News Flash

UPCOMING

• Monday, September 5 - Labor Day Holiday, City Hall and Swimming Pool closed 
• Tuesday, September 6, 6:30 PM - Planning Commission Regular Meeting - virtual 
• Wednesday, September 7, 5:00 PM - Public Safety Commission Regular Meeting - virtual 
• Thursday, September 8, 5:00 PM – Everbridge Disaster Notification System Drill - Evacuation Zone 11
• Monday, September 12, 6:30 PM - City Council Regular Meeting - virtual 
• Tuesday, September 13, 9:00 AM - NOAA Weather Radio Distribution - Senior Center 
• Tuesday, September 13, 6:00 PM - Annual Community Fire Season Briefing - virtual 
• Thursday, September 15, 5:00 PM – Everbridge Disaster Notification System Drill - Evacuation Zone 12

(NEW) NOVEMBER 8, 2022 MALIBU GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

The nomination period for candidates for City Council in Malibu’s 2022 General Municipal Election closed on August 17, 2022 at 5:30 PM. Six candidates filed nomination papers before the deadline and all six have qualified for inclusion on the ballot to fill the two open City Council seats. California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber reported the ballot order for the November 8, 2022 ballot to the City will be: 

• Marianne Riggins
• Ryan Embree
• Jimy Tallal
• Bill Sampson
• Doug Stewart
• Hap Henry

All City election information will be posted and updated on the website. 

(NEW) NOVEMBER 8, 2022 MALIBU GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - “MEASURE MC” TRANSACTIONS AND USE (SALES) TAX

Measure MC, the City’s Transactions and Use (Sales) Tax will appear on the November 8, 2022 ballot. If approved by voters, the measure will raise the sales tax in Malibu from 9.5% to 10%, and the City could use the revenue for, among other potential uses to benefit the community:  

• Support public safety services including crime and fire prevention. 
• Address homelessness.
• Keep parks and other public areas safe and clean.
• Prevent speeding and reckless driving.
• Protect coastal waters and beaches from pollution.
• Preserve natural areas.
• Support local businesses.
• Support other general city services

The following Taxpayer Safeguards will be in place:

• Basic necessities like groceries and prescription medications won’t be taxed.
• All funds generated by Measure MC will be for the City of Malibu to provide general services.
• By law, the County and State cannot take this funding away.
• Mandatory financial audits and annual public reports to ensure funds are spent properly. 

This message is provided as a public service by the City of Malibu for your information only. For more information, visit the City’s Elections webpage.

(NEW) LA COUNTY TO CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE FREE NOAA WEATHER RADIOS SEPTEMBER 13 AT CITY HALL

The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACOFD) will continue distributing free National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios to Malibu residents Tuesday, September 13, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the Senior Center at City Hall. Registration in advance is required online. OEM is authorized to use NOAA alerting signals to alert the public in LA County about wildfires, earthquakes and other disasters by sending out an alert message over the NOAA weather radio frequencies. With an NOAA weather radio, you can receive emergency information power and communications are knocked out. Limit of one per household. For more information contact megan.currier@fire.lacounty.gov. The NOAA Weather Radios will also be distributed on Thursday, September 8, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM at Calabasas City Hall (100 Civic Center Way, Calabasas) and on Monday, September 12, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM at Fire Station 65 (4206 Cornell Rd, Agoura).

(NEW) wildfire season - FIRE CONDITIONS UPDATE

As part of continuous wildfire preparedness, the City tracks Live Fuel Moisture (LFM) and other fire indicators such as relative humidity, temperature, and dead fuel moisture. These elements are an important part of determining current fire conditions. The LFM is the percentage of water content to dry matter in live vegetation. LFM can be as high as 200% and is considered critical at 60% and below. As of August 30, LFM in the Santa Monica Mountains is at 63%, down from 69% two weeks earlier. The slight increase earlier this month is likely due to coastal fog. The Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Division conducts sampling approximately every two weeks and posts the results on their website. With the severity of the current drought, the LFM is expected to trend downward until substantial rainfall occurs. Fuels are as dry as they typically are for this time of year. As summer progresses, LFM will continue to decrease, high temperatures will continue, and relative humidity will continue to drop with less overnight recovery. This will make Malibu’s fire conditions increasingly hazardous. Fortunately, winds are currently low and, despite the extreme heatwave, we are currently not in Red Flag or highly hazardous conditions in the Santa Monica Mountains. Residents are advised to closely monitor fire weather conditions and warnings for the Malibu area, by visiting the National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard website. 

