Malibu Political Grudge Trickles Down To Coastal, Malibu Township Coastal Appeal Against Karen Farrer Tossed In 11-0 Vote – Major Rehab Construction Coming To Trippet Trailhead – Big Car Unloading Garage Planned For Nearby Port –

A Malibu group’s continued political attacks on a Malibu city council member spilled over to the California Coastal Commission this week …

And the commission told Jo Drummond … president of the Malibu Township Council … no issue … go home.

It was a unanimous 11 to nothing decision by the Coastal Commission … one commissioner abstained.

Drummond had filed a protest to the Coastal Commission over a home owned by the daughter of one time city council member Karen Farrer … and her son in law.

Drummond and other members of the Malibu Township Council have repeatedly attacked Farrer for supposedly taking special favors … like jumping to the head of the line and talking the city into allowing an illegal second floor.

The addition is in fact not illegal.

And a city investigation found there was no favoritism.

Construction is already completed on the house … on lower Busch Drive.

After losing at City Hall … Drummond appealed to the state Coastal Commission … and made her pitch last week: 

DRUMMOND MUIR 2222 

“The applicant, as a public official for the City Of Malibu, concealed her ownership and abused her position to obtain special treatment.

“During an internal criminal investigation, conducted by the City on July 17th 2021, Karen Farrer falsely stated that this property was not owned by her, but by a relative.

“This event gave her an entitlement and an exemption from standard policies and practices.

“No stop work was officially issued.

“Commissioners, please err on the side of caution and adhere to the strictest application of the code in this case, due to these extensive violations.”

Fact check – there was no criminal investigation.  

It was a review by the city staff.

But Drummond’s appeal to the Coastal Commission forced the Muir family … wanting to build the house … to bring in land use consultant Don Schmitz to represent them.

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“What is before you tonight, is for the conversion of a the legally-constructed gymnasium of about 500 square feet on the second story into a second unit .,.. which is permissible under the code.”

The Coastal Commission staff agreed with Schmitz and the Muir family … and against Jo Drummond and the Malibu Township Council. 

They said … conflicts of interest .. if any … are a municipal affair .. not a coastal act issue

DeAnna Christensen is the coastal enforcement officer …

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“The appellant brings up an alleged conflict of interest involving the owner. 

“We would just note that that is not a valid grounds of appeal”

Drummond was also shot down on her arguments that the project was improperly approved by the city as a fire rebuild … and then approved for the ADU conversion.

Drummond also complained that it was illegal to build a large sewage treatment system at the house.

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“So this is serial development. 

“Regardless, there should’ve been public notice that that the larger fire rebuild that this application is attached to because of its location in ESHA (Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area). 

“The converted ADU should not be three times the size of its existing septic.” 

The family representative … land use consultant Don Schmitz … said the city properly issued the rebuild for the Woolsey Fire reconstruction … and then properly issued the permit to convert part of it to an ADU.

And he said the city required an expensive new high tech septic system to replace the old septic tank … which was old but perfectly functional. 

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“It’s not being replaced because it’s failing. It’s being replaced to be upgraded. 

“It’s not a significant expansion of the system.

“In fact, it is a next-generation, hundred thousand dollar onsite wastewater treatment ystem that has ultraviolet, chlorination and dechlorination. It’s literally a tertiary onsite wastewater treatment system.”

And the Coastal Commission denied that part of Drummond’s appeal as well. 

Deanna Christensen.:

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“I terms of the replacement septic system size and capacity, we would note that the approve system is just a common midrange advanced treatment system.

“If its undersized then that is going to introduce more issues for the adjacent streams.”

The commission voted 11 to nothing to toss out the Drummond complaint…. and there was one abstention.

Now … under state law … the Coastal Commission not sit as some sort of court of appeal for city council decisions.  It only enforces Coastal Act law. 

And they ruled yesterday … that there was no Coastal issue in Joe Drummond’s complaint.

During the meeting .. a representative for the Malibu Township Council was not allowed to give his opinion. 

Ryan Embree had signed up to testify on behalf of the Malibu Township Council …. Which is a political club that has no official standing.

