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

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City Council Likes Eating Outdoors, But Not Parking Or Crowd Problems

Seventeen restaurants in Malibu have moved tables from indoors … to outdoors.

All this al fresco dining was .. of course .. due to covid.

The outdoor dining permits will expire 90 days after the city ends its state of emergency … and that will be sometime this summer.

Somer people in Malibu really like them.

Howard Rudzkie spod up for al fresco seating … at Monday night’s city conical meeting.

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“This is something that most of us residents really like … to be able to sit out on a nice night …have a meal and … you’ll have some friends at the restaurant and just have a good time and you know …  be with our community.”

But like in every city in the U S … there are some problems with the outdoor dining area. 

City Planning Director Richard Mollica. 

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“In some cases … outdoor structures were built and the structures have not received a formal review by our building official.

“The importance of that is … one … we don’t know about the structural integrity of the structures  … how they were put together.

“And we also don’t know how they comply with the state’s accessibility requirements.”

None of them complying with city rules that require barriers against cars … or sufficient parking. 

And that’s a problem … says Doug Stewart.

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“I think we’ve got to make sure there was an adequate parking. If we add in 15 more covers or 30 more covers there needs to be more consideration for the parking.”

And there are other problems.

The Coastal Commission has ruled … in a San Diego case … that outdoor seating areas need to replace all parking places that they displace.

And councilman Steve Uhring says … some Malibu restaurants have added outdoor seating without reducing indoor seating.

NEWSCART A73999 PARKLETS UHRING where they move seats us

“I have been in some of these restaurants where not only did they move seats outside for dining, but then they increased the number of seats they had indoors also.  So there was a net increase of seating for more than one of the restaurants that I’ve been in.

I mean we’ve got to be careful.  If end up with no parking, somebody’s gonna start complaining and God knows what that’s gonna take us.”

The bottom line … city staff and the city council’s zoning committee will have some work to come up with a plan … to juggle the needs for parking … zoning … and keeping the restaurants in business.

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Malibu Suddenly Gets A New Deputy City Manager, Interim

Surprise.

Malibu has a new interim deputy city manager …Rob Houston has been working at city hall since January.

His hiring was not announced.

He just suddenly appeared … 4 hours and 45 minutes into the Malibu city council meeting on Monday night.

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MAYOR SILVERSTEIN: “that takes us to old business. Who’s going to give us a STAFF report on this?”

ROB HOUSTON: “Um, hi there, it’s Rob Houston.”

SILVERSTEIN: “Welcome Rob. Have you been introduced to the public yet?”

HOUSTON: “Some of the public. I don’t think … not during a meeting though.”

SILVERSTEIN: “Why don’t you introduce yourself so people who are watching know who you are.”

HOUSTON: “Certainly. Um, hi Malibu. Rob Houston. I am the deputy city manager, interim, helping out with city projects. 

“I joined the city in January, worked closely with city manager (Steve) McClary and assistant city manager (Joseph) Tony, as well as the leadership team.

“I’ve met some of the council ,got to meet many of you in working on projects, and I’m really enjoying a chance to serve the great community of Malibu.”

Houston apparently joined the city in late January as deputy interim city manager … but his hiring was not revealed until late in a meeting in mid March. 

There was no announcement.

No press release. 

What is Rob Houston’s role at city hall?

How much is he being paid?

When was the decision made to hire an interim deputy city manager?

Was there a vote of the city council?

We have not seen anything on that.

A year ago … Houston was hired as the city manager … down in the City of Orange … on a three year contract.

He resigned after seven months … no explanation.

Before that … Houston was the city manager in Fountain Valley. 

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At Monday night’s meeting … Houston made his first appearance … 

The new interim assistant city manager said final arrangements are being put in place for a new center for hiring day workers … near the new Malibu College campus.

The city is using federal block grant money to replace the three-decade old trailer … used by the Malibu Labor Exchange.

In order to add a washroom and bring the facility up to modern standards… It’s gonna cost more than a half million dollars.

Houston said the Santa Monica College campus… Next door… Is leading the way in setting up the new Malibu labor exchange building.

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Prepare For One Million Additional Tourists In Downtown Santa Monica

In news from down the coast … Santa Monica Place is looking pretty sad these days.

The movie theaters are closed for good.

The third floor food court …. Partly walled off and not doing much business.

Foot traffic is pretty low.

The developer … the Macerich Company … is planning yet another remake.

Two major attractions are being brought in.

An immersive, digital art destination” is being installed in the pace that used to be the ArcLight Cinemas.

It’s big … 50 thousand square feet.

Its called the Arte Museum.

The Santa Monica daily Press reports that the Arte Museum is from Korea’s world-class digital design company d’strict. 

They built Korea’s largest immersive media art exhibition  … at a convention center in Seoul.\

If features a colossal computer-generated “Wave” 

The Arte Museum is set to open Set to open in early 2024 and is expected to draw one million visitors annually to Santa Monica Place shopping mall … the Daily Press newspaper says.

And next to it … a 10 thousand square foot dumpling factory is open order.

This will be a huge branch of the celebrated Chinese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung.

Din Tai Fung is a Chinese restaurant specializing in Xiao Long Bao, or soup dumplings. 

The chain currently 160 or so locations in 12 other countries worldwide. 

With a menu that now includes steamed buns, house-made noodles and vegan dishes.

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Support for KBUU Radio comes from Rancho del Cielo.

For 8 years … Rancho del Cielo has been a partner to public radio in the Malibu.

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Support for KBUU radio comes from Mad Interior Art.

Based in the fashion capital of the world, Milan, Mad Interior Art selects remarkable crystal, porcelain and stone art objects with a remarkable artistic depth …  created by the biggest names on the Italian and international scene.

Shop from home.  Fast shipping.

Mad Interior Art dot com … from Milan to Malibu … supporters of Radio Malibu. … KBUU.

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Support for KBUU Radio comes from Sea N Soul Surf, at Zuma Beach Plaza

A coffee barista … the locals’ place to find entry level surfboards for a grom … or a handshaped blade for a pro.

Sea N Soul Surf… clothing, coffee and boards for the Malibu lifestyle … under Spruzzo’s …across from Zuma Beach.

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Support for Radio Malibu KBUU comes from the Mark and Grether Real Estate Group.

Combining the talents of Tony Mark and Russell Grether… 

The Mark and Grether Group offers concierge-level service… personalized attention… to buyers and sellers… landlords and tenants … here in Malibu.

The Mark and Grether Group… a top producing team with 35 years of experience… and over $1 billion worth of real estate sold in least… from Malibu’s coastline to the canyons.

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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.

The tap room at Trancas Country Market is open… 

And the Malibu Brewing Company is serving its Oktoberfest fest beer … a traditional lager with notes of toffee … moderate malt flavors and delicate hops. 

A chef prepared menu to enjoy on the patio or inside.

Malibu Brewing Company Malibu California

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Support for KBUU radio comes from Saguaro Technology.

Based in Malibu … Saguaro Technology offers software development and other engineering services across the entire product life cycle… and across several industries.

Life sciences, automation, robotics. 

Saguaro Technology engineers work side-by-side with the client to extend engineering teams… to create and launch products faster… and more cost effectively. 

Saguaro Technology can be reached at saguarotech.net

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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.

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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