CC SR 20231219 01 - Landslide Continuing Emergency Dec 2023
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 12/19/2023
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive an update report and to extend the local
emergency declaration for the greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1. Receive and file an update report on current conditions from the City Geologist on
the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex;
2. Receive and file a report on the current trail conditions impacted by the Portuguese
Bend Landslide Complex within the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve;
3. Receive and file an update report on the project activities responding to land
movement within the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex;
4. Approve an additional appropriation of $200,000 for project activities responding
to land movement within the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex;
5. Receive and file a report on the City Council’s Directive to contact the State
Controller’s Office regarding the Klondike Canyon Landslide Abatement District;
and,
6. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-___ thereby continuing the local emergency
declaration by 60 days until February 10, 2024 as established by Resolution No.
2023-47 adopted on October 3, 2023 and extended by Resolution No. 2023-56
adopted on November 14, 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT: Tonight’s City Council action has a fiscal impact of up to $200,000.
These funds will be used for regularly inspecting geological conditions and preparing
reports; adding GPS monitoring points based on the geologic team’s recommendations;
increasing the frequency of GPS surveying; engineering repair and mitigation measures;
peer reviewing plans prepared by the landslide hazard abatement districts and utilities;
coordinating with utilities and other stakeholders; project management of the various
initiatives; and other landslide response activities. Staff will work with the Los Angeles
County Disaster Management Area Coordinator to request reimbursement for these
expenses under the federal declaration for the California Severe Winter Storms disaster
(for the 2022-2023 wet season). The funds will be appropriated from the Capital
Infrastructure Program (CIP) Fund and reimbursed at a later date, should reimbursement
be approved.
Amount Budgeted: $50,000
Additional Appropriation: $200,000
Account Number(s): 330-400-8304-8001 $50,000 (CIP Fund – Port Bend Landslide)
330-400-9102-8001 $200,000
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(CIP Fund – Local Emergency - Landslide) VR
ORIGINATED BY: Ramzi Awwad, Director of Public Works
Elena Gerli, City Attorney
Katie Lozano, Senior Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Same as below
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Resolution No. 2023-__ Extending the State of Local Emergency within the
Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex (Page A-1)
B. Resolution No. 2023-47 Declaring a State of Local Emergency within the Greater
Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex, Adopted October 3, 2023
C. Resolution No. 2023-56 Extending the State of Local Emergency within the
Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex, Adopted Nov 14, 2023
D. ACLAD Comprehensive Update of Recent Activities (Page D-1)
E. KCLAD Comprehensive Update of Recent Activities (Page E-1)
F. Updated Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Map (forthcoming as late
correspondence)
BACKGROUND:
On October 3, 2023, the City Council conducted a discussion regarding the conditions of
the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex (Landslide Complex). After considering
information presented that evening, including public testimony, the City Council
unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2023-47 declaring the existence of a local
emergency within the geographic boundaries of the Landslide Complex and adopted
Urgency Ordinance No. 674U, an interim urgency ordinance to establish a temporary 45-
day moratorium on the acceptance or processing of applications, issuance of permits,
and construction of all structures within the Landslide Complex.
At the October 3, 2023 meeting, the City Council also requested Staff return in a few
weeks with an update on immediate measures being taken to address the accelerated
land movement.
On November 14, 2023, the City Council received an update on conditions in the
Landslide Complex and activities underway by various entities to reduce landslide
movement. The City Council extended, via Resolution No. 2023-56, the local emergency
declaration to January 14, 2024. Since the next regular City Council meeting will be held
on January 16, 2024, the City Council is being asked to extend the local emergency this
evening by an additional 60 days.
Additionally, this evening, the City Council, among other action items, will receive a status
update on current conditions in the Landslide Complex and measures underway to reduce
landslide movement.
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DISCUSSION:
Current Conditions in the Landslide Complex
Since presenting an update to the City Council on November 14, 2023, the City Geologist,
Cotton, Shires, and Associates, Inc., conducted additional field mapping throughout the
Landslide Complex, observed conditions at various site-specific locations where trails
have been impacted, reviewed the Preliminary Draft Survey Report of land movement
monitoring (McGee Surveying Consulting, 10/30/23), and participated in the Portuguese
Bend Landslide Complex Working Group meetings.
