Clover Heights Proposed as Parking Solution for Morning View Problems

• Recommendation Slated for Study

BY BILL KOENEKER

Malibu Park residents came this week to the Malibu City Council meeting ready to praise the council and its staff for a municipal report that made short-term recommendations to alleviate the parking problem and congestion on Morning View Drive in and around the public school campus.
But what they went away with was a proposal by Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich to open up Clover Heights for school parking.
“Spread the pain and spread the love. It is a public street. We should do that,” she said, insisting the city could carve out 20 spaces on the Malibu Park road that ends in a cul de sac adjacent to the school campus.
However, before there was an opportunity to debate the proposal, City Manager Jim Thorsen said the matter would have to be brought back to the council. It was not on the agenda and the council could not vote on it without public notice.
“We have not vetted that out. We will bring that back at the second meeting in April,” said Thorsen, who indicated there were questions about road width, if the parking would be considered legal and a host of other unanswered questions.
Thorsen said the city was also working with the school district to open up 30 additional parking spaces. “That could be an option,” he added.
Some Malibu Park residents complained they had been working on the issue for far too long and the school district had dug in its heels.
Councilmember Jay Wagner agreed. “Be prepared for more foot dragging. Twenty or 30 more spaces is not the solution,” he said.
Malibu Park resident Marshall Thompson suggested a police officer on the scene starting immediately would help. “The superintendent is more protective of asphalt than children,” he added.
Mayor Andy Stern disagreed. “Somebody said the superintendent does not care,” said Stern, adding that is not true, but stopping short of offering an answer. “I don’t know the solution,” he lamented. “The kids’ input is vital. The whole area was not built for three schools and everybody driving.”
The council agreed to receive and file the traffic report and wait to hear from the city manager next month.