Landslide Emergency Update

On November 19, the City Council will receive an update on the City's efforts to slow movement in the Portuguese Bend landslide area and prepare for the rainy months. Dewatering efforts by the City and the geological hazard abatement districts in combination with a dry summer have significantly reduced ground movement.

Since early September, the overall average rate of movement has decelerated by 76% to 3.3 inches per week. The Klondike Canyon Landslide stopped moving in mid-October. The landslide complex as a whole is still moving approximately 25 times faster than it was two years ago.

The Council will also receive an update on the City's Voluntary Property Buyout Program and a comprehensive look at the costs of responding to the landslide emergency. Staff anticipates that by the end of this fiscal year in June 2025, the City's landslide response will reach an estimated $43.6 million since October 2022.

Finally, the Council will consider the extending the local emergency declarations in the landslide area that were put in place to bolster the City's response to the land movement and utility shutoffs. Both declarations must be extended every 60 days to remain in effect.

A staff report (PDF) with more information is available on the City website.

Meeting Info

The meeting will take place on November 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. 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. Email your comments on this topic to [email protected].

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, [email protected], 30940 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, at least 48 hours in advance to request an auxiliary aid or accommodation.