=.  90 percent chance of rain tomorrow into Friday … may a half inch … maybe hail.

=.  Parents of Malibu school kids being asked … do you want masks required in classrooms?

=.  Why can’t gas stations meet the Malibu Dark Skies Ordinance?

=.  the city’s lighting expert says its the light bouncing off cars and the pavement.

=.  The landmark Serra Retreat faces a 3 point 5 million dollar bill to hook up to Malibu’s sewer system.

=.  And the state may start issuing fines of 10 thousand dollars if civic center residents vote against hooking up to the sewer. 

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This is Malibu’s Only Local Daily News … the Wednesday edition … I’m Hans Laetz reporting. 

Hail, Rain: 90% Chance Of Rain Tomorrow Night Into Friday

There’s a 90% chance of rain in Malibu tomorrow night… and we may get thunderstorms with small hail.

The heaviest rain will be Friday morning.

We could get a half inch of rain from the cold winter storm.

The snow level may drop to the grapevine and cause ice problems on the  5 Freeway and local mountain roads Friday into Saturday.
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Malibu public schools will continue to enforce indoor mask requirements for children and employees for the time being. The school districts across the state are grappling with a change in recommendations from the California Department of Public Health… and LA County is going along with the state recommendations.

But a recent statewide public opinion poll showed a 2-to-1 majority of parents 

favors keeping mask rules in schools for their kids. Given the large number of unvaccinated kids… And the sometimes severe health implications of contracting COVID-19 for children… Many parents are worried.

Last night santa monica Malibu school superintendent been Droddy told parents he wants to know what they think.

He’s asking parents to take a short survey on whether santa monica and Malibu scores should move from required to strongly mask to strongly recommending indoor mask wearing by children.

He’s asking parents to complete the survey by Saturday.

Statewide … among 12- to 17-year-olds — 65% have been fully vaccinated. 

But far fewer — just 30 percent in Los Angeles County … have full boosters.

Los Angeles County is set to lift its indoor mask mandate this week as coronavirus case rates and hospitalizations plummet, the county’s top health official said Tuesday.

The recommendation will be masks recommended — but not required — for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents in public indoor settings.

We will get a revised health order … it will likely take effect Friday … and align with state guidelines unveiled Monday.

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Support for KBUU Radio comes from the Malibu Brewing Company.

Malibu Brewing Company is a locally owned craft brewery, proudly supporting our community, and local public radio. 

Just released: a limited, holiday-spiced Winter Ale …  a perfect fireside companion.

It makes a special gift for the beer-lovers on your list.

Find Malibu Brewing Company premium craft beer in select retailers, or order direct at brew malibu dot com

Dark Sky Ordinance Loosened For Minor Light Spill At Gas Stations, But Don’t Expect Milky Way

Malibu’s Dark Skies Ordinance will be changed a little bit …. because an internationally-recognized Dark Skies expert says gas stations cannot meet the current rules. 

The consultant … Jim Benya … told the city council Monday night that either the ordinance has to be changed a little … or exemptions will have to be given to the six gas stations own PCH in Malibu. 

Benya told the city council Monday that it’s not the lights … it’s that ther gas stations were built so close to the road that some light will spill. 

NEWSCART A73142 BENYA 111

“The canopy is right up against the sidewalk in most cases. It’s not a lot of life that’s trespassing we’re talking about under a foot candle in areas where the the streetl lighting is probably two or 3 foot candles”

Councilman Bruce Silverstein spoke for 25 minutes at the meeting …. blasting the city’s lighting consultant and his recommendations. 

Silverstein said Malibu’s dark sky proponents had been “hoodwinked” into believing what the consultant said… that the gas stations need to be able to spill a little light onto the roads in front of them.

NEWSCART A73143 DARK BS

“I’m unpersuaded by any of those reasons offered by Mr. Benya and I’m further concerned that relaxing the standards for service stations is a slippery slope that will lead to the relaxation of restrictions for commercial property as well… As Mr. Benya himself has suggested.”

Council members rejected that.

Mikke Pierson said the ideal cannot stand in the way of the possible.

NEWSCART A73145 DARK MP

“Though I have no desire for any light spill at all at the same time I wanna get things done. And if one of the worlds foremost experts in the subject says this is a way that we can get this done I am fine with that. We’re not talking about turning the lights on brighter we’re talking about a little bit the light spill going onto the highway. I just wanna correct that.”

On Monday … the city council approved loosening the restrictions on gas stations just a little. 

They also told the city staff to come back with an ordinance  … and a plan to spend some money for public education about how the light ordinance will be enforced come October. 

Councilman Steve Uhring:

NEWSCART A73146 SU 

“We’ve got compliance issues we got to deal with we’ve got a hiring issue we have to deal with we have a budget issue we have to deal with and we have to make sure that we have the time to do those things correctly because if we do them incorrectly we’re going to make a whole bunch of people’s lives very miserable.”

And if Malibu residents are expecting Malibu’s Dark Skies Ordinance to bring back the brilliant Milky Way … that’s not going to happen. 

