Karen Farrer 4 Malibu City Council 2018

01/12/2025

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12/13/2022

And… it’s a wrap! Thank you to the City of Malibu for allowing me the honor and privilege to serve as your elected representative - Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Councilmember - these past four years.

12/05/2022

Fascinating talk Tuesday evening given by bestselling author David Grann. The subject: Killers of the Flower Moon. Last Library Speaker series event of the year.

10/28/2022

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and City of Malibu Announce Progress on School District Separation

(Malibu, CA, Santa Monica, CA) - The City of Malibu and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SM-MUSD) have jointly settled on a detailed framework and process to pursue the separation of the two territories into two separate unified school districts: Santa Monica Unified and Malibu Unified.

The framework emerged after months of mediation and joint meetings between the parties dating back to April of this year.

The details of the framework and process are spelled out in a Term Sheet document, available at: https://www.malibucity.org/DocumentCenter/View/30851/Termsheet_for_Formation_of_MUSD_and_SMUSD_10-28-2022.

Highlights of the framework include:

1. A conceptual financial model to insure both districts maintain sufficient revenue and revenue growth to provide the same or greater level of educational programs to students in both territories.

2. A description of agreements that the City and the District will need to finalize, including a tax-sharing agreement, operations agreement, and joint powers agreement, to fully implement the unification.

3. The pursuit of special legislation to assist in the implementation of the unification.

4. A detailed timeline of the process.
“This process we’ve identified reflects countless hours of negotiations and hard work on both sides,” Jon Kean, SM-MUSD Board Member, said. “Unification has been discussed, debated and pursued many times over the last few decades. The commitment by both sides to move forward under this framework represents the first time that we have been able to mutually agree upon an equitable financial model. While there is work left to do, we have reached an historic moment in this process.”

“After years of hard work and negotiations, we finally have a viable framework for an independent Malibu Unified School District,” Malibu Mayor Paul Grisanti said. “We would not be here without the hard work, dedication, and compromise made by the District and the City’s negotiating teams. Now that the Term Sheet has been accepted by both the SM-MUSD Board of Education and the Malibu City Council, I am hopeful that the process and framework set forth will guide us to the ultimate goal of two separate school districts.”

There will be many opportunities for public feedback and input as progress is made by the parties. Additional public engagement on this process is expected to begin early in the new calendar year.

10/15/2022

https://malibutimes.com/guest-columnist-malibus-most-critical-election-santa-monica-malibu-unified-school-district

“There’s more money there [in Malibu] than there is here [in Santa Monica] by light years.” — Sue Himmelrich, Santa Monica Mayor, February 8, Santa Monica City Council Meeting. This November, Malibu faces its most critical election since cityhood — only it’s not for city council… but s...

10/15/2022

We are incredibly fortunate to have Stacy Rouse on the ballot! VOTE FOR STACY!

Thank you Councilwoman Farrer for your endorsement and vote of confidence. This means a lot to me. Your leadership and voice on the city council have made such a difference for our pursuit of a local, independent school system.

You have been a tireless champion for our schools, children, and families through PTA, AMPS, Malibu Schools Leadership Council, and the City of Malibu.

I am honored and humbled to have your full support.

Thank you!

10/12/2022

It was my extreme honor to introduce Paul de Gelder at this evening’s Library Speaker Series event. Paul was an elite Australian Navy diver who lost two limbs in a horrific shark attack that changed his life and set him on an inspirational path. He now inspires others to overcome obstacles and champions shark conservation.

05/15/2022

Excellent presentations , panel discussions and updates at the 2022 California Contract Cities Annual Municipal Seminar in Indian Wells. Huge thanks to all who made it possible.

12/22/2021

Student Art Exhibit artwork submissions open. 🎨 📷

Submissions Being Accepted Through Dec. 31 for 2022 Student Art Exhibit

12/08/2021

CORRECTION – The original press release stated: "After public comment and a short discussion, the Council voted unanimously to make the report available to the public, allowing only for the redaction of personal and confidential information." The Council voted to redact only personal identity information of witnesses.

Malibu City Council Makes the Report of the Investigation into Allegations of Corruption Available to the Public

During the Nov. 30, 2021 Council meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to make the report of the findings of the investigation into former Councilmember Jefferson Wagner’s allegations of corruption available to the public.

Nearly one year ago, the City Council was presented with an affidavit by outgoing City Councilmember Jefferson Wagner alleging wrongdoing and corruption in City government. Shortly thereafter, the City Council retained lawyers Evan Jenness and George Newhouse to conduct an investigation into the allegations. Their final report was provided to Councilmembers on October 28, 2021. At its November 8 meeting, the Council requested to discuss at a future meeting whether to make the final investigative report publicly available.

On November 30, Interim City Attorney John Cotti advised that the final investigation report was protected from disclosure under State law, but acknowledged that the Council could waive any protection afforded the report and authorize its release.

After public comment and a short discussion, the Council voted unanimously to make the report available to the public, allowing only for the redaction of personal identity information of witnesses.

See the report: www.MalibuCity.org/WagnerAffidavitReport. See the cover letter to Mayor Grisanti accompanying the report: www.MalibuCity.org/WagnerAffidavitLetter. Additional materials will be released as they become available.

Watch video of the item in the Nov. 30 Council meeting: (starts at 5:53:00) - https://youtu.be/PyuTSMaZHxY?t=21177.

11/15/2021