MRCA Tells Malibu ‘Follow The Law’ But Judge Has Already Ruled Against Camping in ESHA

Outage simmered over into anger last night … as Malibu residents vented publicly about an attempt to cram parks and trailheads into private residential streets.

Malibu resident after Malibu resident lined up at last night’s city council meeting …. rreacting to statements made by Jope Edmiston … director of the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority.

Last week … Edmiston attacked Malibu  …

NEWSCART 75098 EDMISTON  QQQ NOT APPEALABLE TO THIS BODY.

“You can have tens …  in some cases … tens of millions of dollars of state bond money buying a piece of property engaged going to a public agency, and the city of Malibu sayings, uh uh  no no no no we don’t care.

“Because it’s still zoned residential, I mean get that, because it’s still zoned residential, you have to come before us to get a C U P (Coastal Use Permit).

” ‘Mr. Edmison, why are you concerned about that?’

“Because a C-U-P is not a payable to this body because a C-U-P is not appealable to this body.

“Let me reiterate that.

“A C-U-P is not appealable to this body.”

That was Edmiston before the Coastal Commission last week.

He was asking the Commission to change the rules in the city … and remove the city council’s power to approve or reject parks planned  by the MRCA.

The item was not on the Coastal Commission agenda … but Edmiston rose to speak on a different issue.

Last night … Malibu city attorney Christi Hogin said she was alarmed by his apparent campaign.

NEWSCART 75124 CHRISTI HOGIN FRIENDLY 1111 QQQ LAS FLORES CREEK PARK.

“I do think that one of the things we heard tonight that is important … tho… is this drumbeat to try to create the image of the city that is not park friendly.

“Which is, of course, insane.

“We are visitor friendly … we are trail friendly … we are park friendly.

“And so I think that this it really is about creating a bum rap for the city

“So I think this is a more of a PR problem than a legal problem …

“But when they come for us, I’ll be ready,”

[[[LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE FADEOUT]]]

Malibu city attorney Christi Hogan.

The battle over camping in the foothills of Malibu is just beginning.

An attorney for the mountains recreation conservation authority … the M R C A … told the city council last night that the city is required to support camping.

Angelica Ochoa quoting from the LCP … the local coastal program imposed on Malibu by the coast commission back in 2002.

NEWSCART 75125 ANGELICA OCHOA QQQ THAT IS ALL.

“Rather than blinding attempt (sic) to prevent any camping within the Santa Monica Mountains, and more specifically within ESHA, the city should instead embrace its stated goal of providing enhanced recreation and lower-cost visitor opportunities to the public and support the proposed amendments.

“To propose otherwise runs directly counter to both the Coastal Acts (sic) and this city’s stated policy goals.

“We encourage the City Council to support the creation of campgrounds in the Santa Monica Mountains.

“That is all.”

No, that was not all.

Ochoa had asserted the coastal commission once camping is environmentally sensitive habitat areas in the local mountains.

This matter has already been in court … a a judge ruled against the M R C A.

City council member Rick Mullen had a copy of a judge’s order in his hands … and Muller read directly from it.

Mullen reminded the lawyer of coastal act section 30240 … and it really doesn’t matter what the commission wants if what the commission wants is illegal.

NEWSCART 75126 RICK MULLEN  QQQ HABITAT VALUES.

“The problem with the Commission’s position is that the LCP development standards are not consistent with 30240’s protection of ESHA … which is heightened and which prevents -ANY- substantial disruption of habitat values.”

In the end … Mullen said it doesn’t matter if the LA County the coastal commission want to approve camping in environmentally sensitive habitat areas … like Ramirez Canyon.

The judge has already ruled that to be illegal.