News Flash

UPCOMING

• Saturday, December 12, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing at City Hall
• Saturday, December 12, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM - Virtual Caffeinated Verse Open Mic Poetry
• Saturday, December 12, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM - LA County HHW & E-Waste Drive-Through Collection
• Monday, December 14, 6:30 PM - Virtual City Council Meeting 
• Tuesday, December 15, 5:30 PM - Virtual Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
• Wednesday, December 16, 6:00 PM - Wireless Communications Facilities Ordinance Workshop
• Wednesday, December 16, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing at City Hall 
• Friday, December 18, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing at City Hall

DECEMBER 14 CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION

At the December 14 Council Meeting, the Council will receive the certified results of the November 3 General Election. Out-going Mayor Pro-Tem Skylar Peak and Councilmembers Jefferson Wagner and Rick Mullen will be honored for their service to the Malibu community and in-coming Councilmembers Bruce Lee Silverstein, Steve Uhring and Paul Grisanti will be sworn in. 

CITY ATTORNEY CHRISTI HOGIN TO RETIRE

After 32 years of dedicated service to the City of Malibu, Christi Hogin is planning to retire as of December 15 to spend time with her new grandson. As Malibu’s first and only City Attorney, Christi has accomplished much during her tenure including the City's General Plan, numerous park and land acquisitions, and has successfully protected the City's rights and defended the City against many challenges.

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

The City is accepting applications for Council appointment to the following commissions and committees:

• Cultural Arts Commission
• Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization Commission
• Parks and Recreation Commission
• Planning Commission
• Public Safety Commission
• Public Works Commission
• Wastewater Advisory Committee
• Building Board of Appeals

Application forms are available on the City’s website. Applications received will be presented to the City Council for consideration at the Regular City Council meeting on January 11, 2021. Applications must be received by Heather Glaser, City Clerk, City of Malibu, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu, CA 90265, or hglaser@malibucity.org by 5:30 p.m. on January 4, 2021.  No late applications or postmarks will be accepted.

COVID-19 RESPONSE UPDATE

City staff continues to monitor and respond to the pandemic by participating in regular briefings and conference calls with partner agencies, and issuing alerts and notifications regarding changes to the situation.  On December 10, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed 74 new deaths and 12,819 new cases of COVID-19. Other key updates from the County’s COVID-19 Dashboard as of December 10, 2020 include the following: 

• As of December 10, 176 confirmed positive cases and 3 deaths in the City of Malibu, which represents an increase of 15 cases and no additional deaths from December 3
• 487,917 confirmed cases and 8,149 deaths in LA County - an increase of 66,036 cases and 814 deaths from December 3
• 3,433 current hospitalizations in LA County - an increase of 861 from December 3

The City’s Emergency Operations Center has been activated since March 12 to manage the City’s response. Current operational objectives include:

• Monitor news for changes to regulations that impact City residents and businesses
• Post updates on all social media platforms on an as-needed basis
• Identify City rules and regulations that need adjustment due to the pandemic
• Respond to community concerns regarding compliance with State and County Public Health Orders
• Maintain field operations per health guidelines and ramp up virtual operation capabilities
• In addition, the City continues to provide nearly all regular City services and all staff are working. In order to protect visitors and City staff, visitors are allowed in City Hall by appointment only

STate issued regional stay at Home order in Effect

On December 5, the State determined that the ICU capacity in the Southern California Region, including Los Angeles County, was below the regional ICU capacity Governor Newsom established as the threshold for the imposition of Regional Stay At Home Orders. A Regional Stay at Home Order was put in place for Southern California on midnight December 6. The order prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes in-person operations except for critical infrastructure, and establishes capacity limits for retail and grocery stores. More information is available on the State's website. The order will remain in effect for at least three weeks and will be lifted when the region's projected ICU capacity meets or exceeds 15%.

LA COUNTY TEMPORARY HEALTH ORDER Updated December 9

On December 9, the County updated the Temporary Health Officer Order to align with the State's policy on outdoor playgrounds and provide clarity. Outdoor playgrounds are to remain open with physical distancing and safety protocols in place. Meanwhile, outdoor recreation activities must be limited to individual or households. The Order will remain in effect at least through December 27. For more information on all the current restrictions, see the Temporary Health Officer Order. 

