With more than half the population of Los Angeles County vaccinated, county and statewide COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths falling to their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic, and new statewide workplace safety rules adopted June 17, the City of Malibu will open City Hall to the public at noon on Monday, June 28, 2021.
“City Hall is more than just a building, it is an important community gathering place, and a vital hub where community members can participate in public meetings, events and programs, conduct important business, ask questions from and share ideas, concerns and feedback with City leaders and staff who serve the community,” said Mayor Paul Grisanti. “It is a great symbol of our progress in fighting the pandemic and returning to our normal lives that it is now safe enough to reopen City Hall for the public, and I can’t wait to see our neighbors and friends there in person after all this time.”
The California Department of Public Health and the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CalOSHA) have provided new workplace rules for organizations statewide, which apply to Malibu City Hall. The City Manager, City Council and Public Safety Manager agreed that it is safe enough for staff as well as the public to reopen City Hall. In order to complete final preparations, City Hall will open to the public on Monday, June 28 at noon, and regular City Hall hours will be observed beginning Tuesday June 29. Regular City Hall hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Fridays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Public meetings will continue to be virtual until further notice, while plans, budgets and logistics are being examined for how and when to resume in-person public meetings or some hybrid form of virtual/in-person public meetings. Any decision will prioritize public safety and public accessibility and participation.
While the pandemic metrics are steadily improving, there are still people in the community who may not want to or be able to get vaccinated for various reasons, and are therefore still vulnerable to COVID-19. There are also still more contagious coronavirus variants active in Southern California, and COVID-19 continues to spread and be a public health threat for many communities in the United States and in many countries abroad. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, unvaccinated staff will be asked to continue to wear facemasks in City Hall, and the public will be required to wear facemasks while inside City Hall (and any other indoor City facility or facility being used by the City), regardless of vaccination status. Any changes to these health and safety requirements will be announced to the community.
City Hall had a “soft opening” on Monday, June 21, with the second-floor entry doors open to the public 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily and until 4:30 PM on Friday, but with no public counter hours as of yet. Members of the public may come to City Hall without an appointment and remain in the lobby until they can be helped by staff. Appointments can be made online at www.MalibuCity.org/appointments or by phone at 310-456-2489. City Hall’s online appointment system will remain available until further notice.
Submitted by Matt Myerhoff, Media Information Officer
