20240206 Late CorrespondenceTeresa Takaoka
From: David Roth <rothphoto@mac.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 6:36 PM
To: CityClerk
Subject: Public Participation 2/6/2024
Some people who received this message don't often get email from rothphoto@mac.com. Learn why this is important
E T t EAL Fl [l E?i ttc t I k inks.or„oper an�r attachments unless you 0cOg the sender and knauv the content sa
I filled out the participation form online.
Here is my written statement that should be read for Agenda Item #2
This is David Roth from Exultant Drive.
I'd like to again bring attention to a few issues.
1. The red tagged home on the corner of Exultant and Dauntless needs to be dealt with now.
We have witnessed people in and around the property. We are concerned with not only possible squatters but the
safety issues concerning people in a home that is close to collapsing. I urge the city to use its authority to either
purchase the property or use imminent domain if that's a legal option. This red tagged home is a public nuisance.
Both red tagged homes need to have the fissures and cracks filled to keep the water out of the ground to help protect
our property and other surrounding homes from additional ground water.
2. 1 would like to have the city of RPV engage more actively with the City of Rolling Hills to determine how to mitigate
the runoff water from Rolling Hills into Klondike Canyon. What solution/plan have you considered to help with this?
Thank you.
David Roth
N
Teresa Takaoka
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Late corr
Teresa Takaoka
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 7:43 PM
CityClerk
Fw: [EXT]Fwd: Local Emergency Declaration Renewal Discussion February 6
Teresa Takaoka
City Clerk
terit@rpvca.gov
Phone - (310) 544-5217
Address:
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Website: www.rpvca.gov
U
nvrv�lnlalc !n rrir Ann $la.r e,ncl Gm,41a Plny
This e-mail message contains information belonging to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, which may be privileged,
confidential, and/or protected from disclosure, The information is intended only for use of the individual or entity
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or are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately, Thank you for your assistance and
cooperation.
From: Mickey Rodich <mickeyrodich@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 5:12 PM
To: Ara Mihranian <AraM@rpvca.gov>
Cc: CC <CC@rpvca.gov>
Subject: Re: [EXT]Fwd: Local Emergency Declaration Renewal Discussion February 6
EX FiiAL IAi[ ,: is nod dick tine or avert any attachments uitss you recpn2e the sendend kricw the;tontent_s sa et
Using InSAR costs 16 cents per hectare to use while Lidar costs up to $14
per hectare to use and InSar is not affected by clouds and some other
atmospheric conditions. Do the math? Why are we using Lidar? Because
the City's consultant tried to get a $750,000 contract from the City and
only use Lidar 4 times a year while InSAR can be used daily for a lot less
money.
On Tue, Feb 6, 2024 at 11:02 AM Ara Mihranian <AraM@rpvca.gov> wrote:
Hi Mickey,
Just to clarify, I agree with you.
My email to Don said the following regarding LiDAR and the City's landslide:
That said, yes, we are exploring how to improve collecting more up to date data on the rate of movement aside
from GPS. We are exploring the use of LIDAIR and other methods.
I —
Ara Michael Mihranian
City Manager
a ra m@ rpvca.gov
Phone - (310) 544-5202
Address:
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Website: www.r ov
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From: Mickey Rodich <mickeyrodich@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 10:57 AM
To: Ara Mihranian <AraM@rpvca.gov>; CC <CC@rpvca.gov>
Subject: Fwd: [EXT]Fwd: Local Emergency Declaration Renewal Discussion February 6
[ E�CT#��iA "lV}Ail, �n (at Click �lr"tks or b�eh any;ttachrnetfts urtess yr�u recogrtExe tFt s��tle, �rtd,krow ih��cont�iit Es s�fel��
I would like to introduce these comments to tonight's City Council meeting. I am not in agreement with some of Ara's
comments to Don Bell's emails. Ara stated that the use of LiDAR only applies to mines and not our Landslide. It would
be useful in monitoring our Landslide.
In the comment below, provided by the geotechnical engineers from the University of Arizona, they state that InSAR
would be very useful to monitor our slide and that there should be monitoring of the Rolling Hills Estates slide because
they may be connected. No one is talking to Rolling Hills Estates about monitoring to see if the slides are connected.
And they have always stated that daily or even every minute monitoring with InSAR should be done and it could be
done inexpensively.
But no one listens to the experts that have the most experience in landslides.
