CC SR 20240806 01 - Landslide Update Emergency Extension
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 08/06/2024
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive a report on the greater Portuguese Bend
Landslide Complex.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-XX thereby continuing the local emergency declaration
by 60 days until October 5, 2024 a s established by Resolution No. 2023-47
adopted on October 3, 2023; and extended by Resolution No. 2023 -56 adopted on
November 14, 2023, Resolution No. 2023-61 adopted on December 19, 2023,
Resolution No. 2024-05 adopted on February 6, 2024, Resolution No. 2024-13
adopted on March 19, 2024, Resolution No. 2024-20 adopted on May 7, 2024, and
Resolution No. 2024-44 adopted on July 2, 2024;
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-XX establishing a local emergency declaration based
on a sudden and severe energy shortage;
3. Ratify a letter signed and sent by the City Manager to CalOES and FEMA
requesting individual assistance for residents impacted by the accelerated
movement in the Landslide Complex;
4. Ratify a letter signed and sent by the City Manager to the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) seeking financial assistance for the City to fund repairs to
a portion of Palos Verdes Drive South located within the Landslide Complex;
5. Receive and file a report on the status of utilities (including SoCalGas, SCE,
CalWater, LA County Public Works, and Communications);
6. Receive and file a report on resource assistance available to residents impacted
by land movement; and
7. Receive and file a report on the process the City’s Building and Safety Department
will implement to inspect structures within the greater Portuguese Bend Landslide
Complex for structural stress.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact to receiving and filing updates, preparing
and sending letters to State and Federal Agencies, and adopting a resolution continuing
the local emergency declaration. Fiscal impacts associated with previous Council actions
to implement measures to reduce land movement were reported at the time of those
Council actions.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
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ORIGINATED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager
Brandy Forbes, AICP, Director of Community Development
Ramzi Awwad, Public Works Director
Elena Gerli, City Attorney
REVIEWED BY: Same as below
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Resolution No. 2024-XX Continuing the local emergency declaration as
established by Resolution No. 2023-47 adopted on October 3, 2023 for an
additional 60 day period (Page A-1)
B. Resolution No. 2024-XX Declaring the existence of a local emergency within the
geographic boundaries of the Portuguese Bend Community based on a sudden
and severe energy shortage (Page B-1)
C. Signed letter to CalOES/FEMA requesting individual assistance for residents
impacted by accelerated movement in the landslide complex (Page C-1)
D. Signed letter to the Federal Highway Administration requesting financial
assistance for the continued roadway rehabilitation on Palos Verdes Drive South.
(Page D-1)
E. GPS Survey Monitoring of Land Movement for the May 28 to July 1, 2024
F. Southern California Gas Company Public Notification
G. Southern California Edison Company Public Notification
BACKGROUND:
On October 3, 2023, City Council conducted a discussion item 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
Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 674U, to establish a 45-day moratorium on the
acceptance or processing of applications, issuance of permits, and construction of all
structures within the Landslide Complex (the “Moratorium”).
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. At subsequent
meetings, the City Council received updates on conditions in the Landslide Complex as
well as measures underway by various entities to reduce landslide movement; and
extended the local emergency on multiple occasions , the latest extension pursuant to
Resolution No. 2024-44.
The City Council is now being asked, among other things, to receive a report on matters
related to land movement including extending the City’s declared local emergency,
declaring a state of emergency for sudden and severe energy shortage, information from
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and Southern California Edison (SCE),
and City inspections of structures within the Landslide Complex.
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DISCUSSION:
Extension of City’s Declared Local State of Emergency
The Landslide Complex encompasses four historically active landslide areas in the City:
the Portuguese Bend Landslide (PBL), the Abalone Cove Landslide (ACL), the Klondike
Canyon Landslide (KCL), and the Beach Club Landslide (BCL). However, it also includes
areas outside of the City’s historical boundaries of those known landslides predominantly
uphill from the Portuguese Bend and Abalone Cove landslides, within the Ancient
Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex as mapped by various agencies (i.e., U.S.
Geological Survey, California Geological Survey) and other researchers.
Since the last update to the City Council on July 2, 2024, the City Geologist, Mike Phipps
of Cotton, Shires, and Associates, Inc. (CSA) conducted additional field mapping
throughout the Landslide Complex; observed conditions at various site-specific locations
impacting residential neighborhoods, public in frastructure, and where trails have been
impacted; reviewed additional survey data; participated in the weekly Portuguese Bend
Landslide Complex Working Group meetings; and conducted site -visits to the boreholes
being installed in advance of the emergency hydraugers.
Recent GPS survey data published by McGee Surveying Consulting for the period May
28, 2024 to July 1, 2024 were reviewed and analyzed. As noted in previous updates, land
movement velocities calculated from GPS survey monitoring data have continued to
accelerate throughout the Landslide Complex since October 2022. For the most recent
34-day monitoring period of May 28, 2024 to July 1, 2024, average land movement
velocity has accelerated an additional 25% (1.25x) above the April 17, 2024 to May 28,
2024 monitoring period velocity. Although the land movement velocity continues to
accelerate, the rate at which it is accelerating has diminished from a 1.41x for the period
between April 17, 2024 to May 28, 2024 to 1.25x between May 28, 2024 to July 1, 2024.
Attachment E is the most recent GPS monitoring survey report for the current May 28,
2024 to July 1, 2024 monitoring period.
