The City of Malibu is pleased to announce that the City Council has unanimously approved the appointment of Ronda Perez as Malibu’s city manager, effective August 25. Ms. Perez brings nearly two decades of experience in the public sector, with a strong track record of leadership, innovation, and community engagement.
Prior to joining Malibu, Ms. Perez served as city manager of Palmdale and assistant city manager of Lancaster, where she successfully secured state and federal infrastructure funding, expanded parks and recreation programs, spearheaded securing state approval for Caltrans to surrender local ownership and control of a stretch of state highway running through Palmdale, and led efforts to revitalize downtown districts.
“I am honored and excited to join the Malibu team,” said Ms. 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.”
Ms. Perez is an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager and holds a master’s degree from California State University, Long Beach, along with a leadership certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.
The City Council’s approval of Ms. Perez’s employment contract will be placed on the agenda for the next Regular Meeting of the City Council, which is scheduled for Monday, August 11, commencing at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall and remotely via Zoom. Meeting details will be posted in advance at www.MalibuCity.org/AgendaCenter.
The City Council thanks Interim City Manager Candace Bond for her service to the community and the City. Ms. Bond was appointed May 13, 2025, bringing needed leadership at an urgent time of fire recovery, and her terms ends when Ms. Perez begins her role as city manager.