Malibu staff seeks ULI technical-assistance panel to speed post‑fire permits; some residents and council members urge caution

City staff asked the Malibu City Council on July 14 to approve a 90‑day technical assistance panel from Urban Land Institute (ULI) Los Angeles to review local permitting and inspection procedures and recommend ways to accelerate post‑fire rebuilding. The staff presentation said ULI’s two‑day on‑site panel would workshop permitting bottlenecks, then deliver findings and recommendations the city could use to modernize building and planning processes for fire‑impacted homeowners. The proposal would target planning and building standards and procedures that applicants described to staff as “outdated, cumbersome or confusing.” Supporters at the meeting said fast, practical changes are needed to help homeowners rebuild and that outside experts can identify narrowly tailored fixes. City Manager and community…