LOCAL NEWS

For the first time in three years, the Malibu Film Society is resuming its annual community-wide Academy Awards Watching Party on Sunday, March 12. This year’s event will be held at the Malibu West Beach Club (located at 30756 Pacific Coast Highway), with doors opening at 4 p.m. to watch the red carpet arrivals prior to the 5 p.m. Oscars broadcast.

The party will be open to members and non-members alike, but advance reservations are required so that the caterer will know exactly how many people will be

23 Second Quarter Financial Report and Mid-Year Budget Amendments, staff requested council direction on Fiscal Year 2022-23 City Council Priorities and Departmental Tasks in the Work Plan. The council voted to add the item to a future agenda. Then the council motioned to add the Snack Shack to the work plan and the item carried.

The council discussed item 3B6, to Authorize the Mayor to execute the Professional Services Agreement with Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., for Classification and Compensation Study. No additional appropriation is required. Funding for this project is included in the Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 in Account No. 100-7058-5100- 00 (Human Resources – Professional Services). As part of the FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget and Work Plan, the City Council established the priority of conducting a Classification and Compensation Study. The study will address the city’s employee recruitment and retention needs and improve service delivery to the community.

Classification and compensation studies review internal equity (pay relationships between positions) and external competitiveness (pay relationships with labor market competitors). The goal is to ensure that job specifications are appropriate, and compensation is competitive with the market. The last study was completed in 2006, proving the need for this effort is long overdue.

Councilmembers, including Steve Uhring, contributed to the discussion about the difficulties in retaining employees. Silverstein motioned to approve the item, Grisanti seconded the motion. Motion carried.

The council then passed item 3B7 Pacific Coast Highway Signal Synchronization Sys - attending. For reservations and additional information, visit MalibuFilmSociety.org.

Nighttime lane closure on PCH and Big Rock to Tuna Canyon lasting until March 23

The right northbound and southbound lanes of PCH will be closed from Big Rock Drive to Tuna Canyon Road on weekdays, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., until approximately March 23 for Southern California Gas Company gas line repair

tem Improvements Project. 1)

The PCH Signal Synchronization System Improvements Project is a transportation project that was identified in the 2015 PCH Safety Study and approve a contract with GMZ Engineering, Inc in the amount of $9,776,991 for the Pacific Coast Highway Signal Synchronization System Improvements Project Specification No. 2064; 2) Authorize the Public Works Director to approve potential change orders up to $1,900,000; and 3) Authorize the Mayor to execute the Cooperative Agreement Replacement with the State of California for the construction of the project.

Funding for this agreement is included in the Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. This project is fully funded through Measure R funds administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The council moved on to appeal No. 22-007 - Appeal of Planning Commission Resolution No. 22-44, 31113 Bailard Road; Owner: Ellis and Williams Ellis; Appellant: Debra Decray. The matter is an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of CDPWF No. 22006, VAR Nos. 21-013, 21-014, and 22-008, for an application to reconstruct an existing driveway and construction of new retaining walls to meet fire department access requirements on a Woolsey Fire-affected parcel.

Below is a chronology of the subject property since first noticed for a Planning Commission hearing:

• On Nov. 15, 2021, the subject item was first before the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission continued the item to a date uncertain in order to address grading quantities;

• On April 4, 2022, VAR work. The closures began on Jan. 23. The work is required to enable Caltrans to proceed with slope restoration work on the coastal side of PCH south of Big Rock Drive. Crews will replace and relocate two steel gas lines, requiring digging a trench that will be covered by a steel plate during the day. Some daytime work may be required. Residents and businesses near the work site may notice noise, vibrations, and dust.

Be sure to check Quickmaps, LA County Public Works road closures map, or other apps or websites for traffic information before getting on the road.

No. 22-008 was added to the project for additional non-exempt grading exceeding 1,000 cubic yards not to exceed 2,130 cubic yards; On June 6, 2022, the Planning Commission continued the subject item to the June 20, 2022, regular Planning Commission meeting;

• On June 20, 2022, the Planning Commission continued the subject application to a date uncertain;

• On July 18, 2022, the Planning Commission continued the subject item to the Aug.

1, 2022, regular Planning Commission meeting; and

• On Aug. 1, 2022, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the item and approved the project in a 3-2 vote.

On Aug. 11, 2022, the adjacent neighbor at 31121 Bailard Road, Debra Decray, filed a timely appeal application with the city. The appellant contends that the variances are excessive and the need for the variances can be avoided or minimized if

City Council will begin hybrid and in-person meetings starting March 27

The Malibu City Council voted on Jan. 23 to begin holding City Council meetings in a hybrid in-person and remote format starting 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.

the original Fire Department parking/hammerhead turnaround area continues to be utilized. Council approved the project, motion carried 4-1. Toney then presented item 6D for the request for a proposal for contract grant writer service.

By consensus at the Jan. 9 City Council regular meeting, the council agreed with Councilmember Marianne Riggins’ suggestion to bring back an item for the council to consider whether the city should contract with a grant writer. The city has previously used grant consultants, but the use ended in 2017. Staff recommends the council also consider making the agreement effective July 1, and including the cost in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget, which would negate the need to have the item go to the Administration and Finance Subcommittee for individual consideration prior to being presented to the City Council.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for March 13.

LACOFD will resume sampling and posting LFM levels when conditions warrant.

e National Weather Service issued a ood warning for the mountains, with 5 feet or more of snow expected in some areas. While no snow was reported near Malibu, hazardous road conditions, mud and rocks, ooding, and 3 inches or more of rain were reported.

