City Council Meeting Highlights

On March 21, the City Council held a public hearing to seek feedback on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project, which aims to significantly slow the landslide by removing groundwater and preventing rainwater from entering the earth.

Staff provided an overview of the Draft EIR, which found that the project would have less than significant impacts on the environment associated with construction, including temporary and permanent loss of habitat for sensitive species. These impacts would be mitigated through avoidance and minimization methods, habitat restoration, and close biological monitoring, with approval from state and federal wildlife agencies per the City’s Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan.

The Council discussed feedback from the public, including questions about native vegetation that will be planted in the surface drainage system, which will convey rainwater to the ocean and prevent it from percolating underground.

After the public comment period ends on April 14, the City's environmental consultant will review the comments, respond to them, and make any final revisions to the report. A Final EIR will go before the City Council for certification at a future meeting, likely in summer 2023. Certifying the EIR does not approve the project, which is still subject to permitting by the City and other regulatory agencies.

To learn about the landslide, the project, and the Draft EIR, visit rpvca.gov/landslide. Email your comments on the Draft EIR to publicworks@rpvca.gov.

For all City Council actions from the meeting, watch video at rpvca.gov/agendas.