Okay, I understand exactly what you are thinking. Who is Harrison Tyler, and why am I writing about his death? Stay tuned.
I recently read in a newspaper that Harrison Ruffin Tyler died at the age of 96. He just so happened to be the grandson of John Tyler. Again, I can hear you asking “who was John Tyler?” Well, for your information, John Tyler was the 10th president of these United States. Harrison Tyler was born 83 years after his grandfather left the White House in 1845.
John Tyler and his grandson Harrison pretty much covered the lifespan of our country. John Tyler was born in 1790, not long after we declared our independence from the British. He became the first sitting vice-president to become president when in 1841, then President William Henry Harrison (apparently Harrison can be a first or last name) forgot to wear an overcoat at his inauguration and died a month after he was sworn in. We know one thing for certain — President Harrison did not have a Jewish mother, or there is no way in hell she would have let him go out in freezing weather without dressing warmly.
President Tyler was known as the “accidental president” for the way he became the country’s chief executive, but he could have also earned his nickname by the number of children he sired — 15 with two wives. President Tyler sired Harrison’s father Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. when he was 63, and Lyon followed in his father’s tradition of late siring by having Harrison at the ripe old age of 75. Those Tyler men were quite virile, and based on their collective longevity, I would guess they never went out into the cold without an overcoat.
Beach volleyball, men’s volleyball, men’s tennis, and swim and dive teams lead the way as 145 Waves from 12 sports land on the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Pepperdine Waves student-athletes and sports teams garnered academic accolades in July.
The Waves beach volleyball and the men’s volleyball squads received American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Awards and the men’s tennis team and seven team members earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Awards. The swim and dive team earned College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-America Team honors. Additionally, 145 student-athletes from 12 programs were named to the West Coast Conference (WCC) Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
The Waves swim and dive squad earned CSCAA Scholar All-American Team honors for the 20th straight semester. The 35-member team had a combined 3.57 grade-point average in the spring semester. Twenty-three of them had 3.5 GPAs or higher.
These academic honors follow the Waves’ Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship win five months ago.
Pepperdine head coach Ellie Monobe is thrilled and proud of the Waves’ commitment to academics.
“Not only have they shown dominance in the pool, but continue to pursue excellence in the classroom,” she said.
To earn honors, CSCAA teams needed at least a 3.00 GPA.
The AVCA Team Academic Award celebrates teams that maintained a year-long 3.3 GPA or higher.
Pepperdine’s beach volleyball and men’s volleyball teams are among the 1,450 collegiate and high school programs nationwide to receive this year’s award, which sets a record for the most teams honored in the award’s history. The beach volleyball team has received the award for nine straight years, while the men’s volleyball team has earned the honor for two consecutive years.
The beach volleyball team had a 3.5 GPA with 12 of its 14 members named to the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for having at least a 3.0 GPA of 3.0.
Among 58 men’s volleyball programs honored, Pepperdine is one of just 38 to earn the distinction two years in a row. The team also seized a spot on the AVCA Team Academic Award Honor Roll, which includes squads that have the top 20% of team GPAs in the division. They were one of four NCAA Division I teams to receive that honor.
The Waves men’s tennis team had a 3.3 GPA, which earned them the ITA All-Academic Team award for the fourth consecutive year. Teams must have a 3.3 GPA or more for that honor.
Seven of the team’s members — Robin Boeckli, Linus Carlsson Halldin, Maxi Homberg, Chris Papa, Aleksa Pisaric, Lasse Poertner, and Hugh Winter — are ITA Scholar Athletes, a title that requires student-athletes to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Student-athletes need at least a 3.0 GPA to make the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Thirty-nine Waves had a 3.75 to 4.0 GPA (gold status), 35 had GPAs from 3.50 to 3.74, and 71 had 3.0 to 3.49 GPAs (bronze status).
The Waves student-athletes on the honor roll play sports including baseball, basketball, cross country and track, golf, soccer, tennis, water polo, and volleyball.
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) has announced it is clearing dry brush from roadsides in Malibu and Topanga in an effort to prevent wildfires. The early action roadside fire prevention program targets historic fire corridors in the Santa Monica Mountains. Vegetation clearance has been completed along Decker, Latigo, and Corral Canyon with an increased roadside clearance from 10 to 30 feet.
