Tag: holidays

MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced that city offices will be closed starting Friday, December 22 thru Monday, January 1, 2024. The period is designated for staff to spend quality time with their loved ones.

While city offices will be closed limited city services will be available during this time to ensure that any urgent matters are addressed promptly.

Limited Services: While some city services will be available, such as Code Enforcement and Building Safety Inspections, there will be a decrease in staffing levels, and response times may be longer than usual. The last day to submit Special Event Permits or Temporary Use Permits in 2023 will be December 21.

Emergency Services: Emergency services, including Los Angeles County Fire and Sherriff’s Departments, will operate as usual to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. Public Safety monitoring and alerts will continue.

City Programs and Events: Limited programs will be available at the Michael Landon Community Center. Visit the Community Services Department webpage for more information.

Public Counter Hours

The Planning and Building Safety Online Portal will be unavailable for plan review or permit submittal requests from December 21, 2023, 5:30 p.m. through January 2, 2024, 7:30 a.m. For Planning and permit expirations, email mplanning@malibucity.org or mbuilding@malibucity.org prior to the expiration date. City appeal periods will be tolled to accommodate the closure. The Malibu Municipal Code prohibits construction of any kind on City holidays MMC 8.24.050(G) which includes Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Limited services will be available during the closure via email and phone:

-Code Enforcement – 310-456-2489, ext. 384

-Building Safety Inspections– 310-456-2489, ext. 259

-Fire Rebuild Contract Planner – 310-456-2489, ext. 385 or ashah@malibucity.org

-Contract City Reviewers (Biology, Geology, Coastal Engineering, Environmental Health) – see the handout for contact information.

-Contract Planners – look up Contract Planners’ contact information in the City Staff Directory.

By Trevor

MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced on November 30 that residents can bring their pets to the Santa Paws event, a Holiday Celebration for Dogs and their Humans on Sunday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Malibu Bluffs Park (24250 Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon). Reservations are recommended for free, family and animal-friendly event. Dogs must be on a leash and under control of their owner at all times.

Participants and their animals will receive a give-away bag and can sign up for the fun Ugly Holiday Sweater Parade, and there will be treats for people and pups. Local pet businesses and Community Class Dog Obedience instructors from Canine Logic will have information booths. People can take a photo with their dog and Santa from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Attendees can make a donation to support a local animal shelter by visiting www.MalibuCity.org/HappyHolidays. Holiday attire is encouraged by attendees.

For additional even information visit www.MalibuCity.org/SantaPaws or call 310-317-1364. Register for the event at www.MalibuCity.org/Register (click “All Programs,” Special Events,” “Santa Paws”).

By Trevor

SANTA MONICA—The city of Santa Monica announced on Tuesday, November 28 that Santa Claus is coming to town with police officers & firefighters participating. Santa and his public safety helpers will be distributing cheer and thousands of candy canes as part of the 2023, 31st Annual “Candy Cane Drive.”

The city of Santa Monica noted on its website that everyone can participate in festivities sponsored by the Santa Monica Police Officers Association and Santa Monica Firefighters, Local 1109.

This year’s scheduled stops include one per police beat and begins on Saturday, December 2 at the following locations:

-10:00 – 10:45 am Douglas Park – 2400 California Ave (Beat 4)
-11:00-11:30 am Christine Reed Park California Ave & 7th Street (Beat 1)
-1:30 – 2:15 pm Virginia Avenue Park – 2200 Virginia Ave (Beat 3)
-2:30 – 3:15 pm Clover Park – Ocean Park & 25th St (Beat 2)

Children in the city are encouraged to look and listen for the lights and sirens of the public safety vehicles, while parents are asked to bring their cameras.

To learn more details about the event review the following flyer.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee revealed details for the upcoming annual Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration to take place on Thursday, November 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. featuring a special live performance by Emmy Award-winning actor and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Ralph is known for her work on the ABC comedy “Abbott Elementary” where she recently won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. She also appeared on the comedy series “Moesha” co-starring with singer and actress Brandy Norwood.

There will be lights on the palm trees, rose bushes and much more for the holidays.
“Our Holiday Lighting Celebration is an opportunity for us to come together, recognize how fortunate we are, and begin this year’s holiday season – a celebration of our City and a hopeful beginning for the New Year,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Dr. Julian A Gold. “At the same time, we recognize the impact of world events and our thoughts are with those here and abroad as we approach the holiday season. We hope they can find a sense of hopefulness and strength as we all overcome darkness with light.”

“The reveal of this year’s decor themed Up Up and Away Holiday! celebrates the start of the holiday season and brings together our community and visitors on Rodeo Drive. We are delighted to welcome Sheryl Lee Ralph to our iconic street, where each magical encounter promises to be a gift, unwrapping our hopes and dreams for everyone,” said Kay Monica Rose, President of the Rodeo Drive Committee.

