City of Malibu, CA Goals, Objectives, Policies and Implementation Measures

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS COMPREHENSIVE NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN.

CON Policy 1.1.1:	The City shall minimize disruption of natural systems and areas rich in biodiversity and avoid consumption of ecologically sensitive lands (e.g., Resource Protection Areas (RPAs) including ESHAs, significant watersheds, wildlife habitat linkages, disturbed sensitive resource areas, blueline streams and significant oak woodlands as designated on Figures CO-3 and CO-4 and Table 3-5).
CON Policy 1.1.2:	The City shall protect riparian areas and undisturbed areas within significant watersheds and wildlife habitat linkages through the use of open space or conservation easements or equivalent measures.
CON Policy 1.1.3:	The City shall protect and preserve, and where reasonable and feasible reclaim, the delicately balanced ecosystem of the Santa Monica Mountains and adjacent coastline area.
CON Policy 1.1.4:	The City shall protect Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHAs) as a priority over development and against any significant disruption of habitat values.
CON Policy 1.1.5:	The City shall protect and reclaim Malibu's threatened natural resources such as the beaches, estuaries, intertidal zone and marine habitats, estuaries, marine life, ocean, tidepools, streams, waterfalls, wetlands, wildlife and plant life and their habitats.
CON Policy 1.1.6:	The City shall restore Disturbed Sensitive Resource Areas (DSRAs), to the extent feasible and ecologically desirable.
CON Policy 1.1.7:	The City shall promote and maintain programs for interagency cooperation, both public and private, to accomplish comprehensive natural resource management.
CON Policy 1.1.8:	The City shall protect land formations and soils by avoiding vegetation removal in RPAs and in other areas of high potential erosion hazard.
CON Policy 1.1.9:	The City shall limit use of the natural resources based on level necessary to support the City's rural residential life style and ensure that those resources are used wisely and not abused.
CON Policy 1.1.10:	The City shall maintain an Environmental Review Board (ERB) as a technical advisory committee as specified in the Land Use Element to ensure the protection of natural resources.

To implement these policies the City shall:

CON Implementation Measure 1: Designate the watershed as the basic biogeographic planning area for the protection, conservation and land management of Malibu's natural resources. (Figure CO-2 identifies the 64 major watersheds in the Malibu Coastal Zone.)

CON Implementation Measure 2: Encourage and support federal and state acquisition of property within ESHAs for preservation.

CON Implementation Measure 3: Seek federal, state and private funds to initiate and update environmental data, studies and maps and to implement programs.

CON Implementation Measure 4: Develop and adopt a watershed-wide cooperative program committed to the protection of natural resources, with Malibu Creek as the most immediate priority. The program shall seek the cooperation of adjacent jurisdictions in order to create uniform practices and protection measures.

CON Implementation Measure 5: Coordinate with volunteer organizations which offer programs or services that implement a City conservation policy to protect and preserve natural resources.

CON Implementation Measure 6: Identify and regulate point sources of pollution to protect riparian and marine areas.

CON Implementation Measure 7: Protect Las Flores Creek through remediation of the Rambla Pacifico landslide if federal funding is available.

CON Implementation Measure 8: Work with Ventura and Los Angeles counties and other agencies to ensure development of programs for the protection of the shoreline, especially the area between Yerba Buena and Point Mugu, including promotion of beach replenishment.

CON Implementation Measure 9: Adopt a Hillside Management Ordinance as a major component of watershed protection as specified in the Land Use Element.

CON Implementation Measure 10: Work with other agencies to monitor and adopt receiving water standards designed to protect biological resources against sources of contamination as specified in the Safety Element.

CON Implementation Measure 11: Seek recommendations from the ERB on resource management and protection programs.

CON OBJECTIVE 1.2:

WILDLIFE AND BIOTA RESOURCES PRESERVED, PROTECTED AND RECLAIMED.