Based upon a review of the current land movement data, field mapping of active landslide
limits, recent boring information, as well as historical data from previous geotechnical
investigations, there is growing evidence that landslide movement is occurring on multiple
failure surfaces (i.e., “slide planes”) including movement on the historically
modeled/structure-contoured failure surfaces of the ACL and PBL, as well as a deeper
“ancient” landslide surface previously identified beneath the PBL.
Landslide movement continues to manifest at the ground surface in the form of scarps,
fissures, grabens/sinkholes, tensional cracking, shear zones and thrust features. Due to
the continued acceleration of the landslide, the ground movement features have
continued to enlarge, expand, widen, or grow depending on the type of feature and
location. Based upon recent field mapping, the total area of the active Landslide Complex
has expanded by approximately five acres.
In summary, the PBL, ACL, KCL, and a large portion of the Ancient Portuguese Bend
Landslide Complex outside of the historically mapped PBL, ACL and KCL boundaries is
involved in significant active landslide movement moving at unprecedented rates,
predominantly in response to two consecutive seasons of significantly above average
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rainfall. The land movement continues to severely impact trails and open space areas,
public and private roads, private property including hundreds of residential structures, and
utility infrastructure. For these reasons, extending the City’s declared local state of
emergency is recommended to enable the City to, among other things, continue to
provide an expedited and streamlined response to land movement and to continue
operating the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
The City Council is being asked to adopt Resolution No. 2024 -__ thereby extending the
Declaration of Local Emergency by 60 days (Attachment A).
Declaring a Local Emergency within the Portuguese Bend Community due to a Sudden
and Severe Energy Shortage
California Government Code § 8558(c)(1) defines a local emergency to result from
various conditions of disaster including “a sudden and severe energy shortage”. This
condition was met when SoCalGas, on July 27, 2024, abruptly notified the City and issued
a community notice informing the residents of the Portuguese Bend Community that their
natural gas service would be shut off within less than 72 hours. Despite significant efforts
made by Staff to request additional time for residents to prepare (so long as it was safe
to do so), SoCalGas cited that major damage to gas lines caused by the continuous land
movement made it untenable to safely provide service to residents within the area. As
such, SoCalGas moved forward with service shut offs on Monday, July 29, 2024 at 9:00
a.m., with no indication that service will be restored while the landslide movement
continues.
The shut offs have since caused major disruptions to a neighborhood comprised of 135
homes and hundreds of residents who rely on necessary gas appliances to heat homes,
cook meals, and other daily functions that contribute to public health and safety ,
particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, those with medical conditions,
and children. Given the sudden, insufficient notice provided by SoCalGas, the City
proposes to declare a local emergency. Doing so affords the City the ability to reach out
to state and federal partners for emergency individual assistance for residents to harden
their homes, identify alternate accommodations, or meet other needs during this
challenging time.
The City Council is being asked to consider adopting a resolution establishing an
additional local emergency declaration for de-energization. If adopted, the City Council
will review the need for this local emergency at least once every 60 days.
Request to CalOES/FEMA for Individual Assistance
In response to the federal disaster declaration related to the severe winter storms from
January 31-February 9, 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
made its Public Assistance Program available to the City and two geological hazard
abatements districts to assist in their efforts to slow the landslides. Additionally, the U.S.
Small Business Administration offered low-interest loans to homeowners, businesses,
and nonprofits that suffered property damage or economic injury. The deadline to apply
for a loan for property damage passed on July 16, 2024, and the deadline for economic
injury is February 18, 2025.
FEMA did not, however, make available its Individuals and Households Program (IHP),
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which provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households
affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or under -insured necessary expenses and
serious needs.
It is Staff’s understanding that it is at FEMA’s discretion to determine what level of
individual assistance to make available under federal disaster declarations. Given the
untold number of homes that are experiencing severe damage in the landslide comple x,
as well as the integrity of roads and utilities, Staff has prepared a letter to FEMA and the
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), requesting individual
assistance, such as the IHP, in-kind, and other State resources, be made ava ilable to
residents in the landslide complex as soon as possible. In the essence of time given the
emergent SoCalGas shutoffs, the City Manager signed the letter on behalf of the City and
has submitted it to be ratified by the City Council tonight.
The City Council is being asked to ratify a letter sent by the City Manager to CalOES and
FEMA seeking financial assistance for individuals in the Landslide Complex.
Request to FHWA for Financial Assistance for Palos Verdes Drive South
Since May 2023, accelerated land movement has necessitated the frequent rehabilitation
of the approximately 1-mile stretch of Palos Verdes Drive South that runs through the
Landslide Complex. This arterial is traversed by about 15,000 commuters daily and
serves as an evacuation route for the fire-prone Peninsula. In typical years, repair and
maintenance is performed every few months or so. Under the current conditions, the
roadway needs repaving about every 2-3 weeks. The City spent over $2.2 million on
repairing and maintaining Palos Verdes Drive South in FY 2023 -24. While the City is
pursuing possible reimbursement under the federal disaster declaration to help cover
these skyrocketing costs, Staff recommends reaching out to other agencies to seek
additional funding opportunities. Accordingly, Staff has prepared a letter to the FHWA
requesting financial and in-kind assistance for the repair of Palos Verdes Drive South.
The letter also requests assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers. In the essence of
time given the ongoing land movement, the City Manager signed the letter on behalf of
the City and has submitted it to be ratified by the City Council tonight.