There will be three stages on Rodeo Drive with performances from The Wallis’s critically-acclaimed theatrical experience “LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE” inspired by the 2003 holiday film written and directed by Richard Curtis, by cast members B. Slade, the two-time Emmy Award-winner and four-time Grammy-nominee and Madison Taylor Baez, who at 12-years old earned the “America’s Got Talent” Season 17 golden buzzer with her soulful voice, and there will be songs from The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA).

The evening’s entertainment will also include performances by The Maccabeats, a Jewish a cappella phenomenon that released four successful albums and made multiple TV appearances; LA-based Bollywood dance sensation Nazara, who will bring a fusion of Bollywood and Indian classical dance; timeless classics by Broadway’s seasoned singer and actor Terron Brooks and former American Idol contestant Vonzell Solomon, both individually celebrated for their remarkable talents and who have now joined forces as a soulful duet; a special drum performance by LA-based Cajon Drummer Nick Adams known for his collaborations with top artists and appearances on major TV shows; a special dance performance from the Holiday Rhythm Tappers, the duo from So You Think You Can Dance; harmonious renditions of beloved holiday tunes from The Four Parts Barbershop Quartet and Winter Wonderland Carolers, and sonic sounds by DJ Z. Celebrating the incredible shopping on Rodeo Drive and in Beverly Hills, the Holiday Helpers will perform Shopper’s Delight, a bold and colorful dance set.

There will be performers including those with towering Peppermint Stilts, food, a wine garden and photo opportunities for guests throughout the evening.

Mayor Gold and members of the Beverly Hills City Council members will countdown the crowd and illuminate Rodeo Drive’s center median bringing to life the Up Up & Away Holiday! decor in its full adornment. Santa Claus, led by the Beverly Hills High School marching band will arrive on the Beverly Hills Fire Truck and a fireworks finale will also transpire.

The holiday festivities will continue across the region through January 1, 2024 with the following installations available for viewing nightly: The “Glowing Gardens” which includes giant tree and ornament sculptures at Beverly Cañon Gardens Park; the “Lights on the Lily Pond” show at Beverly Gardens Park which takes place every 15 minutes beginning at 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and back for its second year, the incredible “Unwrap the Magic” projection show viewable nightly every half hour from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the iconic Beverly Hills City Hall Tower located at the corner of N Santa Monica Boulevard and N Crescent Drive.

Beverly Hills will have its historic trolley car, adorned with holiday garland and named the “Jolly Trolley” for the holiday season running to take visitors to the “Unwrap the Magic” projection show every Thursday through Sunday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (excluding holidays) from its stops at Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way and N Crescent Drive and N Santa Monica Boulevard.

There will also be a family friendly holiday celebration for children of all ages on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Greystone Mansion and Gardens.

By Trevor

MALIBU—The city of Malibu and the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACOFD) is reminding the public that fireworks are illegal in Los Angeles County except for professionally operated, permitted displays, as the public gets ready to celebrate the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

The possession or use of illegal fireworks in Los Angeles County can result in fines up to $1,000 and up to a year in prison. The LACOFD provides a list of public fireworks displays in the County at https://fire.lacounty.gov/fireworks-safety-and-july-4th-celebration-information.

As of June 22, the LA County Fire Department reports that no professional fireworks displays permits have been issued for July 4, 2023.

Malibu City Hall, the Senior Center and the Community Swimming Pool will be closed for the Independence Day holiday on Tuesday, July 4. City parks will be open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Alcohol, open flames and fireworks are prohibited. For more details on city parks and facilities, visit the Community Services webpage.

Malibu is expecting large numbers of visitors, especially on weekends, and “the city is working with partner agencies and putting out public messaging to help keep Pacific Coast Highway, (PCH), canyon roads, beaches and trails safe and clean for all to enjoy,” as stated on the city’s website.

“We urge all visitors who come to enjoy Malibu’s natural beauty to help keep our roads and beaches safe and clean and honor our efforts to protect our community’s safety, peace and quality of life,” said Mayor Bruce Silverstein.

The city encourages residents and visitors to help keep PCH, canyon roads, beaches and trails safe and clean with these messages on social media, with the hashtag #SafeSummerMalibu:

-Don’t drink and drive – designate sober drivers and use rideshares or taxis.

-Keep your eyes on the road – don’t text and drive.

-Slow down and watch for pedestrians and cyclists on PCH and cars pulling in and out of beach parking.

-Pack it in, pack it out – dispose of your trash in trash containers, and if you see litter, please pick it up and throw it away in a trash container.

-Alcohol, dogs and fires are prohibited on beaches in Malibu.

Malibu coordinates every year with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, California State Parks, Mountains and Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to prepare for summer crowds.