Accelerated ground movement continues to occur throughout the Landslide Complex
following the 2022-23 rainy season, which was more than 200% of the historical average
rainfall. The movement has continued and remained consistent over the past month
based upon the City Geologist’s observations and field mapping. The continuing
movement has resulted in additional mappable ground surface expressions of the uphill
limits of active landsliding, including the formation of landslide scarps, fissures, grabens
(i.e., pull-apart zones which have been referred to by others as “sinkholes”), tensional
cracking and shear zones. The City Geologist’s mapping now indicates that a large
portion of the ancient Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex above the historically mapped
Portuguese Bend Landslide (PBL), Abalone Cove Landslide (ACL), and Klondike Canyon
Landslide (KCL) boundaries is involved in significant active landslide movement.
The City Geologist’s field observations and mapping of the landslide surface
manifestations are corroborated by select the GPS monitoring data in the Abalone Cove
Landslide located approximately 500 to 900 feet north of and uphill from upper Narcissa
Drive (where it generally runs west-east). The select points indicate between 1.49 feet
and 2.37 feet of horizontal displacement over the past year (through October
2023). Select GPS monitoring points along upper Narcissa Drive indicate 2.22 feet to 3.17
feet of horizontal displacement, respectively. This reflects significant displacement in an
area that historically experienced minor creep movements until the Fall 2018 survey
monitoring when movement rates began to increase.
The City Geologist has also reported that the KCL continues to exhibit consistent
movement. Field mapping has revealed an upslope enlargement and apparent
connection with movement of the PBL. The City Geologist found that the head of the
landslide through the Seaview Tract is well-defined and is occurring in the same location
as past historical movements in 1980 and 2005, except to a greater degree. The eastern
boundary of the KCL through the Seaview neighborhood is diffused and not well defined
as a result of smaller movements in the eastern portion of the landslide compared to the
western portion. The City Geologist reported that the KCL continues to exhibit movement
behavior suggesting that it is coupled to movements of the Portuguese Bend Landslide.
The City Geologist has updated the map of the landslide boundaries as shown in
Attachment F (forthcoming as late correspondence).
The City Geologist will be attending the December 19 meeting to provide the City Council
and public with updated report since the November 14 meeting.
The City Council is being asked to receive and file a report on current conditions in the
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Landslide Complex.
Current Palos Verdes Nature Preserve Trail Conditions within the Landslide Complex
Large parts of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve (Preserve) are located within the
Landslide Complex. Specifically, the Portuguese Bend Reserve, Abalone Cove Reserve,
and parts of the Forrestal and Filiorum Reserves are located within the Landslide
Complex. Many of these areas are seeing landslide-related damage including fissures,
rockslides, sink holes, unstable trails, and significant erosion as shown in Figures 1 to
4. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for public safety, and in consultation with
the City Geologist, the City Manager has temporarily closed large areas of these
Reserves consisting of approximately 7 miles of passive recreation trails as shown in
Figure 5.
The Recreation and Parks Department, Public Works Department, and Palos Verdes
Peninsula Land Conservancy’s (PVPLC) Volunteer Trail Crew are prioritizing trail
maintenance to repair fissures and erosion on trails to keep as many trails within the
landslide area open as possible. The City has also required PVPLC to pause irrigation
and invasive plant removal associated with habitat restoration in the Preserve areas
located within the Landslide Complex to allow the City Geologist to consider potential
impacts to the landslide.
Consistent and significant land movement continues to take place and conditions with the
Preserve remain fluid. The City is working with City Geologist to continue to monitor
Preserve land movement activity and make operational decisions regarding public trails
and habitat restoration areas to prioritize public safety and land stability.
Figure 1 – Fissure on Ishibashi Trail
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Figure 2 – Sinkhole on Ishibashi Trail
Figure 3 – Fissure on Burma Road Trail East of Vanderlip Trail and Eagles Nest Trail
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Figure 4 – Fissure on Burma Road Trail Near Barn Owl Trail
Continued on next page
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Figure 5 – Palos Verdes Nature Preserve Trail Closures in the Landslide Complex
The City Council is being asked to receive and file a report on current Preserve trail
conditions in the Landslide Complex.
