Permit for Chili Cook-Off and Carnival OK’d by Planning Commission

• Issues of Donations and Mismanagement Take Back Seat to Impact on Residents near New Site

BY BILL KOENEKER

Amidst praises and protests from Malibu Knolls neighbors, charges of mismanagement from one critic, a song from a local musical singing group, the ’Bu Notes, and lots of children urging them on, the Malibu Planning Commission, with Commissioner Jeff Jennings absent, unanimously granted a temporary use permit last week to the Malibu Kiwanis for the annual Chili Cook-Off planned in September.

There seemed to be a split between the Malibu Knolls neighbors about the event which has moved closer to their hillside locale since the former Cook-Off site became Legacy Park.

The event is planned on the Ioki property on the northeast corner of Stuart Ranch Road and Civic Center Way. Parking will be on the La Paz site.

The Benjamin family wanted fewer days for the event and shorter hours. Both Chris and Sally Benjamin complained of dust, noise and lights.

However, other Knolls residents came to praise the Cook-Off and talked about how it is only once a year and offers families a local experience to come together.

Knolls resident Bernie James, who said he and his family had just moved into their home five days ago after being burned out in the Malibu Canyon fire, said he was probably the closest in proximity to the carnival and cook-off, but said he wanted to weigh in on the side of families who love the event.

Lee Shoop, a homeowner for 25 years, said she remembers the excitement of her children when they heard the sound checks and saw the fences going up. “It is a wonderful event. We will hear the noise, but appreciate it,” she added.

However, Knolls resident Steve Uhring raised the issues of mismanagement and misrepresentation by the local Kiwanis organization.

He alleged that of the dollars generated by the event in the past three years, only a little over $337,000 was disbursed to charities, according to the club’s tax returns, which amounted to about a little less than 50 percent of the money taken in.

Uhring said that the club’s management fees for one year were $72,000, which was much higher than those of other clubs in the region.

“Are 50 percent management fees the norm?” questioned Uhring. “No they are not,” he said.

Uhring compared Malibu to other clubs, such as Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.

Uhring claimed that in 2009 the Simi Valley club took no management fees and distributed $122,330 to causes out of a total revenue of $122,330. In 2008, Uhring pointed out, the Thousand Oaks club charged off $9869 for management fees and dispersed $71,783 to causes out of a total revenue of $81,742.

Kiwanis club member John Paola, who is a director on the board, brushed aside Uhring’s comments.

“We give back whatever we get. There is a lot of erroneous information. I don’t know where that came from. We have got a high class organization. I feel like I am defending something that has been an asset to the community,” said Paola, who did not directly address Uhring’s accusations. “We have people who take care of that.”

After hearing from several youngsters about the excitement, adventure and social venue the event provided every year for them, the commission quickly got down to business when Chair John Mazza put forth a motion for approval with conditions.

Mazza invited each of the panelists to add what conditions they wished to place on the TUP.

Most of the rest of the commission hearing was taken up with discussion of the various amendments or conditions that were attached to the permit.

The planning panel did not limit or reduce any of the days, set hours of opening and closing, set times for set up and breakdown of the carnival equipment, required water truck wash-downs and agreed to restricted parking.