The City Council is being asked to ratify a letter sent by the City Manager to FHWA
seeking financial assistance for the City to fund repairs to PVDS in the Landslide
Complex.
Status of Utilities
On July 24, 2024, Acting Chief Cane of Los Angeles County Fire Department emailed
City Manager Mihranian expressing public safety concerns within the Landslide Complex.
The Concerns expressed were due to road conditions and the potential inability to
respond to emergent calls within the required 6 minutes, access to some residences due
to structural conditions, and challenges to combat a wildfire in the Preserve due to ground
conditions.
The morning of July 26, 2024; representatives of Southern California Gas Company
(SoCalGas) contacted Staff to express extreme concern that land movement is making it
unsafe to continue to provide natural gas service to the Portuguese Bend C ommunity.
The evening of July 26, 2024, SoCalGas representatives informed the City Manager that
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on July 29, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. natural gas will be shut off to approximately 135 homes
within the Portuguese Bend Community due to safety reasons.
On July 27, 2024, SoCalGas issued a community notice informing residents of the
Portuguese Bend Community that natural gas will be shut off to the community on July
29, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. and included responses to frequently asked questions. SoCalGas
clarified that gas infrastructure would remain in place and service would be restored when
SoCalGas engineers determined that it would be safe to provide natural gas to the area .
Additionally, SoCalGas deployed field staff in the community to answer resident questions
and provide additional information.
The City Manager immediately called for a meeting with various agencies and elected
officials across all levels of government- from local to federal. The meeting was held on
Monday, July 29, 2024 with the purpose of understanding the current status of each
utility’s systems and seeking assistance from County, State, and Federal agencies and
elected officials. Several task-force level groups have since been established to maximize
the exchange of information and search for resources.
The morning of July 29, 2024, SoCalGas shut off service to approximately 135 homes in
the Portuguese Bend Community. SoCalGas committed to provide financial assistance
of $2,500 for the homes in the Portuguese Bend Community that are no longer receiving
natural gas service.
On July 31, 2024, the City held a Neighborhood Q&A Meeting to allow residents to hear
directly from the City and to directly ask questions to Staff and utility representatives.
Below is a summary of the key issues for each utility.
Natural Gas
SoCalGas informed the City that on July 26, 2024, engineers determined the system
could no longer be safely operated due to a confluence of issues such as excessive
breaks, lines suspended in the air, and swing joints in tension. SoCalGas informed the
City that this meant a sequence of events had been triggered requiring a shut-off within
a certain time frame; therefore, natural gas was scheduled to be shut off on July 29, 2024.
Additionally, SoCalGas stated that re-routing the main line supplying the neighborhood to
another location would not resolve the problems with the system within the neighborhood.
Finally, SoCalGas stated that they were very concerned that a catastrophic event could
occur if gas was not shut off in a timely manner.
With respect to the Seaview neighborhood, SoCalGas stated that there are no plans to
shut off natural gas service at this time. SoCalGas is proactively taking measures to install
isolation valves in the Seaview neighborhood starting on August 2, 2024. The purpose of
the isolation valves is to create multiple shut-off points within the community so that if
service needs to be shut off for a short-term repair or for long-term reasons, the number
of homes affected by the shut-off would be significantly reduced. At this time, SoCalGas
is installing isolation valves that will separate homes west of Schooner Drive from those
east of Schooner Drive. Additionally, isolation valves will be installed on each street west
of Schooner Drive to separate each street from the others.
Electricity
On July 30, 2024, SCE issued a notice to homes in the Portuguese Bend Community,
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Seaview Community, the Portuguese Bend Beach Club Community, and nearby areas
advising customers that service may be discontinued if conditions warrant. SCE stated
that ground movement has created unsafe and hazardous conditions, which have already
impacted SCE’s infrastructure, causing power poles to lean and power lines to fail . SCE
further stated that the impact on SCE’s equipment caused by these hazardous conditions
increases the risk of system failure, fire ignition or other public safety hazards. SCE noted
that dynamic conditions may not allow for advance notification and that customers,
including the City which is also a customer of SCE, are encouraged to begin planning for
the potential suspension of electric service.
SCE stated that design efforts to separate circuits so that areas not affected by movement
are not also disconnected has started, but that it could take three to four months to
complete the work, and that field assessments could change the timeline. Staff have
demanded that SCE accelerate the schedule to significantly minimize the number of
properties impacted by a potential shutoff and to maintain critical services energized by
SCE such as dewatering wells, the City-owned sewer system, telecommunication
facilities, and CalWater’s leak detection system.
The City has serious concerns with SCE’s statements particularly because key landslide
mitigation measures such as dewatering wells for the ACL and KCL as well the proposed
hydraugers for the PBL rely on electric power to function. Staff have asked SCE to provide
more specific criterion for stopping service. Additionally, residents have asked a series of
questions to SCE including why automatic shut-offs cannot be installed on a pole-by-pole
basis to minimize customers impacted by disconnection; why SCE cannot deploy 24/7
personnel on the ground to continuously monitor and repair poles/lines; and why alternate
power sources such as generators are not being installed by SCE . Staff are reiterating
these questions/requests to SCE.
