CC SR 20250304 03 - SCE Power Pole at Ladera Linda
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 03/04/2025
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to grant a time extension to Southern California Edison
(SCE) for its temporary power pole located at the Ladera Linda Community Center.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Authorize a three-month extension to the terms and conditions of the City-
approved encroachment permit, reviewed by the City Council at its September 3,
2024, thereby allowing SCE’s temporary power pole to continue to be located at
the Ladera Linda Community Center while a permanent box circuit is designed and
constructed.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact to the City for the recommended action.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Robert Quintero, Transtech Project Manager
REVIEWED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. SCE’s Proposed Box Loop Design Options (page A-1)
B. September 3, 2024 Terms and Conditions of the City-Issued Encroachment Permit
with SCE (page B-1)
C. September 3, 2024 City Council Staff Report
BACKGROUND:
On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Staff at the Ladera Linda Community Center
encountered an SCE crew initiating unpermitted and unannounced work to install a power
pole and guy wire in the outdoor recreational area east of the Community Center building
(see map below). The pole itself was intended to be placed in the bioswale directly to the
south of the guy wire. It was confirmed shortly thereafter that SCE had neither obtained
permits, approvals, or easements/licenses to install equipment on City property nor
communicated their intent to City Staff in advance . On that same day, the City
1
immediately halted work and issued a formal stop work order, while initiating calls and
email communication with SCE to demand an explanation.
In a series of email communications between SCE and City Staff, SCE indicated the need
to expeditiously install a power pole at Ladera Linda to continue providing power to
approximately 40 homes along the landward side of Dauntless Drive, of which a portion
lies in the west side of Seaview, which has been severely impacted by land movement.
SCE also cited that it had sufficient rights to place a pole in any public place, pursuant to
its Franchise Agreement with the City – although that interpretation has been strongly
contended by City Staff.
Given the importance of resolving the matter quickly and ensuring continued electrical
service to the Seaview community, the City called a meeting with SCE at Ladera Linda
Community Center on August 28, 2024. It was during the meeting that the intent and
purpose of the power pole was clarified.
Starting location of
unpermitted SCE work
for a guy wire
2
SCE explained the need to decommission electrical infrastructure on the west end of
Dauntless Drive (near where it turns into Admirable Drive), because it is experiencing
extreme stress from active land movement; doing so would mitigate potential wildfire risks
in the event of a line break and reduce safety risk to SCE’s crews who repair equipment
on these poles.
Currently, that infrastructure feeds power to approximately 40 homes along the landward
side of Dauntless Drive. To avoid a permanent outage, SCE developed plans to connect
them to existing infrastructure from the east end of Dauntless Drive, within the vicinity of
Ladera Linda Community Center. To do this expeditiously, SCE planned to install 1 pole
at Ladera Linda and 5 more along the right-of-way on Dauntless Drive. These new poles
would provide the Dauntless Drive homes with a connection to a power source that runs
along Forrestal Drive down to Palos Verdes Drive South. Establishing this connection
would then enable SCE to de-energize the failing electrical infrastructure on the west end
of Dauntless, thereby avoiding an outage for the 40 homes.
The City expressed strong opposition to the pole at Ladera Linda and sought alternative
routes that included undergrounding lines or obtaining easements from homeowners.
However, SCE indicated that those alternatives would require additional time to
implement and may result in indefinite outages for residents, and that SCE would be
compelled to move forward with decommissioning and de-energizing the failing electrical
infrastructure near the west side of Dauntless beginning the week of September 2, 2024.
As a result, City Staff, on August 29, 2024, authorized SCE to begin installation of the
pole at Ladera Linda Community Center outside of the bioswale (a location identified as
Alternative 1, which is where the guy wire was originally planned) and agreed to issue a
binding, retroactive encroachment permit holding SCE to the following term and
conditions (Attachment B):
• SCE shall provide City with a detailed scope of work for the temporary pole prior
to construction, including the proposed location of the pole.
• The temporary pole shall be made of treated wood.