wildfire season - Start Getting Prepared Now

Residents should begin preparing for wildfire season now. Create your family or business emergency plan, including evacuation routes and reunification locations, and gather emergency supplies. If you have them already, review your plans and check the expiration dates on food and medication. Keep vehicle fuel tanks above half full. Make sure you are able to open electric gates or garage doors when the power is out. For preparedness guidance, get the Malibu Survival Guide. Most importantly, make sure flammable materials and vegetation are cleared away from your home. To help you prepare your property, you can schedule a free Home Wildfire Hardening Assessment by emailing FireSafety@MalibuCity.org, calling 310-456-2489, ext. 388 or visiting the Fire Safety webpage. 

wildfire season - SCHEDULE YOUR FREE HOME WILDFIRE HARDENING ASSESSMENT 

Malibu homeowners can schedule a free home wildfire hardening assessment with the City’s Fire Safety Liaisons to learn how to protect your home from the millions of burning embers that can fly up to two miles out ahead of a wind-driven wildfire. Flying embers are a leading cause of homes burning down during wildfires. The 30-60 minute inspections follow the Fire Code and nationally recognized best practices. You can learn simple and often inexpensive steps, such as maintaining good brush clearance, keeping dead vegetation and flammable materials such as wood furniture away from the house, and covering up eave vents with metal mesh. Schedule an appointment by emailing FireSafety@MalibuCity.org or calling 310-456-2489, ext. 388 or visiting the Fire Safety webpage.  

(NEW) wildfire season / National Preparedness Month – weekly Everbridge Disaster Notification System Drill, September 8 

In anticipation of Malibu’s peak wildfire season this fall, the City is getting ready and working to help residents be more prepared for wildfires and other disasters with National Preparedness Month events throughout September. The City will conduct the first of four weekly drills of the Everbridge Disaster Notification System on Thursday, September 8, 5:00 PM. No signups are needed. Look up your Evacuation Zone and maps. 

• Thursday, September 8, 5:00 PM – Evacuation Zone 11
• Thursday, September 15, 5:00 PM – Evacuation Zone 12
• Thursday, September 22, 5:00 PM – Evacuation Zone 13
• Thursday, September 29, 5:00 PM – Evacuation Zone 14

The Everbridge system, which the City has been using for several years for the most serious emergencies that threaten lives and properties, and evacuations, is uploaded with most landlines and cell phone numbers in Malibu. However, residents and businesses can create a profile online to enter additional contact information. If you do not receive the test message for your Evacuation Zone, or would like assistance with your Everbridge contact information, contact the Public Safety Office at PublicSafety@MalibuCity.org. All month, the City will also host preparedness trainings, host the annual Fire Season Community Briefing and host trainings on how to harden your home against wildfires. All event details are posted on the website. 

(NEW) WILDFIRE SEASON / NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH - ANNUAL COMMUNITY FIRE SEASON BRIEFING, SEPTEMBER 13 

All residents, employees, business and organization leaders, students, and other Malibu community members are invited to attend the annual Community Fire Season Briefing Tuesday, September 13, 6:00 PM via Zoom. Los Angeles County Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Drew Smith, a Fire Behavior Analyst, will give a presentation on local Live Fuel Moisture, expected weather patterns, and what that means for fire conditions in Malibu. The meeting can be viewed live or later on-demand. The meeting video will be made available for the public to view afterward. Register for the Zoom event. 

