UPCOMING
- Monday, March 20, 6:30 PM - Planning Commission Public Hearing on Temporary Use Permit Ordinance - virtual
- Monday, March 20, 6:30 PM - Planning Commission Regular Meeting - virtual
- Tuesday, March 21, 8:30 AM - Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments (COG) Governing Board Meeting - virtual
- Tuesday, March 21, 2:00 PM - Homelessness Task Force Regular Meeting - virtual
- Tuesday, March 21, 5:30 PM - Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting - virtual
- Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 PM - Malibu Library Speaker Series - Dr. Ian Jukes - Malibu Library
- Wednesday, March 22, 8:30 AM - City Council Special Meeting - Strategic Planning Workshop - hybrid virtual and in-person at City Hall
- Wednesday, March 22, 3:30 PM - Public Works Commission Regular Meeting - virtual
- Monday, March 27, 6:30 PM - City Council Regular Meeting - hybrid virtual and in-person at City Hall
- Tuesday, March 28, 9:00 AM - Malibu Arts Commission Regular Meeting - virtual
CITY COUNCIL & MANAGEMENT
(NEW) CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING for STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP, MARCH 22
The City Council and City leadership staff will hold a Strategic Planning Workshop on Wednesday, March 22, 8:30 AM at City Hall and virtually via Zoom. They will discuss City projects and set priorities for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Members of the public may offer public comment at the beginning of the session in the Council Chambers or via Zoom. After public comment the workshop will continue in the Multi-Purpose Room, which will be open to the public. The agenda and staff report, with viewing and commenting instructions, are posted on the website.
CITY COUNCIL WILL BEGIN HYBRID REMOTE / IN-PERSON MEETINGS, MARCH 27
The City Council will begin holding Council meetings in a hybrid in-person and remote format starting Monday, March 27 as Los Angeles County continues the trend of low COVID-19 conditions. The Council directed the City’s Commissions, Committees and Boards to continue meeting virtually. Instructions on participating in hybrid Council meetings will be included on the meeting agendas and posted on the Virtual Meetings webpage. The hybrid meetings will take place in-person at Malibu City Hall, located at 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, and will be simultaneously held remotely using the Zoom Webinar tool. Public comment can be made during the meetings either in-person or in the remote meeting. Written comments may also be sent to the City Council at CityCouncil@MalibuCity.org.The City will continue to broadcast Council meetings live on Malibu City TV Channel 3, and live and on-demand on the website and the City's YouTube channel. To sign up to receive notifications by text message or email whenever a meeting agenda is posted or changed, visit the E-notify webpage, scroll down to "Agenda Center," and select the desired meeting. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any member of the public who needs special assistance to participate in an in-person meeting at Malibu City Hall may contact Environmental Sustainability Director/Building Official Yolanda Bundy at 310-456-2489, ext. 229. Notification 48 hours prior to a meeting will enable the City to make reasonable ADA accommodations. Requests to show an audio or video presentation during a Council meeting should be directed to Media Analyst Alex Montano at 310-456-2489, ext. 227 or amontano@malibucity.org by 12:00 PM the day of the meeting.
MALIBU-BASED NON-PROFITS CAN APPLY FOR GENERAL FUND GRANTS THROUGH MARCH 31
The City is now accepting applications for FY 23-24 General Fund Grants. The program provides an important source of funding for non-profit organizations located within the City of Malibu that benefit residents and enrich the community. Applications will be reviewed by the City Council’s Administration and Finance Subcommittee, and the Subcommittee’s recommendations will be presented to the City Council for award during the annual budget approval in June. All application materials must be received by 5:00 PM on Friday, March 31. Applications may be mailed or delivered to City Hall, or sent submitted by email. For application instructions, to download the grant application, and to see previous grant recipients, visit the webpage.
WILDFIRE safety
(new) SCHEDULE A HOME WILDFIRE HARDENING ASSESSMENT FOR COMPLYING WITH NEW WILDFIRE SAFETY RULES
Homeowners can get help with complying with updated County and State wildfire safety requirements by scheduling a free Home Wildfire Hardening Assessment with the City's Fire Safety Liaisons. Many Malibu residents will be receiving Brush Clearance Notices from the LA County Fire Department for the first time due to updated maps, and the State will require all flammable materials to be removed from within five feet of any structure starting in 2024. (See details on updated County and State requirements below). The Fire Safety Liaisons will come to your home to show you how to harden your property 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.