The brush clearance was funded by Proposition 4, to perform on-the-ground fire resilience actions in a short and accelerated timeframe to prepare for the 2025 Fire Season.
According to an MRCA spokesman, “While the MRCA does all of its required brush clearance every year, the roadside work described, most of which is on public property not owned by MRCA, is not something that is required by law nor has the work been previously funded. Because the Governor has made fire prevention activities a priority and provided early action funding for these efforts, the MRCA developed the Early Action Roadside Fire Prevention program to broaden and improve fire prevention tactics in Malibu and Topanga Canyons.”
The MRCA also stated, “Fire prevention is a year-round activity for the MRCA. The MRCA trains and deploys teams across the Los Angeles Basin to perform fuel reduction as well as hiring contractors. With lower-than-average rainfall and warmer weather, fire season is, unfortunately, already upon us.”
Other fire resiliency strategies employed include vegetation management, such as ignition and spread prevention, including native oak planting, fuel breaks, and riparian mitigation to concentrate moisture and prevent fire spread.
The MRCA employs up to 60 full-time, seasonal, and volunteer wildland firefighters trained and certified to National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards in terrain, topography, wildfire suppression, and fuel management. The Los Angeles Conservation Corps is a key partner in workforce development.
There is no word from MRCA on brush clearance plans for 2026 and beyond. Los Angeles County Fire Marshall Richard Stillwagon, however, has stated the Fire Department received permission from the State to perform fuel reduction on State and even MRCA land that abuts Malibu properties.
After facing mounting criticism over the distribution of funds raised by FireAid concerts the organizers of the charity event have hired a law firm to audit its grant making process. In response to President Trump, among others, criticizing FireAid as a “total disaster,” that charity has not only hired accounting firm KPMG to report on aid impact after six months and again in December for a year-end review,
FireAid also hired the law firm Lathan & Watkins to conduct a review of the grantmaking process and governance. The Annenberg Foundation was tasked with distributing $100 million in funds raised, but said fire victims would not be receiving direct funds through FireAid. FireAid organizers issued a statement: “As a newly formed 501c3, FireAid does not have the capability to make direct payments to individuals, and that was never the plan. To deliver aid into the community, we partnered directly with trusted local nonprofits who have the capacity to reach the communities in need, to provide food security, housing, and resources for schools.”
A sampling of nonprofits contacted by The Malibu Times confirmed that thousands of dollars were received in two rounds of funding and that those funds were distributed to fire-affected households. The first audit report is expected in just weeks.
‘We know fire conditions are coming. Now is the time to prepare’
While Malibu is still in recovery mode from its worst disaster in modern history, city officials are urging residents to prepare now — before Santa Ana winds begin to blow and dry brush becomes kindling. “We know the fire conditions are coming,” said Public Safety Director Susan Duenas. “Now is the time to make your emergency plans and gather supplies so you can be ready.”
This fall, the City of Malibu is rolling out intensified measures to boost wildfire preparedness, with a focus on shared responsibility between the city, emergency agencies, and the public. A series of upgrades, training efforts, and public outreach campaigns are already underway, with the goal of ensuring Malibu is better prepared than ever when the next fire strikes.
On the heels of the Woolsey, Franklin and Palisades fires, Malibu has steadily built a more robust public safety infrastructure. Duenas said lessons from recent fires are now being incorporated into updated staff procedures and internal training, along with an after-action report on the Palisades Fire due by the end of August.
An updated evacuation plan is also in development. The city will be coordinating planning with partner agencies such as LA County Fire, Sheriff’s Department, CHP, and Caltrans. “This version will include community input,” Duenas confirmed. “There will be at least one citywide meeting where we explain the complexities of evacuation — why some seemingly simple solutions, like contraflow lanes, are actually highly resource-intensive and difficult to implement.”
A continuing frustration is communication gaps during power outages. The city is exploring new indoor alerting technologies that operate over radio waves — rather than cellular or internet signals — to ensure that critical messages still get through even if power and cell towers fail. “These systems could provide battery-backed alerts right into homes,” Duenas explained. “We’ll present options to the City Council on Aug. 11 and are pursuing grants to distribute receivers to vulnerable residents.”
Malibu’s community radio station, KBUU 99.1 FM, has also expanded its reach with a new antenna booster. According to Duenas, “It now covers about 85% of the city’s coastline,” offering one of the most reliable sources of emergency information during a blackout with a direct connection to Malibu’s emergency operations center. She advises residents to listen via car radio if reception in their homes is weak.
