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Our Concerns |
Fire Safety
“Malibu is committed…to protect the public and private health, safety and general welfare.” - Malibu General Plan Mission Statement
Steve Scheinkman and I have experienced the devastating effects of wildfires. I've lived in Malibu for almost 40 years, seen 8 Malibu Wildfires and watched the homes of friends and neighbors burn to the ground.
Wildfires are an integral part of Malibu . To protect our lives and homes it is critical that we do everything we can to prevent fires, be properly prepared when a fire eventually arrives and maintain adequate evacuation routes for that day when a fire begins to overwhelm us. Steve Scheinkman and I have pledged to: |
- Fight the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy plan for overnight camping in
Malibu's canyons. The risk of fire is too great.
- Initiate talks with responsible agencies to ensure that electric poles are not
overloaded and electrical lines are underground wherever possible.
- Promote and assist in the establishment of neighborhood California Fire Safe Councils to protect homes, community and the environment from wildfires.
- Increase Malibu's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to
prepare more residents as first responders and neighbors helping neighbors by
working closely with Malibu's Office of Emergency Management.
- Ensure proper planning, testing and emergency resources for Malibu
schoolchildren throughout the City in the event of a fire, earthquake or other
natural or
manmade disaster.
- Ensure that Malibu's schools have effective and fire department access and evacuation plans.
- Expand the use of Malibu's Reverse 911 Program
- Work with Malibu's Public Safety Commission and Cal Trans to create effective evacuation routes for all Malibu residents in the event of a disaster.
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Clean Water
“The people of Malibu are responsible custodians of the area's natural resources for present and future generations.”
- Malibu General Plan Vision Statement
John Mazza and I are passionate about clean water. John has spent most of his life in or near the water. He is a former surfer and maintains one of the largest surfboard collections in the Malibu . My family and I have enjoyed the ocean waters in Malibu for almost 30 years. My son is an avid surfer.
Unfortunately we've all heard stories of surfers who have gotten sick from surfing in Malibu waters and know neighbors who are afraid to let their children in the water due to health fears.
John and I believe the majority of Malibu residents want their leaders to uphold the General Plan's directive to protect our ocean waters for future generations. John and I pledge to: |
- Complete the development of Legacy Park to reduce pollution caused by storm runoff.
- Construct a packaged wastewater plant solution for the commercial businesses in
the Civic Center.
- Insure that the overall commercial development currently permitted in the Civic Center is not increased as a result of the wastewater plant solution.
- Initiate additional testing to determine if the commercial plant has eliminated the
pollution. If not, we will look to advanced disinfection systems or the inclusion of
additional areas in the commercial solution to reduce the pollution.
- Leverage our experience to work with the Regional and State Water Boards to lift
the Civic Center septic prohibition.
- Monitor water quality that flows into city limits from businesses and cities outside Malibu,
such as the Tapia Water Reclamation Facility.
- Enforce Malibu's Point of Sale Septic Inspection Ordinance.
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Financial Responsibility
Dusting Off the Rules of Financial Responsibility
In 2006, Malibu had zero debt and reserves of more than $10 million. Today, we have debt of $45 million and a reserve of only $8 million. That is a significant change.
Approximately $20 million of this indebtedness went toward the purchase of a new City Hall. We acquired the property at auction for $15 million. We were the only bidder (think about that) and it will cost us another $3 to $ 4 million in renovations before we can actually use it as a City Hall.
At the same time Malibu was borrowing money with one hand, we were giving it away with the other hand. We watched in disbelief as the City gave the owners of the Lumber Yard what amounts to a $1.5 million interest free loan for 15 years, unfairly subsidizing high-end out of town retailers to the detriment of local business owners who are struggling to meet their own monthly rent payments. Most Malibu residents are angry and scratching their heads trying to figure out how and why this happened.
Malibu is growing up as a city, and our finances are getting more complex. Balancing our financial picture in the future is going to require sound long term budgeting and financial decision making.
Steve Scheinkman and I will ensure that we make those sound financial decisions. Our financial skills have been honed by a combined 45 years of executive experience and that executive experience will be invaluable as we face the challenges in the upcoming years. We pledge to: |
- Develop a long range Master Financial Plan for Malibu.
- Hold a Malibu Youth Summit and use that Summit to create a specific financial plan to accommodate the future needs of Malibu's Youth.
- Identify all required infrastructure improvements and create a capital Improvement plan to ensure that all improvements can be funded as required.
- Conduct relationships with our business partners in a fiscally responsible manner.
- Comply with the City Council policy and maintain adequate cash reserve including an emergency reserve fund.
- Review our litigation expenses and eliminate wasteful lawsuits.
- Work with the State and Federal government to maximize available grants and stimulus funds.
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A Fair Share for Our Kids
As the Father to five children I understand the challenges that we face as parents and the importance of creating an environment that nurtures and provides opportunities for our children to learn and grow into responsible adults.
Some in our community would have you believe that we cannot expand youth services and retain Malibu's rural character. This is simply not true. Rural communities around the country have demonstrated that with a commitment from their elected officials, robust youth programs can be developed. I know that we can do the same thing here in Malibu.
