Is Zoom too small for big Malibu projects?

by Michele Willer-Allred/Staff Writer

Malibu Surfside News

https://www.malibusurfsidenews.com/p/news-city-local-government/zoom-too-small-big-malibu-projects

A push to resume Malibu Planning Commission meetings is on, with several commissioners saying many projects are just too difficult to proceed via video conference.

The issue was brought up during Monday night’s meeting, when developer Norm Haynie said that there are a number of projects that are in the works, including his own hotel proposal, that he felt were best-suited to be heard in a live, open forum rather that online as the meetings are now being held because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Haynie said said those meetings can resume at City Hall by separating city officials six feet apart at the dais, with clear sheets of plastic dividing them. He also suggested allowing the public into the hearing room when their project comes up and disinfecting the microphone between speakers. Once they speak, they can leave the room.

“We can at least move through some of these projects that are a little more complicated or (about which) more people would like to speak (compared to) what’s going on right now,” Haynie said. “I was told specifically that my project would not be heard until more people could participate easily in a hearing.”

Planning Commission Chair Jeff Jennings agreed, saying that he didn’t think the online meetings were serving applicants or the general public well.

“We need to get back to meetings where we can have face-to-face contact as quickly as we possibly can,” Jennings said.  “I think at the same time, however, that we ought to maintain this video link-up even though we’d be sitting in the council chambers, so that people can sit at home and have their pajamas on or whatever and still be able to comment on what’s going on.”

Commissioner Chris Marx said there’s guidance from state officials that the city can start in-person meetings, but he expressed concern that big projects could draw big crowds in one room. He said he would like a working session to try to sketch out how to reintroduce in-person meetings.

Planning Vice Chair John Mazza said the state is already allowing church congregations to meet with up to 100 people.

“I don’t see what’s the difference between what a church is doing and planning commission and city council meetings, except for the swearing,” Mazza said with a laugh.

Mazza added that he hopes meetings resume at City Hall soon because people are getting frustrated trying to get onto the Zoom meetings to comment, and there are a lot of projects that need to be completed.

“I really hope the city staff has not pushed this off. In Orange County, I’ve seen several meetings of city councils in their chambers with people, so I hope that happens,” Mazza said.

In addition to short-term rentals and accessory dwelling units, Mazza said other issues, such as traffic and parking compliance by Malibu restaurants Nobu, and Little Beach House Malibu (Soho), are topics that need to be addressed.

Mazza said Nobu and Soho were noticed with violations six years ago and it’s been over a year since the city even heard anything regarding compliance. He said that enforcement action or compliance needs to happen before the summer crowds return to both establishments and cause problems as they’ve done in the past.

Assistant Planning Director Richard Mollica said he did reach out to both businesses.

“Nobu did not want to meet with us because they felt that it was inappropriate that we would be reaching out given the circumstances that the business has been facing with the closure due to COVID-19,” Mollica said, adding that Soho was willing to meet to discuss the issue.

“It was difficult to bring both parties to the table so we could have a discussion about what to do for this upcoming summer season,” he said.

Also, during public comment, Malibu resident Paul Grisanti asked what the city was doing about the Smith property at 23855 Civic Center Way.

Recently, the council narrowly approved a settlement agreement to give Third Point Land Company LLC sewer rights for the property, with what is considered the last wetlands in the city.

While the settlement did not give Third Point development rights for the property, the city did receive calls that the company already had machinery on the property and was digging it up.

“We got numerous calls about it and sent staff over to stop the work right away. We are investigating,” said Planning Director Bonnie Blue, who added that the site needs a biological assessment before anything happens there. She also said any development in the Civic Center area requires a wetland delineation.

Regarding fire rebuilds, planning officials reminded residents who lost their homes in the Woolsey Fire that the fee waiver deadline for certain permit fees is June 30.

Mollica said if those projects are not deemed complete or approved by June 30, the Planning Department will have to follow the council directive and charge for those applications to move forward.

“If someone submits the application right before the fee waiver application deadline of June 30, that application is just submitted and that does not lock in the fee waiver program and the ability to have your fees waived,” he emphasized.

Blue said the council will be discussing the city budget on Monday, including a fee waiver.

“At this point, it’s entirely within the council’s hands to address any sort of extension or changes in the deadline in the fee waiver resolution they adopted,” she said.