Another initiative in the works: establishing “resiliency hubs” throughout Malibu, beyond the traditional site at Bluffs Park. These hubs would offer phone charging, emergency information, and potentially dry ice and basic support during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) that according to Southern California Edison will likely be more frequent and for longer periods. Locations are currently being identified in different neighborhoods to reduce the need for long, potentially dangerous drives in blackout conditions. “We’re working with neighborhood leaders to make this happen,” Duenas reported, adding that more announcements will come in September.
The city is also urging at-risk residents — those with mobility issues, pets, or limited access to transportation — to seriously consider pre-evacuating during red flag events, especially when extreme winds are forecast.
“We saw how unpredictable the winds were in January,” Duenas said. “Some areas had no wind, others had hurricane-force gusts that knocked people off their feet. If evacuation is going to be hard for you, don’t wait.”
Importantly, homeowners are again being reminded that home hardening and defensible space remain the first lines of defense. The city continues to offer wildfire home assessments and encourages all residents to take advantage of this free program. Duenas emphasized that wildfire safety is a “shared responsibility.”
“The city can’t rescue every resident in an emergency,” she said. “Everyone needs a plan — for evacuation, power outages, pet care, prescriptions, even just where to go if they need to leave early.”
Concerning evacuation alerts, some residents continue to push for outdoor sirens, but Duenas pointed out the Siren Feasibility Study available to read on the city’s website. In effect, the study found outdoor sirens ineffective for Malibu’s geography and building density. “They’re meant for outdoor use,” Duenas said. “We’re more focused now on indoor alerting systems, which are much more likely to wake you up in the middle of the night.”
Ramped up fire safety preparedness is being rolled out in Malibu before the fall season. One highlight of the upcoming National Preparedness Month is the 7th Annual Safety and Preparedness Fair on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Malibu City Hall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fair is free and family-friendly, featuring emergency preparedness demos, kids’ activities, food trucks, giveaways, emergency vehicles, and a bike rodeo.
Despite challenges especially while the city is in recovery mode, Duenas said the city’s public safety team remains driven by the need to deliver fast, reliable information under complex and changing conditions.
“We think about this all day, every day,” she said. “Everyone in our office is committed to figuring out how to best serve this community. We know lives depend on it.”
TheraSurf creates unforgettable experiences for children with special needs, empowering them to embrace the healing magic of the ocean
“I struggle on a day-to-day basis to keep Alastair alive,” said Chloe Happ, parent of a 9-year-old quadraplegic, deaf, and nonverbal child. “When Alastair is with Therasurf volunteers in Malibu and is out on the ocean, I can watch my son with some relief from that pressure as he immerses in the waves and sees his friends. With Therasurf, Alastair gets to actually stand on a surf board with the help of volunteers and my son — who otherwise cannot walk, crawl, or stand — enjoys having an experience that I would not have the emotional or physical strength to provide him.”
With gratitude, Chloe added, “Enjoying Therasurf means that Alastair has an opportunity to do what other people can do and we live so close to beautiful Malibu, it’s such a privilege and treat for him to participate.”
Therasurf, a Malibu-based nonprofit organization, was founded by Jimmy Gamboa and his ex-wife, Kim Bordenave Gamboa in 2013, with the help of family and friends. The nonprofit has a simple, yet extremely impactful, purpose: to offer kids with special needs the opportunity to surf. According to Leo Harrington, Therasurf’s current president, the nonprofit has burgeoned since its founding.
“Our organization is as Malibu as it gets!,” Harrington said. “It was founded in Malibu, and most of the volunteers are from Malibu. We had 90 kids participate at our last event on July 19, and they surfed with pro surfers and experienced surfers — our kids, their parents and our volunteers are all awesome!”
Kevin McCarthy, who serves as vice president of Therasurf, joyfully recapped how the event went. “The kids were, as usual, ecstatic and moms and dads we elated,” he said. “We had the best time surfing world-class waves with world-class surfers and sunny skies. There was sand on the beach and smiles on their faces — everything we could ask for!”
“What a weekend!” Therasurf posted on Instagram after the event. “Thank you to everyone who made this special day a reality — we had more kids than ever, the best volunteers — so much stoke, so many waves — we are still frothing!”
