CITY REBUILD TEAM HOLDS WEEKLY REBUILD ZONE CAPTAINS MEETING

The Community Development Department (CDD) Director Yolanda Bundy and rebuild staff continue to meet weekly with the Rebuild Zone Captains to identify roadblocks and find solutions for homeowners within each Captain’s zones, generate ideas to further improve the rebuild process, and provide the latest rebuild information from the City. On October 1 CDD provided the Zone Captains a demo of the Archistar eCheck AI platform, a new pre-submittal tool, designed to help design professionals streamline the review process and support fire rebuild families in returning to their homes. 

MALIBU REBUILD COMMUNITY MEETINGS KICK OFF THIS WEEK WITH A DEMO OF NEW ARCHISTAR ECHECK AI PLATFORM  

The City of Malibu Community Development Department (CDD) Rebuild staff hosted the first session of the Malibu Community Rebuild Meeting Series designed to help streamline the rebuild process and support homeowners. The series will run from October 2 through January 14. The kickoff meeting took place on Thursday, October 2, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM at City Hall. A recording of the session is available on the City’s YouTube channel.  

At this kickoff meeting, staff introduced the new Archistar AI platform, which launched on September 30 on the City’s Development Portal. This innovative tool uses artificial intelligence to review building plans for zoning and Building Code compliance before submission—making the rebuilding process faster, clearer, and easier. 

The October 2 Meeting Featured: 

• A live demonstration of the Archistar AI platform. 
• An explanation of how it fits into the City’s new eCheck AI Pilot Program. 
• Opportunities for design professionals—especially those working on single-family homes impacted by the Palisades Fire—to provide feedback after testing the tool. 



Upcoming Meetings: 

• Design Professionals Meetings: November 13, December 3 
• Fire Rebuild Community Sessions: October 15, November 18, December 11, January 14 

WEEKLY ZONE CAPTAINS MEETINGS

Community Development Department staff will continued its weekly working meetings with the Rebuild Zone Captains to identify roadblocks and find solutions for homeowners within each Captain’s zones, generate ideas to further improve the rebuild process, and provide the latest information. On October 1, Community Development provided the Zone Captains a demo of the Archistar AI platform, a new pre-submittal tool, designed to help design professionals streamline the review process and support fire rebuild families in returning to their homes. 

FEE WAIVER PROGRAM

The City of Malibu has launched a Fee Waiver Program to help property owners rebuild by eliminating City planning and building permit fees for like-for-like, owner-occupied homes.

PARTNER WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY  

The City encourages fire-impacted property owners to submit a Letter of Agency to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). This letter authorizes law enforcement to remove trespassers from your property with advance authorization from the property owner — especially important for vacant or infrequently used lots. To submit a Letter of Agency fill out and submit the form to the LASD.

Submitting a Letter of Agency: 

• Helps enforce trespassing laws 
• Enhances public safety 
• Protects vacant or fire-damaged properties from unwanted activity 

CITY OF MALIBU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM ATTENDS LOCAL COMMUNITY AND REBUILD EVENTS

On September 27, CDD staff tabled at Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin’s Palibu Day of Service at Pepperdine University, connecting with over 30 community members and local organizations, including the Girl Scouts, YMCA, Malibu Education Foundation, UCLA, and Pepperdine. Residents expressed gratitude for the City’s efforts and asked about opportunities to volunteer and get involved in cleanups and community events. 

On September 28, CDD staff and Mayor Riggins attended the Palibu Chamber of Commerce Malibu Rebuild Expo, where families signed up to connect with the Fire Rebuild team. Attendees valued the City’s participation and looked forward to future outreach, including the next Chamber breakfast on October 9 at Pura Vida.  

CITY OF MALIBU ISSUES PERMIT #3 TO PALISADES FIRE REBUILD

The City of Malibu is proud to announce that the third rebuild permit has been issued to a homeowner who lost their house in the Palisades Fire. To celebrate this milestone, Mayor Marianne Riggins and Interim City Manager Candace Bond presented the homeowner with a Malibu Rebuilds yard sign. Each rebuild represents meaningful progress in supporting families on their path back home. 

TEMPORARY JOB OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE FIRE RECOVERY & RESILIENCE WORKFORCE PROGRAM 

Temporary job opportunities in disaster relief and recovery are now available for people who lost work due to the wildfires. Apply to work with Beaches and Harbor, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and America's Job Centers of California. Visit the website to learn more about current recruitment opportunities, other services including no-cost training, and how to enroll.

MORTGAGE RELIEF FOR FIRE-IMPACTED HOMEOWNERS 

As part of the state’s continued efforts to support Los Angeles firestorm survivors, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 238 (Harabedian and Irwin). The Bill, already in effect, requires lenders to help borrowers experiencing financial hardship due to the Los Angeles firestorms by offering a temporary pause in mortgage payments for up to 12 months. This legislation expands on the January agreement the state reached with mortgage lenders to offer a mortgage payment pause for firestorm survivors for at least 90 days, with many lenders voluntarily offering payment pauses for up to 12 months. This bill deepens homeowner protections by expanding relief and creating enforceable legal requirements.

STEADFAST LA SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS



Malibu businesses affected by the recent wildfires can apply for Small Business Grants from Steadfast LA. Steadfast, in partnership with the Banc of California’s Wildfire Relief & Recovery Fund is offering direct grants of up to $50,000 to help businesses rebuild and reopen. This initiative, administered by LiftFund, provides much-needed financial support for local retailers, restaurants, and independent storefronts. Applications are now open and being accepted on a rolling basis (no deadline).

CITY OF MALIBU FIRE SAFETY LIAISONS’ FIRE CONDITIONS REPORT - OCTOBER 2 - "MODERATE TO HIGH" FIRE DANGER

At this time of year, the City's Fire Safety Liaisons are closely monitoring key wildfire threat indicators, including Live Fuel Moisture (LFM), wind, humidity and other factors to help the City and the community be prepared for any upcoming hazardous wildfire conditions.

For the coming week, we’ll see a continuation of the weather for the past two weeks, with mild temperatures in the 70s, low winds and very high humidity, putting our wildfire conditions at “Moderate to High.”

LFM, the percentage of water in live plants in the Santa Monica Mountains, has dropped to the 60% critical threshold, in line with historical averages. That means that live plants are so dry they can ignite as if they were dead, and fires can spread rapidly and grow large.

However, without winds, and with the very high humidity around 70%, it reduces our current fire threat. When all those factors come together, we have extremely dangerous fire conditions and potential Red Flag Warnings.

However, we are in the Santa Ana wind season, and we will have an average of 8 Red Flag fire condition events, so our Fire Safety Liaisons recommend you continue to work on your personal preparedness.

Make an emergency plan, including evacuation routes, reunification locations, gather supplies and have go-bags ready with food, water, medication, essential documents (remember your pets!), and monitor fire weather closely, especially Santa Ana winds and Red Flag Warnings. Click here to learn more.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO 

• Monitor weather and emergency information on local news, NWS LA/Oxnard, and 99.1 FM KBUU.
• Sign up for City alerts (select weather and emergency).
• Sign up for LA County alerts.
• Make & review your emergency plans, gather supplies, following the LA County Ready Set Go guide.

In case of any fire starts in our area, or that could eventually threaten our area, the City will post emergency information via alerts, the City website, and social media. In case of urgent threats to lives or property, or evacuations, the City will post emergency alerts via Everbridge Disaster Notifications. No sign up is required for Everbridge - cell phones and landlines with 90265 ZIP codes are entered automatically. However, you may visit the website and create a profile to add more contacts and detailed information.