• The temporary pole shall not be installed in a bioswale or other sensitive use.
• When the temporary pole is removed, SCE shall restore the site to its original
condition, including but not limited to landscaping and pathway work.
• SCE shall maintain and repair the temporary pole, as needed, and in consultation
with City shall install signage to indicate the temporary nature of the installation.
• SCE shall provide City with bi-weekly updates (Tues/Thurs meetings or at other
times convenient to SCE and the City) on SCE’s work towards a permanent
solution.
• The temporary pole must be relocated within 6 months, with an option to extend
for 2 additional 3 month extensions, provided SCE makes good faith progress is
designing a permanent solution and maintains regular communication with the
City.
• City does not interpret the 1974 franchise agreement to apply to the location of the
temporary pole.
3
• SCE shall indemnify and hold harmless the City in accordance with the provisions
of the Franchise Act of 1937.
On August 29, SCE accepted the conditions, and City Staff notified the Seaview and
Ladera Linda HOAs of the impending work (Attachment B). City Staff issued the
encroachment permit with the conditions noted on the previous page.
On September 3, 2024, the City Council directed staff to continue, retroactively,
processing the encroachment permit for SCE to install a temporary power pole at the
Ladera Linda Community Center for a period of six months with an option to extend for 2
additional 3 month extensions, provided SCE makes good faith progress is designing a
permanent solution and maintains regular communication with the City (Attachment C).
The City-issued encroachment permit is set to expire on March 5, 2025 unless a time
extension is granted. The City Council is being asked to authorize a three-month
extension.
DISCUSSION:
Since September 2024, City Staff and SCE have been meeting on a regular basis to
identify a mutually agreeable final design for the box circuit that would provide power to
the 40 homes on the landward side of Dauntless Drive.
On January 23, 2025, SCE presented City Staff with its proposed two options to reroute
the box circuit loop either along Schooner Drive or along Forrestal and Main Sail (also
known as Intrepid) Drives (Attachment A). The City expressed a concern with the
Forrestal and Main Sail Drive option because it would introduce new vertical poles at the
edge of Forrestal Reserve, a subarea of the overall Palos Verdes Nature Preserve citing
a higher risk for wildfires. City Staff preferred the Schooner Drive option provided that a
portion of the reroute would be placed underground. SCE indicated that the Schooner
Drive option would require new poles and easements which may be difficult to secure
from affected property owners. City Staff emphasized the City’s desire to underground
any new infrastructure for aesthetic reasons and wildfire risk concerns. SCE shared that
the new re-route would maintain the SCE standard with covered conductor and poles
designed to mitigate wildfire risk. SCE noted that the underground option has not been
scoped or tested for feasibility, and they were skeptical about how undergrounding would
work in this area due to the slope grade and proximity of houses and pools close to the
property lines. SCE mentioned that their 3rd party crane companies may not operate in
such close proximity to the land movement area.
SCE indicated that an additional option would be to leave the pole in the Ladera Linda
Park as-is. If none of the above-mentioned options move forward and the encroachment
is set to expire with no further extensions, SCE will need to remove the pole in the park,
leaving approximately 40 customers without power until another solution can be
established.
City Staff was informed that SCE is a steward of ratepayer funds, and any project that
can be designed above ground would need to proceed with the most responsible and
4
cost-effective method. Therefore, the City would have to pay for any undergrounding
along either of the routes through a Rule 20C project.
In response, City Staff indicated it would need a few weeks to review SCE’s proposed
options and subsequently asked the City’s contracted firm, Transtech Engineers, to
review SCE’s proposed box circuit loop options and to identify if alternative routes or
designs could be considered. Transtech Engineers is expected to complete its review
after the transmittal of this staff report but before the March 4 City Council meeting, and
any new information will be reported at the City Council meeting . Thus, the City Council
is being asked to authorize granting a three-month extension in order for the City to
complete its review and provide SCE with its response.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
In order for the temporary pole at Ladera Linda Community Center to be removed without
disrupting service to Seaview residents, a new design would need to be mutually
accepted by the City and SCE and the new box loop circuit constructed. This is likely to
take several months, if not, a year. Thus, it is likely that the City will return to the City
Council with periodic updates and further time extension requests.
