Council approves biennial review for Trump National maintenance agreement after trail concerns

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council on June 2 approved an amendment to the 2018 restated declaration of restrictions with Trump National Golf Club to change the formal council review of trail and open‑space maintenance from every 12 months to every 24 months, while retaining a city‑triggered provision allowing earlier review if warranted.

Senior planner Amy Sarady told the council the proposed revision would “change it from a 12‑month period to a 24‑month period, unless the city determines that the review is warranted earlier,” and that the city and applicant would continue ongoing coordination and oversight between formal reviews. Sarady said the city is moving from an Excel‑based tracking method to an electronic maintenance‑tracking system and that public concerns may still be reported to staff at any time.

At public comment, the applicant’s representative, Lilia Meany, defended the company’s record, saying the maintenance team is in regular contact with city staff and is responsive to reports. “We are very, very open to hearing feedback,” Meany said, adding that staff and rangers can reach applicant personnel by phone or email when issues arise.

Several residents urged the council not to reduce oversight. Geotechnical engineer and Seaview resident Uday Patil said the eastern half of the Catalina Trail has been closed since 2021 after cracks were observed at the bridge approach and criticized the lack of permanent remediation. “I would really like you to give attention to this issue, and please open the trails as soon as you can,” Patil said. Other speakers submitted photographs and cited overgrown hedges, broken fence posts, trail erosion and delayed repairs.

City staff acknowledged the public concerns and described active coordination with the applicant and federal resource agencies to identify repair options for the Catalina Trail bridge, including site visits with the city geologist. Staff also said the new electronic system has been in place for over a year and has improved incident tracking and communication with the applicant’s maintenance team.

After councilmembers asked staff for more data on complaint volumes and ticket resolution rates, a council member moved to accept staff’s recommendation to change the formal review cycle to biennial and to have staff return with status updates. The motion passed on a roll call vote with Councilmembers Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis and Mayor Pro Tem Peristem voting yes.

The council’s approval modifies the formal review cadence but retains both ongoing coordination during the two‑year interval and the city’s authority to require an earlier formal review if problems or noncompliance are identified. Staff emphasized that residents can continue to report maintenance concerns at any time and that the city would continue work with the applicant and relevant agencies on the Catalina Trail bridge repairs.