Malibu Wants to Establish Fines for Building and Zoning Code Violations

• City Council Slated to Ask for New Law

BY BILL KOENEKER

Malibu City Council members are being asked next week to approve an ordinance that would establish fines for violations of the municipal code.
If the ordinance is approved, the staff will return with a separate agenda item to establish specific fine amounts for administrative penalties, according to a staff report.
“This ordinance has been prepared in response to the desire to provide administrative enforcement procedures for violations of the municipal code which are deemed relatively minor in nature,” wrote Gail Sumpter, division manager-permit services/ code enforcement.
Sumpter indicates such violations typically include building codes, zoning, animal nuisance, noise and other violations that “do not constitute immediate threats to public health or safety.” Many of these are brought to the city’s attention by neighbors or other affected parties who file complaints.
The head code enforcement officer noted the citations and fees imposed will provide for “a more efficient and streamlined enforcement procedure” than is currently available under the present provisions. She said the procedure has proven effective in a number of other cities, such as West Hollywood and Santa Ana.
There is a proposed procedure that includes serving the citations personally, an appeal procedure before a hearing officer appointed by the city manager, and ultimately the ability to contest the citation in Superior Court.