From: "Ross, Bradley Jay - (bjr)" <bir@arizona.edu>
Date: February 5, 2024 at 1:16:54 PM PST
To: Mickey Rodich <mickeyrodich@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: [EXT]Fwd: Local Emergency Declaration Renewal Discussion February 6
Hi Mickey,
I wish I was surprised, but there is not any good news in that report. Whoever made the
decision to have the special survey done, made a good call. I would definitely be worried
about the fact that it has not slowed down and is accelerating. From my point of view,
they should be doing surveying even more often to be able to see the real trends in
acceleration or deceleration. This is a real concern since you are getting large rains again
this year. Last year you had the advantage that before the rain it was relatively slow
movement. It always takes energy to get a mass to accelerate. However, if it is already
accelerating, it takes less energy to keep it moving or accelerate even faster. And as I said
before, acceleration is the problem.
The broken water Lines are a real worry. They will contribute to the problem. It would be
good to get an estimate as to how much water was lost. It would also be good to plot the
Location of those breaks along with the movement, and cracks on the larger map. It will
start to paint a more complete picture.
What is fairly obvious is they do not really know the full extent of the movement. Almost
all of the survey points are moving. That means that maximum extent is outside of the are
being monitored. I really wish theywould utilize the InSAR technology (radar from
satellites) that I mentioned before. They could to the best job of understanding the fullest
extent of the movement. Perhaps they do not really want to know the extent of the
movement. But it is always easier to be proactive if you know the extent of the problem. It
3
not that, at least have some survey points out to the graben where the houses fell in last
year.
Best regards,
:.•
LocalEmergency
Discussion February 6
Tomorrow night, February 6, the City Council will consider renewing the 10ca
cult rgency declaration that was put in place in October to bolster the City's response to
accelerated movement in the landslide complex. The declaration must be renewed every
6o days to remain in effect. It was most recently renewed in December.
The City geologist will present his latest findings and City staff will provide an update on
various activities and solutions to address the land movement since the local state of
emergency was declared, as well as the latest trail conditions. A �t tf'f z ep_c}rt (I'i}I') with
more information is available on the City website.
The City Council meeting will take place on February 6 at 7 P.M. in McTaggart Hall at
Hesse Park and via Zoom. Watch live at rpm-a,gov or on Cox 33/FiOS 38.
Share your thoughts on this topic with the City Council before the meeting by emailing
them to cc,', by a.gov,. To participate in public comment during the meeting, fill out a
speaker slip if you are attending in person, or complete a form online at
� pv �a Gov p�artic�ip<a;te to participate virtually or leave a pre-recorded voice message.
If you have a media inquiry related to land movement in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,
please contact the City's communications partner, Tripepi Smith, with your questions, at
RI','yieclia�7Ta�i.p� I�t5lzalh.cctn. They will also add you to our media list so you receive
our listsery updates, press releases and media advisories.
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CITY OF
VALOS
IQ R`
N RANCHO PALOS VERDES
1173_2629,
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: CITY CLERK
DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2024
SUBJECT: ADDITIONS/REVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Attached are revisions/additions and/or amendments to the agenda material presented
for tonight's meeting.
Item No. Description of Material
2 Email exchanges between City Manager Mihranian and: Mickey Rodich;
Don Bell; Emails from: Don Bell; Anne Cruz
Respectfully submitted,
Ter s`a Takaoka
LALATE CORRESPONDENCE\2024\2024 Coversheets\20240206 additions revisions to agenda.docx
To: Teresa Takaoka
Subject: RE: Land Movement Update
From: Donald Bell <dwbrpv@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 2, 2024 4:32 PM
To: CC <CC@rpvca.gov>; Ara Mihranian <AraM@rpvca.gov>; PublicWorks <PublicWorks rpvca.gov>; John Cruikshank
<John.Cruikshank@rpvca.gov_>; Eric Alegria <Eric.Ale ria@rpvca.gov>
Cc: Home Bell <dwbrpv@gmail.com>; Herb Stark <pt17stearman@gmail.com>; Mickey Rodich
<mickeyrodich@gmail.com>; Jack Fleming<JackFlemingRealEstate@gmail.com>; Eliot Levy <elliotlevy@gmail.com>;
Diane Mills <dianebmills@gmail.com>
Subject: Fwd: Land Movement Update
Some people who received this message don't often get email from dwbrov(@gmail.com. Learn why this is important
010"m . 3 .1 . 1 , V RA .
I am appreciative of the actions being taken by the city to begin to seriously deal with the landslide threat. You are late
to the party folks!
With short memories, it is clear that the earlier loss of 150 homes and significant infrastructure damage from the PBC
land mass movement caused a failure to actually think ahead and really do something to protect the residents from
what is now becoming a clear and present danger. So the continuous movement of earth into the ocean (evident by the
muddy plume) has continued. And worse, the extent of the threat is much greater than what moved in 19561 68 years
and in my lifetime yet it is forgotten?