Sanitary Sewer
The sanitary sewer system in the Portuguese Bend Community is known as the Abalone
Cove Sanitary Sewer System and is owned, maintained, and operated by the City. Crews
are regularly inspecting the system and making repairs as breaks are identified through
inspections or resident notification. Parts of the system have been brought above ground
and have had flexible components installed. Engineers continue to evaluate the system
to determine where additional sections need to be brought above ground or otherwise
modified.
The Abalone Cove Sanitary Sewer System currently relies on electric power to operate
pumps at each home and at several pump stations. If electric power is discontinued, an
alternate power source would be needed. Staff are preparing a backup plan and obtaining
quotes from various vendors for mobile power options that could be deployed in the event
electric power is discontinued.
The sanitary sewer system in the Seaview neighborhood is owned by the City; however,
it is maintained and operated by the Los Angeles County Public Works (LACPW). As
such, LACPW has been inspecting the sewer system in areas affected by the landslide
and performing repairs when needed. LACPW began repairing the sewer line at the
intersection of Dauntless Drive and Exultant Drive during the week of July 29, 2024.
Moving forward, LACPW will conduct weekly inspections and will perform video
inspections of sewer lines under areas with visible movement or where problems are
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suspected.
The sanitary sewer system in the Portuguese Bend Beach Club (PBBC) is privately
owned, operated, and maintained; and discharges into the Los Angeles County Sanitation
Districts (LA San Districts) sewer trunk line on PVDS. LA San Districts have been
coordinating with the PBBC so that the sewer line integrity is maintained. It should be
noted that this sanitary sewer system is also powered by SCE.
Water
California Water Service (Cal Water) informed the City that they have no intention of
discontinuing service to any part of the City and that they are committed to taking the
necessary actions to continue to provide water to all areas of the City. Cal Water
continues to install above ground water lines to minimize the risk of breaks associated
with land movement.
Communications
There are two providers of communications infrastructure in the Landslide Complex area;
Cox Communications and Frontier Communications. Each has indicated to the City that
they rely heavily on power supplied by SCE and that they will keep their facilities
operational so long as they have power supply. Additionally, each is considering backup
plans to provide services using mobile infrastructure, such as Communications on Wheels
(COW).
Energy Conversion
The City’s Community Development Department prepared two informational handouts
related to energy conversion. The Alternatives for Natural Gas Service handout outlines
alternatives for natural gas service to continue serving key home appliances and
equipment including, but not limited to, stoves, furnaces and water heaters. The handout
also provides requirements for permit issuance and inspections. The Solar Energy
Systems handout highlights the City’s solar energy submittal and permit requirements,
which include online permitting and expedited plan review. The handouts have been
made available to area residents, posted on the City’s website and placed at the Building
& Safety Division public counter.
The City is waiving all permit fees and is waiving the planning process for the above
energy conversions with the understanding that the permits are being issued during the
duration of the City’s declared local state of emergency.
The City Council is being asked to receive and file this report on the status of utilities in
the Landslide Complex.
Landslide Resources Available to Residents
In support of residents impacted by significant and ongoing land movement, City staff is
coordinating with the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to
establish an information center at Ladera Linda Community Center on August 6 and
August 8, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. The center will offer information from County services,
state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and emergency preparedness resources to
support residents. The City is exploring the potential to include a station to submit over-
the-counter permit applications to the City’s Building and Safety Division for propane
conversions and solar projects and to submit requests to Public Works. Once final
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participating agencies are identified, additional information will be available on the City’s
website, www.rpvca.gov/landmovement.
Furthermore, the City is assisting the Portuguese Bend Community Association with
concurrently conducting a resource fair for contractors and vendors on products and
services for impacted residents.
The City Council is being asked to receive and file a report on resource assistance
available to residents impacted by land movement.
Building and Safety’s Inspection Process in the Landslide Complex
It is the City’s obligation to ensure and protect public health and safety. Over the past
several months, the Building and Safety Division Staff have conducted windshield
inspections of the residential neighborhoods (PBC, Seaview, and PBCA) within the
landslide complex multiple times per week to monitor conditions, particularly structures.
Staff have also visited commercial/institutional sites to evaluate the safety of the
structures.
The Building and Safety Division Staff have been working with property owners in finding
temporary solutions to shore, stabilize and level houses. This includes bridging separating
rooflines and providing alternative foundations that are more adaptable to the shifting
land. To date, the City’s Building Official has red-tagged two homes in the Seaview
neighborhood and the administration building on the Wayfarers Campus due to structural
damage sustained by the ongoing land movement (the Chapel building has been
dismantled to protect and preserve the material for the eventual reconstruction). At this
time, no other structures within the landslide complex have been yellow - or red-tagged
(which limits and/or prohibits occupancy). However, safety concerns are being raised on
the structural integrity of some structures due to the accelerated rate of movement. In
response, the City is implementing an inspection process, as summarized below.
On August 1-2, 2024, the City’s Building & Safety Division began conducting a windshield
inspection of homes within the landslide complex to identify potential damage or structural
stress such as foundation cracks, buckling roofs, compromised doors and windows, etc.
The windshield inspections focused on signs of structural stress or damage to existing
structures that are readily apparent in order to ensu re their safety. As of the preparation
of this report, the results of the inspections were still being assessed. If signs of damage
or structural stress are discovered, the City’s Building & Safety Division will work with
homeowners to identify strategies to save structural integrity and prevent further damage,
with public health and safety being paramount.
