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4 | April 18, 2019 | Malibu surfside news news malibusurfsidenews.com Malibu planning commission Tree trimming proposal draws residents’ ire SoCal Edison wants to trim 5,000 trees for fire prevention Michele Willer-Allred Freelance Reporter Community members attended the Malibu Planning Commission meeting on Monday, April 15, to voice their concerns about Southern California Edison’s plan to trim about 5,000 trees citywide in an effort to mitigate fire risk next to transmission lines. According to SoCal Edison officials a 12-foot radius clearance around the trees is recommended to protect Edison transmission wires from fire danger. During the public comment period of the meeting, Malibu resident and environmental advocate Pat Healy talked about a community-wide concern of Edison’s “indiscriminate tree destruction plan in the name of safety.” “More than 23,000 trees were lost locally in the Santa Monica Mountains due to the last fire,” Healy said. “Now Edison is wanting to continue the devastation by chopping or topping more trees. “In many instances this brutal approach will result in leaving only tree trunks. Limbs and leaves will be destroyed, and other trees will have a hard time surviving since the tree will not be getting enough nutrients for the energy it needs.” According to her there is no discernment in how Edison trims the trees around its wires. Healy also raised the issue that protected trees will be in danger, as well as nesting birds. She said she was told that Edison recently chopped down a eucalyptus grove along Mulholland Highway that was a major monarch overwintering roosting site. “Edison’s vegetation plan is not only a visual blight but also an environmental disaster,” she said. Judy Villablanca, a Malibu Park and Recreation commissioner, said that oak, sycamore, walnut and alder trees burnt in the fire require long recovery times, and that trimming them too early post-fire may kill them. “Edison’s plan to remove 5,000 trees in Malibu will further damage our ecosystem and violate the protections in place for native trees which needs to be enforced,” Villablanca said. “The fear of fire, which justifies some rational tree trimming, should not be used to justify unnecessary environmental damage.” Both Healy and Villablanca said a Coastal Development Permit is or should be required for Edison’s removal of protected trees, and when there is no alternative to removal of native trees, there should be a mitigation plan in place with an arborist or biologist monitoring the project. “Fire danger is a big concern as well, and Edison is under a lot of pressure to minimize fire danger to the extent that they can within their control,” Planning Director Bonnie Blue said. “So, we’re trying to figure out the best path forward for this.” She added that Edison officials have communicated with the city that they are working hard to make sure all their crews are trained on protocols involving nesting birds and working alongside with biologists. Planning Commissioner Chris Marx said it is important that Edison start the tree trimming in the west side of town, which is more fire prone, instead of the east side, which was severely impacted in the Woolsey Fire. “It’s frustrating to listen to this, because of all the fire that I’ve personally been through, I can only think of two that began in Malibu and neither one of them was related to an electrical interference,” Planning Commission Jeffrey Jennings said. Planning Commission Chairman Steve Uhring asked city staff to let the City Council know “there is a growing concern about taking these trees down, and maybe they can come back and revisit it.” News Briefs Malibu Farmers Market to continue during construction of Santa Monica College campus The Malibu City Council voted during the Council meeting on Monday, April 8 to allow the Malibu Farmers Market to use city land for customer parking during construction of the Santa Monica College satellite campus, offering a solution to help the popular farmers market to continue serving Malibu residents. Mayor Jefferson Wagner said the market has been offering residents a great sense of community every Sunday for years and the city needs more of that. Cornucopia Farmers Market, which operates the Malibu Farmers Market, had requested to use the city’s recently acquired parcel at 23575 Civic Center Way, the site of the annual Chili Cookoff. Part of the parking lot of the Malibu Library and county-owned former courthouse building that was used by Farmers Market customers has been impacted by construction of the new Santa Monica College project. Space remained available for the vendor tents, but not for public customer parking. Construction on the satellite campus started in September 2018 and is expected to be finished in December of 2021 with classes starting in 2022. Nearly 50 percent of properties participating in state debris removal cleared of Woolsey, Hill Fire debris State contractors have removed debris generated by the Woolsey and Hill fires from 441 properties in Los Angeles and Ventura counties whose owners are participating in the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program, officials with the Debris Removal Operations Center, said April 8. According to DROC officials, contractors have removed nearly 181,000 tons of burned metal, concrete, ash and soil since operations began on February 6. So far, DROC officials have submitted final inspections reports for 96 properties in Los Angeles County and 11 parcels in Ventura County to local officials, paving the way for owners to start the reconstruction of their homes. Submission of the final inspection report for each property followed the completion of site assessments; asbestos surveys; asbestos abatements, where needed; debris