Some local attention was identified and dealt with when limited movement caused creation of the Abalone Cove and
Klondike Canyon abatement districts. Some surface and subterranean water control was installed in the areas but since
it was not being treated as a constant and forever thereat, it all was allowed to go into a state of neglect and
disrepair. The condition of PVDS was a visible but non -threatening reminder that something was going on but a
consistent band -aid asphalt patch and fill was deemed sufficient to not plan for the future.
There never did seem to be any connection from the City to Cal Water and why their pipes had a consistent history of
rupture. I personally spent many days on extensive hikes within the Preserve. On multiple occasions I contacted Cal
Water to alert them to a broken or leaking pipe (twice near Burma Road/Panorama Trail and twice at the Klondike
Canyon/Conqueror Trail intersections. I do know there was never any urgency for repair and noted that days passed
and the leaks were not being fixed and I called them again. This would have been in the 2005-2015 time frame. I also
noted other signs of significant erosion along trails from broken pipes. Just as a FYI since at much of that time I was a
PVPLC Keeper Volunteer, I was documenting the leaks in my monthly reports.
I also watched visible effects of ongoing land movement, particularly in the bottom of the Sandbox Trail where it was
obvious by the lake created by rain that the above ground culvert was not moving any water to the ocean for the land
had dropped or the culvert under PVDS had risen. There were also significant fractures developing in the lower Ishibashi
Farm Trail area. I assume the fissures became a convenient route for the water to get underground.
My recent note of Cal Water lack of urgency was in the early days of the Dauntless/Exultant disruption. Again, running
water (for days) in the street was visible with no immediate effort to fix the leaks. (And as a note for thought there has
never been any ability to determine if other below surface leaks have been or are present? A fractured area may easily
be allowing the water to go down and never be visible on the surface. And there are for sure severely deep geologic
1
fractured areas within our community.) Has the city demanded Cal Water identify the difference between the amount
of water Cal Water buys from the Local District versus the amount of water they bill? Could any difference be attributed
to added speed to the landmass movement? Cal Water may not be matching the amount of rain water Nature can
deposit into the slide areas but their contribution year round may never allow the soil to lose its lubricant qualities. And
I would guess that no one has estimated or researched potential water inflow from leaks in the sewer system?
I do wish to remind Ara again and inform the current CC of efforts made by a now deceased resident, Gene
Dewey. Gene made a sincere effort to warn of the potential catastrophe the landslide complex poses. His personal
experience with a land mass failure caused him to be concerned over the failure of the city to actually take action sooner
than later. And we may be in the later stage right now! My background contains some geologic training. Gene and I
had many conversations concerning what we were seeing within the land mass. He spent his own money to hire neutral
experts to visit the area and Ara did meet and spend some time with them. I am attaching communications Gene sent
to the city (from as early as 2006).
1 personally judge the city to be a day late and dollars short in protecting the residents from what is taking place
now. Money and maintenance was never prioritized for surface water diversion or dewatering wells. The fractures and
movement at the head of the landmass is getting a lot of attention. You need to get serious, quickly to get things such
as the years delayed horizontal drains complete, expect to pay for frequent repair/replacement of a vertical dewatering
system South of PVDS all along the coast, surface water collection and movement away from ground absorption, restudy
ways to possibly slow the erosion at the beaches, and hire knowledgeable staff to supervise this. What is happening
below ground is not photogenic, simple to measure or monitor, or an immediate threat to safety but that is where the
real problem is now accelerating and at some point could reach a tipping point. And that won't be pretty! Just consider
Sunken City, Paseo Del Mar collapse, and the Trump golf hole slide. So do all possible to suck up or prevent water from
being in the ground. Too bad Mother Nature is putting her foot on the accelerator now!
Somehow priorities for money use goes to stuff like the bloated and ridiculous denuded Ladera Linda Community Center
that shares architectural incompatibility with our city as the cross between an Amazon Warehouse and an Inner City
Strip Mall. I suggest you disband the Civic Center distraction and expend a lot more energy on saving PVDS before it
becomes an uncontrollable Pauls Slide (see Big Sur highway 1). 1 would prefer to be able to drive from my home to the
Golden Cove area on PVDS (even as destructive as it is to my vehicles) than never be able to reach a fancy new city hall
unless I detour up, down, up and then down the hill to a new complex.
Concerned,
Don Bell
Ladera Linda
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Do Not Reply@rpvca.gov" <listservC@civicplus.com>
Subject: Land Movement Update
Date: January 31, 2024 at 6:18:14 PM PST
To: dwbrpyPgmail.com
2
With severe storms forecasted in the coming days, the City is in storm prep mode, with
special attention to our landslide areas. We continue to closely monitor land movement,
fill fissures, and have made sandbags and tarps available to residents in the landslide
complex (sandbags are also available to all residents at City Hall).
