Malibu residents with AAA memberships may not get that roadside assistance for flat tires and dead batteries as fast as they used to. Traffic on Pacific Coast Highway—already notoriously bad—could be grinding to a halt for longer stretches. That is, if the local contractor for those services, Malibu Towing, Inc., relocates to Oxnard when its lease runs out at the end of August. Other services the company offers may also be impacted, including being an “official police garage;” being among the first responders to accidents, fires and mudslides; recovering vehicles from canyons; and offering its location for various law enforcement and emergency training classes, like how to use the “Jaws of Life.”
The company has been in business in the Malibu since 1942. Its president, Adail Gayhart, spoke to city council last week on July 23, saying he may have no choice but to leave town at the end of August, when Malibu Towing’s lease is up. The company currently rents a tow-yard on county-owned property behind 23555 Civic Center Way, the former sheriff’s substation building, which is scheduled for demolition. The site will be the future home of Santa Monica College—Malibu Campus.
“We’re a necessary utility that Malibu must keep within its city limits—this is a must for public safety,” Gayhart said to the council. “Malibu Towing is an accessory to major emergency services such as fire, law enforcement, AAA and Caltrans … It’s the only towing company from the Santa Monica city limit to the Ventura County line, bordered by Mulholland … We’d appreciate anybody’s help with our endeavor not to leave Malibu stranded.”
He also pointed out that his company provides a number of community services at no charge. “We play a vital role in keeping Malibu clean,” he said, by towing away abandoned trucks, cars, boats, and motor homes left on PCH and nearby. “This is a service that is performed at a substantial financial loss to our company,” he added, because of having to transport these vehicles to appropriate recycling centers.
Malibu Towing has also served the community by towing cars from Malibu Road to Ralph’s parking lot during a wildfire to make room for fire trucks, and then moving the cars back again—all at no charge. It also moved cars for free during a major mudslide.
“Without towing service in the city of Malibu, it would take an exorbitant amount of time to clear PCH of accidents,” he continued. “We’ve enjoyed working in our community and we know it well. We’re proud to include ourselves in the public safety equation.”
Gayhart said Malibu Towing has been searching for a place within city limits to move, but he so far could not find anything affordable with the right zoning, which is why he would probably be moving to Oxnard. He found out there was no closer zoning in Agora or Calabasas, and the only alternative beside Oxnard appeared to be Canoga Park or Newbury Park.
Mayor Rick Mullen said, “As a first responder myself, I have to say [Malibu Towing] is amazing and I’m incredibly impressed with them.”
Local small business owner Sherman Baylin spoke to the council in support of doing something to help keep Malibu Towing in Malibu.
“They have not just served us, they’ve become part of the community,” she said. “Every fire, flood, rockslide and crash—they’re there. They know every nook and cranny in both incorporated and unincorporated Malibu, and they get there no matter what.”
Baylin told the story of when a Malibu man’s car wouldn’t start and he needed to get to Santa Monica for chemotherapy. Malibu Towing took him to his appointment and brought him back again for free. “Who does that?” she asked, amazed.
“Malibu Towing is so deserving of us showing how much we appreciate them, that certainly we should think about rezoning or finding some space for them,” Baylin told city council.
On July 30, one week after he spoke to council, Gayhart told The Malibu Times no one had yet come forward with a space or a solution.
“At the end of August, we’re bare earth here,” he said, referring to needing to clear everything out from the rented parcel by the time the lease is up.
The kind of space he’s looking to rent needs to be large enough to fit an office trailer, five tow trucks and various towed vehicles, and he’s exhausted every lead he knows about.
City Manager Reva Feldman said she had not discussed the matter with Gayhart.
As of Monday, Gayhart said he still thinks they’ll have to move to Oxnard, at least temporarily, and stage tow trucks in Malibu—which he said is an expensive proposition.
Anyone with a suggestion can contact him at 310.924.1525.