Report: City of Malibu's Cost to Manage Bluffs Park Over Charmlee Would be Less

The cost of maintaining Malibu Bluffs Park if the city went ahead with a proposed land swap would be less than what it takes to upkeep Charmlee Park, according to a city staff report released Friday.

The Malibu City Council is currently weighing whether to go forward with a proposed swap for the city's Charmlee Park in exchange for the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy's Bluffs Park. The issue will go back to the council at the Nov. 12 meeting at Malibu City Hall.

The city spends $50,000 for the operation and maintenance costs at Charmlee Park, the report states. The SMMC currently spends less than that to maintain Bluffs Park.  

However, the city hopes to transform Bluffs Park into additional recreational land, but no exact proposed project has come forward. The city has expressed interest in putting in either ball fields or a skate park, but the costs for those potential projects are not yet known. 

In January, the Malibu City Council gave its city attorney the go ahead to further explore a proposed land swap and settle a lawsuit over uses in Ramirez Canyon, with some conditions.

The proposed settlement of a lawsuit between the city of Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) calls for the resolution over uses in Ramirez Canyon and a land swap of Charmlee Wilderness Park for Bluffs Park.

According to City Manager Jim Thorsen, there is a 10-acre spot in the northwest corner of Bluff's Park that is not an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area.

The SMMC had proposed camping in the 10-acre spot and in the middle of the park, Thorsen said. If the land swap goes through, SMMC Director Joe Edmiston has said he would give up camping at Bluffs Park.

Malibu Patch will have more analysis of the proposed land swap throughout the week, so check back. Tell us your thoughts in the comments.