The Los Angeles County Fire Department is patrolling the landslide complex for public
safety and our Park Rangers are checking our open space areas for new fissures and
signs of movement. You may have noticed roadway repairs were recently completed
along Palos Verdes Drive South, including a stretch below Wayfarers Chapel.
Disaster preparedness resources, including links to the Know Your 'Lone evacuation
platform and an evacuation packing list PDF , are available on the City's land
movement webpage.
Trails Update
About 8 miles of trails in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve remain temporarily closed at
the recommendation of the City's geologist. While most of these closures are in
Portuguese Bend Reserve, in recent months, they have expanded to include portions of
Abalone Cove, Filiorum, and Forrestal Reserves. We ask members of the public to please
stay off trails that have been closed, and we thank them for their patience and
cooperation. In hiking areas that remain open to the public, our Park Rangers continue
to monitor trail conditions for public safety, perform maintenance, and fill fissures.
Check r pvca. govArailalerts for the latest trail updates, including anticipated rain -related
closures.
Dewatering Wells Update
In Abalone Cove, the Abalone Cove Landslide Abatement District (ACLAD) has installed
four new dewatering wells south of Palos Verdes Drive South and two north. And in
Klondike Canyon, the Klondike Canyon Landslide Abatement District (KCLAD) has
installed one new well south of Palos Verdes Drive South. Pumps for all of these wells are
expected to be installed starting next week. We are hopeful that the wells, including four
paid for by the City, will help slow land movement.
Landslide Data and Map Update
The City's most recent GPS monitoring data — which has been added to the- land
rovement webpage — shows that average land movement velocities within the landslide
complex since October 2023 have accelerated by a factor of three to four times compared
to the previous 12-month monitoring period. In other words, we have seen as much
movement (and in some cases, more movement) in the past three months as we did from
October 2022 to October 2023. City staff is working to finalize heat maps to visualize the
City's land movement data. The heat maps are expected to be presented at the April 2
City Council meeting and will be added to the City website. Updated field maps showing
the historic and expanding boundaries of the landslide complex have also been added to
the City website.
February 6 City Council Meeting
You can learn more about everything happening with the landslide complex and the
City's short-term and long-term response by attending or tuning into the February 6
City Council meeting. That evening, the Council will consider renewing the local
emergency declaration that was put in place in October, which must be renewed every
6o days to remain in effect. The City geologist will present his latest findings and City
staff will provide an update on various activities and solutions to address the land
movement since the local state of emergency was declared, as well as the latest trail
conditions. A staff report PDF with more information is available on the City website.
4
Meeting Info
The City Council meeting will take place on February 6 at 7 p.m. in McTaggart Hall at
Hesse Park and via Zoom. Watch live at rpvca•gov or on Cox 33/FiOS A
Share your thoughts on this topic with the City Council before the meeting by emailing
them to cc(c rpvca.g )v. To participate in public comment during the meeting, fill out a
speaker slip if you are attending in person, or complete a form online
at rpvca.ov/participate to participate virtually or leave a pre-recorded voice message.
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October 10, 2006
To RPV City Counsel
Gentlemen:
My name is Gene Dewey. I have lived in the Ladera Linda area since 1979. 1
have a BS degree in Business from the U of Arizona. I spent nearly 40 years in
the mining and oil industry, the last 15 years as a VP of Unocal responsible for
Carbon and Minerals and President of a Unocal mining subsidiary, Molycorp, Inc.
I watched with great interest last night the rerun of the Special meeting the city
counsel had on the slide moratorium areas. I was impressed with the interest
and attention counsel continues to exhibit on this matter. I have some
observations that may be useful in your evaluation of these matters. First some
background.
A mining company in NM that was mining an ore deposit that was located several
thousand feet below the surface of a 10,000-foot mountain employed me in 1967.
The open pit mine was about one mile in diameter and a half a mile deep. It had
one of the highest back walls in NA at the time. In early 1969, a significant portion
of the mountain started to fail along a geologic fault. The slide boundaries were
initially mapped from the observance of cracks on top of the mountain to the toe
1600 feet below.
This was one of the largest mining operations in the world at the time. We had
hundreds of employees working in the mine. It was imperative that we continue
mining while maintaining a safe working environment or cease mining and place
the public traded company into bankruptcy.
Our initial response was to use rudimentary strain gauges, etc to try and
establish some patterns of movement. We had a number of small slides in the
magnitude of 150 to 300,000 cu yds. The issue was how to safely mine below
the slide mass where the toe was moving 20 to 40 feet horizontally a year.
