The Malibu Times • July 7, 2022

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The Malibu Times The Malibu Times NEWS PA PER • MAGAZ I NE • O NL I NE

NEW S PAPER • MAGAZINE •ONLINE Malibu’s Award-Winning Community Paper Since 1946

VOL. LXXVI • NO. X

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022

malibutimes.com • $.50 • WEEKLY

Caltrans virtual Joyful exuberance on display at annual Point Dume July 4th parade meeting on PCH plans offers few clear answers Agency suggests eliminating 2,171 parking spaces on road to make way for bike lanes By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times

Caltrans is proposing to remove 2,171 highly desirable Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) parking spaces in order to install bike lanes from Serra Road all the way to the Ventura County line. The state transportation agency may hire capable engineers, but their communications skills were severely lacking in a virtual presentation on June 28. The online event was billed as a meeting to present Caltrans’ plan to repave PCH throughout Malibu for a smoother ride and to upgrade curbs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities CONTINUED ON PAGE A6

The spirit of celebrating community was on full display Monday at the 21st annual July 4th parade on Point Dume. Read full article on B1. Photo by Julie Ellerton/TMT

City adopts annual budget of $89.9M for fiscal year 2022-2023 The Woolsey fire and the pandemic continue to have impacts By JIMY TALLAL Special to The Malibu Times

Multiple businesses posted notices on their doors letting customers know of the Southern California Edision maintenance outage on Wednesday, June 29. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT

Power outage causes businesses to temporarily close

City frustrated as operations and businesses forced to close during SCE maintenance

that lasted from about 2 to 8 p.m. The outage impacted retail and restaurants near Malibu Country Mart all the way to Country Liquor Store on Rambla Pacifico. The outage also impacted traffic By SAMANTHA BRAVO signals along PCH from Topanga Of The Malibu Times Canyon to Webb Way. Malibu City Hall and surroundMalibu Media Information Ofing businesses were forced to close ficer Matt Myerhoff said the city last week due to a power outage sends out outage alerts if they are

widespread enough, if they are a public safety power shut off, or if it’s related to fire conditions. Myerhoff said the city was unsure about this particular shut off at first and how large it was so they didn't send any alerts. During the outage, Whole Foods at Civic Center Way was the only business open during the CONTINUED ON PAGE A7

The City of Malibu’s 2022-23 fiscal year budget goes into effect on July 1, and is based on the city’s work plan for the coming year. The new balanced budget remains focused on three things: Woolsey Fire rebuilds, public safety, and school district separation. The proposed budget also includes six additional city staff positions and new investments in information technology. The proposed budget totals $89.9 million in revenue and $89.8 million in expenses; and includes General Fund annual revenue of $46.2 million and General Fund annual expenditures for ongoing city operations of $44.2 million. The fiscal year 2022-23 Budget proposes a starting General Fund

Undesignated Reserve on July 1 of $44.4 million, and projects this reserve at $42.1 million by June 30, 2023 (98 percent of the annual operating budget). This exceeds the city’s goal of maintaining at least 50 percent of the operating budget in reserve, and exceeds the 65 percent needed to keep the highest credit rating. After the Woolsey fire of November 2018, the City Council and staff committed to waiving some planning fees for residents rebuilding their primary homes, and the proposed budget maintains these waivers. On December 19, 2019, the city received a $13.6 million settlement for the Woolsey Fire from Southern California Edison, and the money is being used to pay for rebuilding efforts, including replacement of city infrastructure damaged by the fire. Just last month, on May 10, the city received an additional Woolsey CONTINUED ON PAGE A8

Can green lawns survive this summer’s severe drought? Mandatory outdoor watering restrictions require out of the box ideas to help keep landscapes verdant

addresses allowed Tuesday and Friday, odd numbered addresses allowed Monday and Thursday) now in effect in Malibu, will green lawns survive this summer’s expected punishing heat? The severe drought, now in its third year and By JUDY ABEL on the heels of 2015’s drought, has Special to The Malibu Times many homeowners reconsidering A garden needs water to grow. grass as landscaping at all. With strict watering limitations to Rebate programs that pay only twice a week (even numbered homeowners to replace grass with

drought-tolerant landscaping, decomposed granite, or other hardscaping are available, but seem to fluctuate with demand and available reimbursement monies. Malibustart.org has information on how to qualify for rebates up to $5 a square foot. The website also has information on rebates for water efficient clothes washers, toilets, sprinkler nozzles and cisterns. Those trying to hang on to lawns

and gardens will need to stretch their limited water budgets. Cisterns and rain barrels are an excellent way to capture rainwater for reuse in your garden later. Although we’re not in rainy season now, this could be the time to get a jump start for next season. The West Basin Municipal Water District encourages the use of rain barrels for the collection and reuse of rain water. The agency had an

overwhelming response to a recent home delivery distribution of barrels and hosted two successful drive-through pick-up distributions of rain barrels. To be notified about future rain barrel distribution opportunities check their website westbasin.org. Those trying to save their outdoor greenery may resort to the old trick of water collection in the CONTINUED ON PAGE A8

INSIDE

this week

Dunphy recipient of USA Volleyball’s lifetime achievement award | B1

Opinion . . . . . . . . . .A2 • From the Right and the Left: Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Religion News Briefs . . . . . . . .A3 • Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery Multi-Family Housing Program Calendar . . . . . . . . . .A4 • Events Local News. . . . . . . . .A6 • Homeless Task Force sees drop in homeless needing services Real Estate . . . . . . . . A7 • Public Works debate: Who needs to address SMC antenna tower? Real Estate . . . . . . . . .A8 • Recent celebrity and high-dollar Malibu real estate transactions Malibu Life . . . . . . . . B1 • Fourth of July Point Dume Parade Malibu People . . . . . . . B2 • Local do-gooder Michael J. Fox gets a special award Legal Notices . . . . . . . B3 Business & Directory . . B5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . B5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . B8 • Pepperdine student-athletes honored for classroom prowess


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