On September 2oth, the Malibu Daily News broke the story of the former chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission and distinguished attorney Ann Ravel’s letter to City officials regarding her intention to file a formal complaint with the FPPC against Council members Paul Grisanti and Marianne Riggans and their appointments to the Planning Commission, Dennis Smith and Skylar Peak and City Manager Steve McClary.
Malibu Daily News obtained the detailed letter provided by Ravel, who was contacted to investigate the actions of Planning Commissioners Skylar Peak and Dennis Smith who have previously refused to recuse themselves from voting on building projects they can financially benefit from.
The letter dated August 16, 2023, addressed to Malibu City Attorney Trevor Rusin and City Manager Steve McClary, demands Malibu Planning Commissioners Peak and Smith either resign or be dismissed immediately from their positions due to “disqualifying financial interests in virtually all development applications that come before them, because it is reasonably foreseeable that their voting on them will have a material effect on one or more of their own financial interests.”
On May 21st, Ravel received confirmation the investigation into the allegations made against council members Grisanti and Riggins, planning commissioners Smith and Peak and City Manager Steve McClary will move forward.
At the last City Council meeting, Grisanti was the sole vote in favor of the controversial Malibu Inn Motel project. Assistant Planning Director Adrian Fernandez and Planning Director Richard Mollica were exposed for attempting to manipulate city codes to favor Surfrider Plaza, LLC, a commercial developer.
This is a developing story.
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