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THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS V ERDES
Project Activity in the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex
To respond to the increased movement, Staff formed a working group that meets weekly
(virtually) every Wednesday at 3:00pm and posts meeting minutes to the City’s website
under the Land Movement homepage. The purpose of the working group is to develop
and implement actions to minimize land movement and its impact on private property as
well as public infrastructure. Although many of the measures are the responsibility of other
parties, the City is proactively supporting and facilitating various measures. The working
group is comprised of the following:
• Abalone Cove and Klondike Canyon Landslide Abatement Districts (ACLAD and
KCLAD) and their geologist;
• California Water Service (Cal Water)
• Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
• Southern California Edison (SCE)
• Seaview Residential Association
• Portuguese Bend Community Association
• Portuguese Beach Club Homeowners Association
• Los Angeles County Public Works Sanitary Sewer Maintenance (LACPW)
• Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD)
• City of Rolling Hills
• Rolling Hills Community Association
• Area residents
• Staff and consultant program manager, geologists, and civil engineers.
The working group has met every Wednesday since its formation in October. Table 1
shows a summary of key activities and measures since the emergency declaration.
Table 1 – Report on Activity to Abate or Mitigate Landslide Movement
Activity Responsible
Entity Current Status Estimated
Completion
Conduct GPS Surveys
of Landslide Movement
City • October 2023 GPS survey report will be
published on City website by December
22, 2023.
• Staff may seek future Council
authorization for additional monitoring
points.
Ongoing
Fill Cracks in Seaview
Neighborhood to
Minimize Water
Infiltration
City • Crack filling repairs regularly performed
and continue to be scheduled.
Ongoing
Install Guardrail to
Protect Above-Ground
Sewer Trunk Lines on
Palos Verdes Drive
South
LACSD • Los Angeles County Sanitation District
guardrail plans reviewed by City and
permit issued.
December
2023
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Activity Responsible
Entity Current Status Estimated
Completion
Inspect and Repair
Underground Sewer
Lines in the Seaview
Neighborhood
LACPW:
Mains
Homeowners:
Laterals
• CCTV inspection of sewer mains line
under Exultant Dr and Dauntless Dr were
inspected by camera on Nov 17, 2023; no
leaks or damage.
• Sewer lateral (home to sewer) inspections
being scheduled at some locations by
homeowners.
Ongoing
Inspect and Repair
Underground Sewer
Lines in the
Portuguese Bend
Community Association
City • Sewer inspection in areas of significant
land movement being scheduled.
Inspection:
Dec 2023
Repair:
January
2024
Repair Leaning SCE
Power Poles
SCE • 3 utility poles in the Seaview
neighborhood with communications lines
only were replaced.
• Coordination to anchor poles with power
and communications lines is ongoing.
Ongoing
Relocate Water Main
Temporarily Above
Ground at Select
Locations on Dauntless
Dr, Admirable Dr, and
Exultant Dr
Cal Water • Main water main pipe on Dauntless Dr.
near Exultant Dr. has been installed and
is being tested. Tie-ins are in process.
Plans were prepared and vetted with
Working Group and area residents.
• Main water main pipe on Admirable Dr
construction started.
• Working with Cal Water on pipe
encasement options.
December
2023
Relocate Water Main
Temporarily Above
Ground in Portuguese
Bend Community
Association
Cal Water • Design in process. Upon completion of
design, materials will be ordered and
construction scheduled.
February
2024
Repair Klondike
Canyon Culvert and
Pipe
KCLAD &
City
• Pipe cleaning being scheduled.
• Repair of pipe inlet being designed by
KCLAD in collaboration with the City.
Pipe
Cleaning:
January
2024
Inlet Repair:
February
2024
Install and Maintain
KCLAD Dewatering
Wells
KCLAD • Drilling for new beach well completed.
• Well development and start of pumping in
progress.
• Maintenance and repairs to other wells
are being scheduled.
• Well in public-right-of-way between 4362
Dauntless Dr and 4380 Dauntless is being
re-analyzed to determine if it is the
optimal location.
• Dirt removal at Yacht Harbor Drive is
being conducted to mitigate impacts of
Portuguese Bend Landslide movement on
Klondike Canyon Landslide.
New Well:
Dec 31,
2023
Other
Activities:
Ongoing
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Activity Responsible
Entity Current Status Estimated
Completion
Install Surface
Drainage
Improvements North of
PVDS Between
Seaview and
Portuguese Bend
Beach Club
KCLAD • Topographic survey completed for design
of surface drainage improvements.
• Conceptual design in process.