CONCLUSION:
The City Council is being asked to grant SCE a three-month time extension to the City-
issued encroachment permit for the placement of a temporary power pole at the Ladera
Linda Community Center.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to Staff’s Recommendations, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not authorize the requested time extension and direct SCE to remove the
temporary power pole from the Ladera Linda Community Center which will
result in approximately 40 homes losing power indefinitely in the Seaview
neighborhood.
2. Extend the Encroachment permit by six month allowing for more time to
develop a design and to construct the new box loop circuit.
3. Take other action as the Council deems appropriate.
5
A-1
1
Catherine Jun
From:Celina Luna <CELINA.LUNA@SCE.COM>
Sent:Thursday, August 29, 2024 3:16 PM
To:Elena Gerli; Ara Mihranian
Cc:Catherine Jun; Robert Pontelle; Mark Rothenberg
Subject:Re: (External):SCE authorization for Ladera Linda pole at Alternate 1 location
EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click links or open any attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe!!!.
Hi Elena and Ara,
This has been received and acknowledged. SCE accepts the conditions. Thank you again for all your hard work
during this emergency, particularly for working with us on this temporary solution. We look forward to continuing
to collaborate in this challenging, dynamic situation.
Regards,
Celina
Celina Luna
Government Relations Manager
Local Public Affairs
T. 626-302-5040 |PAX. 25040 | M. 213-523-8344| Email. celina.luna@sce.com
From: Elena Gerli <egerli@awattorneys.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2024 2:39 PM
To: Celina Luna <CELINA.LUNA@SCE.COM>; Ara Mihranian <AraM@rpvca.gov>
Cc: Catherine Jun <cjun@rpvca.gov>; Robert Pontelle <Robert.Pontelle@sce.com>; Mark Rothenberg
<mark.a.rothenberg@sce.com>
Subject: (External):SCE authorization for Ladera Linda pole at Alternate 1 location
CAUTION: This is an external email. Be careful when opening links or attachments
This message was received from outside Edison.
Report Suspicious
Dear Celina, this email is to authorize SCE to begin installation of the pole at the site in Ladera Linda Community Center
that we identified as Alternate 1 during the 8/28 meeting with the City. The City will issue a retroactive encroachment
permit with the following conditions:
B-1
2
SCE shall provide City with a detailed scope of work for the temporary pole prior to construction, including the proposed
location of the pole.
The temporary pole shall be made of treated wood.
The temporary pole shall not be installed in a bioswale or other sensitive use.
When the temporary pole is removed, SCE shall restore the site to its original condition, including but not limited to
landscaping and pathway work.
SCE shall maintain and repair the temporary pole, as needed, and in consultation with City shall install signage to
indicate the temporary nature of the installation.
SCE shall provide City with bi-weekly updates (Tues/Thurs meetings or at other times convenient to SCE and the City) on
SCE’s work towards a permanent solution.
The temporary pole must be relocated within 6 months, with an option to extend for 2 additional 3 month extensions,
provided SCE makes good faith progress is designing a permanent solution and maintains regular communication with
the City.
City does not interpret the 1974 franchise agreement to apply to the location of the temporary pole.
SCE shall indemnify and hold harmless the City in accordance with the provisions of the Franchise Act of 1937.
Please confirm receipt and acceptance of the conditions for the encroachment permit.
Best,
Elena Q. Gerli
City Attorney
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Elena Q. Gerli | Partner
she/her/hers
Aleshire & Wynder, LLP | 3701 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 725, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel: (310) 527-6660 | Dir: (424) 269-3345 | egerli@awattorneys.com
This email and any files transmitted with it may contain privileged or otherwise confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you
may have received this communication in error, please advise the sender via email and delete the email you received.
B-2