CC SR 20260804 04 - Emergency Radio OutreachCITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 08/04/2026
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider designating the name of the City’s Emergency Radio Station.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1)Approve the City’s Emergency Radio Station name as “1680 AM: Peninsula
Emergency Radio” and authorize Staff to conduct a public outreach to promote
the radio station as an emergency resource; and,
(2)Receive and file an informational report on broadcast programming for the City’s
1680 AM Emergency Radio Station.
FISCAL IMPACT: The signs and banners needed for community outreach efforts for the
City’s AM radio station are estimated at $3,000. Sufficient funds are
available in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Budget and no additional
appropriation is requested. VR
Amount Budgeted: $36,000
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): 101-400-1430-4310 VR
(General Fund – Emergency Preparedness) – Operating Supplies)
ORIGINATED BY: Lubna Mohammad, Emergency Management Coordinator LM
REVIEWED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager CJ
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A.March 17, 2026 Staff Report (Linked)
B.April 21, 2026 Staff Report (Linked)
BACKGROUND:
On March 17, 2026, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) to install and operate an
emergency radio station at Ridgecrest Intermediate School (Attachment A). The MOU
also outlined the radio station’s purpose to provide emergency preparedness and
response information to the community, as well as a notification procedure between the
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City and PVPUSD to outline the usage and access of the radio station and coordination
of emergency messaging.
During a major disaster, the AM emergency radio station is a backup means of sharing
critical emergency information with the public, especially during power outages. AM radio
is accessible in most vehicles, as well as most battery operated radios. Thus, most
residents, including those who are actively evacuating, will be able to tune in to receive
safety information and evacuation guidance. When there is not an active emergency, the
radio station would provide emergency preparedness tips and resources 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
On April 21, 2026, staff presented the name “1680 AM: Local Emergency Updates” to
City Council as the proposed name for the radio station (Attachment B). In response, the
City Council asked that Staff first involve the community in the name selection by
conducting a contest. Potential names that were proposed by community members would
be considered by the City Council at a future meeting.
DISCUSSION:
Radio Station Name Contest Winner
City staff conducted a two-week contest between May 25 and June 8, 2026 that was
distributed to PVPUSD staff, students, and families. 18 responses were received and
presented to the Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) for their consideration.
Some of the top proposed names, in rank order, include:
1. Peninsula Emergency Radio Station (winner)
o EPC recommendation: Remove the word “Station” to be more succinct.
2. Emergency Radio PV (runner-up)
o EPC recommendation: Place the word “PV” before “Emergency Radio”
3. Radio RPV
Based on the proposed names, the EPC selected “Peninsula Emergency Radio Station”.
However, the EPC recommends removing the word “station” for succinctness. The
runner-up was “Emergency Radio PV”. However, the EPC recommends placing “PV”
before ”Emergency Radio” to emphasize that the station serves this region. The final
name, Radio RPV, was ranked third. While the name is easy to remember, it does not
immediately convey that the radio station is intended and licensed for emergency
preparedness and response messaging only.
If the City Council approves one of the three proposed names this evening, the winner
will be invited to a subsequent City Council meeting to be recognized.
In addition to the name, the EPC and City staff strongly recommend placing “1680 AM”
at the front and emphasizing the channel number in all outreach materials. The channel
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is the most critical component of the name and ensures residents can quickly recall and
find the radio station during an emergency.
Once the radio station name has been accepted by the City Council, the City will utilize
its regular channels to advertise the emergency radio station, including but not limited to:
• City social media, email listservs, website, quarterly
newsletter, My RPV app, weekly reports, City Council
meetings, and RPVtv Channel 33
• EPC booths, monthly messages, and meetings
• Flyers and banners at City facilities
• Messaging to community groups and organizations to
share with their networks
• Signage on all major egress routes in the City and,
where possible, within neighborhoods, in coordination with
local businesses, nonprofits, Homeowners Associations,
and Neighborhood Watch.
To support outreach efforts, the EPC developed a “Emergency Radio Subcommittee” to
help review/develop outreach material and identify additional methods of distribution. The
subcommittee is comprised of three EPC members: Members van Biene, Nolen, and
Peterson.
Radio Station Broadcast Programming
Subsequent to City Council directive at its April 21 meeting, Staff reviewed the terms and
conditions of the FCC license obtained for the radio station and found that broadcast
programming cannot be utilized as broadly as anticipated. The radio station license is
limited and is known as an “Information Station” and per FCC guidelines can only be used
for travel, imminent danger or emergencies. Therefore, the radio station programming
can only be used for current or anticipated emergencies or hazards (including major road
closures), along with announcements of emergency preparedness, mitigation, response,
and recovery information, resources, and events.
In looking at alternative options for a less restrictive radio station with broad programming
capabilities, Staff found that there are no frequencies available for a regular radio station
that can broadcast 24/7, and if there was, it would typically cost millions of dollars to obtain
such a license in Los Angeles County.
The FCC license parameters align with the current MOU in place between the City and
PVPUSD, so no additional changes are needed on the use or implementation procedures.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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Training
City staff is actively training on how to upload messaging to the radio station and is
incorporating training material and radio procedures into the City’s Emergency Operations
Center Position Binders and in SharePoint. As part of this effort, emergency templates
and scripts will be developed to ensure timely uploading of emergency messages.
Back Up Communication
Information can currently be uploaded physically to the radio station using a flash drive
or online. However, staff are actively looking at developing a digital radio connection to
allow for information to be uploaded to the radio station when power is out, without
physically going to the location, ensuring reliability and efficiency of the radio station.
CONCLUSION:
Ensuring a sound outreach strategy is critical to the success of the City’s emergency AM
radio station, helping inform both City staff and the public about the radio station and its
purpose. The City Council is being asked to approve the radio station name as 1680 AM:
Peninsula Emergency Radio and receive and file information on a regular radio station
broadcast.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Approve the runner up name: 1680: PV Emergency Radio, or an alternative name.
2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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