Community members are invited to review and give their feedback on the environmental document for the City’s proposed Earth Friendly Management Policy (EFMP) during a 30-day public comment period from May 4 to June 4, 2018. See the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Initial Study document online.
Written comments may be submitted to the City of Malibu Planning Department until June 4, 2018 at 5:30 PM. Comments and documents can be submitted by mail to the City of Malibu Planning Department, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu CA, 90265. Comments and documents can be submitted by fax to 310-456-3356 and by email to BBlue@MalibuCity.org.
The City has not used non-organic pesticides or conducted trapping at any City facilities since June 2016, when it started a pilot EFMP program. As part of the process to develop a formal Malibu EFMP program for Council consideration, staff prepared an California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Initial Study document and seeks public input.
In April 2017, Council directed staff to make the Malibu EFMP an all‐encompassing policy with an absolute prohibition on use of any pesticides under any circumstances. The CEQA document analyzes the environmental impact of the following proposed policies for all City property: The use of synthetic fertilizers and organic or toxic chemical pesticides, irradiation, and genetically-engineered products containing genetically-engineered ingredients, including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and rodenticides would be strictly prohibited. Animal trapping of any kind, with the exception of live-trapping of pests from building interiors that are released unharmed into the immediate outdoor environment, would be strictly prohibited. The “immediate environment” means the nearest suitable habitat.
The EFMP would replace the City’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program with practices that incorporate an ecosystem-based strategy for managing pests, applying science and pest monitoring to determine if pest levels warrant treatment. Treatment methods would be required to emphasize avoidance of pesticides and other chemical applications.
This CEQA study focuses on the most stringent type of policy which would prohibit all pesticides, including organic pesticides, and prohibit trapping and killing rodents. It also evaluates the potential for limited use of organic pesticides in emergency circumstances as an alternative.
A public hearing for the City of Malibu Planning Commission to receive comments on the document and to adopt the Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration will be scheduled and noticed at a later date.
For more information call Bonnie Blue, Planning Director, at 310-456-2489 ext. 258 or email BBlue@MalibuCity.org.