(NEW) COOLING CENTERS AT BLUFFS PARK AND MALIBU LIBRARY DURING HEATWAVE

Due to the extreme heat conditions, the Michael Landon Community Center at Malibu Bluffs Park (PCH and Malibu Canyon Road) will serve as a Cooling Center Wednesday, August 31 through Monday, September 5, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Members of the public can shelter from the heat inside and have access to cold water. The Malibu Library will serve as a Cooling Center Sunday, September 4 and Monday, September 5. Cooling Center hours are Sunday 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, during which time the building will be open, but no library services will be available. Library services will be available during the normal open hours 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Cooling Center hours on Monday, September 5 will be 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM, but no library services will be available due to the Labor Day Holiday. For information on how to stay healthy amidst extreme heat, recognize and address heat-related illness, find local Cooling Centers and free public swimming pools, visit the LA County Department of Public Health webpage.

(NEW) CITY HALL, SENIOR CENTER AND SWIMMING POOL CLOSED MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 FOR LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

The Malibu Community Swimming Pool at Malibu High School, City Hall and the Malibu Senior Center will be closed on Monday, September 5 for the Labor Day holiday. All City parks open are open 8:00 AM to sunset. For more information about City parks and facilities, visit the webpage. 

CITY HALL REMAINS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON A LIMITED BASIS 

City Hall remains open to the public on a limited basis. Regular City Hall hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Fridays 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Members of the public may come to City Hall without an appointment during public counter hours. An appointment will be needed for in-person assistance during any other hours. Visitors will be asked to remain outside the building until they can be helped by staff. Appointments can be made online. Facemasks are no longer required, but are strongly recommended, inside City Hall. 

Public Counter Hours

• Planning: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, walk in. Other times by appointment only.
• Permit Services: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-in and appointment. Other times by appointment only. 
• Building Plan Check: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-in and appointment. Other times by appointment only.
• Environmental Health: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-in and appointment. Other times by appointment only.
• Geology / Coastal Engineering: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-in and appointment. Other times by appointment only.
• Public Works: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, walk-in. Other times by appointment only.

To make virtual appointments with City staff and Departments, please call or email: 

• Building Safety Department (including Environmental Health, Coastal Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering): Call 310-456-2489, ext. 390. Email mbuilding@malibucity.org. 
• Planning Department: Call 310-456-2489, ext. 485. Email mplanning@malibucity.org. 
• Public Works Department: Call 310-456-2489, ext. 391. Email mpublicworks@malibucity.org. 
• All other City business: 310-456-2489, ext. 392. Email info@malibucity.org.

MALIBU SENIOR CENTER AT CITY HALL OPEN FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES 

The Senior Center is open for general and various in-person services and programs Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Facemasks are no longer required, but are strongly recommended while inside City Hall. Seniors can use the general use areas of the Center, including the computer lab, library and various recreation programs. Staff is also available to assist with Dial-A-Ride questions and program registrations. Fresh coffee is available daily from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. For more information, call 310-456-2489, ext. 357 or visit the 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 August 30, 2022, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) confirmed 17 new deaths and 4,829 new cases. Other key updates from the County’s COVID-19 Dashboard  as of August 30, 2022, include the following:   

• 2,642 confirmed positive cases and 13 deaths in the City of Malibu to date 
• 3,408,413 confirmed cases and 33,155 deaths in LA County to date
• 796 current hospitalizations in LA County, a decrease of 213 since August 16  

(NEW) MALIBU REBUILDS - STATISTICS

Staff continues to work with homeowners to rebuild. Here are the current Woolsey Fire rebuild statistics.  See continuously updated statistics on the Rebuild Portal. 

• Single Family Dwellings building permits issued - 240
• Single Family Dwellings complete - 90
• Multifamily building permits issued - 18 units
• Multifamily building units complete- 12 units

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 a meeting by phone or online. For ideas about how to get started with your project, as well as numerous handouts, forms and resources, visit the Rebuild webpage. 

