In late 2023, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes partnered with Tripepi Smith on a strategic communications initiative aimed at keeping residents informed about the accelerating movement, impacts and mitigation efforts in the ancient Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex.
Land movement has long been a challenge for Rancho Palos Verdes, due to its location within an active landslide zone. But the exceptionally wet winters of 2023 and 2024 caused a rapid acceleration in movement, threatening local property and infrastructure and highlighting the need for timely, transparent and effective communication.
To support these efforts, Tripepi Smith designed, launched and helped the City maintain a dedicated land movement webpage to serve as a central hub for residents and stakeholders to find regular updates and key information. The Tripepi Smith team also provided media relations and outreach support, graphic design services, A/V meeting support and more.
Notably, in September 2024, when hundreds of homes in the City lost power and natural gas service due to the landslide, Tripepi Smith produced timely outreach materials, including educational handouts about residential generator systems and emergency resources and an informative door hanger delivered to impacted residents.
“Throughout this crisis, the City has prioritized clear and proactive communication. It has been essential to the safety and well-being of our community,” said Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager Ara Mihranian. “Tripepi Smith has been an invaluable partner in helping us deliver timely, accurate and compassionate messaging during this challenging time. Their expertise has helped raise awareness, build trust and keep our community informed every step of the way.”
Senior Business Analyst Peter Johnson leads the project, leveraging his background in journalism and crisis communications to best support the City, alongside Principal Jennifer Vaughn, Junior Business Analysts Kara Cato and Erin Pinkelman and the Tripepi Smith Design Team, led by Creative Director Kevin Bostwick.
“Partnering with the City on this complex issue has been hugely meaningful and rewarding for our entire team,” said Peter. “The City’s unwavering commitment to keeping its residents informed, engaged and prepared is truly admirable. We’re honored to support their mission to educate and protect the community.”
For more information regarding the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex, please visit the City’s website.
About the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes (City) is a scenic, upscale, residential coastal community, with a population of approximately 42,000, located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula of southwestern Los Angeles County.
About Tripepi Smith
Tripepi Smith is a California-based marketing, technology and public affairs firm that serves for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage to agencies seeking to leverage the internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, aerial imagery, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith’s diverse clients include: City of American Canyon, City of Calabasas, City of Culver City, City of Cupertino, City of Daly City, City of Duarte, City of Grover Beach, City of Indian Wells, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lake Forest, City of Livermore, City of Malibu, City of Napa, City of Palmdale, City of Paramount, City of Tracy, CalChoice Energy Authority, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Rowland Water District, California City Management Foundation, Renne Public Law Group, West Coast Arborists, Scripps College, Blind Children’s Center and Climatec.