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2023 Community Updates Archive
See below for 2023 Community Updates.
December
Water Main Break Along Palos Verdes Drive South
Cal Water is responding to a water main break reported at approximately 1:20 p.m. along Palos Verdes Drive South near Wayfarers Chapel. The break is impacting residents in the area of Seaview, Portuguese Bend Community Association, Portuguese Bend Beach Club, and The Estates at Trump National Golf Club. Repairs are expected to be completed by approximately 8 p.m. tonight.
For the latest updates, please visit CalWater.com/RPV.
12-20-23
December 19 City Council Meeting
On December 19, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council voted to extend the local emergency declaration that was put in place to bolster the City’s response to accelerated movement in the landslide complex through February 10, 2024. The declaration must be renewed every 60 days to remain in effect. A moratorium on construction in the landslide complex is in place through October 2, 2024.
Last night’s discussion included a presentation from the City’s geologist, who reported observing continued and expanded ground movement. The accelerated activity is believed to be the result of the 2022-23 rainy season, which saw more than 200% of the historical average rainfall. The City is closely monitoring impacts from this week’s storm and is on call to respond to any potential emergencies.
Within the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, where about 7 miles of trails have been closed due to land movement, City staff and Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy volunteers are prioritizing trail maintenance to repair fissures and erosion to keep as many trails within the landslide area open as possible. Find the latest trail updates at rpvca.gov/trailalerts.
Watch a recording of the discussion on the City website.
New and Improved Land Movement Page
The City’s webpage for all things related to the landslide complex, rpvca.gov/landmovement, has a new look. The redesigned webpage is easier to read and navigate, with an expanded FAQs section and an embedded search box for the landslide GIS map. This one-stop shop is where you can find the latest news, plus landslide survey data, background information, updates from the RPV Landslide Complex Working Group, and information on how to get in touch with the City. Share your feedback on the land movement webpage to landmovement@rpvca.gov.
12-13-23
On December 19, 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 60 days to remain in effect. It was most recently renewed in November and is being considered at this time due to the cancellation of the January 2, 2024 City Council meeting. The Council will consider extending the local state of emergency to February 10, 2024. Please note that the renewal will not include the building moratorium in the landslide complex, which is in place until October 2, 2024.
Staff will also provide an update on various activities and solutions to address the land movement since the local state of emergency was declared, as well as trail conditions. A staff report with more information is available on the City website.
Meeting Info
The City Council meeting will take place on December 19 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, fill out a speaker slip if you are attending in person, or complete a form online at RPVca.gov/Participate to participate virtually or leave a pre-recorded voice message.
If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in programs, services, activities and meetings, contact the City's ADA Coordinator/Risk Manager at 424-327-3982, ADARequests@RPVca.gov, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, at least 48 hours in advance to request an auxiliary aid or accommodation.
November
November 14 City Council Meeting
At the November 14, 2023 meeting, the City Council voted to extend both the local emergency declaration and the building moratorium that were put in place on October 3 to bolster the City’s response to accelerated movement in the landslide complex. Both require renewal to stay in effect long-term.
The moratorium on new construction in the landslide complex has been approved by the California Department of Housing and Community Development and is now enforceable. It will be in place through October 2, 2024. The maximum the moratorium could be in effect if it were to be extended multiple times would be two years.
The local emergency declaration goes up for renewal every 60 days, so it is now in place through January 13, 2024. Because the first meeting in 2024 is likely to be canceled, the Council will consider extending it at the final City Council meeting of 2023 on December 19. Meeting information will be shared in a future update.
Last night’s discussion included a presentation from the City’s geologist on historical and recent activity in the landslide complex. City Staff also gave updates on short-term mitigation measures, including dewatering wells, filling fissures, Cal Water’s installation of temporary, above-ground water pipes in a portion of Seaview, and other infrastructure repairs and upgrades.
Watch a recording of the discussion on the City website.
In addition to extending the local emergency declaration and the building moratorium, the Council directed the City Manager to send a letter to the Klondike Canyon Landslide Abatement District (KCLAD) stressing the importance to expedite mitigation measures and voted to send a follow-up letter to the California State Controller’s Office regarding KCLAD to help expedite response efforts.
New GIS Map
The City has created new interactive geographic information system (GIS) map with the boundaries of the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex, the Abalone Cove Landside Abatement District (ACLAD), and the Klondike Canyon Landslide Abatement District (KCLAD).
View the map at RPVca.gov/LandslideMap.
When viewing the map, click on the Map Layers icon in the upper right-hand corner, then click on the triangle symbol next to the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex layer to expand a dropdown menu with additional layers for the ACLAD and KCLAD.
Enter an address in the search bar in the upper left-hand corner of the map to see if it falls within the boundaries of the landslide complex, the ACLAD, or KCLAD.
Please note that you may be erroneously prompted to log in to view the map. If this happens, simply refresh the browser page and the prompt should go away. Our GIS vendor is working to resolve this issue.
Sandbags Available
Need sandbags to protect your property against runoff?
The City provides empty sandbags and sand for RPV residents to fill and make as needed.