Nothing is more important to our children than their education and in this area we need to ask some hard questions. |
- Why is it that the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District allocates only 12% of available bond proceeds to Malibu Schools when Malibu children represent 18.5% of the District's population, and Malibu residents reportedly pay over 25% of the taxes.
- Why is it that after passing a $280 million dollar bond measure, we still have not solved the issues of fire safety and emergency evacuation at Malibu High School , or provided a safe way for our young children to be dropped off and picked up at school?
- And why is $250 million of bond funds going into Santa Monica schools while less than a $1 million dollars is being spent to resolve the critical needs of our three elementary schools here in Malibu?
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John Mazza and I want to expand Malibu's youth programs, make the safety of our children a top priority and ensure that Malibu schools are getting their fair share of school district funds.
When elected we pledge to: |
- Hold a Malibu Youth Summit to help us create a specific long term capital improvement plan to accommodate the current and future needs of Malibu's Youth.
- Ensure that Malibu's long term budget includes sufficient funding to pay for the needed capital improvements for youth facilities, as well as the annual funds to operate these facilities.
- Conduct a safety audit at each Malibu School to ensure that the campus has the necessary infrastructure to protect our children in the case of an emergency.
- Guarantee that Malibu schools receive their fair share of money that Malibu residents pay in taxes to SMMUSD and direct these funds first to fix all safety issues at our schools.
- Identify locations in Malibu where a meaningful and permanent teen center and sports field can be constructed that is easily accessible and does not negatively impact a residential neighborhood.
- Continue to support the library expansion program and support educational programs.
- Encourage our children to become involved in the community and charitable organizations in the City and provide scholarships for excellence in this area.
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View Protection
Outward views contribute greatly to the quality of life in Malibu.
Almost two years ago, Malibu voters passed Measure E by a wide margin confirming the need for the City to enact an ordinance to restore and maintain primary views from neighboring private homes. A View Protection Task Force was formed comprised of 13 residents and in nineteen spirited public sessions the Task Force deliberated the multitude of issues involved in fairly balancing the interests of homeowners seeking to restore views and their neighbors who wanted to maintain their foliage.
John Mazza and I are supportive of the findings of the Task Force Majority Report and following our election, we will work expeditiously to enact a View Protection ordinance based on the following precepts: |
- Provide homeowners a path to establish that a view existed at the time they acquired their property.
- Establish a broad set of criteria (including privacy, the extent of view obstruction and other issues of special importance to Malibu) to be considered in determining whether it is appropriate for the homeowner to restore the view to as it existed when the property was acquired.
- Emphasize, encourage and require multiple layers of “neighbor-to-neighbor” discussion to reach an amicable solution to restore the view and discourage acrimonious and costly litigation.
- Establish a protocol to be followed in determining the best method to restore the view minimizing the impact on the property from which the blocking foliage will be removed.
- The cost to restore the view will be paid for by the property owners seeking to restore the view.
- Only as a last step, provide a City sponsored arbitration process at no cost to the City by the imposition of appropriate fees to be paid by the parties as allocated by the findings of the arbitrator.
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Malibu Equestrians
“Horsemanship through history ... has been considered one of the highest accomplishments," -Will Rogers
Equestrians make a significant contribution to the social and economic health and diversity of Malibu . They support recreational, educational and entertainment activities that add to the character of our City and their advocacy of open space policies and multi-use trails support the preservation of the City's green landscape.
Our children benefit from the positive environment created by equestrian activities. Through their relationship with horses, children learn and develop important life skills and a sense of value, self worth and the need to care for our fragile environment. The discipline and responsibility our children learn as equestrians will help them make better decisions as adults.
In light of the significant contribution equestrians make to our City's historic rural character, quality of life and economy, it is important that civic leaders ensure that equestrian activities continue to flourish in Malibu . Malibu should focus on maintaining Malibu's Equestrian Park , working in tandem with Trancas Riders & Ropers and other groups, preserving Malibu's open space and historic neighborhood trails, as well as the connection to the greater regional trail system of the Santa Monica Mountains . Most important, Malibu should expand its support for the role equestrian activities play in the development of our children.
The City's Master Plan must provide for: |
Improving the condition of the Malibu Equestrian Park
- Correct any problems with sand and footing in the arenas
- Install a water-conserving sprinkler system to effectively water arenas
- Provide routine maintenance, including dragging the arenas
Improving Malibu's trail system for equestrians and hikers
- Maintain current trails
- Enforce trail easements to ensure trails are not illegally blocked off by development or gates
- Create new trails that link up with the present trail system
Promoting Safety
- Develop additional pathways adjacent to roads providing equestrians and pedestrians safe access to trails from the City streets
- Educate the public for the need to obey traffic laws regarding horses and riders
- Ensure that the needs of livestock are considered in planning for emergency events such as fires
Supporting Activities for our Children
- Support youth equestrian programs established by community organizations
- Recognize achievements by our children
- Help expand youth equestrian programs
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