Exercise your right to
VOTE
The Malibu Times The Malibu Times NEWS PA PER • MAGAZ I NE • O NL I NE
NEW S PAPER • MAGAZINE •ONLINE City Council members, residents debate over Malibu Library set aside funds Malibu’s Award-Winning Community Paper Since 1946
VOL. LXXV • NO. LVIII
Malibu Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem absent; new sheriff's captain, assistant city manager introduced By SAMANTHA BRAVO Of The Malibu Times
The Malibu City Council returned from hosting its first in-person meeting on May 9 since March 2020, to meeting again through Zoom. The May 23 meeting proceeded without Malibu Mayor Paul Grisanti and Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Silverstein due to a scheduling conflict. The council discussed the 2021-22 fiscal year third-quarter financial report, proposed budget for 22-23, and potential tax measures. During the meeting,
THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022
multiple attendees struggled with the internet connection during public comment. The most debatable item on the agenda was the Malibu Library Set Aside Fund for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Councilmembers Karen Farrer and Steve Uhring disagreed with approving the additional $500,000 Every year, Los Angeles County sets aside the difference between the property tax dollars apportioned to the County Library from property within the city and the Malibu Library expenses into a designated fund. As of June 30, 2021, the Set Aside Fund totaled approximately $14.1 million to be used solely to improve Malibu Library facilities and services. Due to the pandemic’s extended impact on library activities and staffing challenges, most of the allocations that the City Council approved for certain positions and programs in Fiscal Year 2021-2022 have not been expended. Some positions were unfilled, and several programs were put on hold during the pandemic. As the library returns to pre-pandemic service levels, expenditures will inCONTINUED ON PAGE A6
malibutimes.com • $.50 • WEEKLY
Pelicans soar over a couple of surfers at Surfrider Beach in Malibu. Incidences of dead or dying brown pelicans have been reported in the area. Contributed photo
Unprecedented numbers of sick brown pelicans on Malibu beaches Birds are being rescued, but the cause is still undetermined By JIMY TALLAL Special to The Malibu Times
It’s been 10 years since the last “unusual mortality event” of brown pelicans on the Malibu coast, but unfortunately, it appears to be happening again. “This morning, we took a walk along Surfrider Beach, and there were 15 dead or close to dying pelicans,” resident Clifford Waeschle
wrote to The Malibu Times. “As we approached the Malibu Pier, there were an additional 20 pelicans dying or on the verge of dying. One surfer we spoke to said it was due to the red tides or domoic acid poisoning.” According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “red tide” is a common term used for a harmful algal bloom. Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae — simple plants that live in the sea and freshwater — grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and
birds. The human illnesses caused by HABs, though rare, can be debilitating or even fatal. While domoic acid is a kainic acid-type neurotoxin that causes amnesic shellfish poisoning, it is produced by algae and accumulates in shellfish, sardines, and anchovies. But probably no one is more aware of the current crisis than the local California Wildlife Center (CWC), part of whose mission is to rescue sick and injured seabirds from Malibu’s 21 miles of coastline. “We have received 50 brown pelicans this
City hires two new fire safety liaisons
A park ranger is excited about the reopening of the campground at Leo Carrillo State Park. Photo Courtesy of Malibu Parks of Angeles District
Camping returns to Leo Carrillo State Park
Malibu Parks announce that all campgrounds and North Beach access have reopened after storm-caused closure By EMMANUEL LUISSI Special to The Malibu Times
The Leo Carrillo State Park campground has fully reopened. The announcement was made by the official Instagram account of Malibu Parks of Angeles District. The state park had closed in January after a year-end rainfall that flooded the campground. The storm caused the park’s creek to overfill
Greg Hisel and Brad Yocum, both with extensive public safety experience, have started this week By SAMANTHA BRAVO Of The Malibu Times
As fire seasons become longer and more intense, the fire safety liaisons have become more and more critical to helping the city
and spread into the campground. The announcement also said that the North Beach access road has also been cleared. The park had partially reopened in late January when they an- Department provides nounced that the South Beach parking lot and beach access un- update on debris removal derpass were open to the public. from local parks, The campground partially reopened approves sunscreen in February but the North Beach station proposal parking lot remained closed. The campground has seen a series By SAMANTHA BRAVO of closures over the last couple of Of The Malibu Times years. The campground had closed in 2018 due to damage from the During the Parks and Recreation Woolsey fire, then closed in 2020 meeting on Tuesday, May 17, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, commissioners reviewed the CONTINUED ON PAGE A8 community service department
CONTINUED ON PAGE A8
INSIDE
this week
BRAD YOCUM
GREG HISEL
prepare for and respond to wildfires. To enhance Malibu’s wildfires preparedness and response, the city recently employed retired Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACOFD) Assistant Fire Chief Greg Hisel and retired LACOFD Firefighter Paramedic Brad Yocum
to join Gabe Etcheverry as Malibu’s fire safety liaisons. Hisel and Yocum, who will both serve part-time, are replacing full-time Fire Safety Liaison Chris Brossard, who left the city in February for a position as a captain CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
Goldfarb appointed back to Parks and Rec panel monthly report, appointed Commissioner Georgia Goldfarb back into the panel, and presented the Jake Kuredjian Citizenship Award to Sandy Banducci and Roy LeMond. The Jake Kuredjian Citizenship Award is presented annually to an outstanding individual or group that gives their time and resources to enhance the quality of recreation programs for the Malibu community. Commissioners also reviewed
the removal of non-native plants at Trancas Open Space and reviewed the BrightGuard sunscreen station program. Recreation Supervisor Chris Orosz reported one ton of debris and trash was removed from the sites, including a 250-pound refrigerator. Orosz said the most trashed places are the pullout areas, which make it easy for one to park and leave all kinds of trash, from yard debris to countertops. Orosz said the deCONTINUED ON PAGE A6
Malibu honors selfless leader for commitment to the community | B1
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . A2 News Briefs . . . . . . . . A3 • LA County confirms seven new COVID-19 deaths Calendar . . . . . . . . . . A4 Local News . . . . . . A5, A6 • Malibu Optimist Club Honors Five Local Educators Real Estate . . . . . . A7, A8 • Latest celebrity, high-dollar local residential real estate Malibu Life . . . . . . . . B1 • Malibu High pole vaulting champ to attend school in Switzerland Malibu People . . . . . . B2 Community . . . . . . . . B3 Legal Notices . . . . . . . B4 Business & Directory . . B7 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . B7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B10 • Sharks boys volleyball players gearing up for college game