We employed every known stability technique at the time. We unloaded the top
of the slide, mined the toe as it moved out, did as much dewatering as possible,
etc.
We were very fortunate to have engaged some world-renowned Geotechnical
experts from Canada who were our consultants on large earthen tailing dams
200 feet high. There were a few families living on small farms directly in line with
the dams less than Y2 mile away. Our earthen dams were designed with a factor
of safety of 1 '/2: 1 under a simulated seismic event of 7. They were constructed
in stages from 1965 to 1980 and maintain that factor of safety to this day. There
are a number of piezometers installed in the structures to monitor water levels in
the down stream slope.
These consultants advised us to set up monitoring devices in the open pit that
enabled us to predict with tremendous accuracy, failure of the back wall. Since
this predated GPS, we used Direct Measuring Equipment (DME), which
consisted of mirrors placed on the back wall, which were triangulated every day
with DME to detect movement. The movement was plotted on a chart with the
horizontal line representing time and the vertical scale movement. As long as the
line that was produced on the graph was relatively flat we could safely mine in
the area. When the movement accelerated to the point that the line started to
become vertical, failure was imminent. We moved all the equipment from the
area and waited for the slide to occur. Once we had the failure, the movement
slowed down and it was safe to work for a while.
There were at least two other slides in the world at the time of similar magnitude,
one was south of Tucson Arizona and the other was at a mining operation in
Chile. We engaged a group of 3 geologic experts who traveled between these
operations on a routine schedule gaining knowledge and giving the principals
advice along the way.
During my career I had over 70 geologists working on various mining and
exploration projects around the world. These were some of the most intelligent
people I have ever been associated with. They seldom agree with each other on
everything, but most do believe that what they see and interpret is the correct
assumption. We found using a team of outside experts from different
disciplines to provide periodic reviews and bring global knowledge to the
process was invaluable. It provided the opportunity for opinions to be changed
when the review process was underway.
That is what I saw last night watching the rerun. It was a great history lesson on
the slide, movements, etc. I came away with the feeling that it gets attention
when It moves and causes someone some grief, such as the moratorium on
building permits or the road repair cost becomes so excessive, some remedial
action has to be taken such as mitigating obvious water issues.
My take away from what I heard was, the city needs to consider engaging a
world-renowned Geotechnical expert to come in once a year for a 2 to 3 day
oversight of the slide area. This can be done for a reasonable fee and provide a
sense of continuity to the project by way of written reports, etc. I also agree with
the suggestion of trying to get geology students from some of the local
Universities involved in the slide, through their graduate thesis work.
In 1980 one of the world- renowned Canadian Geotechnical experts was visiting
me here in RPV. We spent a little time observing the PB slide. He suggested at
the time that a seawall would be a great start, getting rid of the source of the
water at the top of the slide another positive approach and doing what could be
done to collect all the visible water runoff in a controlled fashion another
measure. I recognize that there has been a lot done over the years. I am
impressed with how well the city has maintained the section of PV Drive S over
the years. I did come away with the feeling last night that due to financial
constraints, inoperative wells, slower movement, etc, things have been allowed
to slip over the past few years.
This slide so far appears to be a controlled slide, that is, as the toe is being
eroded away the mass at the top is gradually subsiding, creeping and
consolidating into the slide mass.
At our NM mine, were successful for over 10 years in predicting small failures
within the bigger mass, thus preventing any catastrophic accidents. In late July
of 1977 we had significant movement on several points that caused us to cease
mining operations in the main area of the open pit. Within a couple of days, on
August 2, 1977, one day after Unocal merged our Mining company into Unocal,
we had a catastrophic failure of over 5 MM cubic yards. It covered 2/3 of the pit
bottom. Fortunately we were on top of our monitoring program and although we
lost some equipment, no one was hurt. I am not predicting such a catastrophic
failure for the PB Slide, but I do think council would be in a better position to
make decisions if there was some periodic independent oversight by an expert
that travels the world looking at similar events and bringing the current state of
the art to the forefront with every review.
Thank You
Gene Dewey
May 17, 18 2021
Portuguese Bend Slide Visit
Notes by Gene Dewey that were taken during a discussion on May 18, 2021 of a field visit to portions of the
Portuguese Bend Landslide by, Brad Ross, Chad Williams and Gene Dewey
In attendance; Bradley Ross, Chad Williams, Gene Dewey, Mickey Rodich, Kit Ruona, City Council member
Barbara Ferraro and RPV City Manager Ara Mihranian
Brad Ross is a Ph.D Professor of Practice at the U of AZ Mining and Geological Engineering Department and Director
of the Geotechnical Center of Excellence. Chad Williams is a Ph.D candidate who is the Assistant Director of the
Geotechnical Center of Excellence. They both have extensive mining experience and were present at the time of
the largest landslide in the mining industry of some 140 mm tons. They started the Geotechnical Center of
Excellence as a result of what was learned from the Manefay landslide in 2013.