February
2024
Install and Maintain
ACLAD Dewatering
Wells
ACLAD • Drilling of first of four City wells being
reactivated is complete. Activation of that
well is in process.
• Drilling of second of four wells being
reactivated is in process. Activation of that
well to follow.
• Broken pipe for an existing well has been
replaced and well is operational again.
• New pump scheduled for an existing well.
December
4, 2023 and
Ongoing
PVDS Culvert Repair
at Altamira Canyon
ACLAD &
City • City Council approved funding of City part
of culvert approved on Nov 14, 2023.
• Repair has been scheduled for December
2023.
December
2023
Altamira Canyon
Improvements to
Prevent Water
Infiltration Into
Landslide
ACLAD • City is meeting with LACPW Director Mark
Pestrella and his staff on January 3, 2024
to tour PB Landslide complex including
Altamira Canyon.
• ACLAD and PBCA are scheduling a
separate site meeting with LACPW to tour
Altamira Canyon.
TBD
Gas Line
Enhancements in
Portuguese Bend
Community
SoCalGas • Gas lines being reviewed and plans for
enhancements, including above-ground
lines, being prepared.
TBD
Filling Fissures in
Preserve
City • Fissures being filled using local soil in
Preserve areas approved by City
geologists.
Ongoing
Portuguese Bend
Landslide Remediation
Project
City • Survey work needed to complete final
engineering and final environmental
impact report started on November 28,
2023.
• City is coordinating with State Geologist
and CalOES to determine if specific
components of project implementation
can be accelerated under the City’s Local
Emergency
October
2025
Palos Verdes Drive
South at Peppertree
Drainage
City • City is preparing a response to a request
for information from FEMA related to the
$2 million grant.
• Environmental impacts being discussed
with PVPLC.
TBD
A comprehensive update of recent ACLAD activities is included in Attachment D and a
comprehensive update of recent KCLAD activities is included in Attachment E.
Staff continues to consider short-term measures for the Portuguese Bend Landslide, for
which the City was recently selected as a grant recipient from Federal Emergency
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Management Agency (FEMA) in the amount of $23.33 million. According to the terms of
the grant, proceeding with any work within the footprint of the project is prohibited until
final approvals are issued by FEMA. Staff is continuing discussions with State Geologist
through the Department of Conservation, Cal OES and FEMA on any possible way to
implement immediate measures to minimize land movement from impacting public and
private property including roads and utilities without jeopardizing the grant. Additionally,
Staff is pursuing any possibilities for expediting the grant.
The City Council is being asked to receive and file a report on activities in the Landslide
Complex related to the emergency declaration.
Approval of Additional Appropriation of $200,000 for Activities Related to the Local
Emergency Declaration
The response to the increase in land movement and changing conditions of the Landslide
Complex require expenditures beyond those originally envisioned as part of the FY 2023-
24 budget. As a department in a contract City, the Public Works Department relies on
consultants and contractors for many services; including inspections, engineering, and
management.
On October 3, 2023, the City Council approved an additional appropriation of $50,000 for
the Public Work Department to respond to the increased land movement. This includes
funding for regularly inspecting geological conditions and preparing reports; adding GPS
monitoring points; increasing the frequency of GPS surveying; engineering repair and
mitigation measures; peer reviewing plans prepared by the landslide hazard abatement
districts and utilities; coordinating with utilities and other stakeholders; project
management of the various initiatives; and other landslide response activities. Staff
expects to expend the original $50,000 by the end of December 2023 and estimates, at
this time, the need for an additional $200,000 through June 30, 2024 to continue to
respond to the emergency. The funds are expected to be used on an as-needed basis
through various on-call contracts with Cotton Shires and Associates, Hout Engineering,
McGee Surveying Consulting, and Harris & Associates, etc.; along with sub-consultants
such as Ninyo & Moore, BKF Engineers, and others.
The City Council is being asked to appropriate an additional $200,000 for project activities
responding to land movement from the CIP Fund under Local Emergency – Landslide. At
the end of FY 2022-23, the CIP Fund is estimated to have an unrestricted fund balance
of almost $24.1 million. If approved, the $200,000 will be drawn from the available fund
balance.