CON Policy 1.2.1:	The City shall preserve wildlife habitats and habitat linkages.
CON Policy 1.2.2:	The City shall protect, preserve and reclaim very threatened plant community types that occur in Malibu, as inventoried by the Department of Fish and Game (See Table 3-3) with special emphasis on these: Southern Coastal Bluff Scrub; Southern Dune Scrub; Valley Needlegrass Grassland; Southern Foredunes (Broadbeach); Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub; Coastal Brackish Marsh (Malibu Creek and Lagoon); Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh; Southern Willow Scrub; California Walnut Woodland; and Valley Oak Woodland.
CON Policy 1.2.3:	The City shall mitigate net loss of very threatened plant communities.
CON Policy 1.2.4:	The City shall regulate removal of vegetation in ESHAs.
CON Policy 1.2.5:	The City shall discourage plant species which are invasive in the Santa Monica biogeographic area where such invasive plant species would degrade native plant communities.
CON Policy 1.2.6:	The City shall discourage the use of insecticides, herbicides or toxic chemical substances (excepting non-regulated home pesticides) within the City or if ESHAs, raptors and other animals could be adversely affected, except in an emergency which threatens wildlife or the habitat itself.
CON Policy 1.2.7:	The City shall reduce impacts resulting from night lighting so as not to disturb natural habitats.
CON Policy 1.2.8:	The City shall protect stream bed gravel conditions in streams supporting steelhead trout.
CON Policy 1.2.9:	The City shall apply setback requirements, determined by site specific analysis, to new septic systems for protection of oak and riparian woodlands, and to prevent lateral seepage into stream or coastal waters.

To implement these policies the City shall:

CON Implementation Measure 12: Support the creation of multi-species habitat preservation programs.

CON Implementation Measure 13: Support the National Park Service and California Department of Parks and Recreation's efforts to expand areas devoted to regional open space and protect wildlife habitats.

CON Implementation Measure 14: Support a development rights purchase program to retire development rights within the City's undeveloped areas.

CON Implementation Measure 15: Allow the most natural return of native plants in burn areas as the most rapid and effective way to revegetate those areas.

CON Implementation Measure 16: Disseminate information regarding the potential harmful effects of invasive plant species on native plant communities.

CON Implementation Measure 17: Develop a City permit procedure regulating the removal of such trees as heritage oaks, sycamores or other native trees.

CON Implementation Measure 18: Consult with California Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to update information on habitats for rare and threatened species and terrestrial plant communities.

CON Implementation Measure 19: Disseminate information about the potentially harmful effects of toxic chemical substances and safe alternative measures, including information about safe alternatives to toxics for home and garden use.

CON Implementation Measure 20: Coordinate City conservation policies with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and County Department of Forester and Fire Warden regulations.

CON Implementation Measure 21: Seek an agreement with Caltrans regulating the use of toxics in roadside weed abatement.

CON Implementation Measure 22: Regulate and limit the use of toxic substances by City employees and contractors in construction and maintenance of City-used or owned properties, facilities, trails and rights of way.

CON Implementation Measure 23: Incorporate the best mitigation measures feasible in channelizations, dams, or other substantial alterations of rivers and streams and limit them to (1) necessary water supply projects, (2) flood control projects where no other method for protecting existing development or public roadways in the floodplain is feasible and where such protection is necessary for public safety or (3) development where the primary function is the improvement of fish and wildlife habitat.

CON Implementation Measure 24: Offer incentives such as priority processing and reduced permit fees for use of non-toxic building materials, finishes and preservers.

CON Implementation Measure 25: Cluster development to preserve large, unbroken blocks of open space within habitat areas and to protect the integrity of habitat linkages, unless clustering would create urban development patterns within rural areas. Perimeter fencing shall be permeable so as not to prohibit wildlife movement.

CON Implementation Measure 26: Establish setbacks from riparian corridors and oak woodlands of no less than 100 feet where feasible to protect wildlife habitats.