Therasurf is so much bigger than surf
For longtime volunteer Reed Farrer, it’s all about providing special needs children with the opportunity to indulge in the healing power of the ocean.
“We surf with kids who are on the autism spectrum, have cerebral palsy or have other disabilities,” Farrer explained. “It’s such a joy to be a part of Therasurf with its emphasis on inclusivity and I’m enormously grateful to be a part of this community-based Malibu organization.”
Farrer added, “Therasurf is so much bigger than the surf, because the real focus is on our community, participants getting to know one another and making and sharing memories.”
The Malibu Times asked Harrington, who has volunteered with Therasurf for years, what experiences with special needs children and surfing have been most impactful for him.
“Several times I’ve helped children, some who are verbal and others who are nonverbal, and who at first were very hesitant about being in the ocean,” he said. “But if I could get them to sit on the board and feel the water — even if only for 15 seconds or so — their whole body relaxes and they go quiet as they observe and experience the ocean with all their senses and they realize it is good for them. Then, they get overtaken with the joy of the experience.”
Sometimes it is human nature to make assumptions, such as presuming that those who are developmentally delayed or have other special needs are unable to comprehend the world around them.
Au contraire, Harrington maintains, stating, “Just because someone is in a wheelchair or has other special needs doesn’t mean they’re not firing on all cylinders and enjoying and comprehending being out in the ocean.”
Clearly, that is true, Chloe concurred. “Alastair communicates using an augmentative and alternative communication device (AAC),” Chloe explained, as she shared in a heartwarming celebratory tone that “Alastair greatly enjoys Therasurf. A couple of months ago, he managed to use his AAC, whose switches he controls using his head, to ask me, ‘Let’s go surfing! When?’”
For readers interested in learning how to help answer Alastair’s question regarding when he can enjoy surfing more, go to therasurf.org.
The Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce honors Barbara Bruderlin for 10 years of dedicated service, advocacy, and community impact
Accolades were bestowed on Barbara Bruderlin, lauding her aptitude, courage, and visionary leadership after she announced her resignation as chief executive officer of the Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce. Many of the complimentary comments honoring her almost 10 years of service and her legacy were imbued with adjectives such as “irreplaceable” and “visionary.”
“What a loss for the community and chamber!” Denise Kniter of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s office gushed. “You’ve done so much for the Palisades!”
Indeed, at a luncheon honoring Bruderlin’s service to both Pacific Palisades and Malibu, the mayor’s office convinced Bruderlin to agree to help those on the Chamber Board to host a commercial landowner listening session that Bruderlin was spearheading because that important business community constituency has not been given voice in a public forum since the Palisades Fire.
Upon receiving Bruderlin’s notice of resignation, the Chamber issued a statement praising her and saying that she led the Chamber and its member businesses through numerous crises during her nearly 10-year term as CEO, navigating the Woolsey Fire, the COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently, the Franklin and Palisades fires that devastated the local economies of both communities. The statement read “Barbara served as a beacon of hope for small business owners looking for a friendly ear, a trusted friend of local officials and a voice for the communities she served.”
“We are grateful for Barbara’s unwavering commitment to our beautiful coastal communities,” said Ramis Sadrieh, chair of the PaliBu Chamber. “She’s led our Chamber with grace, and we appreciate her efforts.”
A decade of impressively productive service
Since Bruderlin started serving as CEO of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce almost a decade ago, she has led the Chamber’s support of its members and the greater community in response to the Woolsey Fire, the global pandemic, the Broad, Franklin, and Palisades fires, and mudslides.
The Malibu Times sat down with Bruderlin so readers can get an overview of her service and the Chamber’s in Malibu as well as the Pacific Palisades.
When asked about the skill set and professional experience she brought to the Chamber of Commerce CEO position, Bruderlin shared, “From songwriting to acting, to creating a major at UCLA and working as a therapist in psychiatric hospitals, to helping my brother, Brian Bruderlin, launch Paramount Recording Studios, I have done a variety of things throughout my career,” Bruderlin said. “At Humana Corporate, I assisted three directors who oversaw 13 hospitals and five insurance branches, and I also was a construction coordinator on Barbara Streisand’s 1790 Barnhouse Reproduction — after all those varied experiences, somehow running the Chamber of Commerce seemed like a natural next step!”