Public Health guidance for HOlidays 

As people prepare for the holidays, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) released guidance on COVID-safe and permitted ways to celebrate the holidays and travel while minimizing the risk of exposure and helping slow the spread of the coronavirus. See the complete guidance for celebrating the holidays.

GOVERNOR newsom's TRAVEL ADVISORY 

On November 13, in light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Governor Newsom, along with Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee, issued a travel advisory urging against non-essential out-of-state travel, recommending people self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving from another state or country and encouraging residents to stay local.

DRive-Through COVID testing at City Hall DECember 12, 16 & 18

The City has partnered with Malibu Medical Group to offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing at City Hall. Testing began on Wednesday, December 2 and will continue next week. Upcoming testing days include Saturday, December 12, Wednesday, December 16 and Friday, December 18 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Anyone seeking to be tested must be in line by 2:00 PM to get a test that day. Registration is required prior to your test. 

Through this partnership the Malibu Medical provides RT-PCR tests, commonly referred to as the nasal swab test, and Rapid Antigen tests to those with symptoms to help identify positive cases more quickly and help slow the spread of COVID-19 through the area.

To register, please click on this link and complete the HIPPA Compliant form. The cost of specimen collection and laboratory testing will be passed along to your insurance or the CARES Act. Therefore, you will need to supply all demographic information, insurance information and a copy of your insurance card. If you are uninsured, you must provide a driver license number or your Social Security number and sign an attestation verifying your lack of insurance coverage. All PCR results will be sent directly to patients through the laboratory’s patient portal. All Rapid Antigen results will be published through the Malibu Medical Group patient portal.  

MASK ORDINANCE

On November 5, Council adopted Ordinance No. 473 requiring the use of face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff report is available on the City's website. The ordinance requires the use of a face covering over both the nose and mouth with certain exceptions. Exceptions include when persons in a residential zone, or vehicle, who are six feet away or more from any person who is not part of their household and others considerations based on age, medical requirements, the need to communicate with persons who are hearing impaired, and participation in water-based activities. The ordinance also subjects violations to a fine of $50 per violation but allow an individual to avoid citation if they immediately comply with the ordinance. 

Temporary No Parking to Limit Social Gatherings

In response to the increase in cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, the City has filed a new emergency request with the California Coastal Commission to re-install temporary no parking signs in multiple locations in Malibu that were taken down when limitations for public gatherings were laxed. The intent is to limit social gatherings and promote social distancing to preserve the public’s health. Signs have been installed along Pacific Coast Highway by Latigo Shore Drive, Rambla Vista and west of Trancas Canyon Road.

SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

The City Council continues to implement planning regulations to help local businesses impacted by COVID-19 public health orders. On September 14, the Council adopted an ordinance to temporarily waive certain sign regulations to help businesses advertise. Ordinance 471U provides local businesses temporary assistance in promoting their businesses and attracting customers. The ordinance allows business owners and non-residential use operators to install up to two temporary signs. Temporary signs may include portable signs (A-frame or sandwich board type signs), wall signs, window signs and banners for purposes of advertising a business or non-residential use located within the City. The ordinance allows placement of up to one of these temporary signs in the public right-of-way or in a private street or easement. Temporary sign permits may be approved by the Planning Director administratively. To submit a temporary sign permit application (no fee required), email mplanning@malibucity.org..

PESTICIDE BAN UPDATE

On December 9, 2019, the City Council adopted a Local Coastal Program Amendment that bans the use of pesticides, including insecticides, rodenticides, or any toxic chemical substance which has the potential to significantly degrade biological resources in the City. The amendment was submitted to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) for certification. In September 2020, the CCC granted CCC staff an one-year extension to hold the hearing. The City was recently informed by CCC staff that they are planning to hold the hearing in March 2021. More information is available on the City's project page.

LA COUNTY WATERWORKS DRAFT EIR COMMENTS DUE DECEMBER 14

Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 29 has released the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for critical water system improvements that are proposed over the next six years. The updates will improve water supply reliability for customers in the City of Malibu and the LA County unincorporated community of Topanga.

