told commissioners, “Some houses that I have seen, in my neighborhood, in particular, are becoming a real disturbance to neighbors.”

Ruggles and Kabrin had hoped to include language in the proposed hillside housing design guidelines requiring property owners to minimize the impact of bright, outwardly beamed interior light in their home designs.

But they did not win any support from their colleagues, and the proposal was met with resistance by Ewing. The planning director said he would have to know the interior lighting plans of a home to know the impact the light would have outside of that home.

“Few planning directors and few planning commissioners like to get inside the house and say how things should look inside,” he said. “But when you’re dealing with the issue of interior lighting, you’re doing exactly that.”

Commissioner Ed Lipnick and Ewing agreed alternatively that the local nuisance law could be amended to include bright interior lighting that invades the privacy of nearby property owners.

“I’m making enemies in other departments of City Hall as we speak,” said Ewing.

While an attempt to regulate interior lighting of hillside homes did not go far, the commission approved, on Ruggles motion, additional restrictions on exterior lighting.

Under the design guidelines for hillside homes, exterior lighting can not diminish views of the night sky, disturb natural habitats or disturb nearby property owners.