Regional Water Board Hears Input on Proposed Septic Curbs

• Auditorium Is More Than Half Empty As Expectations of Major Turnout Prove Wrong

BY BILL KOENEKER

The most remarkable aspect of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board’s workshop last Thursday night on a proposed septic prohibition in and around the Civic Center area is what did not happen.
Though the meeting was held at night to ensure the greatest attendance possible, that did not occur. Fewer people showed up than did for the the previous workshop held during the day.
RWQCB staff booked Pepperdine University’s Elkins Auditorium in anticipation of an overflow crowd that never showed.
The workshop was scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. with the water board’s staff saying they could stay to 9 p.m. to answer more questions. However, the meeting only lasted a little more than an hour.
Once again, RWQCB spokesperson Wendy Phillips conducted the meting, giving an informational presentation about the ban and the reasons for it.
The prohibition’s boundaries include several residential neighborhoods, and the Civic Center area. Sweetwater Mesa has been excluded.
The residential enclaves consist of Serra Retreat, including the center, Malibu Colony, Malibu Road, Malibu Knolls and Winter Canyon. The ban is a prohibition of all septic tanks including advanced systems and also earmarks schools, churches and condos. The ban applies to all commercial, residential and public properties.
The RWQCB will meet on Nov. 5 to consider the ban, which would begin on all new construction immediately and go into effect in five years for existing septic and wastewater discharge systems; the only exception is zero discharge.
Phillips said the agency expects the city would have a sewer system or package plant ready for hook-ups.
The RWQCB staff and the city staff are in discussions about what would happen for development in the pipeline and expansion or remodeling projects within the five years.
The community meetings are considered an opportunity for the public to assist the board in its deliberations and provide the staff an opportunity to hear from the public.
City officials attempted to delay the meeting for several months as they compiled data from new studies particularly a USGS study, but to no avail.
Malibu Building Official Craig George represented the city at last week’s meeting and told attendees the city shared the visions of the state agency, but had different ideas of how to go about it.