If a structure is identified as showing signs of structural stress, the City will issue a letter
to the property owners beginning the week of August 11 requesting a voluntary inspection
be scheduled within 10 days of receiving the notice. If voluntary comp liance is not
achieved, the City will seek an inspection warrant.
An inspection may warrant consideration of yellow- or red-tagging structures. Some
examples of why a structure would be red-tagged include: foundation problems,
inadequate egress, insufficient or blocked exits, severe structural damage, utility failures,
fire damage, gas leaks, etc. A home that is identified as being yellow-tagged displays
signs of damage to a particular area of the home. This area of the property may be
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restricted from use, while other portions of the home remain accessible to a homeowner.
The City Council is being asked to receive and file report on the building inspection
process in the Landslide Complex.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Mandatory Water Restrictions Still Effective
Due to the continued local landslide emergency, the City is still strongly recommending
that property owners in the Landslide Complex turn off sprinkler/irrigation watering
systems for the foreseeable future to minimize additional water being absorbed into the
ground in the vicinity. Additionally, for those properties with swimming pools, if there is
more water loss than occurs due to evaporation, the property owner is being asked to
consider refraining from refilling the pools at this time and consider emptying the pool to
prevent water entering the ground. A Mandatory Restrictions notice was initially issued in
October 2023 with information on pool draining. This notice is not intended to be punitive
but to achieve voluntary compliance and provide guidance to residents.
Urgency Ordinance for Temporary Repairs and Housing on Private Property
Pursuant to City Council direction on July 2, 2024, City Staff is exploring options for interim
housing solutions within the Landslide Complex. Staff is working collaboratively with the
community to preserve existing structures and consider potential optio ns for temporary
housing.
Examples of stabilizing solutions to preserve existing structures may include, but are not
limited to, placing homes on cargo structures and other leveling systems such as I-beams
and installing alternative foundation systems to help maintain the integrity of the structure
as the land shifts. These measures would be temporary, require a permitting system, and
need the owner to hold the City harmless. The structure could be occupied if it has
adequate ingress/egress, utility connections and service, and fire department access.
For temporary housing, this may include temporary structures such as mobile homes that
would not require a foundation. The temporary housing would be on the same site as the
current residence. These structures would be temporary, require a permitting syste m, and
need the owner to hold the City harmless. The temporary housing would require a stable
location (City Geologist’s review), adequate ingress/egress, above ground utility
connections and service, fire department access, and no major filling.
The item is scheduled for consideration by the City Council on September 3, 2024.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution extending the local emergency
declaration by 60 days until October 5, 2024 program; adopt a resolution establishing a
local emergency declaration based on a sudden and severe energy shortage; ratify a
letter signed and sent by the City Manager to CalOES and FEMA requesting individual
assistance for residents impacted by the accelerated movement in the Landslide
Complex; ratify a letter signed and sent by the City Manager to the FHWA seeking
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financial assistance for the City to fund repairs to a portion of Palos Verdes Drive South
located within the Landslide Complex; receive and file a report on the status of utilities;
receive and file a report on assistance available to residents; and receive and file report
on the City’s building inspection program.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Take no action and simply receive and file this report.
2. Do not extend the Local State of Emergency.
3. Do not declare a new Local State of Emergency for severe and sudden energy
shortage.
4. Do not ratify the letter sent to CalOES and FEMA.
5. Do not ratify the letter sent to FHWA
6. Direct Staff not to proceed with building inspections of structures within the
Landslide Complex.
7. Take such other action as the Council deems appropriate.
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01203.0023/1001471.1
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, CONTINUING
THE LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION AS
ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2023-47 ADOPTED
ON OCTOBER 3, 2023 FOR AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAY
PERIOD
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. 674U, establishing a moratorium on all construction in the
Landslide Complex.
WHEREAS, on November 14, 2023, the City Council by a 4/5 vote adopted
Resolution No. 2023-56, extending the state of emergency for an additional 60 days.
WHEREAS, on December 19, 2023, the City Council by a 4/5 vote adopted
Resolution No. 2023-61, extending the state of emergency for an additional 60 days.
WHEREAS, on February 6, 2024, the City Council by a 4/5 vote adopted
Resolution No. 2024-05, extending the state of emergency for an additional 60 days.
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2024, the City Council by a 5-0 vote adopted Resolution
No. 2024-13, extending the state of emergency for an additional 60 days.
WHEREAS, on May 7, 2024, the City Council by a 5-0 vote adopted Resolution
No. 2024-20, extending the state of emergency for an additional 60 days.
WHEREAS, on July 2, 2024, the City Council by a 5-0 vote adopted Resolution
No. 2024-44, extending 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.
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:
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01203.0023/1001471.1 Resolution No. 2024-__
Page 2 of 3
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 Complex, comprised of the Portuguese
Bend Landslide, the Abalone Cove Landslide, and the Klondike Canyon Landslide ), as
depicted in Exhibits “A” and “B” of Resolution No. 2023-47, and based on the staff report
and recommendations and public testimony, 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..
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 6th day of August, 2024.
________________________________
Mayor
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01203.0023/1001471.1 Resolution No. 2024-__
Page 3 of 3
ATTEST:
________________________________
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I, Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that
the above Resolution No. 2024-__ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the
said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on August 6, 2024.