Unfilled sandbags are located at the City Hall info desk and are available during regular business hours (7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday). There is a limit of 10 sandbags per household with valid ID or proof of residency. Fill sand is located at City Hall in a designated area for residents to use. Please bring your shovels and tools as they are not provided.
If you need additional bags, they can be purchased at local hardware stores. Read about sandbag placement tips.
Out of an abundance of caution, the City has temporarily closed about one mile of additional trail segments in the Portuguese Bend Reserve due to the potential for hazardous natural conditions, including rock falls, associated with increased land movement that has been observed in the greater Portuguese Bend Landslide area.
The additional closures include portions of Peppertree Trail and Ishibashi Farm Trail. See updated map below depicting all trail closures in Portuguese Bend Reserve.
As a reminder, these temporary closures have been implemented based on recommendations from the City's geologist, Cotton Shires and Associates. These trails are closed until further notice for public safety due to the potential for hazardous natural conditions associated with the active landslide, such as land movement, sink holes, unstable trails and surfaces, erosion, steep cliffs, and falling rocks.
The City is working with geologists and its land co-managers, including the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, and state and federal wildlife agencies, on solutions to restore public access, ensure public safety, and protect natural resources.
Thank you for your patience. For the latest updates on the status of trail closures, visit RPVca.gov/TrailAlerts.
For more information, please contact the City of Rancho Palos Verdes Recreation and Parks Department at Trails@RPVca.gov or 310-544-5260.
October
Earlier this month, the City Council declared a local state of emergency to bolster the City’s response to accelerated movement in the landslide complex. The Council also put a moratorium in place prohibiting new construction that may contribute to land movement.
As the City continues to closely monitor the movement and work on short-term solutions, both the local emergency declaration and the moratorium are due to be considered for renewal in the coming weeks. At a special meeting on November 14, 2023, the City Council will consider extending the local emergency declaration to January 13, 2024, and extending the building moratorium to October 2, 2024.
More information about the meeting and how to participate will be shared in a future update. A staff report about this topic will be published on the City website at RPVca.gov/Agendas on November 7, 2023. In the meantime, a Public Hearing Notice (PDF) about the proposed moratorium extension is being mailed to property owners in the landslide complex and is available on the City website.
If you have questions or comments about the local emergency declaration or the building moratorium, please email LandMovement@RPVca.gov.
Temporary Trail Closures in Portuguese Bend Reserve
Based on recommendations by Cotton Shires and Associates (the City's geologist), out of an abundance of caution, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has temporarily closed several trails in the Portuguese Bend Reserve due to the potential for hazardous natural conditions associated with increased land movement that has been observed in the greater Portuguese Bend Landslide area.
See map below depicting trail closures.
- Download Portuguese Bend Reserve Trail Closures Map (PDF)
- Download Cotton Shires Geologist Report (PDF)
Click image to open PDF.
These trails are closed until further notice for public safety due to the potential for hazardous natural conditions associated with the active landslide, such as land movement, sink holes, unstable trails and surfaces, erosion, steep cliffs, and falling rocks.
The City is working with geologists and its land co-managers, including the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, and state and federal wildlife agencies, on solutions to restore public access, ensure public safety, and protect natural resources.
Thank you for your patience. For the latest updates on the status of trail closures, visit RPVca.gov/TrailAlerts.
For more information, please contact the City of Rancho Palos Verdes Recreation and Parks Department at Trails@RPVca.gov or 310-544-5260.
Water Restrictions Notice Update
In the past few days, the City has received inquiries from residents regarding the recent water restriction notice.
First and foremost, please understand that the purpose of the City issuing this watering restriction is in the interest of public safety, as there are homes at risk of being red tagged and uninhabitable. In some areas of the Landslide Complex the water table is only 6’-8’ below grade, so these restrictions are to limit any activity that might exacerbate the land movement. The City is taking these preventative measures to minimize any additional property loss.
These restrictions are geared towards residential uses in the Landslide Complex. The notice was issued to properties within and outside (but in close proximity) of the Landslide Complex Boundaries. We realize that this may be causing some confusion.
If your property is outside the Landslide Complex, yet you received this notice, we request that you consider adhering to these practices as an added precaution at this time. However, if your property is inside the Landslide Complex boundaries, these restrictions need to be followed.
Although sprinklers/irrigation systems (including drip irrigation) must be turned off, the City will allow minimal hand watering, so long as this is not saturating lawns and is specifically directed towards individual plants.
That said, the City is not patrolling the area looking for violations nor will be issuing citations for non-compliance.
We are asking the community to work together using good judgment and common sense to minimize the use of water that has the potential to add to the ground water table.
We appreciate your compliance, as it will help the City address public safety concerns.
To help minimize additional land movement, today, City Manager Ara Mihranian implemented mandatory water restrictions for all properties in the landslide complex (see map below).
If you are a property owner within the bounds of the landslide complex, you may have received or will soon receive a Mandatory Water Restrictions Notice (PDF) advising you that you must 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 you experience more water loss than occurs due to evaporation, you must refrain from refilling your pool at this time, and consider emptying your pool to prevent water entering the ground. Please review the second page of the Mandatory Water Restrictions Notice for information on safe pool draining. Note that your pool must comply with all fencing requirements when it is empty.