Bruderlin candidly noted that “You need to be ready for anything when you run a chamber. There is a never ending stream of curious, ambitious business owners, all filled with grand ideas and enthusiasm. Ideas take flight and spinning those into reality is a specialty of a chamber and helping to empower a business to flourish is a dream come true!”
Helping nascent businesses find their audience in a community is but one small role played by a Chamber of Commerce. “Chambers also work with nonprofit organizations, advocate for legislative bills and programs that support small businesses, and work with the heads of wonderful major companies, mayors, assemblymembers, county supervisors, and even the governor,” Bruderlin explained. “I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as a liaison between our businesses and all of those people and entities and I note that the Chamber’s sponsoring the annual State of the City in Malibu provides an opportunity for our members and elected local and regional leaders to interface.”
Importantly, Bruderlin noted that “Chamber leaders need to be ready to pivot. You need to help new businesses find their strength, find free business programs, education, and help them celebrate their launch and successes.”
Leading the Chamber during times of troubles and disasters meant “serving as a watchful eye and helping businesses to navigate the aftermath of disasters, which we’ve seen more than our fair share of over the last eight years,” Bruderlin commented. “It meant the Chamber helping businesses and the greater community through COVID by constantly changing updates about regulations relating to protocols during the pandemic.” Those tireless efforts earned Bruderlin a commendation from the City of Malibu in 2021.
Discussing the various initiatives that she spearheaded, Bruderlin highlights putting on a massive three-day Art Festival throughout Cross Creek in 2017, an undertaking that she said taught her “that anything is possible if you just dig in and have faith!” That realization proved so crucial in her ability to encourage and uplift others, she noted. The festival was soon followed by the launch of the Chamber’s Women’s Leadership Awards, when the organization celebrated the heroes following the Woolsey Fire.
After the pandemic, the Palisades Chamber approached Bruderlin to discuss merging the Malibu and Pacific Palisades Chambers.
“Though Malibu and Palisades are so different, we share residents who are old-fashioned and family-centric.” Bruderlin observed. “We share the largest urban park in the world — with 150,000 acres and a 67- mile backbone trail. Together, our two communities have vineyards reminiscent of Tuscany in Malibu’s wine country and polo fields in the Palisades.”
Bruderlin emphasized, “The California Attorney General is currently reviewing our final papers to make the merger official.”
Bruderlin also reflected on the impact of recent disasters on the business community. “After the Woolsey Fire, the City of Malibu called and asked if the chamber would take over creating a list of rebuild professionals, and vet them,” she explained. “Subsequently the chamber hosted monthly Rebuild Malibu Mixer/EXPOs for a year — those were events where home rebuilders could go to Dukes Malibu and share dinner with a large group of rebuild professionals and get to know them. And once again the Chamber’s upcoming Rebuild EXPO will be hosting for the Palisades Fire home rebuilders.”
Bruderlin noted that after wildfires and other disasters, the Chamber plays a unique role in helping struggling businesses obtain grants, funding that often literally makes the difference between a small business surviving or closing.
“The small businesses that suffered business interruption from the fires, and the closure of Pacific Coast Highway, Sunset, and Topanga Boulevard really suffered from lack of businesses and it was six months before they received any grants,” Bruderlin explained. “That inspired me to begin the PaliBu Rise and Thrive Business Fund, with fiscal sponsor Creative Visions. We successfully raised $325,000 for that fund from Goldman Sachs, FireAid, The Annenberg Foundation, and So Cal Gas. Also, the California Community Foundation generously sponsored the Chamber so that we could continue our mission to support small businesses. My dream is that in the future if, God forbid, anything happens, we now have this nonprofit foundation in place to be able to immediately accept donations and get them to our local businesses.”
The Rise and Thrive Fund is only a small part of Bruderlin’s legacy at the Chamber. Those wishing her well shared various insights, with local businessperson Meris Gebhardt stating, “You are truly one of the most incredible and brave humans I know, holding all of us during crisis and celebration alike. I’m a better person because of you.” Kate Kimmel of the Topanga Farmers Market encapsulated the sentiment of many expressing appreciation for Bruderlin’s support, stating, “I am especially grateful for the way you introduced me to valuable connections and encouraged me to promote more bolding on social media — it made a real difference. The Malibu and Palisades business community was lucky to have your advocacy and leadership for so many years.”