Draft EIR Documents are available online on the LA County Waterworks website. Comments on the CEQA EIR must be submitted by December 14, 2020 via email or mail to: Eduardo Maguino, Project Manager, Los Angeles County Public Works, Waterworks Division, PO Box 1460, Alhambra, CA 91802-1460 or WaterworksProjects@dpw.LACounty.gov.

MALIBU REBUILDS STATISTICS

Since the last update, another 5 families received building permits. Here are the current rebuild statistics:

• Single Family Dwellings planning approvals issued - 279
• Single Family Dwellings building permits issued – 164
• Single Family Dwelling complete- 17

MALIBU REBUILDS – NOVEMBER 8, 2020 DEADLINE

The deadline to submit an application to rebuild non-conforming homes and structures without having to bring the structure into compliance or seek variances was November 8, 2020. On November 23, the City Council held a public hearing on Ordinance No. 476 to extend the November 8 deadline by one year as well as the deadline to obtain a building permit.  On December 14, the Council will hold a second hearing on the ordinance. The staff report is available on the City's website. The proposed deadlines are shown here. 

For those who have missed the November 8 deadline but would like to benefit from the City’s Woolsey Fire Fee Waiver Program, please submit a complete application to the Planning Department prior to the December 30, 2020 deadline. The Planning Department is conditionally accepting planning verifications for legal nonconforming structures in an effort to allow homeowners to apply for the City’s Woolsey Fire Fee Waiver Program. The rebuild application will be accepted but cannot be processed unless the City Council extends the deadline. For more information, please contact Aakash Shah at ashah@malibucity.org or at (310) 456-2489, ext. 385. 

MALIBU REBUILDS – FEE WAIVER DEADLINES

Fee waiver applications must be received by December 30, 2020, all required Planning Department applications for the project must be deemed complete by December 30, 2020, and all required building permits must be obtained by June 30, 2021. Please note that the Woolsey Fire fee waivers are non-transferable should the property change ownership. If a waiver is obtained, a Certificate of Occupancy will only be issued to the property owner who filed the affidavit establishing primary residence at the time of the Woolsey Fire. All fees associated with post-approval revisions to the project’s Planning Department approval or building permit issuance will not be waived and will be charged in accordance the City’s Adopted Fee Schedule prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. For more information, visit the City’s Fee Waiver web page.

MALIBU REBUILDS – REBUILD PLANNING CONSULTATIONS 

The Fire Rebuild team is available for complimentary one-on-one consultations about any fire rebuild project. Contact Aakash Shah at ashah@malibucity.org to set an appointment for phone or online meeting. For ideas about how to get started with your project, visit the Rebuild Page, where you can view rebuild options and find all related forms and handouts.

MALIBU REBUILDS – BUILDING HEIGHT 

New homes under construction will be required to submit a Height Survey Certification at framing inspection in order to verify City-approved heights. Any projects that are built to a height that is higher than allowed by code or by approved plans may be subject to a Stop Work Order, project revisions to remove the excess height or additional permitting to allow the height (if feasible). If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Planning staff at 310-456-2489, ext. 385. 

SCE’S CLEAN ENERGY AND RESILIENCY (CLEAR) REBUILD PROGRAM

SCE is providing enhanced incentives up to $17,500 for energy-efficient new home construction in areas affected by the Woolsey Fire. The CLEAR Program offers enhanced incentives to encourage rebuilding to or above the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24), including clean, energy-efficient, solar and battery storage, and resilient design. If interested, email CLEAR@sce.com or call 1-866-723-2257. More information on fire rebuild resources and rebates is available on the City's website.

BUILDING SAFETY ONLINE PERMITTING and plan check SERVICES

Over the counter permits and plan checks can now be submitted through the City's Online Building Permit Request Portal. To help facilitate Building Safety reviews, Building Safety has transitioned to electronic plan check submittals, permits, and invoices. Visit the City’s Building and Safety web page to find out how to start an electronic plan check submittal and permit request or email mbuilding@malibucity.org for more information.

FIRE-RESISTANT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE 

In response to the Woolsey Fire, in March 2020, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 461 - the Fire- Resistant Landscaping Ordinance. The Ordinance strives to minimize the risks to life and property as a result of fire, and protect property from damage caused by fires, by restricting the fuels available for the spread of fires.  The City has launched a web page to help homeowners comply with the ordinance and to further protect their homes. For more information, visit the Fire-Resistant Landscaping web page.

