Malibu’s Latest Bid for Immediate Cityhood Vetoed : Politics: Governor says voters knew when they approved the proposal that it would occur in March. But supporters of the plan say Deukmejian caved in to county officials.

In a blow to Malibu cityhood backers, Gov. George Deukmejian has vetoed a measure that would have cleared the way for the seaside community to become a municipality immediately, a spokesman for the governor said Sunday.

The measure by Sen. Ed Davis (R-Santa Clarita) would have nullified attempts by Los Angeles County supervisors to delay Malibu’s incorporation until March.

Although Malibu voters overwhelmingly approved cityhood in June, the supervisors delayed incorporation in a bid to start construction of a controversial sewer system before a new city government has the chance to block it.

In his veto message, Deukmejian said that since voters were aware when they went to the polls that cityhood was to occur in March, “it would be inappropriate to now change the date of incorporation contrary to the understanding of the voters.”

Disappointed cityhood backers expressed anger at Deukmejian’s action.

“It’s scandalous to think that voters wanted a nine-month delay (for cityhood) after fighting for 2 1/2 years just to get it on the ballot,” said Mike Caggiano, a Malibu city councilman-elect.

The five-member council, elected but unable to take office, has said it will try to block the sewer from being built as soon as Malibu is incorporated.

Caggiano, calling the action “cronyism at its worst,” accused the governor of caving in to pressure from county officials who lobbied hard for the veto.

Meanwhile, Deukmejian also vetoed a related measure that would have prevented the county from issuing building permits in Malibu beginning in December, thus posing a threat to the county’s ability to speed construction of the sewer.

The measure by Assemblyman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) would have allowed counties to continue to issue building permits in communities where voters have approved cityhood but where incorporation has not yet taken place. It would have replaced an existing law that is to expire Dec. 31.

Builders and real estate groups generally supported the measure because it offered them time to get projects approved in communities where new governments--which are often slow-growth oriented--are waiting to take control.

However, in a bid to avoid last-minute opposition from legislators sympathetic to Malibu cityhood, the bill was amended to exclude Malibu. Deukmejian said he rejected the bill for that reason.

The veto of the incorporation measure means it will likely be March 28, the date set by the supervisors, before Malibu becomes a city.

Cityhood backers turned to the Legislature in August after a state appellate court upheld the supervisors’ authority to delay incorporation. The bill swept both houses without a dissenting vote.