Malibu Road residents plead for city help as houses hang over ocean
City Manager Joe Irvin says beachfront owners are on their own, but there are only four qualified coastal engineers in all of Southern California — and none are returning calls.
By Hans Laetz
As more waves thundered ashore Monday night, beachfront residents along Malibu Road appealed to the city for help.
The storms two weeks ago undermined sand from beneath many of the houses along Malibu Road below Bluffs Park. More big waves and record high tides are coming as early as Tuesday morning.
City Manager Joe Irvin said the city cannot help private property owners generally. "The owners are responsible for taking care of their property.
"For residents with homes along the coast who are concerned about wave activity or erosion, I strongly encourage you to contact a qualified engineer now, have them evaluate your property and determine whether protective measures are necessary."
Jolie Busch [spelled phonetically] took those words hard.
She's a beachfront resident with a house that's in grave danger. Her house sits on pilings that used to sit on a beach that was 15 feet deep. There's no beach there anymore.
"They (the supports) are now completely exposed. I have concrete up in the air with a tiny little wood underneath.
"This appeared very dangerous to me, so about two weeks ago I went to the city. I told them what was happening about the amount of erosion on our beach, which I've heard is eight feet — it's probably more than that because I have 15 feet now exposed.
"They gave me a list of coastal engineers. I have called everyone on that list two to three times, and I've gotten not one phone call back.
"So Mr. Irvin," she politely continued, "your suggestion that we handle our own problem and call coastal engineers — I've tried. It's not working.
"So I'm asking for your help. I don't know what to do beyond what I've done."
At Malibu's city council meeting Monday night, details about one oceanfront disaster after another spilled out — destruction imminent up and down the beachfront.
Building consultant Don Schmitz says he has a client on the oceanfront next to Geoffrey's restaurant on Escondido Beach Road: "I have a client down in there who's processing emergency coastal development permits because of the damage to their seawall and their pool being destroyed and the house being red-tagged."
Schmitz said there are exactly four qualified coastal engineers in Southern California who can handle engineering needs, not only in Malibu but in Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Long Beach and Carpinteria. There's no solution to that.
People with houses suddenly hanging out into the churning ocean have nowhere to turn for engineering help.
You could hear the desperation in Jolie Busch's voice Monday night: "Maybe the Army Corps of Engineers — I don't really know what's available out there, but that's why I'm here.
"I'm asking for help, and I'm asking you to help me figure out how to prevent my house from falling into the ocean."
Monday night the city council declared a state of emergency for the entire city — not just for Malibu Creek, not just for the beaches.
There's going to be a public meeting today (Tuesday) at 3 p.m. at City Hall. This was scheduled as a meeting for people to learn about El Niño preparedness.
Well, El Niño is here now, and it's turning into a meeting about how local governments are responding.
Supposedly a Caltrans engineer will be there with information about the recent landslides and beach erosion problems that the state is working on.
Comments (2)
"only four qualified coastal engineers in all of Southern California". Imagine if cities, counties and state could work together. Every one of those entities has connections... incl the four qualified coastal engineers... to figure out where that career pipeline starts and where on the globe those experts are. For the beachside homeowners: reality is hitting within your lifetime. (aka now). The coastline (whether named Malibu or not) is changing. Changing in Hawaii and many other places. Your better investment would be inland/higher ground... instead of trucking in sand and rocks, which buys very little TIME. Building on sand- has never been & never will be- a forever idea. The legal liability of lives lost is coming closer. And it may not be the homeowner washed out to sea when the house collapses. Yet, the owner will carry all responsibility.
IT SOUNDS LIKE OUR "FEARLESS CITY COUNCL" IS HAPPY NOT TO BE USISNG THEIR SUPPOSED CONNECTIONS (IF ANY) WITH STATE LEADERSHIP, AND HAPPY TO WATCH FROM AFAR WHILE "ROMALIBU BURNS." FORGIVE THE TORTURED REFERENCE, PLEASE. ANYWAY, THIS IS ONE TIME THAT IS NOT A TIME TO "LOOK THE OTHER WAY," BUT TO TAKE AS MUCH ACTION AS POSSIBLE. DID WE NOT ELECT OUR CITY COUNCIL TO LOOK OUT FOR "WE THE PEOPLE?" WELL, MEMBERS O THE COUNCIL: "HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO SHOW YOUR STUFF AND MAKE US ELIEVE IN YOU." ARE YOU GUYS UP THERE IN SACRAMENTO LOBBYING FOR HELP? OR ARE YOU GOING TO LET THE WORLD BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WERE ALLEGEDLY BORN WITH SILVER SPOONS IN THEIR MOUTHS, THEREFORE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DOES NOT HAVE TO HIRE ENOUGH GEO ENGINEERS AND CONSULTANTS TO HELP US PROTECT THE HOMES IN WHICH WE'VE INVESTED SO MANY YEARS OF OUR LIVES, SO MUCH HOPE, AND SO MUCH ENERGY? THIS COMMENT SECTION SHOULD BE OVERFLOWING WITH OUTRAGE! WHY ARE WE JUST SITTING HERE DOING NOTHING? SAYING NOTHING? OUR CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGNS ON PROTECTING US. EXCUSE ME --- BUT -- I SEE NOTHIGN HAPPENING HERE. WHY NOT?