City partners with Santa Monica to address clean water issues

Calabasas city officials said they don’t want to wait for the county to solve local water pollution issues.

The Calabasas City Council announced it will join with the city of Santa Monica in the search for funds to provide storm water protection projects.

Too much trash and other toxic debris are finding their way to the local beaches, according to Calabasas Mayor Barry Groveman.

“(The city of Santa Monica is) actually trying to expand and maybe get Malibu, Oxnard and some of the other cities on the coast to join with us (to attack storm water pollution),” Groveman said.

“And we in turn can try to get some of the inland cities around us (like) Agoura or whoever . . . The agencies that give grants seem to like the fact that the inland cities would work with the coastal (cities) on some solution,” said Groveman.

Calabasas Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Washburn said he feels the city shouldn’t have to carry this entire issue, especially since Los Angeles County plans to participate.

Calabasas City Councilmember Mary Sue Maurer said she feels the city can do much.

“Certainly, the regional approach is important, but it’s slow,” Maurer said. “I think that by exercising local control, we can move quicker and probably more efficiently on some of these issues.”

Groveman said the city of Santa Monica isn’t waiting for regional action. Santa Monica, he said, already has plans to deal with their water issues. Calabasas is still developing ideas.

At a September city council meeting, officials discussed a number of ways that Calabasas could become more environmentally active. Melina Watts, Malibu Creek Watershed coordinator, who applauded the city for its environmental awareness, offered some ideas to keep storm water clean.

Watts said the most critical action the city could take is to keep trash out of Malibu Creek. Filtration systems aren’t always adequate and once pollutants are in the creek or on the beaches, the damage to the environment has been done, she said.

Watts talked about the importance of pre-cycling versus recycling.

“Recycling is only moderately effective,” Watts said. “If you can pre-cycle and not have the source in the first place, you can really do amazing things.”

Watts said people could take their own glasses for drinks to coffee shops or fast food restaurants and eliminate the need for disposable cups, which can become pollutants.

She also suggested that instead of drinking bottled water, people use a glass to drink water from the sink, which would cut down on plastic bottles that often end up in the creeks and oceans.

The city will consider the ideas Watts presented as well as others in an effort to fight the trash and other toxic debris in the area.

Last year, Groveman asked the city council to consider adopting a policy requiring restaurants and other shops in the city to use cornmade food carriers and corn-made cups instead of Styrofoam carriers and cups. He said the city of Malibu has worked with local stores and restaurants to promote the use of biodegradable materials.