MANY MALIBU HOMEOWNERS WILL GET A BRUSH CLEARANCE NOTICE FOR THE FIRST TIME
Many Malibu residents will be receiving brush clearance notices from the LA County Fire Department for the first time. Notices are being sent to all properties within the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), which includes all of Malibu. Previously, notices were only sent to homes that were deemed most vulnerable via visual inspection or historical fire data. That means that the number of homes receiving notices in Malibu will increase from 4,100 to 5,600. The inspection requirement for all homes within the VHFSZ has been in place for decades, but recent GIS/mapping software upgrades have allowed all structures to be identified, many of them for the first time. For more information, see the Brush Clearance FAQs and the annual Brush Clearance notice.
NEW STATE LAW REQUIRING FIVE-FOOT EMBER RESISTANT ZONE
Beginning in 2024, the LA County Fire Department (LACOFD) will be enforcing AB-3074, a newly enacted state law requiring the removal of all flammable materials from within five feet of any structure, which is designated as “Zone 0.” LACOFD personnel will be conducting outreach to inform residents on the 2024 Zone 0 requirements when they conduct this year’s required inspections. Further assistance in preparing and complying with AB 3074 is available by requesting a free Home Wildfire Hardening Assessment from one of the City’s Fire Safety Liaisons by visiting the Fire Safety webpage. More information on AB 3074 is available online.
SIGN UP FOR FIRE HAZARD TREE REMOVAL PROGRAM
The Fire Safety Liaisons are still adding properties to the list to remove trees under the City’s Hazard Tree Removal Program. The trees must be dead to be considered for this program. To sign up for this program, please email FireSafety@MalibuCity.org with your name, address and phone number and the type and number of dead trees on your property. This is a first-come, first-served program and there are currently dozens of properties already on the list.
PUBLIC SAFETY
(NEW) VIDEO - UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL PARKING IN POINT DUME
VIDEO: Malibu City Manager Steve McClary gave an update to the City Council on March 13 on the City’s efforts to address the excessive illegal parking on neighborhood streets on Cliffside Drive in Point Dume. Hundreds of vehicles have been parking illegally on the street for access to the nearby Point Dume Headlands State Park area, blocking access to driveways, blocking access for emergency vehicles and motorists in lanes, even parking on residents’ lawns, causing a public safety and quality of life nuisance. The Malibu Sheriff’s Volunteers on Patrol have been issuing hundreds of parking citations at the location each weekend. The City has been working to find solutions to the problem. The City Public Works Department will be installing 18-inch-high delineators on top of the wooden curb along the decomposed granite walkway where cars have been parking on and blocking the walkway and into the lane. The area is a posted no parking and a tow away zone. Watch the update (starts at 1:38:15).
(NEW) VIDEO - SHERIFF’S CRIME AND SAFETY UPDATE TO CITY COUNCIL
VIDEO: Lt. Dustin Carr, the Malibu-Lost Hill Sheriff’s Station’s Liaison to the City, gave a crime and safety update to the City Council on March 13. So far this year, crimes are down in Malibu across the board. Year-to-date traffic collisions are also lower than last year. During their regular enforcement and counts, Deputies found seven RVs parked illegally on PCH, which has been consistent for the last several weeks. Work is progressing on the new Sheriff’s Substation located in the recently opened Santa Monica College Malibu Campus on Civic Center Way, and a new Sergeant has been appointed to lead the Substation. Watch the update (starts at 11:43:09).
(NEW) HOMELESS OUTREACH UPDATE
The City’s Homeless Outreach Team, which consists of three outreach workers and a housing navigator from The People Concern, reported that in February 2023, it was in contact with 64 people experiencing homelessness. Four of them were either relocated or placed into temporary housing. Current and past monthly Homeless Outreach reports are available on the webpage.
