Upcoming
(NEW) MALIBU REBUILDS - STATISTICS
Staff continues to work with homeowners to rebuild. Here are the current rebuild statistics:
- Single Family Dwellings building permits issued - 210
- Single Family Dwellings complete – 56
- Multifamily building permits issued - 18 units
- Multifamily building units complete- 12 units
CITY HALL OPEN to the public - PUBLIC COUNTER HOURS
City Hall remains open to serve the public during the COVID pandemic, though certain public counters have reduced hours of operation. Appointments are not necessary but can be made on the webpage or by phone.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT - Appointments: 310-456-2489, ext. x390
Permits: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM -12:00 PM, and 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM for walk-ins and appointments. Other times by appointment only.
Building Plan Check: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM -12:00 PM, for walk-ins and appointments. Other times by appointment only.
Environmental Health: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM -12:00 PM, for walk-ins and appointments. Other times by appointment only.
Geology/Coastal: Tuesday and Wednesday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, for walk-ins and appointments. Other times by appointment only.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - Call for appointments: 310-456-2489, ext. 391
PLANNING DEPARTMENT - Appointments: 310-456-2489, ext. 485
Public Counter: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM for walk-ins. Other times by appointment only.
Biology Counter: Tuesdays, 9:00 AM -11:00 AM. Other times by appointment only.
(NEW) CITY COUNCIL EXTENDS FEE WAIVERS ON WOOLSEY FIRE ANNIVERSARY TO HELP RESIDENTS REBUILD
On November 8, the anniversary of the worst wildfire in the City’s history, the City Council voted to extend the permit fee waivers the Council enacted to help residents rebuild homes destroyed during the Woolsey Fire. The deadline was extended for another 18 months. All required Planning Department applications for a project must be deemed complete by June 30, 2023. All required building permits must be pulled by December 30, 2023. Fees will not be waived after December 30, 2023. The City’s Rebuild website and forms have been updated and are available on the Rebuild website. The City Council has made Woolsey Fire rebuilding its top priority after ensuring public safety starting in the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget, and has voted every year to extend the fee waivers, which now account for a total of approximately $5 million in Woolsey rebuild assistance. To date, 56 homes destroyed during the fire have been rebuilt and their owners received their Certificate of Occupancy to be able to move in, and 317 homes have been approved by the Planning Department for rebuilding. See the complete press release.
MALIBU REBUILDS - PLANNING CONSULTATIONS AND REBUILD RESOURCES
The Fire Rebuild team is available Monday through Friday at City Hall 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, as well as numerous handouts, forms and resources, visit the Rebuild webpage.
(new) 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 November 11, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) confirmed 18 new deaths and 1,441 new cases of COVID-19. Other key updates from the County’s COVID-19 Dashboard as of November 11, 2021 include the following:
- 701 confirmed positive cases and 11 deaths in the City of Malibu to date
- 1,507,736 confirmed cases and 26,814 deaths in LA County to date
- 617 current hospitalizations in LA County, a decrease of 33 since October 26
(NEW) HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS REMOVED FROM ZUMA CREEK AREA
Several homeless encampments have been cleared and cleaned up in the Zuma Creek area as a result of the efforts by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) in coordination with City staff and the County Department of Beaches and Harbors. Now that the area is cleared, the City, in conjunction with Beaches and Harbors, will close the area in accordance with the City’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) Ordinance and the Sheriff’s Department will conduct daily patrols of the area to keep it clear. Public Safety staff will be meeting with LASD deputies and HOST members next week to coordinate efforts to clear several smaller encampments in other areas of the City.
On October 11, 2021, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency made on August 25, continuing a program for reducing the risk of fires associated with individuals living unhoused and otherwise engaged in unpermitted and unregulated camping. The resolution prohibits homeless encampments in VHFHSZs, which encompasses the entire City of Malibu, and directed staff to collaborate with the Malibu Outreach Team, LASD and the HOST Team to identify encampments, provide the necessary notifications, and remove encampments. For more information, visit the webpage.
(NEW) LIVE FUEL MOISTURE & FIRE CONDITIONS UPDATE - lfm 61%, NEAR CRITICAL
As of October 31, Live Fuel Moisture (LFM) in the Santa Monica Mountains is at 61%, up slightly from 56% two weeks earlier. Despite recent rains, fuels are still near critical level, the drought has dried out local vegetation, and powerful, hot, dry winds, low humidity and high temperatures are dominating current weather conditions. Any Santa Ana wind events could create dangerous wildfire conditions. The City tracks LFM as an important part of determining current fire conditions for our community. LFM is the percentage of water content to dry matter in live vegetation. LFM can be as high as 200%, and 60% is considered critical and can cause extreme wildfire behavior. The Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Division conducts sampling approximately every two weeks and posts the results on their website. For current and forecast fire weather conditions and warnings for the Malibu area, visit the National Weather Service, Los Angeles/Oxnard website (type "Malibu" or "90265" in the search box).