2020 WILDFIRE SEASON PREPAREDNESS

The City’s Public Safety staff are prepared and ready to respond in the event of a wildfire that is threatening Malibu. Although fires can happen any time during the year, the most damaging fires occur in the fall and early winter when hot, dry, powerful Santa Ana winds are blowing, and fuel moistures are low. With each Red Flag Warning, the City’s EOC Team is placed on standby and all city employees are advised to be prepared for a full response. In addition, Public Safety staff participate in daily conference calls with County Fire and the National Weather Service to ensure that the City’s situational awareness is up to speed. More information on fire and emergency preparedness is available on the City's Public Safety web page

2020 WILDFIRE SEASON: EVACUATION PLAN

At its regular meeting on February 24, 2020, the City Council adopted the Mass Evacuation Plan as an update to the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. The Mass Evacuation Plan was one of the findings of a working group assembled after the 2018 Woolsey Fire to improve disaster coordination, communication, and evacuation among all of the public agencies that might respond to a disaster in Malibu. The Evacuation Plan, Evacuation Zone Maps, Evacuation terms and a search function to find out what your home’s Zone is, are all available on the City’s Evacuations web page.  The Evacuation Plan was recently updated to incorporate the State’s new evacuation terminology, including:

• Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
• Evacuation Warning: Potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.
• Shelter in Place: Go indoors. Shut and lock doors and windows. Prepare to self-sustain until further notice and/or contacted by emergency personnel for additional direction.
• Evacuation Order(s) Lifted: The formal announcement of lifting evacuations in an area currently under evacuation.
• Hard Closure: Closed to all traffic except fire and law enforcement.
• Soft Closure: Closed to all traffic except Fire, law enforcement and critical incident resources (i.e. Caltrans, city/county roads etc. or those needed to repair or restore infrastructure).
• Resident Only Closure: Soft closure with the additional allowance of residents and local government agencies assisting with response and recovery.

2020 WILDFIRE SEASON: EVACUATION ZONES

As part of the City’s Mass Evacuation Plan, the City partnered with the Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff’s Departments to establish official Evacuation Zones. The Zones follow Malibu’s historic fire corridors. In the event of a large fire, officials may use the Evacuation Zones to quickly identify the timing, order, and routes of evacuation for specific areas to be more effective and avoid traffic bottlenecks. 

On September 14, the City mailed postcards to residents with information on their assigned Evacuation Zone. Residents are encouraged to become familiar with their Zone and evacuation routes and memorize their Evacuation Zone number. The Zones are available to view on the City’s website at: MalibuCity.org/Evac. Residents may also search by their address to learn the Zone in which their home is located on the City's website at: MalibuCity.org/ZoneSearch

2020 WILDFIRE SEASON: WILDFIRE AND FIRE SAFETY WEB PAGE

To help prepare for peak wildfire season, community members are encouraged to visit the City’s Wildfire and Fire Safety page, for ongoing information and resources. Topics featured on the webpage include:

• Home Ignition Zone Assessments
• The Community Wildfire Protection Plan
• How to Create a Defensible Home
• How to Build an Action Plan
• Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch
• Live Fuel Moisture
• House Fire Safety
• Weed Whacker Safety

For more information about any of these topics, contact Fire Safety Liaison Jerry Vandermeulen at 310-456-2489, ext. 387 or JVandermeulen@malibucity.org, or FireSafety@malibucity.org.

2020 WILDFIRE SEASON: CURRENT LIVE FUEL MOISTURE

Tracking live fuel moisture (LFM) is an important part of maintaining situational awareness and determining critical fire danger and/or Red Flag Conditions. The LFM in the Santa Monica Mountains is at a critical level of 60%. LFM is defined as the percentage of water content to dry matter content in live vegetation. LFM can be as high as 200% and critical levels (60% or less) are usually reached by mid-October in a “normal” year. The Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Division conducts sampling approximately every two weeks and posts the results on their website. The full Los Angeles County Live Fuel Moisture summary and the current Santa Monica Mountains Live Fuel Moisture are both available online.