A high surf advisory was issued during the storms and visitors were advised to stay out of the water. Beach hazards included rip currents, beach erosion, powerful surf, and debris in the water. An ocean water quality advisory was declared by e LA County Department of Public Health and advises the public to avoid contact with ocean water near discharging rivers, creeks, and storm drains within 72 hours of signi cant rainfall due to high levels of bacteria and pollution. e advisory may be

MRCA

CONTINUED FROM A1 the 150-foot tall upper waterfalls. Over the years, many hikers have ventured up to the larger falls even though it’s a steep climb, and they were technically trespassing on private property.

On Feb. 17, California’s Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) announced 51 projects it had selected to receive grant funding. Among the recipients is the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), that received $1.5 million “to [help] acquire approximately 88 acres of land for the protection of threatened and endangered habitat and to provide for future wildlife-oriented, public-use opportunities located near Malibu in LA County.”

It turns out that the agency set its sights on four parcels of land just above the rst set of Escondido Falls (4465-004013, -072, -075 and -080), in unincorporated LA County. Calling it the “Upper Escondido Canyon Park Acquisition Project,” MRCA writes that it’s part of its “long term efforts to preserve and protect Escondido Canyon in Malibu as part of the public coastal recreational opportunities within the larger Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA).” e total project cost is $4.835 million — the fair market value of the property stated in an appraisal dated Jan. 13, 2022, and approved by the California Department of General Services. e MRCA has been busy cobbling together a series of grants to come up with that total amount.

Besides the $1.5 million git just received from WCB, the extended depending on further rainfall.

Loose debris and rain were also prone to cause outages. One of the biggest threats is tree limbs breaking and then falling into power lines. Southern California Edison reminds customers that if they see a downed power line or dangling wire, even if it appears not to be live, to not touch or approach it and call 911 immediately.

SCE o ers tips to stay prepared for potential outages during severe storms: watch out for tra c signals that may be out, approach those intersections as four-way stops, freeze water and transfer it to your refrigerator if the power goes out to keep perishables cold, and always back up important work and les on your computer.

For any questions about vegetation located near SCE power lines, contact SCE Customer Support at (800) 655-4555. To report an object caught in power lines or an outage, call (800) 611-1911.

To prepare for further rain and ood conditions, sandbags are available at Los Angeles County Fire

MRCA has also obtained $1 million from a California Natural Resources Agency Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Grant. The amount of $1.35 million will come from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC), the sister organization also run by Joe Edmiston.

“The landowner offered a bargain price of $985K” according to the MRCA sta report. “ e Trust for Public Land (TPL), a nonpro t organization, holds an option agreement on the property that expires on March 31, 2023. TPL is con dent the landowner would grant additional time of up to two or three months to close the transaction.”

According to the MRCA, “ e Project acquires and protects 88 acres of strategic open space and high-quality habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains for special status species, enhancing climate resilience, and expanding public use of Escondido Canyon Park and the multi-use Escondido Falls Trail, that are among the most highly visited areas in the SMMNRA, especially by members of historically underrepresented communities residing in the greater LA Metropolitan Area.” e sta report continued, “ e Project also creates additional passive recreational opportunities in the area— visitors can come to Escondido Beach to escape the inland heat, and, if so inclined, easily access a robust urban/ wildland trail system, including this portion of the Coastal Slope Trail, that leads them on a short, moderate and shaded hike all the way to Escondido Falls, the tallest waterfalls in the Santa Monica Mountains, and right back to Escondido Beach without ever having to move their car from the free parking space they secured on Paci c Coast Highway (PCH).”

“ e property also contributes to a signi cant east-west habitat linkage along the coastal slope between SMMNRA protected lands and Escondido Canyon Park…”

MRCA sta is in discussion regarding long-term management of the Project with the National Park Service (NPS) under a cooperative management agreement with SMMC, NPS, State Parks and MRCA.

The proposed project will maintain the open space character of the area; and the stated purpose of the acquisition is to “preserve the land in its natural condition.” e sta report never speci cally mentions anything about acquiring the upper waterfalls, but the maps indicate that they are included.

The upper, taller waterfalls require a steep, slippery hike from the lower falls, which can be a safety concern. Escondido Canyon Park is no stranger to Malibu Search & Rescue: In 2012, 12 emergency rescues took place at the falls, more than any other location in Malibu.

“Injuries on the lower falls can range from dislocated shoulders to broken arms, legs or shins,” according to MSAR head David Katz in a past interview.

“ e upper falls tend to be either stranded hikers or head and back injuries. e most serious injuries require an airlift by helicopter.”

In the past, hikers had been asked not to climb to the upper falls to “preserve the fragile habitat and avoid the risk of serious fall injuries.”

Once the upper falls become open to the public, it’ll be interesting to see if that policy changes.

Stations. Call stations to nd out if lled sandbags and sand are available: Station 88, Malibu Road – (310) 456-2812, Station 70, PCH & Carbon Canyon – (310) 456-2513, Station 71, PCH & Zumirez – (310) 457-2578, Station 99, PCH & Encinal Canyon Road – (310) 457-3706, Station 72, 1832 Decker Road – (310) 457-6186. Search for which locations in LA County have sand, sandbags, and lled sandbags on the LA County Department of Public Works website. Authorities urge residents to not remove sand from the beach to ll sandbags. Sand is crucial for beach habitats, and removing it from the beach is illegal in LA County. Plastic sandbags are prohibited in the City of Malibu (jute, burlap or other natural ber bags are allowed).

Residents can monitor weather and emergency information on local news, and sign up for weather, beach, or emergency alerts via text or email from the City of Malibu at malibucity.org/news, scroll down to “Alert Center.” All current city alerts are posted on the website. All emergency information will be posted on the city website, malibucity.org, and on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.