SOMETIMES THE WORLD SEEMS UPSIDE DOWN. IT ISN’T
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. VIII
THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022
malibutimes.com • $.50 • WEEKLY
Southern California Edison fined $10 million Utility penalized over sloppy handling of Public Safety Power Shutoffs
City Council approves lowering speed limits in several locations Maximum speed will be lowered by 5 mph in 11 separate road segments in Malibu By SAMANTHA BRAVO Of The Malibu Times
During the Malibu City Council meeting on Monday, June 13, the council approved the 2022 Engineering and Traffic Survey (ETS), lowering speed limits in several locations and allowing the continued use of radar speed enforcement to improve traffic safety in Malibu. “Traffic safety is an important daily concern for residents, CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
Peter Ireland (right) and his daughter Melissa (left) have been a part of the Caltrans’ Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) program since 2017. This dynamic father-daughter duo help by picking up litter from a stretch of PCH/State Route 1 North of Mulholland Highway near their home in Malibu. Photo courtesy Clean California.
Father, daughter adopt Highway 1 stretch in Malibu
Adopt-A-Highway and Clean California have teamed up to offer volunteer stipends of up to $250 per month for litter cleanup efforts By SAMANTHA BRAVO Of The Malibu Times
Peter Ireland and his daughter Melissa are regularly seen picking up tossed or windblown litter and debris near their AAH sign just onethird of a mile south of Neptune’s Net and Leo Carrillo State Beach.
Since 2017, this dynamic father-daughter duo has helped by picking up litter from a stretch of PCH/State Route 1 North of Mulholland Highway near their home in Malibu as part of the Caltrans’ Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) program. “Keeping the highway and
beaches clean are an extension of what we do as a local nonprofit, environmental organization,” Melissa Ireland said in a statement. “We believe keeping the area litterfree is important for the safety and enjoyment of residents and visitors CONTINUED ON PAGE A6
Southern California Edison is facing a $10 million fine over its sloppy handling of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). The California Public Utilities Commission’s Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) is levying the penalty against Malibu’s electricity provider after a number of incidents that occurred in 2020. The state agency says there was “poor execution” of certain PSPS events in Malibu. These intentional power outages in 2020 occurred in western Malibu, affecting residents of Malibu Park and Point Dume. That area is serviced by what’s known as the Cuthbert circuit. There were at least a dozen unannounced power outages in the late half of that year that did not fall under the guidelines the CPUC had previously set forth to help keep the public safe and informed. The CPUC indicates it set forth explicit requirements for utilities such as SCE and others to notify customers in advance of disruptive de-energization events and found widespread noncompliance in 2020. SED mandates prior notification
CERT training returns to in-person classes Program provides free hands-on training on basic disaster preparedness
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the city has just announced the return of in-person classes. CERT is a Federal Emergency By SAMANTHA BRAVO Management Agency (FEMA) Of The Malibu Times community disaster preparedness For the past two years, the City program that offers highly-acof Malibu has been providing min- claimed free courses administered imal in-person and mainly virtual by the City of Malibu and by pub-
lic safety agencies across the country and helps empowers citizens during disasters. “The classes will provide valuable insight into emergency management and best practices to make you, your family and your neighbors safer in an emergency,” Mayor Paul Grisanti said. “The training will make you a better-prepared citizen by teaching
‘Trials by Water and Fire’
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New Items:
• Findings to Hold Virtual City Council, Commission, Committee, Board and Other City Bodies, Meetings Under AB 361 • Bonus Pay Program • Community Facilities District No. 2006-1 (Carbon Beach Utility Undergrounding) – Levy of Special Tax for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. • Professional Services Agreement with The People Concern.
By PABLO CAPRA Special to The Malibu Times
• Annual Progress Report Regarding the Implementation of the City’s Housing Element.
F
• Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with School District Separation Consultants. • Professional Services Agreement with California Strategies & Advocacy, LLC. The Santa Monica Paddleboard Club. Photo courtesy of Powell Press Service, 1936-02-19.
paddling in the first Catalina Island crossing in 1932. On June 28, 1936, “paddle artists” and “water-dogs” competed in the first Catalina race, a relay won by new stars the Palos Verdes Surfing Club and their unorthodox knee paddling.
The Del Mar Club didn’t participate, but Peterson reasserted his dominance on July 19, 1936, in a West Coast Paddleboard Association race from Topanga Beach to the Venice Amusement Pier. Swimsuit model Virginia Roide CONTINUED ON PAGE A8
CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
INSIDE
this week
National Fire Academy. Grisanti said the most important part of practicing is being a part of a response team. On Aug. 28, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 17-32, which established the CERT Program Guidelines, clarifying the role and responsibilities of the Malibu CERT by outlining
Upcoming City Council: June
Three separate stories touch on the history and lore of Malibu
or this article, I’ve combined two stories involving the ocean, and one about a fire, that would have been too short on their own, but are too fun to be left out. The first story is about an early surfing rivalry. In the 1930s, surfers won their trophies in paddleboard races. Lifeguard Preston “Pete” Peterson (1913-1983), of Santa Monica’s Del Mar Surfing Club, rose to the top after winning the Pacific Coast Paddleboard Championships and
you first aid, triage skills, basic firefighting and advising you on building your emergency supplies pantry.” The nationwide CERT program, developed in 1985 by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, provides basic training in safety and lifesaving skills to the general public. It has since then been adopted and enhanced by FEMA and the
both substantively and with specific timelines that are communicated to customers. In addition, SCE is required to engage with local and state public safety partners who also communicate with customers giving advanced warning, which did not happen in the 2020 incidents. That left many Malibu customers and city officials literally and figuratively in the dark. Requirements imposed on Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) by the CPUC’s SED include providing detailed reports after de-energization with specific details and within prescribed timelines that SCE failed to do. State regulators claim many reports received were either late or contained mishandled or incorrect information. Most importantly, according to the order issued by the SED, SCE was supposed to explain what alternatives were considered before intentionally cutting power and why the PSPS was the course of last resort. SCE is also charged with not properly notifying customers when electricity was finally restored. The utility must also keep a record of complaints received after cutting power. According to a report issued by the CPUC the $10 million fine reflects the agency’s significant concerns
Council Items:
• Council Appointment to the Homelessness Task Force. • Reconsideration of May 23, 2022, Council action regarding Malibu Library Set Aside Fund for Fiscal Year 2022-23 (Councilmember Uhring) (Continued from June 13, 2022). • Program to Protect School Students from Gun Violence (Mayor Pro Tem Silverstein) at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Silverstein.
See all agenda items online at Malibucity.org/agendacenter and to find details on how to attend the virtual meeting.
Summer is ushered in with return of Topanga Days festival | B1
Opinion . . . . . . . . . .A2 News Briefs . . . . . . . .A3 • Mountain lion P-54 struck and killed on Las Virgenes Road, just outside Malibu Calendar . . . . . . . . . .A4 Local News. . . . . . . . .A6 • Gwynn Murrill: Animal Nature Exhibit at Pepperdine Real Estate . . . . . . . . A8 Malibu Life . . . . . . . . B1 • Adamson House honors volunteers with awards party and a dip in the pool Malibu People . . . . . . . B2 • Cavallo Foundation’ Connecting with Horses’ fundraiser on Saturday Legal Notices . . . . . . . B3 Business & Directory . . B5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . B5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . B8 • Sharks volleyball coach wins championships as coach and player