2020 WILDFIRE SEASON: SIGN UP FOR ALERTS AND DISASTER NOTIFICATIONS

If you are not already signed up to receive alerts and disaster notifications, now is the time to get that done. Make sure all members of your family, business, or organization are signed up for emergency, weather and traffic alerts by text and email from the City. To sign up, visit the E-notify web page and scroll down to Alert Center. When there is an imminent threat to any part of our community or evacuations, the City issues Disaster Notifications (similar to reverse 9-1-1) to the specific area that is being threatened. Last year, the City acquired a database of all cell phone numbers with accounts with a 90265 address. If you wish create an account or edit an existing account in the City’s Disaster Notification System, you can  you can visit the Disaster Notifications sign up portal, create a profile, and change your contact information. If the threat is widespread, the City can issue a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) which goes to all cell phones within the City with no subscriptions necessary, so it reaches visitors as well as residents. For more information about all of the City’s different types of alerts, go to the City’s web page.

2020 WILDFIRE SEASON: OBTAIN A DOLPHIN DECAL FOR RESIDENT ONLY ROAD CLOSURES

Malibu’s Dolphin Decal vehicle identification program was established to assist emergency personnel in identifying residents and other individuals who need to access their homes and businesses during some types of emergencies. In the event of a Resident Only road closure, the Dolphin Decal may expedite passage into the restricted area. When approaching a roadblock, all motorists will be checked for proof of residency or business in the Malibu area or to ensure they have a Dolphin Decal on their vehicle. This decal is used to assist in identification only and gives no special rights or privileges to the holder. Decals are non-transferable and non-refundable. There is no expiration date on the decals. To register for a Dolphin Decal, or for more information, visit the Dolphin Decal Program Page or call City Hall at 310-456-2489. 

2020 WILDFIRE SEASON: EMERGENCY SURVIVAL GUIDE

The Malibu Emergency Survival Guide is now available. The Guide is based on the Los Angeles County Survival Guide but customized for Malibu. This comprehensive guide includes information about creating an emergency plan, emergency food and supplies, what to do when disaster strikes, basic first aid, important phone numbers and hazards specific to Malibu. The City encourages neighborhood and community groups to make an appointment to pick up the booklets in bulk to distribute in your neighborhood. To make an appointment to pick up the guide for your neighborhood/community group, contact Sarah Kaplan, Public Safety Specialist, at skaplan@malibucity.org or 310-456-2489, ext. 368. 

NEW Short-Term Rental Permit program effective january 15, 2021

Effective January 15, 2021, the short-term rental of residential property can only be conducted in accordance with a valid Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit as established by Ordinance No. 468. The Enforcement Ordinance creates a new Short-term Rental (STR) Permit system to regulate the short-term rental of residential property to provide enforcement tools to regulate short-term rentals. Effective January 15, 2021, the short-term rental of residential property can only be conducted in accordance with a valid STR Rental Permit. Failure to have a STR Permit as of January 15, 2021 may result in violations or fines. The STR Permit Application is now available on the City's website at MalibuCity.org/STR.

Property owners are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible as it may take some time to review the application. For questions or assistance filling out your application, please contact STRSupport@malibucity.org or call the City’s short-term rental support line at (310) 456-2489, ext. 381.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS - HOSTED ORDINANCE

On November 23, 2020, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 472 (Hosted STR Ordinance) to establish provisions to regulate short-term rental of property citywide which include, but are not limited to, requiring the presence of an onsite host during short-term rentals, primary residency requirements and multifamily restrictions. See the November 23 staff report and November 5 staff report for more information. The Host STR Ordinance regulations cannot go into effect until the associated Local Coastal Program Amendment is certified by the California Coastal Commission. 

PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN implemented at CORRAL BEACH AND ZUMA BEACH AREAS

On September 14, the City Council adopted Ordinance 469 to implement overnight parking restrictions in the Corral Beach and Zuma Beach areas. In order to implement the Ordinance, a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) was required for each area. On October 19, the Planning Commission approved CDPs for the signs to be installed. The appeal period for the CDPs ended on November 17 and the signs were installed in the Corral Beach and Zuma Beach areas on November 18.

OVERSIZE VEHICLE ORDINANCE 

In December 2017, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 427, the Oversize Vehicle Ordinance, which implemented parking restrictions for commercial oversize vehicles and trailers, and non-commercial oversize vehicles and trailers. In order to implement the Ordinance, a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) is required. The City will begin to process the required CDP application in the first quarter of 2021. 