Note to Reader: My one and only sibling, Phil Ross, is a professional journalist turned therapist. He is not only the real writer in the family, but, at least according to him, is funnier than I, his younger brother by three years and nine months.
For several years, my brother Burt has been urging me to write a guest column. He says this will give him a break from the daunting task of entertaining his readers with words witty and wise. The truth, I suspect, is that he hopes his big brother will use this occasion to shower him with praise.
And so I shall. But first, a few recollections from his otherwise monumental, dare I say, Herculean life we need to get out of the way.
As kids, Burt and I slept in the same bedroom. His idea of a great night was to wait, until we were about to fall asleep, then start shouting, “Mom, Dad, help!!! Phil is hitting me!” Needless to say, the folks would come racing in, ignore my pleas of innocence, and warn me of the dire consequences that would befall me if I didn’t leave my poor little brother alone. And when they left, that lousy little brother’s face would light up with a grin, and he would drift off into blissful sleep.
At Harvard, Burt was introduced to Princess Christina of Sweden, who was attending Radcliffe at the time. “Pleased to meet you,” he greeted the Princess. “I’ve heard that Copenhagen is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.”
A couple of years before he ran for mayor, Burt thought his career might be as a standup comedian. He put together a routine and tried it out at a Chinese restaurant. The audience response? Let’s just say it was so quiet you could hear the sound of chopsticks.
Okay, so nobody’s perfect. Let’s get back to the good stuff, the qualities which make Burt not just my brother but my idol. Three things that immediately come to mind:
Burt has never knowingly run a red light.
He always gives his wife a card on her birthday.
He’s never asked me for a loan.
And there you have it. May these accolades fill my brother’s heart with pride and joy.
At 9 years old, Loki is the kind of dog who reminds you how special senior dogs truly are. He’s goofy, gentle, affectionate, and just wants to be part of the fun.
He loves plush toys (even if they only last five seconds), naps like a pro, and thrives when surrounded by people and love. He’s amazing with other dogs, wonderful with kids, and one of the sweetest souls we’ve met.
Loki has been in foster care since the LA fires, and during that time, HHA funded his medical care, including a full dental with extractions, removal and testing of multiple benign lumps, treatment for ear infections, skin allergies, and more — all so he could feel his best and find his forever home.
Care Center Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-5pm Closed* on Sunday and holidays
29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 agoura@animalcare.lacounty.gov
The City of Malibu has announced the unanimous appointment of Ronda Perez as its new City Manager, following approval by the Malibu City Council. Her term will begin on Aug. 25.
According to the City’s press release, Perez brings nearly 20 years of experience in public service, having most recently served as City Manager of Palmdale and previously as Assistant City Manager of Lancaster. She was recognized in both roles for her leadership in securing critical infrastructure funding, expanding community programs, and overseeing major municipal projects, including obtaining local control of a Caltrans-managed stretch of state highway in Palmdale.
“I am honored and excited to join the Malibu team,” said Perez. “Malibu is a unique and extraordinary community, and I look forward to drawing on my experience to support its recovery and guide purposeful, resilient redevelopment, while remaining ever-mindful of the Vision and Mission of Malibu to protect and preserve its fragile nature and rural character. It’s a privilege to be offered the opportunity to lead Malibu’s talented team of city staff, and I am committed to helping Malibu rebuild stronger, safer, and with a clear vision for the future.”
Mayor Marianne Riggins welcomed the appointment, stating, “With Malibu still recovering from the devastating impacts of recent wildfires, consistent and capable leadership is essential. Ronda’s expertise will help accelerate the rebuild process while honoring and preserving the rural character and spirit that make Malibu so special.”
Perez is an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager and holds a master’s degree from California State University, Long Beach. She also completed a leadership certificate through the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.
Her employment contract will be formally presented for approval at the next Regular City Council Meeting, scheduled for Monday, Aug. 11, at 5:30 p.m. at Malibu City Hall and remotely via Zoom. Details will be made available at MalibuCity.org/AgendaCenter.
The City also expressed its appreciation to Interim City Manager Candace Bond, who has served since May 13, leading Malibu during a critical time of recovery. Bond’s term will conclude when Perez officially assumes her new role later this month.
Look for the full article in next week edition of The Malibu Times.