The City reminds residents that these mandatory restrictions are temporary and are being implemented due to the City’s local emergency declaration to protect the health and safety of the public and to minimize additional damage to homes and infrastructure.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please email LandMovement@RPVca.gov.
How to Stay Prepared
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is closely monitoring land movement in the Portuguese Bend, Abalone Cove, and Klondike Canyon landslides that has accelerated in recent months. No evacuation warnings or orders have been issued at this time for the neighborhoods in and adjacent to the landslide complex. There are steps residents in the zones highlighted below can take to be prepared, should the situation change in the future.
View map at PVPready.gov.
Zones:
- RPV-E0155-A
- RPV-E0155-B
- RPV-E0165-A
- RPV-E0165-B
- RPV-E0170-A
- RPV-E0170-B
- (RPV-E0085 is the Portuguese Bend Reserve)
Know your zone. The City and our public safety partners use the Know Your Zone platform for evacuation planning. Find your zone by going to PVPready.gov and entering your address in the search bar on the Find Your Zone page. Once you have your zone number, save it in your phone or write it down and keep it somewhere that’s easy to find in an emergency, such as on your refrigerator or near the front door. If an evacuation warning or order is issued, the zone map at PVPready.gov will be updated in real time with instructions from authorities for the affected zones.
Assemble a go bag. Having a go bag ready and on-hand is an important step toward being ready for any disaster. Include essential items and important documents and keep it easily accessible so you can take it with you in the event of an evacuation. The Los Angeles County Fire Department has provided an Evacuation Packing List (PDF) to help residents prepare for an evacuation under multiple timeframe scenarios.
Sign up for emergency alerts. Make sure you and your family are registered for emergency alerts from Alert SouthBay. Sign up by texting “alertrpv” to 888-777 or going to AlertSouthBay.com.
Stay connected. In addition to communications from your homeowners association, make sure you are getting updates from the City.
The City is committed to keeping the community informed and has created a dedicated webpage at RPVca.gov/LandMovement with resident resources and answers to frequently asked questions, including information on how to request a property inspection by the Building and Safety Division or report a water leak to Cal Water.
Send questions to City staff by emailing LandMovement@RPVca.gov and get email updates by subscribing to the Land Movement listserv at RPVca.gov/Notify.
If you have concerns or new observations on your property, such as cracks or jammed doors and windows, or you would like to request an inspection, please contact the Building and Safety Division at 310-544-5280 or BuildingSafety@RPVca.gov (please include photos).
For urgent matters or observation of any sudden shifts on your property, please call 9-1-1.
Please report water leaks to Cal Water at 855-RPV-LEAK (855-778-5325).
If you suspect a natural gas leak, evacuate the area immediately, and from a safe location, call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200.
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Declares Local Emergency Due to Increased Land Movement
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has declared a state of local emergency due to accelerating land movement in the Portuguese Bend, Abalone Cove, and Klondike Canyon landslides.
The City Council voted October 3 to take the proactive step of declaring a local emergency to bolster the City’s ongoing response and allow staff to request state and federal assistance to address the landslide activity, which has damaged infrastructure and homes.
The Council also adopted an urgency ordinance putting a moratorium on new construction that may contribute to movement within the City’s larger complex of landslides on the south side of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Learn more about what these actions mean for RPV and the emergency response by reading this press release. Read the local emergency declaration and attachments by clicking the links below.
Want to know what Cal Water is doing to address water leaks in Rancho Palos Verdes, particularly amid increased land movement and rain? Check out the new Community Update Center and sign up for e-mail updates.
You’ll learn:
· How to report a leak.
· About reported, possible leaks and their status.
· What Cal Water is doing to address future water main leaks.
· How Cal Water is supporting the community.
September
With recent land movement activity, the City strongly recommends that property owners in the neighborhoods in and around the Portuguese Bend, Abalone Cove, and Klondike Canyon landslides 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 you have experienced some water loss, the City requests that you refrain from refilling the pools at this time and consider emptying your pool to prevent water entering the ground if cracking occurs. The City will reach out in a future correspondence about a possible pool draining schedule, so owners can start considering that next step.
The roadway is closed at the intersection of Dauntless and Exultant Drives for the foreseeable future.
Cal Water has indicated it will have staff on site 24/7 starting this weekend to respond as needed.
Cal Water has shared the following information with the City and residents:
California Water Service (Cal Water) is conducting a leak detection project in our Palos Verdes water system. The purpose of this project is to proactively identify and investigate unsurfaced leaks in an effort to maintain safe, clean, and reliable water service to all of our customers and to reduce water loss.
Beginning this week, E Source leak detection technicians will be walking through the service area to survey water hydrants, valves, and customer meters. They will listen for and identify unsurfaced water leaks using ground microphones and sounding rods. They will not need access to any other water system infrastructure or customer homes.
If you have any questions or concerns for Cal Water staff, please feel free to reach out to us at 310-257-1400.
To learn more about what we’re doing in Rancho Palos Verdes, visit our Community Update Center.