That led to this moment of confusion at the state Coastal Commission. 

EMBREE CONFUSION

CHAIRPERSON: “Are there any eligible members of the public to speak?”

CLERK: “We have Ryan Embree from Malibu Township Council in on Zoom.”

CHAIRPERSON: “So he’s at representing local government then? “

EMBREE: “Yes.”

CLERK: “He indicated he’s a member of the public.” 

EMBREE: “Can you hear me?”

CHAIRPERSON: “So he’s not an appellant, is he? I’m not seeing that.  So how is he qualified to speak?”

CLERK:  “I have the Malibu Township Council listed as an appellant.”

CHAIRPERSON: “Hmm. That’s not listed on my report.”

And with that … Ryan Embree of the Malibu Township Council was cut off … the Coastal Commission left to labor without the benefit of his opinion. 

 

Aging Nuclear Plant 140 Miles Upwind From Malibu Gets CPUC Permits Renewed

California energy regulators voted Thursday to allow the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant to operate for an additional five years, despite calls from environmental groups to shut it down.

The California Public Utilities Commission agreed to extend the shutdown date for the state’s last functioning nuclear power facility through 2030 instead of closing it in 2025 as previously agreed.

Diablo Canyon has already won Coastal Commission approval to keep operating … even though the cooling system kills millions of fish and other marine creatures.

The governor campaigned on closing Diable Canyon …. but the energy balance right now requires the nuclear power to keep the lights on in California on hot summer evenings … after solar power says goodnight.

The twin reactors, located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, began operating in the mid-1980s. They supply up to 9% of the state’s electricity on any given day.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will soon consider whether to extend the plant’s operating licenses … there final step to keeping the nuclear station generation hot.

But last October …  the Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected a request from environmental groups to immediately shut down one of two reactors.

Activists condemned the state’s extension.

They say continuing to run the aging plant will cost California taxpayers … and ratepayers …  $6 billion.

“This ill-conceived decision will further escalate financial strain on California ratepayers and extend the threat of a catastrophe at Diablo Canyon,” said Ken Cook, president of the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.

“With California’s annual renewable energy additions exceeding Diablo Canyon’s output, there is zero reason to keep it running,” he added in a statement.

 

Port Hueneme Planning Massive Car Unloading Garage 25 Miles West Of Trancas

In news from up the coast …the Port of Hueneme has received a $2 million federal grant last month to begin planning a gigantic parking garage to accommodate imported cars being offloaded by ships. 

The project may eventually cost 60 to 70 million dollars.

The funding comes from a federal government program, that allocates money to decarbonize, upgrade and rehabilitate ports.

Just how exactly unloading tens of thousands of cars will decarbonize the local air is not clear … but the port does generate a lot of jobs. 

The garage structure could allow the port to stage more vehicles.

Last year … more than 375,000 vehicles moved through the Port Hueneme … offloaded from ships … unloaded to rail cars or trucks for distribution to car dealership.s

 

Trippet Ranch Trailhead Has Massive Rain Runoff Problems, State Parks Plans Big Reconstruction

California State Parks plans to move some dirt around at Trippet Ranch ,..,. a popular trailhead in Topanga Canyon. 

State parks says Trippet Ranch has severe erosion that channels along fire roads above the area, Mud flows through the parking area.

Gullies are being carved out below the parking lot … undermining oak trees.

The picnic area and parking lot are also endander.

It’s a big project.

The parking lot would be rehabilitated including improving ingress and egress.

Stormwater management features would be installed within the parking lot as well as both up and downstream of it.

California State Parks plans a public hearing on the Trippet ranch rehabilitation project… Over in Topanga Canyon… next Monday evening …. on the computers.

 

Hot And Windy Weather Into This Weekend, Up To A Point

Offshore air flow will continue through Sunday, with gusty northeast winds at times. Dry weather is expected through at least Saturday, with above normal temperatures during the days.

Nights will be colder than normal, particularly in wind-sheltered areas.

A storm system moving into the eastern Pacific may bring rain to the Malibu as early as late this weekend with off and on rain much of next week.