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Council approves increased grant-match commitment for Palos Verdes Drive South landslide effort amid financial concerns
Summary
After a lengthy presentation on monitoring and finances, the council approved increasing the city's match for a FEMA hazard mitigation grant application from $10 million to about $12.2 million to remain competitive for roughly $48 million in federal funding; council members voiced concern about impacts to the CIP and general fund.
City staff, project geologists and the finance director updated the council on the Greater Portuguese Bend landslide complex and asked the council to approve an increased local match for a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant application.
Geologists reported that pumping and dewatering efforts have reduced movement trends following an increase during the rainy season: new February data show a 4—5% reduction in the rate of movement, and monitoring indicates some areas (Klondike Canyon) show no measurable movement within instrument precision. Staff summarized that peak movement in July 2024 had reached multiple times the pre-reactivation rate and that mitigation work has reduced movement in portions of the slide.
Finance staff reported cumulative landslide-related costs from October 2022 through June 2026 of approximately $64.4 million, with about $44.9 million (70%) funded from city funds to date. Staff asked council to increase the city's matching commitment for a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) application from $10 million to roughly $12.2 million after the grant request and cost-benefit analysis were revised upward to $48.7—$48 million total project cost.
Council members engaged in extended deliberation about fiscal impacts. Council members expressed concerns that adding $12.2 million in committed matching funds over future fiscal years could constrain the city's capital improvement program and other services and emphasized the need for contingency and clearer funding sources if federal or state assistance were delayed or denied. Staff said committing the match is a grant application requirement; without it the submitted HMGP application would not proceed.
After discussion about options and risks, the council approved the staff recommendation to increase the commitment (roll call vote). Staff noted the match would be shown in five-year CIP planning as a committed amount but would only be appropriated in future budgets as appropriate; council members asked staff to provide status updates on grant review and alternatives.
The motion to split less-controversial items from the landslide funding discussion was used earlier in the meeting; the specific motion to increase the matching commitment carried on a roll call vote recorded in the transcript.
