Council Vetoes League Play at Trancas
• Residents Make Case against P&R
Panel Recommendation
It took the Malibu City Council this week
about 10 minutes to approve the final version of a $30 million
budget, but took over two hours to decide that league play
should be banned at the proposed Trancas Canyon Park.
To be fair, there was no controversy over
the budget, but a standing room only audience in council
chambers attested to the importance west Malibu residents place
on how the park is developed.
Homeowner association presidents spoke,
former and current parks and recreation commissioners had their
say, soccer moms talked to the council and neighbors vented.
At one point, a speaker asked those
who favor restrictions on the sports field planned on the
13-acre property, to stand to show their support for the ban.
Nearly the entire audience rose.
Council members said they have been
bombarded for weeks with attempts to sway their vote on
Trancas Canyon Park.
Now it was time for the five council
members to tell the public where they stand.
Councilmember Andy Stern reminded
those asserting the city has spent too much money on parks
without ball fields that the “last acquisition was the
Bluffs Park at about the time it appeared those ball fields
would be lost.
“We have had eight to 10 public
meetings and have consistently said and the public has
consistently said, I believe, no league play. You have got to
be able to rely on our word. I am 10,000 percent with you. I am
against any league play at this park,” he said, to
thunderous applause.
New Councilmember John Sibert said he
favored the restriction. “As much as I can appreciate
league play, it is kind of nice to have a place for free-range
children. It is not a park just for Malibu West residents. The
dog park is a pretty good idea. I think this is a pretty good
plan without league play,” he said.
Councilmember Sharon Barovsky said she
reminds folks that the city must meet the recreational needs of
members of the community with different interests.
“The thing that bothers me. The parks
and recreation department addressed all recreational needs,
including seniors. The big hue and cry was a dog park. There
were 700 signatures. Senior citizens are going to use this
park. It is not just all about ball fields,” she added.
Councilmember Jefferson Wagner said the
issue had pitted neighbors and friends against each other. He
said it was important to get the neighborhood’s
endorsement. “Plan B gets my vote” he said,
referring to a previous workshop plan that included the
restriction.
Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich, who ultimately
voted for the restriction, said she had voted against it
on previous occasions. She talked mostly about the council not
knowing what will be needed in the future and did not want to
curtail the option of league play if it is needed.
“In two years, two people won’t
be on this council. In two years we can revisit this issue. In
two years we can get people who support [league play],”
she said.
The mayor tried to offer a motion that
supported Plan B, but with conditions such as more
research and further study to determine another design for
the road to the 60-plus parking lot and a timeline for
revisiting the plans. There were no takers.