Bingham Canyon's Manefay Landslides and the Future of the ...
geology. utah.gov > map -pub s survey -notes
On April 10, 2013, two massive landslides carried about 145 million tons of waste rock into the bottom of the open
pit at Bingham Canyon, the largest copper mine in the U.S. These are the largest mining -induced landslides in
history.
The Manefay landslide at the Bingham Canyon open -pit copper ...
The Manefay landslide at the Bingham Canyon open -pit copper mine on April 11, 2013. Also notable are the two
different slides —the earlier light gray slide of pyritized Bingham Mine Formation quartz sandstones overlain by the
yellow -brown, oxidized dump material which slid about 1.5 hours later.
Brad and Chad agreed to make a visit to the PB Slide as a favor to Gene Dewey.
After a very cursory two-day review of the slide on the ground which included a walk along the moving portions of
PVDS and into a portion of the slide on the south side of the roadway followed by a visit to the Paseo Del Mar slide,
Sunken City, San Ramon Canyon and 18 hole slide, they walked the east side of the Portuguese Bend slide along the
Rim Trail. The following morning was occupied walking a portion of the toe of the slide from the PBBC to
Inspiration Point and up to the archery range from the shoreline trail.
They reviewed their visit and comments with RPV Council member Barbara Ferraro later that morning. She
suggested they invite City Manager Ara Mihranian to hear their comments. Following that session the balance of
the day was spent walking the mid portion of the slide north of the deep dip in PVDS roadway.
They pointed out that they were not here as consultants or representatives of the University of Arizona, but as
friends of Gene.
They noted that the outer perimeter of the slide had indications of moving toward the middle. As it moves toward
the ocean the toe is eroded away by the tide and wave action. The lower part is moving faster than the upper
portion of the slide. The sides of the slide are moving to the center to fill in the void and creating several natural
dams in an east west orientation. The vegetation inside the slide mass is extensive. The fissures that are visible
disappear into the mass of vegetation. It would be nearly impossible to find them all and get equipment to them
without removing most if not all of the vegetation. If the fissures were filled with a mixture of fly ash and cement
it would set up similar to concrete. The slide movement will continue to open new fissures, reducing the fly ash's
effectiveness to limit infiltration. The fly ash and cement could create a less pervious dam effect causing more
water to accumulate in the aquifer.
If this were a mining operation that they were managing they wouldn't fill the fissures with a fly ash and cement
mixture. They have no problem with filling the fissures with dirt where accessible. This would maintain a similar
permeability as the surrounding material and not dam water internal to the slide mass.
Surface drainage collection is a good step where it can be done in such a manner that it is maintained.
Extensive daily monitoring of the slide is very important to understand just what is moving and how fast it is
moving and if it is accelerating a sign that the failure is moving towards progressive failure. This needs to be done
also to measure the effectiveness of any remediation efforts and provide early warning of a potential catastrophic
failure.
Horizontal drains could be effective and perhaps the place to start after a monitoring and management system is
put in place.
A geotechnical engineer on the staff and a geotechnical contractor employed who could provide benefit to the
project, continuity, and oversight.
There are several systems available for monitoring the slide which could be evaluated.
• Continuous GPS units — Can measure 3D displacement on an hour by bour basis. Units can be self-
contained on run on small batteries for years.
• Robotic theodolite/Prism system (automatically measures movement every few minutes and alerts if
thresholds are meet that indicates a problem). Measures individual points and can alarm if the slide is
accelerating.
• Extensometers — relatively simple systems to measure if cracks are getting wider. Should be set up to
alarm if movements start to accelerate.
• InSAR — Satellite -based radar that can be used to measure movement over large areas like the PB Slide.
Contractors can provide a service but only shows the movement every 11— 22 days (depending on the
satellites used).
• Ground based radar — continuously measures movement over a large portion of the slide area. Can send
out alarms if slide starts to accelerate.
• TDR Cable - Time -domain reflectometer (used in drill holes to determine where movement is occurring
underground.
President Trump Signs "National Landslide Preparedness Act ...
www.mwcapitol.com > post > president -trump -signs
January 6, 2021- Legislation to establish a National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program in the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) to better identify and understand landslide risks, protect communities, save lives and property, and
improve emergency preparedness became law Tuesday when President Trump signed H.R. 8810, the National
Landslide Preparedness Act.
