Wet, cloudy weather delayed for a few hours the removal of bamboo along the shoreline of Lunada Bay on Monday in Palos Verdes Estates, part of a legal settlement between the city of Palos Verdes Estates and out-of-town surfers claiming they were targeted by group of local surfers in a years-long legal battle.
But once some changes to the operation were agreed upon, a helicopter swooped in during the afternoon to remove 10 bundles of Arundo grass — and many more unexpected items.
In accordance with federal aviation regulations, the helicopter vendor delayed the flight, which was supposed to depart Monday morning from Torrance Airport.
The refueling area was moved to Ken Dyda Civic Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to city officials, and the landing spot was changed to the bluffs of Lunada Bay, according to Palos Verdes Estates City Manager Kerry Kallman.
“They were able to move the fuel truck over to the bluff top, and we were able to use that as our alternate landing site,” Kallman said. “So they landed and took the cables, and were able to mount 10 bundles of bamboo, or Arundo grass, and property, and drop it into the dumpsters.”
The prep work began on Friday, Kallman said. But Bennett Landscape found much more to move at the site, including “property” that had been there for an unknown period of time.
“There were kayaks and surfboards and barbecues and some chairs,” Kallman said.
The helicopter was essential to the “complicated operation,” Kallman said, but the bluff was not the ideal spot for landing.
“We didn’t want to use that as a landing zone, out of respect for the neighbors,” Kallman said. “But with the weather, (that) never broke up there, we just decided that we wanted to get this done today.”
The operation was part of a legal settlement between the city of Palos Verdes Estates and out-of-town surfers claiming they were bullied and harassed by a group of local surfers, known as the Lunada Bay Boys.
Because of the lawsuit filed in 2017 and the agreement reached in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2024, the city agreed to remove the bamboo, which Kallman said had been planted, carved out and used as a hangout area.
The settlement also required the city to include amenities on the bluff, which need to be completed by September 2026, that aim to make Lunada Bay more welcoming to visitors — including trail markers, benches, landscaping and a drinking fountain.
A “conceptual design” for the new amenities was approved by the Palos Verdes Estates City Council at its March 11 meeting.
The Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2024 also ordered the city to pay $1 to $4 million in attorney’s fees.
Kallman said around 30 to 40 people gathered to watch the helicopter operation on Monday.
“They seem to be enjoying the show,” Kallman said, adding it was “pretty spectacular.”