Update on Communications with the State Controller’s Office Regarding the Klondike
Canyon Landslide Abatement District
At the City Council’s direction, the City Attorney’s Office (CAO) reached out to the State
Controller’s Office (Controller’s Office) regarding KCLAD’s failure to take sufficient action
to mitigate the Klondike Canyon Landslide, and to request oversight to make sure KCLAD
marshals its resources as needed. The Controller’s Office responded that despite their
status as political subdivisions of the state, the governing statutes appear to establish that
Geologic Hazard Abatement Districts (GHADs) are primarily accountable to the governing
board or legislative body which formed the GHAD, rather than the Controller’s Office. The
Controller’s Office further stated that the Public Resources Code (PRC) provides the
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legislative body the authority to dissolve GHADs. Specifically, the PRC allows a legislative
body to dissolve a GHAD if the district has not substantially complied with a material
condition of the resolution of formation adopted by the legislative body. The CAO is
currently conducting its own research into this assertion and will provide analysis and
options to the City Council.
The CAO also reached out to the State Department of Conservation (DOC), who verbally
informed the CAO that they have no oversight authority, and will confirm this in writing in
the near future.
However, the State Geologist, operating under the DOC, contacted the City Manager on
December 11. The two discussed, among other things, the functions and oversight of
both ACLAD and KCLAD. As reported above, the State Geologist is not sure if there is a
state agency that oversees GHADs but intends to continue to investigate the matter. In
the meantime, the City Manager has invited the State Geologist to tour the landslide
complex over the next couple of weeks and to explore if there are any state resources,
both monetary and in-kind, to assist ACLAD and GHAD in the implementation of their
respective Plans of Control.
Extension of the Local Emergency Declaration
On October 3, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-47 declaring a local
emergency. The emergency declaration is deemed to continue to exist until its termination
is proclaimed by the City Council in accordance with law. Government Code § 8630
requires the City Council to review of the need for continuing the local emergency at least
once every 60 days until the City Council determines the local emergency within the
geographic boundaries of the Landslide Complex has been abated or mitigated to
insignificance.
At this time, the City Council is being asked to extend the local emergency declaration an
additional 60 days, which does not require a public hearing. The state of emergency was
continued by the City Council on November 14, 2023, pursuant to Resolution No. 2023-
56. While the state of emergency declaration is valid for 60 days, it should be noted that
due to the upcoming holiday break and cancellation of the first City Council meeting in
January 2024, this local emergency declaration continuation request is being brought
forth early to ensure the state of emergency does not lapse.
The City Council is being asked to adopt Resolution No. 2023-__ thereby extending the
Declaration of Local Emergency by 60 days (Attachment A).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Emergency Preparedness
To prepare for possible worst-case scenarios; the City has undertaken a series of
strategic initiatives to enhance emergency preparedness efforts, focusing on both internal
operational readiness and external collaborative efforts to provide assistance to affected
residents. Externally, the City has forged pivotal relationships with the Red Cross,
Salvation Army, and the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
These collaborations are centered on addressing immediate and longer-term sheltering
needs. Concurrently, the City is in active negotiations with the County OEM and
commercial partners to formulate and implement a robust emergency housing strategy in
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the event it is needed. Internally, the City is proactively engaging in discussions and
formulating a contingency plan for providing government services to residents in the face
of potential utility and infrasturure disruptions.
Potential 2022-23 Winter Storm FEMA Reimbursement
Regarding financial recovery, the City is actively pursuing FEMA Public Assistance (PA)
reimbursement requests to mitigate the financial impact of the landslide emergency. This
crucial initiative is being diligently led by Disaster Management Area G Coordinator
(DMAC) Brandy Villanueva, who is closely collaborating with the Los Angeles County
OEM Recovery Team. The central goal of these efforts is to investigate all available
funding and assistance options under the federal declaration related to the California
Severe Winter Storms, Disaster Relief (DR-4699-CA). A key component of this endeavor
involves verifying the eligibility of emergency-related expenses for Special Districts
(ACLAD and KCLAD) under the City's declaration.
Through these comprehensive and coordinated internal and external strategies, the City
is steadfast in its commitment to effectively managing the landslide emergency, ensuring
the well-being and safety of our residents, and maintaining the uninterrupted provision of
essential city services.