CON Implementation Measure 27: Establish minimum setbacks of at least 100 feet from outer edge of existing riparian or oak canopy for leach fields and for seepage pits, where feasible.

CON Implementation Measure 28: Require all exterior lighting to be low intensity and shielded to reduce its visibility from surrounding areas and to minimize impact to wildlife. Maintain dark corridors as a priority.

CON OBJECTIVE 1.3:

MARINE AND BEACH RESOURCES PRESERVED, PROTECTED, ENHANCED AND RECLAIMED.

CON Policy 1.3.1:	The City shall prohibit uses of the marine environment that will have a significant adverse effect on the biological diversity and productivity of coastal waters.
CON Policy 1.3.2:	The City shall protect beaches and sea cliffs in Malibu.
CON Policy 1.3.3:	The City shall protect marine mammals and preserve their habitat.
CON Policy 1.3.4:	The City shall protect and support restoration of all kelpbeds, wetlands, creeks and estuaries of Malibu.
CON Policy 1.3.5:	The City shall protect all sea birds/shore birds and their nesting and roosting sites in ESHAs.
CON Policy 1.3.6:	The City shall take the lead to reclaim and preserve the natural state of the Malibu Lagoon.
CON Policy 1.3.7:	The City shall protect bluffs against erosion and beaches against siltation and loss of sand, caused by excessive disturbance of landforms.
CON Policy 1.3.8:	The City shall prohibit the use of unnecessary seawalls and other shoreline structures.
CON Policy 1.3.9:	The City shall require setbacks on beachfront property that anticipate beach erosion.
CON Policy 1.3.10:	The City shall prohibit the disposal of untreated wastewater onto a beach, rocky coastal area, intertidal zone or into the ocean.
CON Policy 1.3.11:	The City shall control surface runoff and associated pollutant loads into coastal waters, wetlands and riparian areas.
CON Policy 1.3.12:	The City shall support scientific research and monitoring of marine resources.
CON Policy 1.3.13:	The City shall enhance public awareness, appreciation and wise use of the marine environment.

To implement these policies the City shall:

CON Implementation Measure 29: Collect baseline data for all distinguishable coastal segments on the Malibu coast to define development standards, including standards to site wastewater drainfields.

CON Implementation Measure 30: Require peer review of coastal engineering reports for any proposed development that presents potentially significant beach erosion.

CON Implementation Measure 31: Require all structures to be sited landward of state owned tidelands and, in addition, for infill lots from a stringline drawn between the nearest corners of adjacent structures, whichever setback is greater; however, an additional setback may be required where necessary to protect the structure from anticipated beach erosion.

CON Implementation Measure 32: Prohibit seawalls unless a City employed or engaged coastal geologist has determined that there are no other less environmentally damaging alternatives for protection of on-shore development. Revetments, seawalls, cliff-retaining walls and other such construction shall be permitted only when required to serve coastal-dependent uses or to protect existing or new structures which constitute infill development.

CON Implementation Measure 33: Site shoreline structures such as piers, groins, breakwaters, drainages, seawalls and pipelines to avoid sensitive rocky points, tidepools and intertidal areas.

CON Implementation Measure 34: Require revetments, groins, cliff retaining walls, seawalls, pipelines, outfalls and other such construction that may alter natural shoreline processes to eliminate or mitigate adverse impacts on shoreline and sand supply.

CON Implementation Measure 35: Monitor other jurisdictions or public agencies' activities which may affect natural sand replenishment in Malibu.

CON Implementation Measure 36: Support new legislation and research to mitigate regional sand transport and supply impacts.

CON Implementation Measure 37: Seek grant funds to conduct regional sand resource studies.

CON Implementation Measure 38: Work with other agencies to encourage low intensity, passive recreational use on beaches which include sensitive rocky shoreline, tidepool or intertidal areas.

CON Implementation Measure 39: Identify and regulate threats to the intertidal zone and coastal waters.

CON Implementation Measure 40: Prohibit all vehicles except emergency vehicles on beaches adjacent to sensitive intertidal areas.

