The Malibu City Council has voted to ask the California Coastal Commission to certify a land use amendment that would prohibit all overnight camping in Malibu parks and would require the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to purchase more than $7million property in order to build an alternative access road into Ramirez Canyon Park.

The conservancy says that under the city's plan, even if an alternative road can be built, use of the park will be limited.

"We are deeply disappointed but not surprised by the council's action," said Joseph Edmiston, conservancy executive director. "We will bring our case to the California Coastal Commission where, unlike at the Malibu City Council, the broad public interest can get a fair hearing."

Last year, the conservancy proposed a Malibu Public Access Enhancement Public Works Plan to increase public access to three conservancy-owned parks in Malibu and two owned by the National Park Service. The plan included supervised, handicapaccessible tent camping; new parking areas and trail connections between the parks; and enhancing the regional Coastal Slope Trail.

Public access to Ramirez Canyon Park, opposed by many neighbors, would be allowed to a level approved by a Coastal Development Permit that was obtained by the conservancy in 2001. All funds generated by events at Ramirez Canyon Park would be used toward increasing public access at the park.

Last year, the conservancy agreed to apply to the city of Malibu for a Local Coastal Plan rather than take the matter to the Coastal Commission.

The conservancy also agreed to other provisions, including exchanging new camping areas in city-owned Charmlee Park for camping in conservancy-owned Escondido Canyon Park.

Edmiston charged that after a year of negotiations and public hearing, the Malibu council voted for less public access than was previously allowed.

"The clear intention of the Coastal Act is to protect the interests of all citizens of California and provide access to those unique public resources," Edmiston said.

"Obviously the city wants the open space and trails purchased with taxpayer dollars, but they won't allow us to provide the parking and amenities that will permit anyone but local residents to use them," he said.