GPS Monitoring Data
As the City Geologist continues to observe changing conditions in the Landslide Complex,
they are requesting an increase in the frequency of GPS survey monitoring and are
requesting that additional points be added to the GPS survey monitoring. Staff is working
with the City Geologist and other geologists involved in the Landslide Complex to identify
additional needed GPS monitoring points and to determine the needed increased
frequency of monitoring. Subsequently, Staff will work with the GPS survey monitoring
consultants to implement the recommendations. Although funding for the additional
monitoring is being requested at this time, Staff may need to return for amendments to
professional services agreements.
Public Notification
The public will be made aware of tonight’s agenda item through the City’s listserv, as wel
as an update at the December 13 Working Group meeting. Any public comments received
after the transmittal of this staff report will be provided to the City Council as late
correspondence. The public can submit comments, via email, to CC@RPVCA.GOV.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file an update on current conditions
in the Landslide Complex, current conditions of Palos Verdes Nature Preserve Trail in the
Landslide Complex, and activities to reduce landslide movement by varies entities. Staff
also recommends that the City Council extend the local emergency declaration for an
additional 60 days, and appropriate an additional $200,000 towards activities to reduce
land movement.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to Staff’s discussed option, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
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1. Take no action and simply receive and file this report.
2. Take such other action as the Council deems appropriate.
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01203.0023/943568.1
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-___
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, CONTINUING
THE LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION BY 60 DAYS
UNTIL FEBRUARY 10 AS ESTABLISHED BY
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-47 ADOPTED ON OCTOBER 3,
2023 AND EXTENDED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2023-56
ADOPTED ON NOVEMBER 14, 2023
WHEREAS, on October 3, 2023, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes adopted Resolution No. 2023-47, declaring a local state of emergency because
of the alarming increase of land movement in the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide
Complex, as depicted in Resolution No. 2023-47 Exhibits “A” and “B”. Resolution No.
2023-47, and the exhibits thereto, is incorporated by reference,
WHEREAS, on October 3, 2023, the City Council by a 4/5 vote also adopted
Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 647U, establishing a moratorium on all construction in the
Landslide Complex,
WHEREAS, on November 14, 2023, the City Council by a 4/5 vote adopted Interim
Urgency Ordinance No. 657U, extending the moratorium for an additional 10 months and
15 days, and adopted Resolution No. 2023-56, continuing the state of emergency for an
additional 60 days,
WHEREAS, the state of emergency is deemed to continue to exist until its
termination is proclaimed by the City Council in accordance with law. Government Code
§ 8630 requires the City Council to review of the need for continuing the local emergency
at least once every 60 days until the City Council determines the local emergency within
the geographic boundaries of the Landslide Complex has been abated or mitigated to
insignificance, and
WHEREAS, after consideration of all facts reasonably available the City Council
now desires to extend the declaration of a state of local emergency within the Landslide
Complex.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES, CALIFORNIA, HEREBY FINDS, DETERMINES, AND RESOLVES AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. The City Council hereby determines that the above recitals
are true and correct and incorporates the same as the findings of the City Council.
Section 2. Proclamation of Emergency. The City Council finds, pursuant to
RPVMC Chapter 2.24 and Government Code §§ 8630 and 8680.9, there exists, and
continues to exist, an actual condition of peril to the safety of persons and property exiting
within the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide, comprised of the Portuguese Bend
A-1
01203.0023/943568.1
Landslide, the Abalone Cove Landslide, and the Klondike Canyon Landslide), as depicted
in Exhibits “A” and “B” of Resolution No. 2023-47, and hereby proclaims that a state of
local emergency continues to exist throughout the same.
Section 3. Authority Granted. It is further proclaimed and ordered that during
the existence of said local emergency, the powers, authority, functions and duties of the
Disaster Council, Director, and the City’s emergency services organizations shall be
those prescribed by State Law, City ordinances, Resolution No. 2023-47 and any other
applicable resolutions, and approved plans of the City in order to mitigate the effects of
the local emergency.
Section 4. Immunity Invoked. To the maximum extent permitted by law, and
pursuant to Government Code § 866, the City Council hereby invokes the immunity
afforded to the City of Rancho Palos Verds in adopting and implementing the declaration
of local emergency within the Landslide Complex
Section 5. Duration. The local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist
until its termination is proclaimed by the City Council in accordance with law.
Section 6. Continuing Declaration. Government Code § 8630 requires the
City Council to review of the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every
60 days until the City Council determines the local emergency within Landslide Complex
has been abated or mitigated to insignificance.