PLANNING
(NEW) APPLY NOW TO SERVE ON THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW BOARD
Apply now for the City of Malibu's Environmental Review Board (ERB). It's a great opportunity to serve the community and help protect Malibu's environment and quality of life. Open to professionals with expertise in archaeology, structural or landscape architecture, coastal geology, marine biology, conservation biology, biogeography, botany, forestry, wildfire behavior, ecology, recreation, or closely related fields. Knowledge of the City of Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains is highly desirable. The ERB advises the City on environmental impacts of projects. The ERB also reviews development applications in or adjacent to Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas or when a project could impact archaeological resources, sensitive species or habitats, parkland, geology, landform and watersheds or shoreline resources. The deadline to apply has been extended to April 28. Application forms are available at City Hall, on the website or contact the City Clerk at 310-456-2489, ext. 228 to have one sent to you. See qualifications and application instructions.
(NEW) COUNCIL MOVES TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW EXPANDED OUTDOOR DINING
During the March 13 meeting, the City Council directed staff to work with the City's Zoning Ordinance Revisions and Code Enforcement Subcommittee (ZORACES) on code amendments to allow additional outdoor seating for restaurants in Malibu similar to the expanded outdoor dining that the City permitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to support our local restaurant businesses in Malibu and offer the community more opportunities to safely eat out during the pandemic, the City's Temporary Restaurant Recovery Program relaxed rules pertaining to parking and wastewater requirements and created streamlined permitting process. For more information, see the staff report.
NEW planning department PERFORMANCE METRICS WEBPAGE AS PART OF customer service iMPROVEMENTS
As part of a broad effort to improve customer service for residents who are working on rebuilding, building, repairing and renovating their homes, the City has increased funding and staffing, created new tools and processes, and launched this new webpage showing performance metrics for the Planning Department’s project permitting process. Due to an ongoing shortage of full-time staff members and challenges in recruiting and retaining staff, the Planning Department has been unable to review applications as quickly as it should. In response, the City has taken a number of measures, including allocating funds in November, 2022 for additional contract planners to help move projects forward. The Metrics webpage is meant to ensure that the use of contract planners is improving performance, and is an important part of providing transparency and accountability. The metrics, which were established by the Planning Department and approved by the City Council, will be updated every two weeks. Each metric shows the target performance and the success rate, or the number of projects for which the target was met. The metrics webpage is being introduced as a pilot program, and initially will track performance for the period of January through June 2023. Visit the Metrics webpage.
PUBLIC HEARING ON TEMPOrARY USE PERMIT ORDINANCE, MARCH 20
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to update regulations related to Temporary Use Permits (TUPs), and to consider the recommendations made by the Zoning Ordinances Revision and Code Enforcement Subcommittee (ZORACES) on Monday, March 20, 6:30 PM. For viewing and commenting instructions see hearing notice. For more information, see the staff report. On December 13, 2021, City Council directed staff to prepare a Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) and to hold hearings before ZORACES and the Planning Commission before presenting a final ordinance to the City Council. ZORACES held two meetings on the ZTA on April 14 and October 12, 2022 and made its recommendations. Once the Commission’s recommendations are finalized, the item will be scheduled for a City Council public hearing.
(NEW) SPECIAL EVENTS REPORT
Currently, there are permitted events on May 6 and 27, April 1 and 2, as well as every Sunday for the Malibu Farmers Market and for Farmer's Market off-street parking. The City of Malibu Planning Department posts a weekly report of approved event permits on the website. In order to help the public stay informed of pending event permit applications and to create opportunity for public input, the Event Permit Report includes 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. 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).
COVID-19
(NEW) - COVID-19 STATISTICS
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 March 1, 2023, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) confirmed 16 new deaths and 1,028 new cases. Other key updates from the County’s COVID-19 Dashboard as of March 1, 2023 include the following:
- 2,845 confirmed positive cases and 14 deaths in the City of Malibu to date
- 3,706,685 confirmed cases and 35,720 deaths in LA County to date
- 643 current hospitalizations in LA County, a decrease of 46 since February 14
THE USE OF FACEMASKS IN CITY HALL IS "INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCE" DUE TO LOW COVID-19 RATES
The use of facemasks in City Hall is now "individual preference," in accordance with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) guidance on facemask use in indoor spaces due to the County's low COVID-19 rates. For more information, see the LADPH facemask guideines.
city hall / general
CITY HALL HOURS
City Hall is open to the public. 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. Appointments can be made online. The use of facemasks is now "individual preference" while inside City Hall, in accordance with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidelines.
