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malibusurfsidenews.com election 2018
Malibu surfside news | October 18, 2018 | 9
Malibu City Council (Five for two seats)
Name: Karen Farrer
Age: 61
Occupation: Community
advocate, organizer and volunteer
Elected Political Experience:
None
Why are you running for a City Council
seat in Malibu?
As a 40-year resident of Malibu, and a
community volunteer, organizer and advocate
for the past 27 years, I am running because
I care deeply about our community
and want to continue my civic advocacy.
Malibu needs leadership that is dedicated
and forthright, with focus on public safety,
emergency preparedness, land use stewardship,
preservation of natural resources and
stronger community partnerships.
My husband, Cameron, and I have
raised three children in Malibu and want
to see the quality of life we experienced
continue for future generations. This is
only possible with renewed determination
to promote local control.
What makes you the best candidate for
this position?
My decades-long proven track record
of leadership, combined with my work
ethic, broad knowledge of the community,
attention to detail, respect for others and
willingness to dig deeply into resolving
complex problems, are some of the things
that make me the best candidate for this
position.
I am a founding member and past president
of many local organizations including
Advocates for Malibu Public Schools,
Malibu Schools Leadership Council, The
Shark Fund, Webster PTA, Point Dume
PTA, Malibu High PTSA, SMMPTA
Council, and both Webster plus Malibu
High site governance councils. Further, I
have been, and continue to be, at the forefront
of the creation of an independent,
locally controlled Malibu Unified School
District.
I currently serve on the Malibu Facilities
District Advisory Committee and the
Measure M (school bond) Committee.
Through the work of AMPS, this is the
first time there has ever been separate
school district facilities committees as
well as separate bonds for Malibu and
Santa Monica.
The issue of local control, and the increasing
need for it, applies to every facet
of our lives in Malibu — public safety,
emergency preparedness, preservation of
the environment, land use, education opportunities
and more.
What are the Top 3 issues you see facing
Malibu, and what would you do to solve
them?
1. Protection and preservation of our
environment and lifestyle:
I am proud of my endorsements by the
Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters,
Malibu Agricultural Society and Los
Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014.
Malibu has a proud tradition of maintaining
its vast expanse of scenic beauty
and commitment to the environment. If
elected, I will work to strengthen and renew
the commitment to protect Bluffs
Park and the Malibu Lagoon. In addition,
I support the City’s recent purchase of
three commercially zoned properties, and
would consider any other properties that
would benefit our goal of reducing commercial
development.
2. Increased Public Safety Resources:
Fire risk, traffic hazards, and crime are
of increasing concern within our city.
Mitigation of risk is my first priority. As
a councilmember, I will work to increase
our law enforcement presence starting immediately.
Currently, there are 15 trained
Volunteer Officer Patrol members and
only two cars! I will work to increase the
total to four cars, which will free up our
deputy sheriffs, so they can perform their
law enforcement and safety duties. The
VOP cars pay for themselves by generating
an average $16,000 per week in citations.
3. Local Control:
Many of the agencies that Malibu intersects
with do not act in Malibu’s best
interest. As an example, the Mountains
Recreation and Conservation Authority
has demonstrated itself to be both an
unsafe neighbor and poor steward of the
environment. I will work with the other
council members to protect our residents’
safety, privacy, and personal property
rights. I believe Malibu should welcome
visitors to our trails and beaches,
but challenge the MRCA’s use of residential
neighborhoods for trail access.
Further, this agency must mitigate the
increased fire danger and environmental
degradation due to its lack of ranger
supervision.
Name: Jim Palmer
Age: No answer
Occupation: Accountant
Elected Political Experience:
None
Why are you running for a City Council
seat in Malibu?
After the last election, I was asked
by Mayor Rick Mullen to serve on the
Malibu Public Works Commission. I was
elected to become chair of the Malibu
Public Works Commission by my fellow
commissioners. This experience helps
me understand how the City of Malibu is
run. Now, there are two open seats on the
Malibu City Council and, once again, I
was asked to run by the majority of the
Malibu City Council. I know I can make
a difference helping to preserve and protect
Malibu.
What makes you the best candidate for
this position?
I have 30 years of professional accounting
experience in auditing, budgeting and
financial management reporting. I will
use these professional skills and the experience
gained as a Malibu Public Works
Commissioner to help lead the City of
Malibu into the future. My experience in
organizational management will allow me
to help expedite City projects and communicate
between the various agencies to
complete projects on a timely basis.
What are the Top 3 issues you see facing
Malibu, and what would you do to solve
them?
• Traffic on PCH is the most serious
public safety issue [Malibu faces]. One
thing we can do to help solve part of this
problem is to enforce the current laws and
rules we have in place. The City issues
conditional use permits to businesses but
does not enforce them. Nobu and Soho
House are the perfect example, along with
the traffic at the Pier. Our Malibu Volunteers
on Patrol can issue parking tickets to
violators which send a message and collects
fines for the City of Malibu. The City
can increase sheriff traffic enforcement to
help solve this problem.
• The unlawful invasion of our neighborhoods
by the [Mountains Recreation
and Conservation Authority needs] to stop.
Working with the City denying permits to
the MRCA for access through public lands
and building permits to construct visitor
serving amenities on private property
must be a priority for our City and working
with the State of California to achieve
a solution to this problem is another way
to stop this intrusion.
• Short-term rentals are destroying our
neighborhoods. Allowing real estate investors
to purchase residential homes and
turn them into a short-term rental business
is illegal and violates zoning laws.
My position is to allow owner-occupied
residences to rent out their properties less
than 30 days. All other properties ... will
not be allowed to use their property for
short-term rental profit. All rentals over
30 days are not a problem for owners or
investors.
Short-term rentals take long-term rental
properties off the market, turning neighborhoods
into businesses operating motels.
There are over 500 short-term rental
properties currently listed in Malibu. Families
cannot live in Malibu, creating a residential
community and sending children
to our schools. Enrollment in our schools
is declining because of short-term rentals.
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