Norco council unanimously ratifies emergency proclamation for Glenwood Drive slide

Norco City Council on Nov. 19 unanimously approved Resolution 2079 ratifying a local emergency proclamation for the Glenwood Drive slide, clearing the way for immediate temporary repairs and the pursuit of state disaster assistance.

The action, introduced by the city’s director of civil defense and disaster, was framed as time-sensitive to preserve eligibility for assistance from Cal OES. “I proclaimed an emergency,” the director said, noting the proclamation corrects the event date to Nov. 12 and must be ratified by the council within seven days to meet state deadlines.

Councilors were told the short-term plan is to install large rock-filled baskets and backfill beneath the roadway to prevent further erosion while a permanent design is developed after full soil testing. Staff estimated about $220,000 for the temporary repairs and said a full permanent repair could be on the order of $500,000 depending on soil conditions.

Staff identified Anderson Pacific as the geotechnical contractor under consideration and said Fish and Wildlife has been consulted because a stream runs below the slide area. The director said the city intends to use a time-and-materials contract for the temporary work under emergency procurement rules and expects Anderson Pacific to be able to mobilize within about two weeks, weather and holiday schedules permitting.

On financing, staff described the reimbursement process through Cal OES: the city submits damage estimates to the county, which uploads them to the Cal OES portal; a local liaison is then assigned and the state tracks actual costs as they develop. The council was advised to track staff time and any overtime associated with the response because overtime is recoverable under state rules; the finance manager has set up a project code for the event to capture costs.

Staff also said the emergency proclamation must be renewed every 60 days while fiscal emergency conditions persist; temporary procurement emergency rules would otherwise require more frequent renewals during the procurement period. Councilors asked about detour and access plans and were told staff will coordinate traffic control and outreach to affected neighborhoods as construction details solidify.

A councilor moved to adopt Resolution 2079; the motion was seconded and the council voted to ratify the proclamation unanimously. The meeting adjourned after members thanked staff for the rapid response ahead of the holidays.

What happens next: staff will move to execute temporary repairs, continue soil testing to define permanent work, submit damage assessments to the county for Cal OES review, and return to the council with updates as costs and designs evolve.