Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Rancho Palos Verdes public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
5 issues in water utilities with high priority
Cal Water Meter Fees and Downsizing
When a feeder line failed, some residents went over 24 hours without water and got no reverse-911 alert until more than 12 hours in. The committee added a Cal Water incident review to future agendas to push the utility on better notifications and repair timelines.
Wireless Facility Code Amendments / Cell Coverage
The zoning code update subcommittee will take on the wireless ordinance update, with the commission hoping to avoid 'rubber stamping' after-the-fact wireless facility applications. Commissioners discussed using ad hoc committees as a flexible 'quick reaction force' for upcoming issues.
Southern California Edison power outages and traffic signal failures
Committee members report a sharp increase in unexplained power outages this year — one member counted four — and a July failure that knocked out Crenshaw Boulevard traffic signals, gridlocking major intersections with no one directing traffic. The city is training rangers and public safety liaisons in flagger duty, and a peninsula-wide utility outage response plan is proposed.
LACSD Sewer Line Repair Coastal Permit
The aging 1950s sewer line running under Trump National Golf Club and Ocean Trails Reserve is being repaired to prevent sewage leaks into the ocean, with about 0.8 acres of temporary habitat impact offset by a six-acre restoration site.
Landslide water reuse feasibility
A joint FAC/IMAC subcommittee spent months studying whether the roughly one million gallons a day pumped from the Portuguese Bend landslide could be sold for irrigation to golf courses and neighboring agencies. The report says it's technically feasible and could net about $2.2 million a year with grants — but Prop 218, potential public-utility status, electricity costs, and unknown state and local water regulations make it risky. The committee filed the report for the council to decide whether to pursue it further.