PVE Community Newsletter

Serving Lunada Bay, Malaga Cove, Montemalaga and Valmonte

PV Peninsula Cities Community Update: LINK

Claim #1: "Fire hydrants served by CalWater have been assessed and are fully operational”

Where are the records from CalWater that show when PVE hydrants were "assessed and operational", that show the extent and timeliness of this “assessment”?

Claim#2: “Los Angeles County Fire Department annually inspects fire hydrants on the Palos Verdes Peninsula."

Where are the records from LA County Fire that show what was evaluated in the inspections, the results and the when these inspections occurred?

TRUST BUT VERIFY

These are just two examples of many questions left unaddressed, such as ‘what is the water source of our hydrants since both the PVE and PV Reservoirs are abandoned.

The LA City Mayor and LA Council chose not to ask crucial rudimentary questions of their service providers, like Cal Water, resulting in 18 deaths.

PVE Council has the luxury of hindsight to ask questions and save lives.

What happened to PVE’s Reservoir?

Did you know PVE has a local reservoir below Via Del Monte? In 2016, the reservoir was taken offline due to a breach (unauthorized access to drinking water).

• July 2016: PVE reservoir breach discussion (LINK start time: 24:14)

• Feb 2017: Per Cal Water, the reservoir is offline with likely plans to abandon. (LINK)

• Jan 2025: PV Fire Chief states PV reservoir (in RHE) is empty LINK (min 8)

We lost local control of our water, when both the PVE and PV reservoirs were abandoned.

What is the status today of the PVE reservoir and should we have a locally controlled reservoir?

Seven years ago (2017) West Basin Water Committed to Council (VIDEO) to Drought-Proof our Water Supply as a rationale to substantially increase our fees.

Was this done?

Now, the CA Water Board wants to impose a 35% reduction in water for PV. LINK

Why isn’t the Council inviting our supplier, West Basin Water, back to hold them accountable?

Council Reduces 200’ Clearance to 20’ and Pays more than RPV

Rancho PV spents less than PVE for fire clearance. RPV is 3 times the size of PVE

• Rancho PV spent $623,000 last year for fire abatement, including the use of goats LINK. RPV is triple (13.5 sq miles) the size of PVE (4.5 sq miles).

• PVE contracts (LINK) at a cost of $700,000 per year for Fire Abatement.

PVE contacted 125+ contractors to find someone willing to do a Tree Inventory. LINK

Should we try equally as hard to find affordable fire trimming services for the full 200 foot barrier recommended by LA Fire so they can protect our homes in case of a fire?

The PV Cities Emergency Preparedness Committee concluded in their study LINK (page 9) that fire abatement trimming was a priority for fire safety, yet PVE has not prioritized it.

Residents have been seeking Council support for fire abatement since 2023 LINK

PVE only contracts for a 20 feet protective barrier for our homes LINK, however, LA County Fire Recommends a 200 foot Trimming Barrier (see below)

Recommendations to Increase SAFETY

#1: PVE Needs a Safety Committee

Replace the quarterly Traffic Committee with a Monthly Safety Committee, to prioritize and mitigate ALL safety risks, including traffic. Too many questions about safety go unaddressed.

Risks include: fire, slides, crime, flood/water intrusion, crime, traffic, earthquakes, etc.

#2: Publicize Crime Statistics

Monthly crime statistics reporting was vacated in 2023, and again in 2024. Residents are entitled to critical facts to assess adequacy of personal safety precautions.

#3: Provide a “State of the City’s Safety” Monthly Update

Police and Fire can provide the monthly update at Council meetings. Crime spikes should be publicized and mitigated.

Residents should also be informed about arson and fire statistics. These stats (including arson) have been vacated since Oct 2024. LINK Requests have been made to restore transparency.

#4: Reduce Trail Access during Red-Flag Fire Warnings

Put up chains and “no access” signs across major trailheads during red-flag fire warnings and potentially cameras on the trails monitored by police

Even without enforcement, this will reduce foot traffic and risk, yet require little cost/effort.

#5: Update planting requirements for fire hardening

Update the Designated Tree List, Planning Commission’s required planting for privacy screening and any landscaping plan approvals.

Request PVHA (Homes Association) also require fire hardening in their landscaping plan approvals.

Residents are required to plant new trees for development projects and the species must adhere to the designated tree list. Eucalyptus is the designed tree for 15 PVE streets. LINK

Eucalyptus trees increase fire risks by stoking fires.

Jan 15: Brian Kane, the PV Fire Captain, stated: “Eucalyptus trees provide the highest risk of ember casting. 55 mph winds can cast embers 2-5 miles, starting more fires.” VIDEO (starts at minute 8)

#6: Dust off the Safety Element and Tax Dollars Effectively

Nov 2020: PVE paid a consultant to provide an independent review of safety risks and actions the city can take to mitigate risk. This document is called the “Safety Element”. (agenda #6)

Oct 2023: The final Safety Element (agenda #8) contains recommendations for city safety on page 46.

Council approved the document, but declined to take the recommended actions in the Safety Element. Presentation LINK (discussion at 2:29)

Tax dollars well spent?

Resident Inquiries Sent to City about Fire Safety

Sent to City Council 1/11/25 - Results to be published

Mayor Lozzi and City Councilmembers,

Would you be willing to include these Q&As in the city's next newsletter?

Fire Preparation / Mitigation:

• The PV Emergency Preparedness committee's report emphasized the need for fire abatement cutting as a primary mitigation (page 9).  PVE provides 20' trimming of perimeter trimming around our properties.  Will PVE reconsider meeting the County's recommended 200' cutting to provide the protective barrier LA County Fire department states they need to keep our homes safe?

• Is there a fire hydrant testing schedule with test results including testing dates and flow evaluations that can be published?

• What body of water is used as a source of water for our PVE hydrants? 

• Do we have documented validation there are adequate hydrants that reach all PVE homes close enough for the length of fire hoses at our fire station – that can be published?

• Are we requiring adequate fire standards in the Objective Standards for new buildings and requiring these development projects mitigate any risks they introduce?

• Are any of the PV Emergency Preparedness committee's  fire detection/notification cameras placed in PVE and is the coverage adequate? 

Emergency Response:

• Is there an evacuation plan that shows how long it will take for all residents to evacuate?

• If we evacuate all at once, how long will it take and how do we mitigate gridlock?

• If electricity is cut-off, is there backup power for cell towers (communication), the pumping stations and any other power needed to get the water through the hydrants from the source?

• Do we have a plan with the necessary resources identified to protect our homes from looters?

Jan 15th: Presentation by PV Fire Chief

Critical Questions Left Unanswered

Video start time at 8 minutes

• Water Pumping

  PV substantially relies on pumping to move water uphill. There is redundancy in the pumping stations if one goes down. [full vs. partial redundancy ?]

• Power: generator back up if electricity is cut

  • Backup power for communications (cell towers) was not discussed

  • It sounded like PV water facilities (all?) have generators for back up power, but duration of generation not discussed.

  • Testing of generators and practicing for an outage not discussed.

Palos Verdes Estates’ unique charm is reflected in its magnificent trees, ocean vistas, architecture, dedicated open space, protected coastal habitats, and scenic roadways. The PreservePVE Newsletters focus on land, good governance practices, safety, and community.

We are residents preserving and supporting our beautiful City

We love hearing from you

Newsletter subscription requests: Link

Comments: email Info@PreservePVE.org

Prior Newsletter Issues: LINK (bottom of page)

Disclaimer: LINK