To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: GREG KAPOVICH, WATERFRONT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
TITLE
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ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2510-074 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE FY 2025-26 LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM ASSISTANCE GRANT AGREEMENT FROM THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION TO FUND A SEA LEVEL RISE ASSESSMENT FOR ALL PROPERTIES WITH A COASTAL ZONING DESIGNATION AS REQUIRED BY SENATE BILL 272 AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE APPLICATIONS, CONTRACTS, AGREEMENTS, AND AMENDMENTS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE GRANT
ADOPT BY 4/5THS VOTE AND BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2510-075 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 BUDGET MODIFICATION TO ALLOCATE $500,000 FROM THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION FOR LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM ASSISTANCE
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2023, the State enacted Senate Bill (SB) 272 requiring all local jurisdictions to conduct sea level rise assessments for all properties with a Coastal Zoning designation. Pursuant to SB 272, the City must complete the assessment and obtain California Coastal Commission (CCC) approval of an amended Local Coastal Program (LCP) reflecting the results of the assessment by January 1, 2034. To offset the costs associated with the assessment work, staff submitted a proposal to the CCC’s LCP Local Assistance Grant program in May 2025 requesting the maximum funding award of $500,000. The City’s grant application was approved by the CCC Executive Director and a grant agreement has been prepared for consideration of approval.
Staff recommends the City Council approve the Grant Agreement and authorize the preparation of a request for proposals (RFP) to identify qualified consultants to perform the required coastal assessments. The grant funds will support the necessary technical studies across the coastal zone and help reorganize the City’s LCP to improve its readability and usability.
BACKGROUND
In 1980, the City of Redondo Beach adopted a LCP to guide development within the City's coastal zone, including King Harbor and the coastal areas south of the Pier. In October 2013, the Governor of California signed Assembly Bill (AB) 691 into law, which required all local trustees of state lands to complete an assessment of the impact of sea level rise on those lands. The Redondo Beach King Harbor Marina is considered state lands and was subject to the sea level rise assessment requirement. In July 2019, the City successfully prepared a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment (SLRVA) for the King Harbor Marina, which was trusted to the City by the State. The SLRVA assessed the effects of sea level rise by the years 2030, 2050, and 2100 satisfying the requirements of AB 691. In October of 2023, the California Governor signed SB 272 into law, requiring all local jurisdictions to develop a more comprehensive sea level rise assessment that expands the assessed area to include the entire coastal zone. SB 272 requires compliance and CCC approval by January 1, 2034.
The Local Assistance Grant is administered by the CCC and is available to local entities to fund LCP updates. On February 18, 2025, the City Council passed Resolution No. CC-2502-005 authorizing staff to apply for this grant to bring the City’s LCP into compliance with SB 272. This grant will provide funding to conduct the technical studies needed to assess sea-level-rise and coastal hazards for all land within the coastal zone. The method by which sea level rise is measured has been adjusted since the City’s 2019 SLRVA, and the funding will also cover updating the original study of King Harbor. The grant will also fund a general reorganization of the City’s LCP, which is difficult to navigate in its current form for City staff, CCC representatives, and prospective developers. This effort will ensure the City’s LCP remains useful and can be interpreted more quickly and accurately in the future by all stakeholders.
In May 2025, City staff applied for a California Coastal Commission Local Coastal Program Local Assistance Grant of $500,000 to amend the City’s certified LCP. CCC's Executive Director has approved the City's proposal and the CCC has sent the final Grant Agreement.
Approval of the Grant Agreement would authorize City staff to administer the grant, which would include the preparation of an RFP to attract a qualified consultant to assist with completing all relevant grant deliverables in close coordination with the CCC. The deliverables include conducting technical studies to inform necessary LCP updates, creating a draft and final LCP that focuses on sea level rise adaptation and coastal resiliency planning, and providing comprehensive document reorganization to enhance the usability of the LCP.
Key Anticipated Milestones and Deliverables
• October 2025: Council considers approval of the grant agreement
• December 2025: Following approval, draft and release the RFP for qualified consultants
• December 2025 - January 2026: Advertise the RFP
• February 2026 - March 2026: Selection of qualified consultant
• April 2026 - May 2026: Draft consultant agreement
• June 2026: City Council consideration of approval of consultant agreement
• July 2026 - April 2027: Complete necessary studies and identify necessary LCP updates including changes for document reorganization
• August 2027: Draft the LCP
• September - October 2027: Harbor Commission review of the draft LCP, City Council review, CCC review for comments
• November 2027: City Council adoption of updated LCP
• December 2027: CCC Final adoption of updated LCP grant
At this time, staff is requesting Council approve a resolution to accept the CCC’s LCP Local Assistance Grant Agreement and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to administer the Agreements as well as authorize a FY 2025-26 budget modification resolution to allocate $500,000 in grant funding to assist the City in updating its Local Coastal Plan.
COORDINATION
The Grant Agreement and Resolutions have been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. The Waterfront and Economic Development Department Coordinated with the Community Development Department and the California Coastal Commission to secure this grant funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The $500,000 of grant funding from the CCC’s LCP Local Assistance Grant Program will be used to perform sea level rise assessments in the City’s coastal zone and update the City’s Local Coastal Plan.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Reso - No. CC-2510-074 Approving the Local Coastal Assistance Program Grant Agreement and Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Administer the Agreement
• Reso - No. Reso CC-2510-075 Budget Modification Allocating Coastal Commission LCP Assistance Grant 2025-2027