Reflection 100 Days After the Palisades Fire

April 17, 2025 marked 100 days since the start of the Palisades Fire that deeply impacted our community. While the road to recovery is ongoing, the City of Malibu has laid the groundwork to streamline rebuilding, restore essential services and support local businesses.

• On January 27 and early March, the City Council passed Local Coastal Program and Malibu Municipal Code amendments to expedite the rebuilding process for properties impacted by the recent wildfires, as well as future natural disasters. The California Coastal Commission approved these policy changes on April 10.
• The City opened the Malibu Rebuild Center on March 10 to provide in-person support for the community.
• On April 10, the City began studying the possibility of connecting to LA County and Hyperion sewer systems for beachfront properties.
• On April 14, City Council directed staff to create a fee-waiver program for “like‑for‑like” rebuilds.
• On April 14, Council approved starting a business grant program and paused the City’s minimum‑wage increase to assist struggling businesses.
• The City has held 28 community meetings to help keep the residents and building professionals informed and engaged.

Malibu Volunteers Honored for Their Year-Round Service and Support During Emergencies

In recognition of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, the City held a reception on April 22 to honor Malibu’s incredible community volunteers for their service year-round, as well as their help during the wildfires, recovery process and winter storms. Mayor Doug Stewart, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, LA County Fire Assistant Chief Drew Smith and LA County Sheriff’s Captain Jennifer Seetoo commended the volunteers.

2024 milestones:

• Sheriff’s Volunteers on Patrol (VOPs): Over 7,600 hours protecting public safety
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): Trained and supported fire response for nearly 3,500 hours
• Arson Watch: Patrolled high‑risk zones for more than 2,200 hours
• Malibu Community Brigade: 6,000 hours of firefighting aid during the Franklin and Palisades Fires

City Commissioners were also honored for their many years of volunteer service on Public Safety, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Arts and many other commissions. Thank you, Malibu volunteers!

Protect Yourself From Fire Recovery Email Scams

The City has intercepted email scams on several occasions since the wildfires, targeting fire survivors in vulnerable conditions. The City has been tracking these scam attempts and sharing them with LA County Sheriff’s Department. Beware of phishing emails using fake addresses with City staff names.

• Official City emails always end in @malibucity.org.
• Watch for red flags: poor grammar, odd links, urgent requests, or unknown attachments.
• Never share personal info or click suspicious links.

If in doubt, forward the message to the City’s Information Technology Team at ISHelpdesk@malibucity.org. Don’t reply — report it to your email provider and the City. Stay alert and protect yourself from fraud!

DEBRIS REMOVAL UPDATES

While the April 15 deadline to submit Right-of-Entry passes has passed, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will continue to be on site at City Hall to share information on fire debris removal. USACE representatives will be at City Hall Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at least through the end of April.

If residents have concerns over how private contractors are hauling debris, they can file formal complaints on the County website or by calling the County hotline at 888-479-7328 (open Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM).

UPCOMING EVENTS

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

Topanga Beach Bus Resumes Service

This popular service is back! Paused during the Palisades Fire, the Topanga Beach Bus now runs once daily (northbound and southbound) seven days a week between Warner Center and Santa Monica Beach through Topanga Canyon, which is currently closed to public traffic. The Beach Bus creates a connection between two major public transit lines, the Orange Line and the Expo Line.

Red Cross Starts New Round of Financial Assistance for Fire Survivors

Beginning Tuesday, April 22, Red Cross is providing a second round of financial assistance to individuals and households recovering from the Palisades Fire or the Eaton Fire.

CITY SERVICES

Malibu Rebuild Center Progress Update: March 10 – April 18

The City is pleased to announce progress on the rebuilding effort since opening the Malibu Rebuild Center on Monday, March 10:

• Initial Rebuild Appointments/Site Verification – 206 Initial visits / 85 Follow-up visits
• Architectural Plan Review – 18 Pending / 7 Approved = 25 total (like-for-like: 15; Like-for-like +10%: 10)
• Building Plan Check Submittal – 0 Received/ 0 Approved
• Certificate of Occupancy – 0

The City is committed to doing everything possible to help property owners get through the rebuilding process. Visit us at the Malibu Rebuild Center (3805 Stuart Ranch Road, Suite 240) Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

CORRECTION: City Council Directs Staff to Develop a Fee Waiver Program

The previous newsletter from Thursday, April 17 incorrectly stated that the City Council approved fee waivers on April 14 to support property owners rebuilding their homes. The Council directed staff to bring back a fee waiver program for the Council’s consideration at a future date.