(NEW) VIDEOS AVAILABLE OF DARK SKY EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES

Videos are available of the Dark Sky educational presentations that the City held to help residents and businesses navigate the process of getting into compliance with the City’s Dark Skies Ordinance by the October 15, 2022 deadline. Watch the residential properties presentation. Watch the commercial and multifamily properties presentation. The City's Dark Sky Ordinance is meant to protect Malibu’s wildlife, habitat and quality of life from light pollution. Requirements include light fixtures that are fully shielded, have low color temperature, and direct light downwards. For more details, including resources to help homeowners and businesses comply with the regulations, visit the Dark Sky webpage. 

(NEW) MALIBU CUSTOMERS ASKED TO SUSPEND all OUTDOOR WATERING SEPTEMBER 6-20 DUE TO EMERGENCY WATER PIPELINE REPAIR 

Residents and businesses in Malibu and many other Southern California cities and Water Districts are asked to suspend all outdoor watering September 6 – 20 to help ensure water supplies during emergency repair on an imported water pipeline. This temporary watering restricting supersedes all other drought-related watering restrictions for the impacted areas. With our region’s reliance on imported water and the impact of climate change, Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts and Metropolitan Water District remind customers that making lasting changes in our water use habits will help ensure sustainable water supplies. For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), and tips on water conservation and taking care of trees and plants during the watering restriction, visit the Metropolitan Water District website. 

MANDATORY WATER USE RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT DUE TO DROUGHT

With the current drought estimated to be considerably more extreme than the 2015 drought, the Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts (LACWD) has issued mandatory water use restrictions for communities including the City of Malibu, which is served by Waterworks District 29. LACWD asks all customers to cut back their water usage by 30%. Outdoor and lawn watering is restricted to two days a week based on address numbering and property type:

• Tuesdays and Fridays = residential even number 
• Mondays and Thursdays = residential odd number
• Mondays and Fridays = commercial 
• 10 minutes per station maximum
• Only allowed between 6:00 PM and 10:00 AM 

Separately, the City of Malibu also prohibits spray irrigation between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, and prohibits any landscape irrigation within 48 hours of significant rainfall. See all of the City’s water conservation rules. See the complete list of LACWD water use restrictions at: LACWaterworks.org. 

WATER CONSERVATION REBATES AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE

With mandatory water use restrictions in place due to the drought, residents and businesses are urged to make use of the many rebates and resources available to help save money and water. One of most effective ways to permanently reduce water use is to replace water-thirsty grass lawns with beautiful, drought-resistant landscapes. Malibu residents and businesses can apply for a cash rebate to remove grass lawns of $5 per square foot (up to 5,000 square feet or $25,000 total). Other rebates for Malibu residents include water-saving toilets, laundry machines, sprinkler nozzles, rain barrels and cisterns, weather-based irrigation controllers and soil moisture sensor systems. Rebates and resources for commercial customers include water-saving devices, the Water Savings Incentive Program, the Onsite Retrofit Program, and the Public Agency Turf Replacement and Project Assistance Program. All of the residential and commercial rebates are listed with application instructions on the Socal Water Smart website.    

(NEW) JOIN THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEAN UP DAY ON SEPTEMBER 17

Malibu residents are invited to join the 38th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day events on Saturday, September 17, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM at Corral State Beach, Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Malibu Surfrider Beach (north of the Malibu Pier), Leo Carrillo State Beach and Topanga State Beach. There are organized Coastal Cleanup Day events across the state, which are all listed on the website. Residents can also join the effort on their own by picking up trash along the coast. The event is also a great educational opportunity for kids to learn about the importance of protecting the environment. In 1993, California Coastal Cleanup Day was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “largest garbage collection” ever organized. In 2020, 20,000 California Coastal Cleanup volunteers statewide picked up 188,000 pounds of trash in a single day. 

(NEW) TRANCAS CANYON PARK FIELD CLOSED

The Multipurpose Field at Trancas Canyon Park will be closed for its annual rest and renovation period September 6 through October 18. The rest and renovation period is an essential part in keeping the field safe and playable throughout the year. Other facilities at Trancas Canyon Park will remain open.