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES APPLICATION REVIEW

On September 29, Council directed that the City issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Wireless Communication Facilities (WCF) Application Review Services. The RFP was issued for 30 days and is available on the City's website. Proposals were due Monday, November 30. The City received 4 proposals. Staff will conducted interviews and evaluate the proposals and associated fees. The award of contract is tentatively scheduled to be considered by the City Council on January 11, 2021.

wireless communication facility ordinance update Public workshop December 16

The City is currently in the process of updating its Wireless Communication Facility Ordinance. On Wednesday, December 16 at 6:00 PM, the City will host a virtual public workshop to solicit comments from the community on a draft ordinance and desired outcomes. The agenda for the meeting is available at on the City's website. The workshop will include an overview of the existing City ordinance as well as the federal and state regulatory frameworks for wireless facilities. This meeting is the first of a series of public meetings to review the proposed ordinance update which will include a City Council Zoning Ordinance Revisions and Code Enforcement Subcommittee Meeting, Planning Commission Meeting and City Council Meeting. More information about how to view and participate in the public workshop will be available on the project web page it gets closer. In addition, staff has created a timeline for the development of the proposed Wireless Communication Facility Ordinance Update.

MALIBU JEWISH CENTER & SYNAGOGUE PROJECT

On December 7, 2020, the Planning Commission held a virtual public hearing to consider the Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue Project Coastal Development Permit and the CEQA environmental document. After deliberations, the Commission continued the hearing to a date uncertain. The December 7 staff report is available on the City's website.

VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

The Environmental Sustainability Department’s Virtual Environmental Center allows residents to enjoy virtual activities from home and learn about the City’s environmental projects. Virtual activities include SMMUSD Go Green Challenge for students, Smart Gardening webinars (November), Know Your H2O webinars (December-January), California Friendly Landscaping and Turf Removal webinars (December), and recycling tips. 

HHW & E-WASTE EVENT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12

LA County will host a free household hazardous (HHW) and E-waste event behind Malibu Library on Saturday, December 12 from 9:00 AM to 3 PM. Attendees are asked to wear a face covering and remain in their vehicles with windows closed. Staff will remove items from your trunk/pick-up bed. More information about the event and the list of accepted items, is available on the City's website.

$160 rebate available for SPRINKLER UPgrades

Through Malibu Smart, a partnership between the City, West Basin Municipal Water District, and LA County Waterworks District 29, residents can take advantage of enhanced rebates for water saving devices. The rebate for switching out old standard sprinkler timers for smart timers, also known as weather-based irrigation controllers, was recently doubled to $160. These smart timers easily adjust the watering schedule based on the weather, saving water and money. For more information on the rebates available, visit www.socalwatersmart.com. 

SMART THERMOSTATS and BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE incentives 

Though Clean Power Alliance’s (CPA) Power Response program, residents with smart thermostats or battery energy storage systems can receive financial incentives for modifying their energy equipment use during times of peak energy demand between 4:00 - 9:00 PM on weekdays. For a limited time, participants will earn $100 for enrolling and get an additi­onal $100 yearly participation reward. To learn more or enroll, visit www.cleanpoweralliance.org/repowerresponse 

VIRTUAL RECREATION CENTER

The Community Services Department’s Virtual Recreation Center (VRC) allows residents to enjoy recreation programs from home during the pandemic. The VRC features a wide variety of programs, activities, and classes designed to help residents of any age stay active and entertained. Programs are updated frequently, so make sure to visit the Virtual Recreation Center on a regular basis.

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION TO REVIEW PERMANENT SKATE PARK SITE AMENITIES

On Tuesday, December 15, the Parks and Recreation Commission will review potential site amenities for the Permanent Skate Park. The Commission approved the Preliminary Design for the Permanent Skate Park at the Virtual Regular meeting on Tuesday, November 17, and will review site amenities such as seating, tables, shade, and landscaping at the December Regular Meeting. Once potential site amenities are determined, the project will be reviewed by the Public Works Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council in 2021. You can watch the November 17 Commission meeting, see the Preliminary Design, or view the Design Consultant’s Presentations by visiting the City's Skate Park Web Page.