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:
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. 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.
WOOLSEY FIRE REBUILD
(NEW) APPLY FOR WOOLSEY FIRE REBUILD FEE WAIVERS BEFORE THE JUNE 30 DEADLINE
The City continues to work to help Malibu residents rebuild homes destroyed in the devastating Woolsey Fire, and urges homeowners to submit applications for rebuild fee waivers before the June 30 deadline. 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 fee waivers cover all City planning and building permit fees for properties that are being rebuilt as a “like-for-like” or “like-for-like plus 10%” rebuild and were used as a primary residence by the property owner as of November 8, 2018. The City Council made Woolsey Fire rebuilding its top priority, after public safety, every year since the 2019-2020 Budget, and has voted unanimously every year to extend the fee waivers, which now total $5.7 million in Woolsey Fire rebuild assistance. For more information and resources related to the fee waivers, and to submit an application, visit the Fee Waiver webpage.
(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 - 254
- Single Family Dwellings complete - 125
- Multifamily building permits issued - 18 units
- Multifamily building units complete- 12 units
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.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY & BUILDING SAFETY
(NEW) new OCEAN FRIENDLY GARDEN INTERPRETIVE SIGN AT BLUFFS PARK
The Environmental Sustainability Department and the Community Services Department coordinated to install the new Ocean Friendly Garden interpretive sign at Malibu Bluffs Park. The previous sign was defaced by graffiti. West Basin Municipal Water District updated the graphics and messaging. The Ocean Friendly Garden at Bluffs Park is a demonstration garden meant to offer community members ideas and inspiration to encourage them to adopt landscaping plants and methods that conserve water and reduce runoff pollution into the ocean that is harmful to our fragile marine ecosystem. Watch a video about the Ocean Friendly Garden.
(new) join the organic waste recycling workshop and get a free kitchen scraps caddy, APRIL 19
Community members can learn about the importance of, and how to successfully participate in the City’s Organic Waste Recycling Program by joining the virtual workshop on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 PM. The Organic Waste Recycling Program is an important way that Malibu can fulfill its commitment as a community to be part of the efforts to address climate change and protect the environment. The link for the event is posted on the website. Attendees will receive a free kitchen scraps collection caddy (limit one per household). The 1.9-gallon, dishwasher-safe caddies are easy to fill, carry, empty, and clean, offering a convenient way to collect food scraps to be recycled. For more information about the program and to register for a workshop, visit the Organic Recycling webpage. For additional guidance on the organics recycling program, review the City's free online Zero Waste Guide.
GRADING SITE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INSPECTIONS DURING RAINY SEASON
During Malibu's rainy season, the Environmental Sustainability Department staff monitors construction sites regularly and sends out e-notifications to the building community, reminding them to adhere to Grading Site Best Management Practices (BMP), keeping sites clean and free of debris with erosion control measures properly in place. The BMPs include ensuring all excavated soil is located on the site in a manner that minimizes the amount of sediment running onto the street, drainage facilities or any adjacent properties. Soil piles must be bermed or covered with plastic or similar materials until the soil is either used or removed from the site. If the BMPs are not in place, City inspection staff will not allow any further construction or further grading until the end of the rainy season, and Code Enforcement will be notified. For more information, see the bulletin.
ARTS, CULTURE & RECREATION
(NEW) FREE OPENING RECEPTION FOR “BEHIND BARS” PHOTO EXHIBITION BY PEP WILLIAMS IN MALIBU CITY GALLERY, MARCH 26
Join the Malibu Arts Commission for the free opening reception of the next public art exhibition at the Malibu City Gallery, “Behind Bars” by photographer Pep Williams, Sunday, March 26, 12:00 PM at City Hall. The reception will feature the artist discussing his work photographing prisoners in California, as well as light refreshments, a live musical performance by A Call 2Peace, and artworks on display from the Malibu Arts Association. RSVPs are not required. The Malibu City Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, on the lower level of Malibu City Hall. For more information, visit the Malibu Arts Commission webpage.
