‘Funds’ Being Spent for Water
Studies
• What If Future Revenues from New
Center Fall Short?
In a move that highlights how municipal
finances might have already become dependent on the projected
revenue stream from the city’s lumberyard shopping
center, the Malibu City Council next week is poised to spend
over $2.6 million for final designs and documents for a Civic
Center centralized wastewater treatment system based on the
boutique facility getting one of its final permits.
The on again-off again financing for the
treatment system plans had been stalled last October
when council members decided the uncertain shaky financial
situation did not warrant spending the money.
“The city council expressed concerns
for funding of large projects and studies during these
uncertain economic times, especially in light of the fact that
the lumberyard had not obtained its waste discharge permit for
their site,” wrote Special Projects Manager Bow
Bowman, in a staff report to council members.
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality
Control Board approved the permit for the lumberyard
project on Dec. 11.
“With that approval, the city is
assured that the lumberyard project can open as anticipated in
February and the city’s financial future is
substantially improved,” added Bowman.
Early last year, the opening of the
high-end shopping center was anticipated to be taking place in
October. That is apparently when the council’s worries
began to take shape.
Later, there was another
announcement that the center would be open by
mid-December. City officials at that time indicated they would
issue the final permit. That is when the power struggle
between the city and the RWQCB began setting off a chain
of events.
Two years ago, after purchasing the former
Chili Cook-Off site now know as Legacy Park, the council hired
RMC Water and Environment to begin the preliminary studies for
the Malibu Civic Center Integrated Water Quality Management
Plan.
By December 2007, the council had upped the
ante to over $2.5 million for the consultants to continue final
designs and environmental studies for the work on stormwater
improvements, which continued to move forward.
The current amendment to the contract would
bring the total fees for RMC to over $5.1 million.
“The final centralized wastewater
treatment system design is now being scheduled to move
forward,” said Bowman, who noted the project has trailed
the stormwater project due to several reasons, including
that there is no site for a treatment plant.
“However, in light of recent
developments with the La Paz project and direction from
the council to conclude the procurement of a suitable site,
staff determined the project could move forward,” Bowman
said.