Virtual poetry Program December 12

On Saturday, December 12, Malibu Poet Laureate Dr. John Struloeff will host Caffeinated Verse, an open mic poetry program featuring two guest poets, Shann Ray and M.L. Smoker.  Both featured readers are Pepperdine University Alumni and accomplished artists. After the readings, there will be an open mic where poets may share their work with peers. The free virtual program begins at 11:00 AM, and attendees may RSVP on the City of Malibu’s website.

Senior Center Winter DRive-Thru

Malibu Seniors are invited to stop by our Senior Center Winter Drive-Thru on Tuesday, December 22 at the Malibu Bluffs Park Parking Lot. The event will take place from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and attendees will receive a holiday gift bag, say hello to Senior Center Staff, and hear holiday music from the safety of their car. Participants must RSVP by Monday, December 14, by contacting Lisa Crespo at LCrespo@malibucity.org or by calling (310)456-2489 ext. 357. Please note that participants will be required to remain in their vehicle and must wear a face covering.

COMMUNITY POOL HOLIDAY CLOSURES

The Community Pool will be closed December 24, 25, 31, and January 1 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays.

CHANGES TO THE METRO 534 Bus

On October 22, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board adopted the Next Gen Bus Plan. The Board Report is available on Metro's website. The plan will renumber Line 534 to 134 and discontinue the route through the Point Dume neighborhood on Cliffside Drive & Dume Road due to underutilized service. 

FEMA PRELIMINARY FLOOD MAPS APPEAL

The City is in the process of appealing the revised FEMA Preliminary Flood Maps. These revised maps change the flood zone and flood depth along the City’s coastline. The proposed changes could have an impact to all existing properties and any new development along the beach. Since December 2019, the City’s consultant (Moffat & Nichol) conducted several conference calls with FEMA regarding the City’s proposed methodology to determine the base flood elevations along the coastline. They also performed a new land survey and then re-calculated the depth of flooding along the coastline. The majority of the sections analyzed showed a lower base flood elevation. The City’s consultant submitted the revised calculations to FEMA for their review. The City received comments from FEMA regarding the City’s Flood Map revisions.  The City’s consultant is working on the responses and will be providing FEMA with additional information within the next few weeks. The letter and more information is available on the City's Floodplain Management web page.

CIVIC CENTER WAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

This project will improve the horizontal and vertical sight distance, create additional space for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclist and transit to travel along Civic Center Way between Malibu Canyon Road and Webb Way. From September 21 to December 2020 (weather permitting) a portion of Civic Center Way between Vista Pacifica and the private driveway of 23901 Civic Center Way will be temporary closed. The temporary closure will include access for emergency vehicles to utilize the street during emergency situations. Work hours will be Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM with some work scheduled on Saturdays. The temporary closure will not prevent access to any adjacent side streets or private driveways. Additionally, the Contractor will not be working during red flag warnings. Current construction activities within phase one and phase two include surveying, grading, layout, subgrade preparation, storm drain inlet construction, placement of new storm drain piping, steel pile installation, pavement repairs and placement of new concrete curb and gutter. Additional information is available on the City’s website. Additional information is available on the City’s website. 

DUME DRIVE AND FERNHILL DRIVE SPEED HUMPS PROJECT

This project includes the installation of speed humps on Dume Drive and Fernhill Drive from Grayfox Street to Cliffside Drive. The project was approved at the November 9. 2020 City Council meeting. Construction is expected to begin around December 16 and be completed by the end of the month.

BLUFFS PARK WORKOUT STATION

The project is located at the Malibu Bluffs Park and consists of removal of the existing zip-line play structure and poured-in-place rubber surface, installation of a new workout station, including a new poured-in-place rubber surface similar to the existing surface, and installation of signage included with the workout station equipment.  On October 12, Council awarded the construction contract to Civic Construction Associates. Demolition work began on November 16 and the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of December.

E-NOTIFICATIONS

The City maintains a robust e-notification system so the community can stay informed about all the City’s activities. Sign up to receive messages by text or email on the City’s e-notifications page.

FURTHER QUESTIONS

For questions or comments, contact the City Manager at RFeldman@MalibuCity.org.

See Past City Manager Updates