CON Implementation Measure 41: To protect wetlands, the intertidal zone and kelp beds from siltation, minimize the runoff and erosion caused by earth movement by requiring development to use best construction management practices.

CON Implementation Measure 42: Require grading plans for all new development to be designed to ensure that potential negative effects of runoff and erosion on sensitive resources are minimized.

CON Implementation Measure 43: Work with other agencies to protect the tidepools and kelp beds of Malibu's Marine Areas of Special Biological Significance (MASBS) between Latigo Point and Point Mugu against damage from excessive grading, stream pollution, and sewage outfalls.

CON Implementation Measure 44: Support efforts to monitor the conditions of the Malibu Coastal Zone nearshore species, water quality and kelp beds, and support rehabilitation or enhancement of deficient areas.

CON Implementation Measure 45: Work with the Department of Fish and Game to monitor the kelp harvesting industry to ensure that such activity will not reduce kelp bed size and range or its productivity as a fish nursery habitat.

CON Implementation Measure 46: Support the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project's recommendation of rotational closure of certain portions of the intertidal zone and adjacent coastal waters to allow for the rehabilitation and restoration of these MASBS and intertidal ESHAs.

CON Implementation Measure 47: Prohibit permanent structures on a bluff face except for engineered stair-cases or accessways to provide public beach access where no feasible alternative means for public access exists.

CON Implementation Measure 48: Review proposed bluff-top development to scrutinize geologic stability, adequate structural setback and appropriate measures to prevent damage from runoff.

CON Implementation Measure 49: Require all structures to be set back a minimum of 25 feet from the top of a bluff or at a stringline drawn between the nearest corners of adjacent structures, whichever distance is greater but in no case less than would be allowed for a 75-year useful life for the structure, to prevent bluff erosion.

CON Implementation Measure 50: Work with other agencies to regulate and monitor marine mammal hauling grounds and apply ESHA protection policies to any hauling ground.

CON Implementation Measure 51: Prohibit the alteration or disturbance of marine mammal habitats.

CON Implementation Measure 52: Work with other agencies to ensure that all permitted uses in sensitive marine and beach habitats comply with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the State Department of Fish and Game Regulations.

CON Implementation Measure 53: Support volunteer monitoring of marine mammal hauling grounds.

CON Implementation Measure 54: Support marine mammal rescue efforts.

CON Implementation Measure 55: Support efforts to establish a marine and mountain wildlife rescue rehabilitation center.

CON Implementation Measure 56: Establish a marine sanctuary.

CON Implementation Measure 57: Support organizations in their efforts to protect marine mammals from disturbance, harm or capture.

CON Implementation Measure 58: Establish 25-foot buffer zones from all sea/shore bird nesting and roosting areas; post signs, rope-off sensitive areas and take other appropriate measures to protect these areas.

CON Implementation Measure 59: Limit public access to cliff areas that contain sea/shore bird nesting and roosting sites.

CON Implementation Measure 60: Develop a plan for restoration of the Malibu Lagoon addressing the advantage of (a) constructing additional wetlands; (b) widening the existing estuary; (c) establishing receiving water standards; (d) requiring a drainage system for the Civic Center Area and other areas currently draining into the estuary and lower creek.

CON Implementation Measure 61: Explore the feasibility of obtaining management responsibility for all State parks including the Malibu Lagoon State Park.

CON Implementation Measure 62: Work with appropriate agencies to protect the mouth of Zuma Creek on the seaward side of the Pacific Coast Highway as an educational and ecological reserve.

CON Implementation Measure 63: In the marine area of biological and educational interest between Nicholas Canyon and Lechuza Point, work with appropriate agencies to define a program of public use that will not adversely impact the sensitive marine resources with particular interest to the sea lion hauling grounds.

CON Implementation Measure 64: Work with appropriate agencies to modify beach access at Nicholas Canyon County Park to directly connect the parking lot to the beach and discourage foot traffic through native ground cover.