• Expands early warning systems. The bill expands existing early warning systems for post -wildfire
landslides in recently burned areas across the United States. It also requires procedures to be developed
for federal monitoring of storm water drainage in areas with a high risk of landslides, in coordination with
state, local, and tribal governments.
• Creates a new federal program focused specifically on landslide hazards. The bill would establish a
National Landslides Hazard Reduction program through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which
would identify risks and hazards from landslides to protect at -risk communities and improve
communication and emergency preparedness.
• Develops new maps to help communities prepare for landslide risk. The bill would direct the USGS to
implement a 3D Elevation Program to increase data collection and landslide threat identification across
the country. Enhanced elevation data, such as LIDAR, is critical for numerous reasons —to help
communities plan for and respond to natural hazards; to update the nation's topographical maps; and to
inform a myriad of uses including public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, transportation,
agriculture, and natural resource management.
• Authorizes new landslide -related grant programs. The bill authorizes new programs to provide funding to
state, territorial, local, and tribal governments for landslide research, mapping, assessment, and data
collection.
• Establishes committees to better deal with landslide risks. The bill establishes an advisory committee on
landslides and creates an interagency committee to coordinate better landslide responses from the
multiple government agencies with jurisdiction.
-2-
Subject: FW: [EXT]Fwd: Local Emergency Declaration Renewal Discussion February 6
From: Ara Mihranian <AraM@rpvca.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 11:03 AM
To: Mickey Rodich <mickeyrodich@gmail.com>; CC <CC@rpvca.gov>
Subject: RE: [EXT]Fwd: Local Emergency Declaration Renewal Discussion February 6
Hi Mickey,
Just to clarify, I agree with you.
My email to Don said the following regarding LiDAR and the City's landslide:
That said, yes, we are exploring how to improve collecting more up to date data on the rate of movement aside
from GPS. We are exploring the use of LIDAIR and other methods.
Ara Michael Mihranian
City Manager
aram@rpvca.gov
Phone - (310) 544-5202
Address:
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Website: w�ca
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From: Mickey Rodich <mickeyrodich gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 10:57 AM
To: Ara Mihranian <AraM rpvca.gov>; CC <CC(@rpvca.gov>
Subject: Fwd: [EXT]Fwd: Local Emergency Declaration Renewal Discussion February 6
I would like to introduce these comments to tonight's City Council meeting. I am not in agreement with some of Ara's
comments to Don Bell's emails. Ara stated that the use of LiDAR only applies to mines and not our Landslide. It would be
useful in monitoring our Landslide.
In the comment below, provided by the geotechnical engineers from the University of Arizona, they state that InSAR
would be very useful to monitor our slide and that there should be monitoring of the Rolling Hills Estates slide because
they may be connected. No one is talking to Rolling Hills Estates about monitoring to see if the slides are connected. And
they have always stated that daily or even every minute monitoring with InSAR should be done and it could be done
inexpensively.
But no one listens to the experts that have the most experience in landslides.
1
From: "Ross, Bradley Jay - (bjr)" <birCa@arizona.edu>
Date: February 5, 2024 at 1:16:54 PM PST
To: Mickey Rodich <mickeyrodich@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: [EXT]Fwd: Local Emergency Declaration Renewal Discussion February 6
Hi Mickey,
I wish I was surprised, but there is not any good news in that report. Whoever made the
decision to have the special survey done, made a good call. I would definitely be worried
about the fact that it has not slowed down and is accelerating. From my point of view, they
should be doing surveying even more often to be able to see the real trends in acceleration
or deceleration. This is a real concern since you are getting large rains again this year. Last
year you had the advantage that before the rain it was relatively slow movement. It always
takes energy to get a mass to accelerate. However, if it is already accelerating, it takes less
energy to keep it moving or accelerate even faster. And as I said before, acceleration is the
problem.
The broken water lines are a real worry. They will contribute to the problem. It would be
good to get an estimate as to how much water was lost. It would also be good to plot the
location of those breaks along with the movement, and cracks on the larger map. It will
start to paint a more complete picture.
What is fairly obvious is they do not really know the full extent of the movement. Almost all
of the survey points are moving. That means that maximum extent is outside of the are
being monitored. I really wish they would utilize the InSAR technology (radar from
satellites) that I mentioned before. They could to the best job of understanding the fullest
extent of the movement. Perhaps they do not really want to know the extent of the
movement. But it is always easier to be proactive if you know the extent of the problem. It
not that, at least have some survey points out to the graben where the houses fell in last
year.
Best regards,
we
01
Local
Renewal
Discussion
February '
Tomorrow night, February 6, the City Council will consider renewing the local
emergency declaration that was put in place in October to bolster the City's response to
accelerated movement in the landslide complex. The declaration must be renewed every
6o days to remain in effect. It was most recently renewed in December.