(NEW) CITY'S NEW FREE FIRE HAZARD TREE REMOVAL PROGRAM UNDERWAY
The Fire Hazard Tree Removal Program got under way on November 9, and in the first week two dead pine trees, one dead pepper tree, one dead sycamore tree and 16 dead Ficus trees were removed from properties in Malibu. The Public Safety Liaison and contractor also cleared vegetation from two overgrown fire hydrants, and one obscured traffic sign. The work resumes on more properties next week. The new grant-funded program is part of the City’s efforts to help homeowners be better prepared and protect their homes and properties from wildfires, and help reduce fire hazards throughout the community. Removing hazard trees helps create defensible space and removes flammable materials, making a home more resistant to wildfires. In addition, dead and dying trees are often weak and brittle, and if they collapse, they can damage a home or vehicle, block a road, destroy utilities, or even cause injury or death. For more information, call the Fire Safety Liaison at 310-456-2489, ext. 387 or email FireSafety@MalibuCity.org, or visit the Fire Safety webpage.
HOME WILDFIRE HARDENING SEMINAR AVAILABLE TO VIEW ONLINE
You can watch video of the Fire Safety Liaison's Home Wildfire Hardening Assessment service online any time. The video instructs residents about the dangers of flying embers that can rain down on a home and property during a wildfire, a leading cause of homes igniting and burning down during wildfires like the Woolsey Fire. If these embers land in receptive fuels or become lodged in something easily ignited on or near a house, like dry wood decking and fencing, dead vegetation, lawn furniture or uncovered attic vents, the home can burn down. The seminar demonstrated the simple and often inexpensive ways residents can harden and protect their home against the threat of flying embers ahead of time.
WILDFIRE SEASON PREPAREDNESS - SCHEDULE YOUR HOME WILDFIRE HARDENING ASSESSMENT
The City continues to offer its no-cost Home Ignition Zone Assessment Program for homeowners. The Fire Liaisons will visit your home and give you a checklist of simple, often inexpensive steps you can take to harden your home against flying embers, a major cause of homes igniting during wind-driven wildfires like the Woolsey Fire. To schedule an appointment or for help with wildfire preparedness, email Firesafety@malibucity.org or call 310-456-2489, ext. 387 or visit the Fire Safety webpage.
GIVE YOUR INPUT ON DESIRED QUALITIES FOR A NEW PERMANENT CITY MANAGER
The City Council wants to hear from community members about the desired qualities for a new permanent City Manager as part of the recruitment process. Written comments can be submitted by email to the City Council at citycouncil@malibucity.org. Video of the October 27 Special Council meeting to discuss the City Manager recruitment process is available to view online.
(NEW) PROPOSED MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATE - COUNTY HEARING, NOVEMBER 10
On September 18, the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Committee on School District Organization (LACOE County Committee) concluded the preliminary public hearing on the City’s petition to form an independent Malibu Unified School District and voted 8 to 2 to move the City’s petition forward into the regular petition process. On November 10, the County Committee held a public meeting on the City’s petition as part of the regular petition process. Approximately 200 people attended the virtual hearing. Many Malibu residents spoke in favor of the City’s petition. A link to a recording of the meeting will be posted on the City’s website as soon as it is available. State guidelines recommend that the LACOE County Committee review the feasibility report and vote on the City’s petition within 120 days of the hearing. For further updates and more information, visit the City’s webpage.
responses for survey about PROPOSED MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT due november 12
As part of its ongoing effort to form an independent Malibu Unified School District (MUSD), the City is launching a community visioning project to develop a set of community values to serve as a roadmap for the development of the proposed MUSD. As part of this process, the City is launching a survey to solicit feedback from community members regarding what they value and what they want from the future MUSD. The survey is available online. Survey responses are due November 12. All community members are encouraged to complete the survey regardless of whether or not they have school-aged children. For more information about the City’s school district separation efforts, visit the City’s webpage.
(NEW) ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS HEARING DECEMBER 6
In response to recent changes in California state laws, on December 6 at 6:30 PM, the Planning Commission will hold a virtual public hearing on the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) draft ordinance to amend the Malibu Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program. The draft ordinance presented will include the comments the Commission provided on May 20, 2021. A staff report will be available online prior to the hearing. See the Notice of Public Hearing for details. In general, an ADU is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a stand-alone, single-family home. For more information related to ADU regulations, visit the webpage.
(NEW) DARK SKY ORDINANCE HEARING DECEMBER 13
The Planning Commission, per the City Council direction on September 27, held a public hearing on November 1 to consider amending the compliance deadlines of the Dark Sky Ordinance. The Commission recommended the Council approve a staggered schedule to achieve compliance as follows: March 30, 2022 for development within commercial zoning districts, June 15, 2022 for development within an institutional zoning district, and October 15, 2022 for development within residential zoning districts. On September 27, when the Council initiated the amendment proceedings, it initially proposed all zoning districts to come into compliance by October 15, 2022. The City Council will hold a virtual public hearing on this matter on December 13, 2021. The staff report will be available online prior to the hearing. For more information about the ordinance, visit the project webpage.