(NEW) ANNUAL CHUMASH DAY POWWOW AND INTERTRIBAL GATHERING AT MALIBU BLUFFS PARK, APRIL 1 & 2
All of Malibu is invited to join the 23rd Annual Chumash Day Native American Powwow and Intertribal Gathering on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM at Malibu Bluffs Park (24250 Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon). The event is a cultural celebration honoring Malibu’s original residents and First Americans, the Chumash Native Americans. The event will feature Native American tribal ceremonies, dances, special guest performances, and Chumash history storytelling. Twenty Native American artisan vendors will also have merchandise for sale, including jewelry, flutes, moccasins, beading accessories, leatherworks, pottery, dream catchers, and more. Free admission. Free parking and a shuttle are available at 23575 Civic Center Way (Chili Cookoff lot). Free ADA parking and a shuttle are available for people with disabilities at City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road. There is no onsite parking at Malibu Bluffs Park. For more information, visit the webpage.
CAFFEINATED VERSE POETRY PROGRAM, MARCH 18
Join Malibu Poet Laureate Ann Buxie for Caffeinated Verse Saturday, March 18, 11:00 AM at the Malibu Library. Hear readings of original pieces written by local poets and bring a poem of your own to read during the open mic session. The City's free poetry workshops are offered in partnership with the Malibu Library, the Malibu Poet Laureate Committee, and the Malibu Arts Commission, and provide an opportunity for community members to engage and educational opportunities to find expression through poetry with a renowned local poet. For more information, visit the Poetry webpage.
CALL FOR submissions for the COMMUNITY POETRY ANTHOLOGY
"All Breathing Things" is the 2023 Community Poetry Anthology theme, and local authors are encouraged to submit poems or prose focusing on the wonder of belonging to Earth's family. Submit up to three works for consideration by April 2. Submissions will only be accepted online. Selected work will be printed in a community anthology available this summer. Submit work and find additional details on the Malibu Arts Commission website.
MALIBU LIBRARY SPEAKER SERIES WITH DR. IAN JUKES, MARCH 21
This month's Malibu Library Speaker Series features Dr. Ian Jukes discussing the core learning attributes of digital learners. Dr. Jukes is a former classroom teacher who has written or co-written 27 books and educational lectures. His talk, "Reinventing Learning for the Always-on Generation," examines the new entry skills students need to succeed in a digitally infused working environment. An RSVP is required to attend the free event at the Malibu Library on March 21, 7:00 PM. For more information and to RSVP, call the Malibu Library 310-456-6438 or visit the Speaker Series webpage.
YOUTH COMMISSION RECRUITMENT FOR 2023-2024 APPOINTMENT YEAR
The Harry Barovsky Memorial Youth Commission application period is open through March 31, for students in grades 7 to 12 during the 2023-2024 school year. Commissioners provide recommendations to the City Council regarding youth programs and projects and gain experience in leadership, public speaking, environmental stewardship, and community service. For information or to apply, visit the Youth Commission webpage or contact Recreation Coordinator Amanda Rigali at 310-456-2489, ext. 252.
PUBLIC WORKS
(NEW) STATUS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS
- Marie Canyon Green Streets Project – The contractor has completed the installation of the new filters. Staff started the process of closing out the project and bringing it to Council at an upcoming meeting.
- Malibu Road Drainage Repair Project – The contractor has been delayed for several weeks due to the recent rain. The Contractor has rebuilt the slope, constructed a new retaining wall, installed a subdrain, rebuilt a section of the road shoulder. The contractor will construct new curbs as the weather clears up.
- Encinal Canyon Road Drainage Repair Project – The contractor has been delayed due to the recent rain by a few weeks. The contractor started the clearing and grubbing stage.
- Caltrans Paving Project – Caltrans will begin night work on PCH from Malibu Lagoon to Corral Canyon Road, March 13 through late May, weather permitting.
- Southern California Gas Company – SoCalGas continues to perform night work on PCH from Big Rock Drive to Tuna Canyon Road to repair their gas line. This work is necessary before Caltrans can proceed with slope restoration on the coastal side of PCH south of Big Rock Drive.
OUTREACH & FEEDBACK
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