City Initiates Procedures to Try to Bring Back CHP for PCH Traffic Enforcement

• Public Safety Activists Back Council Members’ Stance

BY BILL KOENEKER

It was a campaign promise that Councilmember Lou La Monte was making long before several recent accidents on Pacific Coast Highway: “Bring back the CHP on PCH.”

Following three PCH traffic fatalities in two months, La Monte’s campaign stance on the California Highway Patrol has been adopted by many public safety activists, especially some who have spearheaded the citizens group “A Safe Pacific Coast Highway,” or ASPCH.

When the CHP item appeared on the agenda Monday night, proponents were there to offer encouragement and keep the fire lit under the Malibu City Council on public safety.

Public safety commission member Marlene Matlow came to the council chambers and offered some historical perspective on how and why the CHP has not patrolled PCH in the City of Malibu since the community incorporated in 1991.

When it came time for La Monte to speak, he repeated the refrain he had used on the campaign trail. “We need to bring back the CHP and to get them back and do anything to get them back,” he said.

The agenda item stated, “To direct staff to contact the appropriate state officials to begin the process that would allow the CHP to provide traffic enforcement services along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.”

The announcement was also made that Malibu’s top officials would be going to Sacramento this week to lobby state officials for the CHP’s return.

Mayor Jefferson Wagner indicated he and others, including City Manager Jim Thorsen, had an appointment with the state Secretary of Transportation to discuss the issue.

“We will represent you in Sacramento,” the mayor said.

Activists were encouraged, but some also voiced doubts.

 “I applaud city efforts, but it does not seem like it is on the top of the list,” said Maria Flora Smoller, who had just sat though the city’s budget hearing and learned the council’s priorities for how it wants to spend money.

David Saul praised the CHP and noted that they are the traffic experts and the sheriff’s department represents the policing experts.

With summer fast approaching and the accompanying beach traffic, it is important for city officials to act immediately, according to Saul, who noted another sheriff’s vehicle could be put on the street if the city was willing to pay for it.

 “We cannot wait any longer,” he added, saying some of the city’s other priorities such as acquiring land in the west end of Malibu need to take a back seat to public safety.

Susan Saul, another ASPCH member, told council members that public safety needs to be the city’s most important agenda item.

“You should not be buying real estate. Public safety should be your main focus,” she said.

Councilmembers Laura Rosenthal and Pamela Conley Ulich said they too wanted the CHP back on PCH, but they did not want to have to pay extra for their service.

It is what Marlene Matlow had previously talked about, calling it the Malibu penalty. When Malibu and other cities incorporated years ago, special legislation was enacted that requires new cities to pay for the CHP to stay on their highways.

Malibu indicated it could not afford the extra expense in 1991, and some council members were reiterating that stance.

“I totally agree. No other cities are treated this way. We can’t pay for the CHP,” added Conley Ulich.

“We may represent only 20 percent of the drivers on PCH, but it is up to us to get the CHP back,” said Matlow.

The ever growing influence and importance of the public safety activists was felt this week at the council meeting, when they widened their view sights to comments about the budget, the council priorities and the organization of the public safety commission.

Marshall Thompson, whose wife, Susan Tellem, sits on the city’s Public Safety Commission, accused the city of moving at a “glacial pace.” He called for a reorganization of the commission.

“How many children have to die for the city to take public safety seriously,” he shouted into the microphone.

Tellem said it is time to take another look at the commission and how it does things. “Give them power. They need to have space,” she added.

Smoller issued a challenge to everyone, saying they should learn to slow down on PCH, “I challenge everybody. Shut off your phone and slow down. Take it seriously. There should be more enforcement,” she said, adding the safety commission should be filmed and broadcast, much like the planning commission and the city council.

Susan Saul had more to say on the matter. “Malibu needs to change. People come to the meetings and say, “We won’t be able to change anything. The safety commission needs to be reorganized. They need a face,” she added.