Malibu, CA – While the City of Malibu and its Federal, State and County partners continue to respond to the Palisades Fire, recovery efforts are already underway. On January 25, the City hosted a Town Hall to initiate a community-wide dialogue on rebuilding and the resources available to support recovery. The event drew over 600 attendees, demonstrating the community’s commitment to moving forward together. The Town Hall featured updates from elected officials, City staff, and representatives from partner agencies on current fire response operations and the next steps in recovery and rebuilding. Attendees were also given the opportunity to ask questions and share comments. The City is committed to addressing all unanswered questions from the event and will post responses on its website as they become available. Mayor Doug Stewart expressed his gratitude and shared details about theCity’s priorities. “I’d like to thank all our partner agencies for their continued support and dedication to our community. Their support has been instrumental in both our fire response and recovery efforts. During the Town Hall, we heard directly from residents and business owners who are eager to begin the rebuilding process. I want to assure our community that the City is focused on making the path to recovery as smooth and efficient as possible, working hand-in-hand with State, Federal and County Partners every step of the way.”While Malibu’s Emergency Operation Center remains active in addressing the Palisades Fire, the City is also prioritizing recovery resources and creating a streamlined process for rebuilding. At the upcoming January 27 City Council meeting, the Council will consider key actions to support recovery efforts, such as Amendments to the Local Coastal Program (LCP) and Municipal Code and the Formation of a Palisades Fire Ad Hoc Committee. The proposed changes aim to simplify the LCP and expedite the rebuilding process for structures damaged or destroyed by the Palisades Fire, and prior fires including the Broad Fire and Franklin Fire. The proposed changes include streamlining permits for the replacement of in-kind rebuilding with a 10% size increase, addressing flood zone and geologic hazard requirements, and aligning local regulations with the Governor’s Executive Order to ensure compliance and speed up the process. A temporary committee, if established, will represent the City at recovery-related events and meetings, provide timely input to staff, and recommend necessary actions to the full Council. This approach ensures greater flexibility and responsiveness to the evolving needs of the community. As part of its streamlining efforts, the City is establishing a permanent Rebuild Assistance Office on City campus to serve as an in-person, one-stop shop for residents navigating the rebuilding process. This dedicated office will centralize resources and support for fire-affected property owners. Additionally, the Recycled Paper City is expanding its workforce to expedite rebuilding applications and ensure timely assistance for residents.
Mayor Pro Tem Marianne Riggins emphasized Malibu’s resilience and collaborative spirit. “It’s extremely unfortunate that our community has prior experience with fire response and recovery, but Malibu is resilient. I am confident that we will come together once again and rebuild as swiftly as possible. With lessons learned from past wildfires, we are better equipped to coordinate resources and protect our most vulnerable neighbors. While the road to recovery is not easy, by working together, we will rebuild stronger and continue to foster the sense of Malibu unity.” The recovery process is already underway, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leading fire debris assessments and household hazardous waste removal activities in Malibu. Property owners are reminded that fire debris removal cannot begin until the EPA completes this critical step. Throughout the process, the City will continue to collaborate with Federal, State and County agencies to ensure safe and expedited rebuilding for affected property owners. Community members are encouraged to sign up for text and email notifications regarding rebuilding events, resources, and updates at MalibuCity.org/RebuildUpdates. For more information on the Palisades Fire response and available resources, visit MalibuCity.org/PalisadesFire.