___________________________
City Clerk
A-3
01203.0023/1003066.4
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING
THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY WITHIN THE
GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THE PORTUGUESE
BEND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BASED ON A
SUDDEN AND SEVERE ENERGY SHORTAGE
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is home to four out of five sub-slides
that comprise the Greater Portuguese Landslide Complex (Landslide Comp lex): the
Portuguese Bend Landslide, Abalone Cove Landslide, Klondike Canyon Landslide, and
Beach Club Landslide. The Portuguese Bend Landslide encompasses the Portuguese
Bend Community Association (PBCA). The Landslide Complex has been active since the
1950s.
WHEREAS, the 2022-2023 rainy season brought exceptional amounts of rain to
the region, dumping 20.9” of rain or 190% of the average annual rainfall in the region.
WHEREAS, by April 26, 2024, total rainfall for the 2023-24 season (beginning Oct
1, 2023) was 23.01" or 169% of the historical 67-year average of 13.63" for this rain
gauge. (All data based on LACDPW Rainfall Gauge No. 1011B at Rolling Hills FS.)
WHEREAS, beginning in 2018, but particularly since May 2023, the land
movement in the Landslide Complex has increased significantly due to increased rainfall
in the last two rainy seasons, which caused the water table to rise dramatically and
destabilize the landslides. The City has established, via repeated geologic studies, that a
significant factor in the speed of land movement in the Districts is the amount of water in
the soil.
WHEREAS, Chapter 2.44 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC)
details the powers and responsibilities of the City during emergency circumstances, which
is defined in Section 2.24.020 as “the actual or threatened existence of conditions of
disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within this city caused
by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, or earthquake, or
other conditions, including conditions resulting from war or imminent threat of war, but
other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy which conditions are or are likely
to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of this city,
requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.”
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 due to the
alarming increase of land movement in the Landslide Complex. The state of emergency
based on the land movement has been extended as required by law and is still active.
WHEREAS, the land movement in the Landslide Complex is currently 9”-12” per
week (depending on the location). As a result, utility companies (sewer, electric, water,
gas) have had to take innovative and extraordinary measures to repair infrastructure and
provide service to the residents within the Landslide Complex. By way of example, water
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Page 2 of 4
pipes and sewer trunk lines have been and are being moved above ground and flexible
joints have been added to provide more give as the land moves ; electric lines are de-
energized and poles removed or moved ; and slack is added to the electrical lines to
account for the land drift. The constant movement of the land presents a logistical and
costly challenge for utilities that is unprecedented in scale, and even more so for the
residents.
WHEREAS, on July 29, 2024 at 9:00 a.m., with less than 72 hours’ notice, the
Southern California Gas Company turned off natural gas service to approximately 135
homes in the PBCA, stating that providing service is no longer safe due to the land
movement. Until the landslide is stabilized, it is unlikely that natural gas service can be
restored. The following streets are impacted: Cherryhill Lane; Cinnamon Lane; Clovetree
Place; Figtree Road; Fruit Tree Road; Ginger Root Lane; Kumquat Lane; Narcissa Drive;
Palos Verdes Drive; Peppertree Drive; Plumtree Road; E. Pomegranate Road; W.
Pomegranate Road; Roseapple Road; Sweetbay Road; Tangerine Road; Thyme Place;
and Vanderlip Drive.
WHEREAS, as the land movement continues to accelerate throughout the wider
the Landslide Complex, it is possible that additional homes may experience temporary or
permanent natural gas shut-offs that are sudden and severe.
WHEREAS, Subdivision (c)(1) of Section 8558 of the Government Code provides
that a local emergency “means the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or
of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of a …
city, caused by conditions such as … sudden and severe energy shortage, deenergization
event … or other conditions, other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy,
which are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment,
and facilities of that political subdivision and require the combined forces of other po litical
subdivisions to combat, or with respect to regulated energy utilities, a sudden and severe
energy shortage or deenergization event that requires extraordinary measures beyond
the authority vested in the Public Utilities Commission.”
WHEREAS, subdivision (g) of Government Code Section 8557 defines a sudden
and severe energy shortage as “a rapid, unforeseen shortage of energy, resulting from,
but not limited to, events such as …natural disasters, and that has statewide, regional, or
local impact.”
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, 8680.9, and 8558 there exists,
and continues to exist, an actual condition of peril to the safety of persons and property
exiting within the PBCA, and based on the staff report and recommendations and public
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Page 3 of 4
testimony, and hereby proclaims that a state of local emergency continues to exist
throughout the same.
SECTION 3. Sudden and Severe Energy Shortage. The City Council finds that
turning off natural gas service to approximately 135 homes in the PBCA due to safety
concerns with a mere 72-hour notice constitutes a sudden and severe energy shortage
based on a natural disaster that has a local impact, as defined in state law. Natural gas
is a form of energy, used by residents in the PBCA to power water heaters, washer -dryers,
stoves, and other appliances.
SECTION 4. State of Emergency Declared. After consideration of all facts
reasonably available, the City Council now desires to adopt a declaration of a state of
local emergency within the PBCA based on the sudden and severe energy shortage that
resulted from the natural gas shut-off.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. Duration. The local emergency shall be 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 a bated
or mitigated to insignificance.
SECTION 8. 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 9. 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 10. CEQA. The City Council finds that this Resolution is proposed to
allow the City to continue to address and mitigate an imminent threat to public health and
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01203.0023/1003066.1 Resolution No. 2024-__
Page 4 of 4
safety and therefore is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code, Section
21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines, Section 15269.