Section 7. Severability. If any subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of
this Resolution or any application of it to any person, structure, gathering, or circumstance
is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction,
then such decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portions or applications of
this Resolution.
Section 8. Effectiveness. This Resolution shall take effect immediately. A copy
of the Proclamation and this Resolution shall be forwarded to the California Emergency
Management Agency. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this
resolution..
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01203.0023/943568.1
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 19th day of December, 2023.
________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
City Attorney
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ACLAD Activities Dec 11, 2023
•Regular Maintenance
•Fixed drain line in Well #2 and trunkline above
Sweetbay
•R&R Wells 1, 2, 3,15
•Added Boost Pumps in Wells 11 & 16
•City Wells
•Graded Olmstead Rd fissures
•Obtained permission to use Castle water
•Drilled well # 18 and 20
•Preparing site for well # 19
•Started repairing PVDS Culvert
•Participating in Landslide Meetings
•Cal Water: Tuesdays
•RPV Landslide Working Group
•LA Public Works for Altamira Canyon
•Performing Water table measurements
•Purchased ENO Sounder
•Starting to install sounding tubes in wells
•CURRENTLY PUMPING 169K GPD
•Spreadsheet Available on website
•Water Testing
•PBCA resident volunteered to perform isotope
testing to determine origin of water in wells
•Took samples during 11/15 rain storm
•Taking more samples and sending to the lab
•Plans:
•Replace pumps in Well # 4
•Continue work on city wells and culvert and
other landslide activities
D-1
Drilling Started on PVDS Wells
Monday Unloading drill rig
Setting up on bluff Drilling Well # 18
•Well # 18 drilled to 176’
•Next Steps:
•Develop Well: Bail and wash out drilling mud
•Install electric, drain lines, and pump
•Drill Wells 20, 19, and 9 in next 3 weeks
Friday: Installing 8” PVC
CasingSonic Mud Drilling Rig
D-2
Cracks in PVDS Culvert
•Multiple cracks in PVDS Culver
•Cracks range from 1” to 6” at pipe section joints
•11 large cracks to be repaired with expansion joints
•PVDS Culvert Repair
•City council to authorize funding on Nov 14
•Repair work started 4 December
•Developed design for expansion joint with rapid
implementation
•Contractor on board
•Reviewed by Hout Engineering
•Suggested adding new culver inside existing or fiberglass culvert insert
•Agreed that this could not be done prior to the rains
•Approved expansion design as a near term fix
Expansion Joint Design
Cracks at pipe joints Most damage under
PVDS
Broken Security
Gate & hole at
exit
D-3
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Water Level Measurement
•ACLAD measures water pumping weekly
•Pumping records back to 1992
•Traditionally has not measured water level on
regular basis
•Water Measurement program started 1/2023
•Measurement with Sonist water tape: difficult
and time consuming
•Recently purchase ENO sonic well sounder
•Installing sounding tubes in existing wells
•Installing permanent sounding tubes in new wells
Sonic Well Sounder
Well sounding tube
Water Level Tape
D-4
1 | Page
CURRENT & COMPLETED PROJECTS
KLONDIKE CANYON GELOGIC HAZARD ABATEMENT DISTRICT
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Date: December 12, 2023
COMPLETED & UNDERWAY
• Installation of jet pump at damaged well casing at PBC Beach (complete).
• Installation of 21’ deep shallow well with sump pump at PBC Beach (complete).
• Drilling of new 155’ deep watering well at PBC Beach (installation of pump this week).
• Videos of existing storm drain and sewer piping (complete).
• Hydro-jetting of Klondike main storm drain pipe that outlets to ocean (complete).
• Brush clearance within Klondike Canyon from head of slide to primary storm drain
entrance at P.V. Drive South (complete).
• Attachment of 4” flex drain pipe to spring water discharge at head of slide to inlet at P.V.
Drive South (Complete).
• Cal Water raising of Dauntless/Exultant water lines to above ground at intersection (near
completion).
• Planning for shallow test well at Dauntless/Exultant intersection (agreement in place.
Waiting for above ground water line completions).
• Brush clearance at head of Beach Club slide (complete).
• Storm drain plan for draining area at head of Beach Club slide (conceptual plan
prepared).
• Earth removal on Portuguese Bend slide at Yacht Harbor Drive at East face of PB slide
(60% complete).
• Filling Fissers at head of Klondike slide (underway).
E-1