CON Implementation Measure 65: Protect the underwater reefs and rock formations and the intertidal zone by prohibiting uncontrolled public access in the western portion of Paradise Cove.

CON Implementation Measure 66: Work with appropriate agencies to minimize vegetation disturbance, including recreation or foot traffic on vegetated areas on the Trancas Beach Coastal Dunes. Develop well defined and posted footpaths where access through dunes is necessary.

CON Implementation Measure 67: Work with appropriate agencies to implement measures to enhance the Zuma Beach Lagoon/Wetlands including, at a minimum, diverting foot traffic from the areas, prohibiting grading except for health and safety reasons, removing non-native weeds, and using the area for observation and education.

CON Implementation Measure 68: Work with appropriate agencies to ensure that Point Dume Headlands State Preserve, and adjacent bluff tops and cliffs, are managed to eliminate erosion and the loss of natural vegetation caused by foot paths through sensitive habitat areas and cooperative with other agencies to provide non-intrusive access.

CON Implementation Measure 69: Work with the State and County to limit access to the sensitive bluff and rocky shoreline habitat area in Latigo Point to minimize potential habitat degradation.

CON OBJECTIVE 1.4:

SCENIC RESOURCES PRESERVED AND PROTECTED.

CON Policy 1.4.1:	The City shall identify, designate and protect distinct natural landform features as scenic resources.
CON Policy 1.4.2:	The City shall protect viewsheds of the ocean and surrounding mountains and hillsides.
CON Policy 1.4.3:	The City shall protect Pacific Coast Highway as a significant viewshed.

To implement these policies the City shall:

CON Implementation Measure 70: Map scenic resources and provide information to the public with regard to their locations.

CON Implementation Measure 71: Implement the Pacific Coast Highway utility undergrounding project.

CON Implementation Measure 72: Work with the Mountains Restoration Trust or other non-profit organizations to purchase vacant lots to protect designated scenic resources.

CON Implementation Measure 73: Work with Caltrans to create, where appropriate, median plantings of low growing, indigenous and/or resource efficient landscaping.

CON Implementation Measure 74: Require landscaping and berming to screen public parking from Pacific Coast Highway.

CON Implementation Measure 75: Provide public viewing locations as turnouts along major cross-mountain roads.

CON Policy 2.1.1:	The City shall identify, designate, protect and preserve areas, sites or structures of historic, cultural, paleontological and/or archeological significance.
CON Policy 2.1.2:	The City shall avoid the destruction or alteration of cultural resources.
CON Policy 2.1.3:	The City shall provide incentives to property owners of historical structures to encourage preservation of designated cultural resources.

CON Policy 3.1.1:	The City shall educate the community regarding the importance of and techniques for energy conservation.
CON Policy 3.1.2:	The City shall encourage state-of-the-art energy efficiency standards for all new construction design.
CON Policy 3.1.3:	The City shall protect solar access.
CON Policy 3.1.4:	The City shall encourage uses of solar and other nonpolluting, renewable energy sources.

CON Policy 4.1.1:	The City shall provide water for residents' needs in the most cost effective manner.
CON Policy 4.1.2:	The City shall coordinate development to ensure adequate water supplies.
CON Policy 4.1.3:	The City shall encourage water conservation design measures in residential, commercial and industrial development.
CON Policy 4.1.4:	The City shall promote the use of water efficient low flow fixtures.
CON Policy 4.1.5:	The City shall encourage the use of drought resistant landscaping.
CON Policy 4.1.6:	The City shall promote the use of reclaimed water, that has had pathogens removed for appropriate uses such as landscape irrigation systems.
CON Policy 4.1.7:	The City shall promote the use of greywater systems.

CON Policy 5.1.1:	The City shall reduce solid waste.
CON Policy 5.1.2:	The City shall encourage recycling.
CON Policy 5.1.3:	The City shall encourage co-composting.