SECTION 11. Effectiveness. This Resolution shall take effect immediately. A
copy of the Proclamation and this Resolution shall be forwarded to the California Office
of Emergency Management. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of
this resolution..
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 6th day of August, 2024.
________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I, Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that
the above Resolution No. 2024-__ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the
said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on August 6, 2024.
___________________________
City Clerk
B-4
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
John Cruikshank, Mayor
Eric Alegria, Mayor Pro Tem
Barbara Ferraro, Councilmember
David L. Bradley, Councilmember
Paul Seo, Councilmember
30940 HAWTHORNE BLVD. / RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA 90275-5391 / (310) 544-5207 / FAX (310) 544-5291 / WWW.RPVCA.GOV
July 31, 2024 Via Email
Deanne Criswell
Federal Emergency Management Agency
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
Nancy Ward
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
3650 Schriever Avenue
Mather, CA 95655
SUBJECT: Request for Individual Assistance for Residents Impacted by Accelerated
Movement in Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex
Dear Director Criswell and Director Ward,
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California thanks you for your attention to our community’s
ongoing crisis in the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex following California’s recent
heavy rainy seasons, including severe winter storms from January 31-February 9, 2024 (Disaster
No. DR-4769-CA).
As you know, heavy stormwater infiltration from these severe storms has fueled the landslide,
which is accelerating at an unprecedented rate of 9 to 12 inches per week (depending on the
location). This crisis has damaged homes, roads, and utilities, and resulted in the closure of over
10 miles of popular trails, two public beaches, and the emergency disassembly of Wayfarers
Chapel, a National Historic Landmark.
Most notably, on July 29, 2024, gas line damage in the Portuguese Bend Community of
Rancho Palos Verdes required SoCalGas to indefinitely shut off natural gas service to
approximately 135 homes and with fewer than 3 days’ notice. Other utilities ranging from
SCE to CalWater are also experiencing significant infrastructure damage in a landscape
that shifts from day to day. On July 30, 2024, SCE notified residents that there may be a
potential to cut off service to approximately 525 homes in 3 neighborhoods. The sheer
scale of this landslide and the damage it is inflicting on hundreds of homes and thousands
of residents is best understood with a site visit. Therefore, we wish to invite your office,
as well as the Governor, to tour the site with us at soon as possible.
In response to Disaster No. DR-4769-CA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
made its Public Assistance Program available to the City and two geological hazard abatements
districts to help their efforts to slow down the landslides. Additionally, the U.S. Small Business
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30940 HAWTHORNE BLVD. / RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA 90275-5391 / (310) 544-5207 / FAX (310) 544-5291 / WWW.RPVCA.GOV
Administration offered low-interest loans to homeowners, businesses, and nonprofits that
suffered property damage or economic loss.
While the City greatly appreciates this support, we are writing today to urgently request individual
assistance, in the form of grants, be made available to the hundreds of homeowners whose
properties are increasingly threatened by this disaster.
Since the storms, the landslide complex has expanded from 380 to 680 acres in recent months
— a 79% increase. Over 1 square mile of land is sliding toward the ocean. Since June 2023, two
homes in the landslide complex have been deemed uninhabitable. However, an untold number
are experiencing significant damage. Roadway access is becoming increasingly difficult in some
neighborhoods. As a result, the City anticipates additional properties may be deemed
uninhabitable in the coming weeks and months, which would displace residents.
The City is finding temporary solutions to help homeowners stabilize and level their houses
through this emergency. This includes bridging separating rooflines and providing alternative
foundations that may move with the shifting land. We are exploring expanding the permissible
use of temporary housing, such as manufactured homes, in the landslide complex while repairs
are made to permanent homes so they can be salvaged. Additionally, the City is identifying
emergency sheltering options, if needed.
Residents in the landslide area need all the help they can get from every branch of government,
and they need it quickly. Given the urgency of this worsening situation, we request FEMA make
additional individual assistance, such as the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), and/or
any other possible options, available as soon as possible. We also request collaboration with the
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to identify state resources to
bolster individual assistance, such as grants.
We need your support now to help residents whose lives are being upended by this evolving
emergency.
Sincerely,
Ara Mihranian
City Manager
cc: Robert Fenton, Jr., Administrator, FEMA Region 9
Laphonza Butler, U.S. Senator, California
Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator, California
Ted Lieu, U.S. Representative, 36th Congressional District
Ben Allen, Senator, 24th State Senate District
Al Muratsuchi, Assemblymember, 66th Assembly District
Janice Hahn, L.A. County Supervisor, 4th District
Kevin McGowan, Director, L.A. County Office of Emergency Management
Brandy Villanueva, Disaster Manager Area Coordinator, L.A. County Area G
Rancho Palos Verdes City Council
Catherine Jun, Rancho Palos Verdes Deputy City Manager
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30940 HAWTHORNE BLVD. / RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA 90275-5391 / (310) 544-5207 / FAX (310) 544-5291 / WWW.RPVCA.GOV
Attachments enclosed on page 3.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. One example of Seaview, a severely impacted neighborhood, experiencing significant
damage to infrastructure, homes, and utilities. Previously, the street and homes were
level, but are now on radically separate planes.
