Residents, architects urge Malibu to adopt digital permitting and AI checks to speed rebuilds

At the April 3, 2025 special meeting, multiple residents, architects and volunteers urged the Malibu City Council and staff to pursue off‑the‑shelf and commercial technology to speed post‑fire permitting and improve transparency.

Why it matters: Commenters said electronic permitting, a public project dashboard and AI‑assisted pre‑checks would shorten document handoffs, reduce “lost” submissions and give homeowners clearer timelines for approvals. Several presenters offered to prototype or share platforms and to help with implementation steps.

What presenters proposed Luis Tannen, who identified himself as an architect active in the rebuild task force, described three categories of tools: EpicLA (an electronic permitting platform the speaker said provides centralized project dashboards and automated notifications), Archistar (an AI‑assisted plan‑checking and site‑analysis tool that can pre‑validate drawings against code) and a locally developed “Build Back” app that would guide homeowners through claims, design and permitting steps.

Tannen said the current permitting ecosystem is “fragmented” and that a unified platform with project dashboards would reduce repeated back‑and‑forth between applicants and staff. He demonstrated how an integrated portal can tie APN data to submissions, keep a visible docket for each application, and log submission timestamps to reduce disputes about who submitted what and when.

Private sector offers and a local prototype Several local technologists offered to prototype an app and to integrate Archistar’s APIs with a Malibu portal. Andrew (technology entrepreneur) and a team described a “Build Back Malibu” assistant that bundles insurance guidance, contractor and architect referrals, and pre‑submission checks. Andrew used the meeting to urge a coordinated, human‑centered rollout: “No one has to build back alone,” he said, describing the app as a single portal for homeowners to access insurance, designs and vetted contractors.

Staff and council cautions City staff and some council members cautioned that any commercial product must be piloted and integrated with staff workflows. Staff noted that implementing a new platform usually requires a focused internal project team — and that vendor demos and sales pitches commonly understate the staffing work needed for configuration, code mapping and ongoing testing. A city representative recommended a proof‑of‑concept and a limited pilot rather than immediate city‑wide adoption.

Next steps and council direction Council members asked volunteers and technology proponents to prepare concise pilot proposals and technical demos. Staff agreed to take preliminary demos and to report on the resources needed to test integration. Multiple speakers suggested a small working group or ad hoc task force to assess off‑the‑shelf options (EpicLA, Archistar) and to run one or two pilot projects for like‑for‑like rebuilds.

Ending Technology advocates offered to provide demos, references and pilot documentation before the council’s next regularly scheduled meeting; staff asked for written proposals so the city can scope any required staffing and contracting work.