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Malibu has been undergoing a wave of change over the past year, visible by the street improvements at Cross Creek and construction on the land where Malibu Lumber once stood. But, these changes did not start on their own accord. Behind most successful projects lies a person, or people, directing and influencing the transformation. In Malibu’s case, those people are the members of the Malibu City Council, and, come next week, the council too will undergo change.
Malibu residents will vote in the Malibu City Council election Tuesday, April 8. Three seats on the council will be filled. Councilmember Ken Kearsley and Mayor Jeff Jennings have been termed out of the council, and Mayor Pro Tem Pamela Conley Ulich is running for another term, as her current four-year term has ended. Ulich is running alongside Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner, John Sibert, Kathy Wisnicki and Susan Tellem.
Though unsuccessful, Wagner ran for a position on the city council in 1992. The Zuma Jay’s surf shop owner and concessionary of Malibu Pier will appear on the ballot this year as “Jefferson ‘Zuma Jay’ Wagner.” Wisnicki serves as the auditor of the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, and will abdicate the position if elected to the Malibu City Council.
Sibert has served on the Malibu Planning Commission for six years. Tellem has been an involved Malibu resident since 1997. And, Ulich has served as Mayor Pro Tem for a single term.
In addition to being involved in the Malibu community, some of the candidates also have very close ties with Pepperdine. Ulich has been an adjunct professor at Pepperdine’s School of Law for almost nine years, and she is currently teaching a seminar on entertainment law. Though she has not taught a course at Pepperdine in four years, Tellem has also served as an adjunct professor at the university, teaching a public relations course for Seaver College students.
Although only permanent Malibu residents can vote in the city council election, which excludes many students, faculty and staff, staying informed about the changes, and who will be making them, is important for all in the local community.
“We are an intricate part of the Malibu community,” said junior Dillon Desai, a member of Pepperdine Ambassador’s Council (PAC), in an e-mail.
PAC has close ties with the Malibu City Council. “In all of our activities, we attempt to communicate with the Malibu community to receive feedback concerning potential projects and plans so as to work in the best interest of the community as a whole,” Desai said.
However, using the election’s absentee ballots as a gauge, it seems that community-wide interest
in the process has been low this year.
“I am personally fearful that voter fatigue has kicked in,” Ulich said. “With the national election going on, people are not as involved in Malibu as they could be. I hope to inspire people to participate at home.”
Whether or not those in the Pepperdine community can vote April 8, Ulich still encourages all to stay informed and involved in the community, as many important changes are being made in Malibu.
According to Kearsley, the biggest project in the works is Legacy Park, which he says will serve as Malibu’s “Central Park” upon completion. In addition to transforming the 20-acre land, which has served as the Malibu Chili Cook-off site for many years, with new vegetation and recreational facilities, the park will also serve as a water filtration machine to clean the coastal creek and lagoon from storm runoff.
“This is probably the biggest project for a small city — we’re only 14,000 people — in California,” Kearsley said.
The project has cost the city $25 million and will require another $12 million before completion in the next four years.
In addition to Legacy Park, parks are also being built in Las Flores and Trancas Canyon that will include facilities such as tot lots and ball parks. These projects will cost the city about $7 million, according to Kearsley.
A project Kearsley said he has been particularly invested in is the creation of a Santa Monica College satellite school in the building that currently serves as the condemned sherriff’s station. If constructed, the campus will offer courses available to Pepperdine students, as well.
Kearsley has expressed support for the project, calling it “his baby.” However, current city council candidates, such as Tellem, have expressed concerns over the traffic the school will cause.
In addition, a Pinkberry, Whole Foods Market and hotel are also in the planning process and expected to soon be built in Malibu. Though the dates of completion for the hotel and Whole Foods Market are uncertain, Kearsley said residents can expect Pinkberry in the fall.
With so many changes and additions in the works, it is important for all members of the Malibu community to stay active participants in the process.
“You’re a part of it, even if you’re not a part of the actual city,” Tellem said. “The whole idea that you’re here and involved on a day-to-day basis, using our vendors and our small businesses, makes it important for you to be a part of the city in as many ways as you can be.”
Submitted 04-03-2008
MALIBU, CA