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30940 HAWTHORNE BLVD. / RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA 90275-5391 / (310) 544-5207 / FAX (310) 544-5291 / WWW.RPVCA.GOV
(Source: LA Times – Significant, ongoing landslide damage has necessitated the de-construction and off-
site storage of the historic landmark, Wayfarers Chapel, until a new location can be found.)
(Source: LA Times – The ongoing landslide has created unusual movement (and damage) of homes
shifting over multiple parcels and roads. Aerial imagery shows how far one house has moved from its
original parcel.)
2. Los Angeles Times Article on SoCalGas’ sudden shut off of natural gas service to 135
homes on July 29, 2024:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-28/this-coast-on-the-move-means-gas-
breaks
C-4
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
John Cruikshank, Mayor
Eric Alegria, Mayor Pro Tem
David L. Bradley, Councilmember
Barbara Ferraro, Councilmember
Paul Seo, Councilmember
30940 HAWTHORNE BLVD. / RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA 90275-5391 / (310) 544-5207 / FAX (310) 544-5291 / WWW.RPVCA.GOV
July 31, 2024
Shailen Bhatt
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
SUBJECT: Request for In-Kind and/or Financial Assistance for Repairing Landslide
Impacts to Palos Verdes Drive South
Dear Director Bhatt,
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, is a coastal community in the South Bay of Los
Angeles County. Record rainfall in 2023 and 2024 has accelerated land movement of the
ancient Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide in our City, averaging 9-12 inches per week
(depending on the location), causing major damage to our community. On behalf of the City
Council and our 42,000 residents and business owners, I am writing today to bring your
attention to this ongoing emergency and to seek your agency’s assistance in assisting with
and funding critical repairs to a major transportation route whose integrity is threatened by
land movement.
The Portuguese Bend Landslide is one of the largest continuously active landslides in the
United States. Reactivated in 1956, the ancient Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide
Complex, comprised of five sub-slides that, together, have been slowly moving for decades,
damaging homes, utilities, and roads. The movement picks up in speed in years with heavier
rainfall due to the bentonite soil condition, which becomes slippery with water infiltration.
Following the 2022-23 rainy season, which was approximately 200% of the historical average
rainfall, movement in the landslide complex significantly accelerated, resulting in the
formation of landslide fissures, grabens (i.e. pull-apart zones), thrust features, tensional
cracking, and shear zones. These phenomena, along with land subsidence, have been
particularly pronounced on Palos Verdes Drive South, a major arterial traversed by about
15,000 commuters daily. The regional roadway connects the Los Angeles Harbor Area to the
Palos Verdes Peninsula and the South Bay beach cities. Palos Verdes Drive South is also
an evacuation route for the fire-prone Peninsula and is home to an above-ground sanitary
sewer trunk line serving thousands of residents and our local business community.
A 1-mile stretch of Palos Verdes Drive South runs through the landslide area. When the City
of Rancho Palos Verdes was incorporated in 1973, it inherited the landslide and became
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responsible for regularly repairing damage to the roadway. In typical years when the land
movement can be measured in as a little as inches, repair and maintenance of Palos Verdes
Drive South is performed every few months or so. Under the current conditions, with the land
moving as much as 9-12 inches per week, the road needs repaving about every 2-3 weeks.
The City spent over $2.2 million on repairing and maintaining Palos Verdes Drive South in
FY 2023-24. The City anticipates spending significantly more in FY 2024-25, which began
with a major rehabilitation project on Palos Verdes Drive South estimated to cost upwards of
$500,000.
The City is solely responsible for ensuring the road is accessible at the skyrocketing costs of
repairing this regional transportation route. While we are pursuing possible reimbursement
under the federal disaster declaration issued in April in response to California’s severe winter
storms (Disaster No. DR-4769-CA), we are urgently requesting any possible in-kind and
financial assistance from the Federal Highway Administration and the Army Corps of
Engineers. The City is implementing short- and long-term engineering strategies to slow the
land movement, including surface fracture infilling, surface water drainage improvements,
and groundwater extraction.
The preservation of Palos Verdes Drive South is critical for regional transportation and the
health and safety of the public and our first responders. We need your help in identifying any
potential in-kind and financial assistance available from FHWA as we navigate this crisis.
Thank you for your consideration, and for more information, please contact me at
aram@rpvca.gov or by telephone at 310-544-5202.
Sincerely,
Ara Mihranian
City Manager
cc: Lt. Col. Stephen V. Brooks, Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District
Robert Fenton, Jr., Administrator, FEMA Region 9
Laphonza Butler, U.S. Senator, California
Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator, California
Ted Lieu, U.S. Representative, 36th Congressional District
Ben Allen, Senator, 24th State Senate District
Al Muratsuchi, Assemblymember, 66th Assembly District
Janice Hahn, L.A. County Supervisor, 4th District
Kevin McGowan, Director, L.A. County Office of Emergency Management
Brandy Villanueva, Disaster Manager Area Coordinator, L.A. County Area G
Rancho Palos Verdes City Council
Catherine Jun, Rancho Palos Verdes Deputy City Manager
Attachments enclosed on page 3.
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Attachments:
1. Article and photo of warping along Palos Verdes Drive South
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2024/07/17/rancho-palos-verdes-will-spend-up-to-1-
million-to-repair-roads-ski-jump-caused-by-landslide/?clearUserState=true
2. One example of Seaview, a severely impacted neighborhood, experiencing significant
damage to infrastructure, homes, and utilities. Previously, the street and homes were
level, but are now on radically separate planes.
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