Malibu council okays short-term private patrols as National Guard demobilizes

The Malibu City Council on May 21 directed the interim city manager to execute a short-term private security agreement to provide 24/7 patrols for fire-affected neighborhoods and checkpoints as the California National Guard prepares to demobilize.

The action follows a staff request and a months‑long spike in interest in how to replace the Guard’s presence once Pacific Coast Highway reopens. Staff told the council the most operational model for the near term would be four patrol cars plus a supervisor working around the clock; staff estimated the first-month cost at about $260,000.

Why it matters: the Guard has provided gate and checkpoint support since the fire. City officials warned that the Guard’s withdrawal will leave gaps that can attract theft, trespass and other property crimes at vacant or damaged homes and at construction sites. The council approved a 30‑day contract now and asked the interim city manager to return with a plan developed with the Public Safety Commission for longer coverage or alternatives.

Staff presentation and options City staff told the council they issued a request for qualifications to identify vendors that could provide unarmed or armed patrols, integrate with the Lost Hills Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and use technology (real‑time dashboards, vehicle cameras and encrypted radios) to coordinate coverage. Twenty firms responded and five were interviewed; one firm, identified in the staff report as a highly rated bidder, has worked extensively with the Sheriff’s Lost Hills station and markets a real‑time operations dashboard.

“Based on conversations with sergeant Sutherland … that level of service is the one that we would probably need at least in the short term,” staff said, adding the cited, midrange staffing (four patrols) would cost roughly $260,000 for one month.

Council debate and decision Council members and members of the public pressed staff on cost, liability and on whether local firms should be favored. Local firms representing community patrol providers said they already operate in Malibu and other nearby jurisdictions and described cases where their officers had located people with weapons or tools used for burglary while on patrol.

After extended discussion the council gave the interim city manager discretion to execute a 30‑day agreement for armed patrols with an available vendor from the two finalists discussed in the report, provided the firm meets insurance and onboarding requirements. The council also asked staff to refer a longer‑term approach to the Public Safety Commission and to return to the council with a recommendation and budget implications. The council instructed staff to prioritize local firms if they meet the qualifications and insurance requirements but did not make a firm vendor selection at the dais.

What the contract will do (near term) - Provide a visible, mobile patrol presence in fire‑affected neighborhoods and at key access points. - Coordinate with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Malibu’s parking enforcement and city public safety staff. - Use on‑vehicle cameras, encrypted communications and a dispatch center to manage responses and share real‑time location data with city staff.

Public concerns and council cautions Speakers from local security providers said patrols are already encountering trespassers and people carrying weapons in the fire zone; residents warned of looting as Pacific Coast Highway reopens. Several council members expressed unease about committing to a long, expensive annual contract and sought a short initial term the city can renew or end based on performance and evolving needs.

The council majority settled on a 30‑day initial term with a direction to return with a recommendation for how to proceed beyond that period. Council members and staff also asked the city’s lobbyists and county contacts to explore additional law enforcement support from state or county partners while the city’s program is being stood up.

Next steps Staff will finalize contracting paperwork, confirm insurance and training requirements, and begin onboarding the vendor the interim city manager selects. Staff will present a follow‑up to the council informed by the Public Safety Commission’s review. The council also asked that staff continue to press state and county partners for any support that can reduce the city’s costs and increase law‑enforcement capacity as PCH reopens.

Local context and limits The approved interim approach is explicitly transitional. Council members emphasized the city does not intend to replace the Sheriff’s Department but rather to augment public safety while the National Guard is demobilized and while the city evaluates longer‑term arrangements.

Ending note Council members said they expect to revisit the arrangement quickly with a data‑driven report on calls for service, patrol coverage, costs and any incidents while the contract is in effect.