Council Members Learn More about DNA Sampling to Trace Pollution

BY BILL KOENEKER

The Malibu City Council got an update about a Los Angeles County study of the water quality of two streams in Malibu that caused a major furor in the media when it was first announced.

Members learned the study designed to try to find the point sources of pollution in Ramirez and Escondido creeks was supposed to start sampling this week, but will probably be delayed because of the possibility of rain.

Mayor Ken Kearsley said the study of where the pollution is coming from and whether it is human, equine or avian is important. “If my septic is not functioning I want to know,” said the mayor, who added he believes that everyone in the two watersheds also wants to know. The county is spending $1 million on the study with the board of supervisors say is necesaary to track down the pollutants. The county and city formed an executive task force with county officials crediting municipal staff with giving valuable input into the study.

The research will be conducted in four phases, according to county officials. The first phase involves what is called a watershed characterization to determine where in the creeks the high levels of pollution exist and then to determine whether they are human or nonhuman generated.

Over the course of 10 weeks, 27 samplings will be taken each week from the creeks and beaches. Sampling is expected to start within a few days. Two sampling events will be undertaken during the length of the study. At the beginning of what is called the dry season and then at the end of that season.

The next phase involves the location of such hot spots and then carrying out more sampling throughout he canyons based on that information. Phase two will take place in 2008. City council members were told about half of the property involved in the study is public lands with the other 50 percent involving private lands. Everyone in the canyons was noticed by mail.

DNA testing will be done to determine the origin of the bacteria found. The fourth or final phase is considered optional, if needed, and would involve developing a library of the DNA testing to determine more clearly what is happening in the two creeks. “We don’t know if phase four is necessary,” said a county official, who stressed that privacy and discretion are considered extremely important to the success of the study.

The mayor reiterated. “We are not here to point fingers,” he insisted. “It will solve a big mystery. It is of critical interest to the whole watershed.”

In other council activity, members heard about the fundraising plans of the Malibu Green Machine. They learned that Malibu Creek Plaza shopping center owner Steve Soboroff is chairing the fundraising activity for the group which needs to raise $1.5 million for the entire project which consists of decorating and landscaping the median of 1.4 miles of Pacific Coast Highway from Cross Creek Road to Malibu Canyon Road. Plans call for starting construction in December or January and completing the project before the summer of 2008.

Soboroff said he was inspired to get involved because he does not believe that anybody wants to see what he called a “trashy entrance” to the Civic Center area. “We don’t want an unsafe or ugly highway,” he added.

He said he has been calling people for donations and has secured a promise of $50,000 from Michael Koss, who owns the Malibu Country Mart and Richard Wientraub, who owns the hotel site and is expected to be the master lease holder for the old lumber yard site. Weintraub contributed $180,000. “We are putting up $100,000,” Soboroff added.

Soboroff said he also got a promise of cash from Robert Gold and Richard Ackerman.

Soboroff said he hoped to be half way to their goal at this time, but said he remained upbeat about getting the rest of the funds for the project. “Nobody has said no twice,” he joked, adding he is trying to tap donors other than those who are being asked to give for the improvements at Legacy Park.

Council members also talked about how money was going to be raised for the improvements at Legacy Park.

Steve Uhring, who represents the Malibu Coastal Land Conservancy, said he and his members are talking to potential donors who had promised money for the matching grants that never materialized.

“But some of them have asked questions about the improvements. We don’t have the answers to the questions,” added Uhring.

“I talked to two of your donors. It is my understanding your association will meet with [the city manager] and the scientific team,” said Councilmember Sharon Barovsky, who said she would encourage everyone to give directly to the city. “But I bet you don’t agree with that. The answers will become more clear at [the future] public meetings,” added Barovsky.

“I guess if you are telling us there are no answers you are telling us to forget about it,” answered Uhring.

Barovsky replied, “It would be easier if the giving was directly to us. It is competitive. It is easier working together rather than competing.”

City Manager Jim Thorsen said the first of the public meetings starts on April 19, when both the city council and the planning commission will meet jointly.