Council skeptical of Film Society's offer to build arts center Play

Malibu's city council wants more information about a private group's offer to build — and give to the city — a civic arts building that would include a theater.

The offer is coming from the Malibu Film Society. Director Scott Tallal told the city council Monday that he needs the council to allow the city arts commission to consider the offer.

Last winter, the council directed the arts commission to stop talking about such a building. The council wants to concentrate on building parks.

Monday, Tallal asked the council to allow the arts commission to at least consider the options that the Film Society offers.

"We know that city doesn't have the funds right now, for a variety of reasons," Tallal said. "All we are asking for right now is for a chance to see if we can raise them. If we can't, no harm, no foul, no obligation on the part of the city. If we can, we will get this arts center built just as quickly as you will allow us to build it."

Tallal's plan would use private donations to build an arts complex and theater on a vacant piece of land behind the Cross Creek Ranch shopping center.

Three city council members Monday night said that may not be a good read, at least not at this time. Doug Stewart had warnings about that land up against a hill behind the Cross Creek Ranch parking lot.

"That space is a lot smaller than it looks because of the contours that are there, and a lot of that property is driveway," Stewart said. "So I think a one- or two-page proposal that would allow us to see something presented through the city manager to the city council would be a good way to go."

Council members said they need more details before deciding whether to reopen consideration of a civic arts building. Tallal told the city council all he wants to do is ask the arts commission what they want.

Mayor Bruce Silverstein says he needs more information.

"Over and over again, at various times, we have a group of individuals who would be happy, high-end people who could fund this thing — 'we just need the city's green light,'" Silverstein said. "Bring us a proposal about the people who are going to finance this. And I'm not talking about a quarter million dollars exploration. I'm saying, get to baked. As baked as Haylynn Conrad said — show us the money."

Thus, the city council wants the Malibu Film Society to tell the city what it can provide, while the Film Society is prohibited from asking the Arts Commission what the city needs.