The City geologist will present his latest findings and City staff will provide an update on
various activities and solutions to address the land movement since the local state of
emergency was declared, as well as the latest trail conditions. A staff report PDF with
more information is available on the City website.
Meeting Info
The City Council meeting will take place on February 6 at 7 P.M. in McTaggart Hall at
Hesse Park and via Zoom. Watch live at rpvca.gov or on Cox 33/FiOS 38.
Share your thoughts on this topic with the City Council before the meeting by emailing
them to cc &rpvca.gov. To participate in public comment during the meeting, rill out a
speaker slip if you are attending in person, or complete a form online at
rpvca.gov/Marticipate to participate virtually or leave a pre-recorded voice message.
Media Inquiries
If you have a media inquiry related to land movement in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,
please contact the City's communications partner, Tripepi Smith, with your questions, at
RPVMedia as TripepiSmith.con. They will also add you to our media list so you receive
our listsery updates, press releases and media advisories.
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Subject: FW: insar contractors
Attachments: WebPage.pdf
From: Donald Bell <dwbrpv gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 12:27 PM
To: Ara Mihranian <AraM@rpvca. ,ov>; CC <CC@rpvca.gov>
Cc: Home Bell <dwbrpv@gmail.com>; Mickey Rodich <mickeyrodich@gmail.com>
Subject: insar contractors
Ara and CC
It seems there are multiple resources to utilize to get real inSAR data on the movement. If you delay longer, it will have
already moved into the Pacific. The professor from UofA is so correct noting that the existing monitoring is essentially
worthless for you are not measuring any stationary points since the entire monitoring base is in motion. The scale of the
risk is much larger than when the first study was made. This is a terrible situation.
Get staff directed to retain a service to help you in dealing with this. A finger in the dike is also an old parable. You
have to learn the totality of what is happening. Technology does exist to also identify rates of movement at surface
and at depth that is used in mies all over the world. This is not a mine but we should not allow it to become an open pit!
Don
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From: Anne Cruz <cruzsanne@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 12:02 PM
To: CityClerk
Subject: Comments for Agenda Item 2 for Today's City Council Meeting
Attachments: 02-06-2024 Cruz Comments on Agenda Item 2 Regarding Landslide.pdf
Some people who received this message don't often get email from cruzsanne@gmail.com. Learn why this is important
Madam City Clerk:
Please see the attached comments submitted for today's City Council Meeting.
Best regards,
Anne Cruz
February 6, 2024
Re: February 6, 2024 CC Agenda Item 2 — Consideration and possible action to receive and to extend
the local emergency declaration for the greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex.
Dear Rancho Palos Verdes City Council:
As City residents, we have advocated to the City for emergency action in the greater Portuguese Bend
Landslide Complex. The Staff Report shows that movement has not slowed in the key areas. Instead,
it continues to accelerate at unprecedented levels. Water levels remain excessive. The City must
renew the emergency declaration and level -up its efforts. PLEASE GET THE WATER OUT NOW. We
implore the City as follows:
1. Hydrogeology Expert Immediately
We must have expert analysis on all the water. At this time, no one has this information. In fact, the
City Geologist stated in the December 2023 City Council meeting that he was not a hydrogeology
expert. There is a void of scientific information on the hydrogeology in the Complex. Water levels in
the Complex are astounding. The City must retain an expert now to best inform the path forward.
2. Storm System Analysis and Improvements
The storm drain system throughout the Complex area including the interconnected areas of the City of
Rolling Hills needs to continue to be studied and addressed. The City has increased focus on these
issues and we ask that it continue to seek information and demand action to remedy storm water flows
and other runoffs into the Complex.
3. Maintain Palos Verdes Drive South
Palos Verdes Drive South is a crucial arterial highway. It provides access to doctors, urgent care, first
responders, pharmacies, schools, groceries, religious centers, and open space to name a few items.
Persons from other communities in the County have only this area for equitable access to green space.
Continue to maintain, repair, and press for support from sources to keep PV Drive South operational.
4. Cal Water Utility Waterlines
Continue to monitor necessary, overdue improvements to the water lines throughout the Complex.
Obtain comprehensive leak history, water pressure, and proposed changes to water lines within
neighborhoods. For the SeaView wide system replacements, demand details on the anticipated type of
pipes and water pressure as well as direction of flow. We do not want flow through the Preserve at this
time.
This is but a short list of the items related to this issue. Although we do not personally have movement
issues at our home, we are concerned for our family, friends, and community.
Thank you for your time and efforts.
Joseph P. Cruz & Anne Swoboda Cruz, Esq.
4314 Dauntless Dr., Rancho Palos Verdes