(NEW) VIDEO – RATTLESNAKE SEASON SAFETY ON MALIBU TRAILS 

It’s rattlesnake season in the Santa Monica Mountains, and it is common to see these beautiful, protected, native predators on hiking trails in Malibu. Our Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes play a crucial role in the local ecosystem, controlling rodent populations. They avoid humans and not inherently aggressive. When visiting City parks, be aware of your surroundings and treat every location as though a rattlesnake could be present. Stay on trails, keep dogs on leash, and check playground areas before allowing children to use the equipment. If you see a rattlesnake, stay as far away as possible, report the sighting, and do not harm the snake. If City staff are onsite, notify them. If the snake is in a high-traffic area and City staff are not present, call the Agoura Hills Animal Shelter at 818-991-0071. This safety video offers more great tips to keep people, dogs and rattlesnakes safe this summer. 

(NEW) MALIBU ARTS ASSOCIATION PRESENTS ART IN LEGACY PARK

The Malibu Arts Association presents Art in Legacy Park, a free outdoor exhibition showcasing the work of local artists on Sunday, September 25, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Original art pieces including paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media, and fine prints will be offered for sale with proceeds benefitting the Malibu High School Visual Arts Scholarship. 

(NEW) MALIBU LIBRARY SPEAKER SERIES FEATURING NAGIN COX

The Malibu Library Speaker Series will return on Tuesday, September 20, 7:00 PM with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Systems Engineer Nagin Cox. The free, in-person event at the Malibu Library will feature Cox sharing stories of NASA’s journey to Mars from the early rovers to the newest US traveler, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. RSVPs are required on the Speaker Series webpage. 

"caffeinated verse" WORKSHOP with malibu POET LAUREATE, SEPTEMBER 24

Join the City of Malibu’s Poet Laureate Ann Buxie for Caffeinated Verse, with featured reader Charlotte Ward on Saturday, September 24, 11:00 AM at the Malibu Library. The featured reader is followed by an open mic format for poets to share their work. The event is part of the City's free poetry workshops, in partnership with the Malibu Library, the Malibu Poet Laureate Committee, and the Malibu Arts Commission, offering community members engaging, educational opportunities to find expression through poetry with a renowned local poet. For more information, visit the Poet Laureate webpage.  

(NEW) CURRENT BIDS

The City is currently accepting bids for Contractor/Construction on the Pacific Coast Highway Median Improvements Project. The deadline for submissions is September 15, 2022, 3:30 PM. For more information, visit the webpage.   

(NEW) SPECIAL EVENTS REPORT

Currently, there are permitted events on August 20, September 10 and September 17, as well as every Sunday for parking for the Farmer's Market, and June 18 through October 3 for the City's Temporary Day-Use Impound Yard. The City of Malibu Planning Department posts a weekly report of approved event permits on the website. In order for members of the public to be informed of pending event permit applications and to provide an additional opportunity for public input, the City has changed the Event Permit Report format to include all event permit applications deemed complete for review for consistency and compliance with the requirements of the Malibu Municipal Code and the Planning Director’s action on each application. The updated Event Permit Report has been posted to the City's 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).

DAYTIME WORK CONTINUES ON TRANCAS CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Work on the Caltrans Trancas Bridge Replacement Project continues with daytime work weekdays 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM. There will be intermittent lane and shoulder closures on PCH between Guernsey Avenue and Trancas Canyon Road. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists should proceed with caution, and watch for vehicles, equipment staging, workers, dust, lights, signs in the road and shoulder, and unplanned temporary lane and shoulder closures. The speed limit is reduced to 30 MPH, with signs posted, in the construction zone. Under California law, speeding fines are doubled in construction zones. Sign up for traffic alerts via text or email on the website (scroll to “Alert Center"). Updates and information about the project, work activities and lane closures are posted on the website. 

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