removal; analysis and testing of soil samples by a state-certified laboratory; the implementation of erosion control measures by state contractors; and a final walkthrough by state debris removal officials and operations staff. Electric company warns Malibu of impending tree cutting Southern California Edison said tree trimmers will arrive in Malibu over the next few weeks to cut more trees than the city has even seen. The electric company’s manager of vegetation management, Matt Sadler told the city council on April 8 that the state now recommends tree limbs be cut back much farther from power lines. Even though these rules are not completely binding, Edison will be enforcing them. The new state rules also require the electric company to avoid severe trimming of what they call protected trees. Oaks are protected trees in Malibu and the Edison Company official says they regard sycamore trees as protected in Malibu as well. However, pine or palm trees are likely to get axed. Residents are outraged and plan on challenging the company’s actions if required. Fun Easter events at the Malibu Country Mart A host of celebrations will take place at the Malibu Country Mart. Between a complimentary familyfriendly event complete with real Easter bunnies the Saturday before Easter Day and traditional Greek celebrations on Easter Sunday and Greek Easter, there is no shortage of ways to celebrate at the upscale seaside shopping destination. Please see news briefs, 7
malibusurfsidenews.com news Malibu surfside news | April 18, 2019 | 5 Weekend events celebrate indigenous history Michele Willer-Allred Freelance Reporter Native American history, tradition, culture and good will were all part of the 21st Annual Chumash Day Powwow and Intertribal Gathering held Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14, 2019 at Malibu Bluffs Park. Native Americans representing many tribes shared dances and songs passed down from generations at the non-competitive event, which also featured traditional food, craft vendors and tribal ceremonies. The Chumash historically inhabited California coastal regions, extending from Morro Bay to Malibu. Randy Pico, the event’s emcee, thanked the City of Malibu and the residents for the opportunity to have the event there. “It’s a good thing when a city recognized the indigenous people for which the city rose from, so I thank you,” Pico said. “You see people here from all different tribal nations, who have come a long way to be here.” “Welcome all. May the sage take your spirits and elevate,” said Malibu Mayor Jefferson Wagner, who attended the event alongside Councilmembers Skylar Peak and Mikke Pierson. Pico gave a local Chumash history lesson to those in attendance. “It’s easy to look at these hills around here and see that this was a beautiful spectacular place, and the tribes or bands that lived here for many years were an extremely advanced culture,” Pico explained. Spiritual Advisor Alan Salazar carries and prepares the sage for the ceremonial smudging for the Grand Entry of the 21st Annual Chumash Day Powwow and Intertribal Gathering, which was held Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14, at Malibu Bluffs Park. photos by Suzy Demeter/ 22nd Century Media Alan Salazar, a Native American spiritual advisor, began each day’s gathering with smudging, a Native American custom to remove negative energy. Saginaw Grant, the Heriditary Chief of the Sac and Fox Nation and a Native American character actor, was chosen as the lead gourd dancer. The gourd dance is a traditional Native American dance to honor the warrior. “I’m 84 years old and still dance, and I will until I die,” Grant said. “I enjoy myself. We all enjoy ourselves when we hear these songs. We know what beautiful is.” Performing the Southern head drum was Hale and Company, one of the oldest drum groups in California. The Bear Springs Singers performed the Northern head drum. Wearing Northern traditional wear, Tash Montana, 14, was chosen as Head Young Man for the event. He participated in the grand entry, where dancers come together from different tribes dressed in colorful regalia. Audience members were also welcomed into the inner circle area to experience intertribal dancing opportunities. Aaron Martin, a descendent of the Tataviam/Fernandeno Chumash tribes, gave the opening invocation before the dance. “I thank you for the ability to do this because at one time my ancestors were not allowed to do this,” Martin said. “To all the dancers before me, now, and after me, I just want to say to you, we keep this tradition going along. I hope we continue to do this in a great way, with a good heart and intentions.” Los Angeles resident Kit Thomas thought it was important to attend the event to represent her Iroquois Mohawk tribe ancestry. “There’s not a lot of us here,” Thomas said of the Iroquois tribe, which is from the Northeast United States. “I also like experience other cultures and traditions, and this is a nice event to do so,” she added. Neeko Garcia, an artist, came out from New Mexico to showcase her handmade Native American jewelry. Garcia said wants to help educate others about her tribe, the Navajo. “We’re also known as silversmiths, so for me, it’s a way to show people our work, the handcrafted detail, the stories we use,” Miss UCLA Pow Wow 2018-2019 Autumn Brown (left) and Labor Day Pow Wow Princess Cambria Wilson take part in the ceremonial celebrations. Head Woman Dr. Andrea Garcia participates in the fancy shawl dance. Representatives of various tribes displayed a variety of items at the vendor booths. Garcia said. “This is what we want people to know about us, that this is happiness to us,” Grant said about the event. “It makes us feel good, and we want everyone else to feel good.”
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