CC SR 20230117 H - Helopod at Civic Center
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 01/17/2023
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to authorize the placement of a Los Angeles County
Fire Department helopod at the Ken Dyda Civic Center on a short-term basis.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Authorize the placement of a Los Angeles County Fire Department helopod at the
Ken Dyda Civic Center on a short-term basis and direct staff to work with the Civic
Center Advisory Committee on a long-term potential location at the Civic Center
with screening and aesthetic enhancements to the helopod.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. December 15, 2022 Civic Center Advisory Committee (CCAC) staff report
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BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) regularly uses the Ken Dyda Civic
Center helipad for exercises and emergency situations. Firefighting helicopters land there
to fill up with water from a hydrant located approximately 300 feet away which requires
hoses to be laid across the Ken Dyda Way ingress/egress road.
In 2021, Cal Water awarded grant funding to the LACoFD for a helopod to be located on
the Palos Verdes Peninsula to improve LACoFD’s firefighting capabilities by improving
the efficiency of filling helicopters with water.
A helopod is essentially a metal water container that can be accessed by a helicopter
hovering over it. The proposed helopod weighs 4,600 pounds when empty and has a
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carrying capacity of 4,800 gallons of water, enough for eight water drops. Its dimensions
are 16 feet long by 8 feet wide and 7.5 feet tall. It is wheeled and can be moved by a
pickup truck with a tilt trailer. The helopod has a valve and can be refilled from the nearest
hydrant or water source.
Below are pictures of an LACoFD firefighting helicopter refueling at a helopod and
closeups of helopods.
Images provided by LACoFD.
LACoFD approached the City in 2022 seeking to locate the proposed helopod at the Ken
Dyda Civic Center because of its close proximity to the helipad, and the open space areas
of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. LACoFD was informed that the programming for
the Civic Center was completed and accepted by the City Council, and a preliminary site
plan was being developed based on the Council-approved program. Understanding the
importance the helopod would have for fire suppression, Staff expressed concerns with
its overall appearance and aesthetics on the overall site and noted that the City Council
would have to make the final decision following review by the Civic Center Advisory
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Committee (CCAC). LACoFD indicated the helopod was already purchased with the Cal
Water grant funds. LACoFD indicated that a new hydrant might be installed nearer to the
helipad in the future which would not require laying hoses across Ken Dyda Way.
Below is LACoFD’s proposed location for the helopod at the Ken Dyda Civic Center-
shown in red to the east of the existing helipad.
On December 15, 2022, the CCAC heard a presentation on the proposed helopod from
LACoFD Division 1 Assistant Fire Chief Brian Bennett. Chief Bennett noted that LACoFD
helicopters could refill simultaneously at the helipad and helopod, greatly increasing the
speed and efficiency of their firefighting capabilities. The helopod would need to be kept
empty when not in use for liability reasons and any excess water left a fter a training or
emergency situation would need to be drained. The helopod would service the Palos
Verdes Peninsula area as well as Catalina Island, although helicopters fighting fires on
Catalina would only fill up for the initial drop at the Civic Center and would subsequently
reload with water at Catalina.
Chief Bennett emphasized that the location shown above is temporary and could be
adjusted and relocated as needed to accommodate the eventual Civic Center Master Plan
which is still being developed. The CCAC recommended the helopod be incorporated into
the Civic Center preliminary site plan for the City Council’s consideration with screening
and aesthetic enhancements if approved to be located at the Civic Center on a long-term
basis .
Based on CCAC direction, Staff is recommending City Council authorization of a short-
term placement of the helopod utilizing the existing on-site fire hydrant to immediately
improve LACoFD’s firefighting capabilities. A long-term placement option will likely be
included in the preliminary Civic Center site plan for City Council’s future review and
consideration. The long-term placement could be at the same location as the short -term
option or potentially located closer to a new, more easily accessible fire hydrant.
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CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the placement of a LACoFD helopod at the
Ken Dyda Civic Center on a short-term basis, and direct staff to work with the Civic Center
Advisory Committee on a long-term potential location at the Civic Center with screening
and aesthetic enhancements to the helopod.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not authorize the placement of a LACoFD helopod at the Ken Dyda Civic Center
at this time.
2. Direct Staff to identify an alternative location for the proposed helopod.
3. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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