The city funds the LASD Beach Team every year from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The beach patrols are an important way to address alcohol consumption on the beaches, which is illegal, and contributes to drunk driving on PCH and canyon roads. Extra traffic officers are also in place to address safety issues on the road.

The MRCA double patrols in its parks from Memorial Day to Labor Day. State Parks will have seven-day coverage and will put extra effort into addressing litter. Beaches and Harbors will increase staffing to assist with parking, maintenance, and trash on the beaches and beach parking lots.

Every summer, Malibu requests additional patrols by LASD and the Sheriff’s Volunteers on Patrol (VOPs). The VOPs are crucial for parking enforcement to ensure beach access and keep the roadways safe, they monitor and report crime and emergencies, and they help direct traffic and ensure safety at accident sites.

Residents can request assistance from CHP with street racing by calling 323-259-3200. Report suspected intoxicated drivers by calling 9-1-1. Residents may sign up for the City’s emergency and traffic alerts (scroll down to “Alert Center”).

In an effort to streamline its emergency communications processes, and in light of the abundance of traffic news and information readily available to the public, Malibu will be providing traffic alerts only during business hours for full road closures (not lane closures); in case of emergencies; or in case of planned or extended closures (such as road or utility projects).

The city will discontinue the Nixle alerting service, which is redundant since Nixle was bought by Everbridge, the system that Malibu uses for disaster notifications. All Nixle subscribers have been merged into the Everbridge system, and will still receive alerts from the City. Eliminating the Nixle system will decrease the time and number of steps it takes to put out emergency messaging.

Malibu will continue to use the website alert system for lower-level emergencies, traffic incidents, utility advisories, and beach advisories by text and email to subscribers when necessary. To sign up for website alerts, or add or remove alert subscriptions, visit the webpage and scroll to “Alert Center.”

For more details about Malibu’s alerting systems, and to sign up, visit the city’s website.

MALIBU—The city of Malibu is preparing to keep Pacific Coast Highway, canyon roads, beaches and trails safe as Memorial Day weekend begins the start of summer season in the region.

“We urge all visitors who come to enjoy Malibu’s natural beauty to help keep our roads and beaches safe and clean and honor our efforts to protect our community’s safety, peace and quality of life,” said Mayor Bruce Silverstein.

The city reported on its website that Malibu wants residents and visitors to help keep PCH, canyon roads, beaches and trails safe and clean with these messages on social media, with the hashtag #SafeSummerMalibu:

-Don’t drink and drive – designate sober drivers and use rideshares or taxis.

-Keep your eyes on the road – don’t text and drive.

-Slow down and watch for pedestrians and cyclists on PCH and cars pulling in and out of beach parking.

-Pack it in, pack it out – dispose of your trash in trash containers, and if you see litter, please pick it up and throw it away in a trash container.

-Alcohol, dogs and fires are prohibited on beaches in Malibu.

Malibu coordinates each year with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, California State Parks, Mountains and Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to prepare for summer crowds.

The city of Malibu funds the LASD Beach Team every year from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The beach patrols address alcohol consumption on the beaches, which is illegal, and contributes to drunk driving on PCH and canyon roads. Extra traffic officers are in place to address safety issues on the road.

State Parks will have seven-day coverage and will put extra effort into addressing litter. Beaches and Harbors will increase staffing to assist with parking, maintenance, and trash on the beaches and beach parking lots.

Each summer, Malibu requests additional patrols by the LASD and the Sheriff’s Volunteers on Patrol (VOPs). The VOPs are crucial for parking enforcement to ensure beach access and keep the roadways safe, they monitor and report crime and emergencies, and they help direct traffic and ensure safety at accident sites.

The city does not control access to the state and county beaches in Malibu, and wants to reassure the Malibu community that it is working with its partner agencies on messaging to visitors to Malibu about the importance of keeping PCH, canyon roads and beaches safe and clean for all.

Residents can request help from CHP with street racing by calling 323-259-3200. Report suspected intoxicated drivers by calling 9-1-1. Residents may sign up for the City’s emergency and traffic alerts at www.MalibuCity.org/News (scroll down to “Alert Center”).

Malibu will discontinue the Nixle alerting service, which is redundant since Nixle was bought by Everbridge, the system that Malibu uses for disaster notifications. All Nixle subscribers have been merged into the Everbridge system, and will still receive alerts from the City. Eliminating the Nixle system will decrease the time and number of steps it takes to put out emergency messaging.

The city of Malibu will continue to use the website alert system for lower-level emergencies, traffic incidents, utility advisories, and beach advisories by text and email to subscribers when necessary. To sign up for website alerts, or add or remove alert subscriptions, visit www.MalibuCity.org/News and scroll to “Alert Center.”

For more details about Malibu’s alerting systems, and to sign up, visit www.MalibuCity.org/EmergencyAlerts.