City light consultant Jim Benya:

NEWSCART A73144 JIM BENYA 222

“Light pollution travels 150 miles from the source. Your source pollution isn’t Malibu… your light pollution is Los Angeles, folks. And the only way you’re going to reduce it is to reduce their light pollution. You’re not the cause, you are just the effect.”

The city council approved spending about 120 thousand dollars to start enforcing the Dark Skies ordinance … starting with a big public education program … and hiring an expert to enforce it… starting this fall.

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You are listening to the latest news from Radio Malibu.

Support for KBUU’s radio covers from Orbit Homes Inc.

Prefabricated homes are the future of construction. Easy to get permits. Fast to build and install. Cost effective … little construction waste.

In Malibu, Orbit Homes has a showroom between City Hall and the Malibu racquet club.

Fire victims can check them out in person … and visit them on the web at www.orbithomes.us .

City Meetings Will Still Be All-Zoom

The city council decided Monday to continue meeting over Zoom … but start to get ready of in person meetings in the city council chambers. 

Plexiglass shields are being installed int he city hal chambers …. to allow the council members to meet in person.

The public might have to attend via computer … might get to attend in person … and might get a choice.

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Support for KBUU Radio comes from the Malibu Foundation.

The Malibu Foundation underwrote the KBUU solar panels and batteries at the transmitter … which keeps KBUU’s FM transmitting on 99.1 during storms and blackouts… 24 seven… on clean renewable Malibu sunshine.

 

Malibu is going to ask for an 8-month delay in the tight deadline set by the State Water Board to build a second phase of the sewer system that has been ordered for the Civic Center area. 

Residents in the Civic Center area are facing enormous costs … to connect to the sewer.

One homeowner in Sierra Estates … Jeff Follettt … spoke before the city council Monday night.

He faces a 350 thousand dollar bill to hook his 8 bedroom house into the sewer.

NEWSCART A73147 SEWER FOLLET 

“Serra Retreat … the historic Franciscan retreat center whose mission is to assist the underserved and less fortunate population at large … received an assessment estimate of – are you sitting down? – $3.5 million.  Our conversations with the local retreat staff offices indicate that this cost is impossible to meet and may be an existential blow this Malibu treasure.”

Several Malibu Civic Center area residents asked the city council to reopen talks with the State Water board … and said their homes are not polluting the Malibu Lagoon or Surfrider Beach.

That won’t happen … for legal reasons… the Water Board has issued its order and there is no indication it will change it.

City officials are going to ask for 8 months to try to line up additional state grants … to try to lower the price per property.

If residents vote down the sewer … city public works director Rob DuBoux says severe fines could be levied against them.

Ten thousand dollar a day fines are possible. 

Plus … it will become impossible to get building permits … for anything …

The city is now going to ask for an 8 month delay in the 2024 deadline … to try to line up any state or federal loans or grants …. To try to reduce the severe financial impact. 

McClary Gets ‘Attaboys’ And Raise, But Not the Job At Malibu  City Hall

And the Interim City Manager ,.,… Steve McClary was given an “attaboy” by the city council Monday night.

But not the title of permanent city manager.

McClary has been filling in on … basically … a day to day contract to run the city since reva Feldman was dumped 10 months ago,

The city council has ben unable to find a replacement.

Last night … city councilman Bruce Silverstein said again that McClary might ultimately get the job.

NEWSCART A73149 BS MCCLARY 

“Things move really slow, glacially, in government. We had some problems with the recruiter that we hired, it should have been dealt with much faster, I was in on the committee and it just was not done. I will take some responsibility for that. We need to get our act together and not just meet every now and then to get an important thing done.”

Last night … McClary was given a 32 percent pay raise … a sweetened benefits package … and the promise of a bonus if he sticks around.

But he was not named permanent city manager.

Councilwoman Karen Farrer sounded exasperated.

NEWSCART A73150 KF MCCLARY

“Steve I just wanna add my thanks. You know it’s been a challenging time in many ways and I appreciate your perseverance, your patience, your good humor, your thoughtfulness to a huge variety of issues. 

“I just want to say thank you very much.” 

After 10 months … the search continues.

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Support for KBUU Radio also comes the the Malibu Association of Realtors.

When choosing someone to represent you when you buy … sell or rent a house … local knowledge is very important.

Malibu zoning rules … Coastal Commission rules …

Members of the Malibu Association of Realtors are local experts.

The Malibu Association of Realtors …  supporters of our local community … and supporters of local radio 99.1 KBUU.

Expect Delays On Road To Ventura Again Today

PCH flaggers at Little Sycamore Cove … near the Giant Sand Dune at Point Mugu State Park.

Work continues on the 51 million dollar project to prevent the highway from slumping into the ocean … 

One lane only is being shared by traffic in both directions today … and all traffic may have to be stopped at times. 

Expect delays between Neptunes Net and Point Mugu.

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You can hear the news live every morning until 9:30 on KBUU.

FM 99.1 in western Malibu.  Also: streaming at www.radiomalibu.net

Between 10 and 2 … you can hear the newscast playback loop on KBU2. That’s on FM 99.1 HD2 in your car, or streaming at s7.viastreaming.net/6500

If humanly possible, the KBUU NewsScript is usually published at around midday at www.radiomalibu.net