NOVEMBER 1 PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING ON MALIBU INN MOTEL PROJECT POSTPONED TO DECEMBER 6
The Planning Commission public hearing on the Malibu Inn Motel project environmental document and project entitlements scheduled for November 1 was postponed to Monday, December 6. On September 8, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the Malibu Inn Motel project environmental document and project entitlements, and the item was continued to November 1. The Commission requested a supplemental report from staff clarifying the project’s required and proposed floor area ratio. The December 6 staff report will be available on the website prior to the meeting. Based on the required entitlements and because no code amendments are required, the project only requires a hearing before Planning Commission. The project is subject to a local appeal period and is within the Appeal Jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission. If the project is not appealed, the Planning Commission's decision will be final. For more information about the project, visit the webpage.
DRAFT HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE HEARING NOVEMBER 15
On Monday, November 15, 6:30 PM the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to the City Council on the 2021-2029 update of the City of Malibu General Plan Housing Element which establishes and implements specific goals, policies and objectives relative to the provision of housing for all income levels consistent with the state housing element law. The staff report is available on the website. For more information see the hearing notice or visit the Housing Element webpage.
CALTRANS VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING ABOUT PCH BIG ROCK RETAINING WALL PROJECT, NOVEMBER 18
Caltrans will hold a virtual community meeting about its PCH Big Rock Retaining Wall Project in Malibu on Thursday, November 18 at 6:00 PM. All community members are invited to attend, learn about the project and ask questions. Caltrans is planning a permanent slope restoration on PCH in Malibu to repair storm damage from the winter of 2015-2016. Construction of the $12.4 million project just south (east) of Big Rock Drive is scheduled from September 2022 through July 2023. Utility relocation will take place from September 2021 through October 2022. The work zone spans 180 feet on southbound PCH , which will require shifting lanes toward the hillside to make room for special construction equipment. Background information about the project and viewing and commenting instructions for the meeting are on the website.
caltrans suspends crosswalk project at pch and corral canyon
Caltrans has suspended its Corral Canyon Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Crosswalk Project due to the City of Malibu’s and residents’ concerns about the proposed pedestrian traffic signal and Coastal Development Permit (CDP) requirements from the City to conduct an environmental impact studies. Caltrans is removing the proposed pedestrian hybrid beacon traffic signal from the proposed project. As an interim safety measure, Caltrans will be installing flashing beacons and traffic signs. Caltrans will work with the City on alternatives for a future project and will conduct additional community outreach.
(NEW) expect traffic delays due to MALIBU HALF MARATHON AND 5K saturday and sunday
The 2021 Malibu Half Marathon and 5K will take place on Saturday, November 13, and Sunday, November 14, in the Zuma Beach Area. The City expects a significant number of visitors and traffic delays in the area on both days between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Traffic on Pacific Coast Highway will be impacted due to the following partial lane closures: Saturday, November 13, 6:30 – 9:00 AM on PCH between Westward Beach Road to Trancas Canyon Road; and Sunday, November 14, 6:30 – 12:00 PM on PCH between Westward Beach Road and Decker Canyon Road. For more information, visit the event website.
(NEW) POETRY WORKSHOP, NOVEMBER 20
Join Malibu Poet Laureate Ann Buxie at Caffeinated Verse on Saturday, November 20 at 11:00 AM. The poetry program will be held virtually through Zoom with featured reader Peter J. Harris, followed by an open mic format. To RSVP or for more information, visit the Poetry web page or call 310-456- 2489, ext. 350.
(NEW) CALL FOR ARTISTS FOR VERSE ABOUT TOWN POETRY EVENT
Local writers are invited to submit original poems of 50 lines or fewer to be featured in the Malibu Poet Laureate Committee’s program "Verse About Town." Poems will be displayed at various City parks and facilities around Malibu and will rotate monthly. Visit the Poetry web page for submission and program details.
(NEW) WINTER RECREATION GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE
The Winter 2022 Recreation Guide is available on the Community Services Department web page. The Recreation Guide highlights upcoming programs offered December 2021 through February 2022, including Winter Break Day Camps, Student Art Exhibit, Afterschool Enrichment Programs, Senior Programs and facility hours. The Guide also includes informative articles and contact information for City departments and services. Online registration for recreation programs begins Monday, November 15 at 8:00 AM on the Registration web page.
(NEW) SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS ISSUED FOR UPCOMING WEEK
There are four permitted events November 12 through 18, 2021. The City posts a weekly report of approved event permits on the website. To sign up to receive an email or text message when an updated Event Permit Report is posted, visit the e-notifications page (scroll down to the "Special Event Permit Report" category).
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 SMcClary@MalibuCity.org.
See Past City Manager Updates