Quake Standards Stir Anger in Culver City

Culver City building owners claim they were misled when they were told the state required the city to pass earthquake safety standards for older buildings.

The owners have complained that the city’s new earthquake safety standards are costing them from $30,000 to $65,000 for buildings that are sometimes barely worth that much.

1986 Ordinance

When Culver City passed an ordinance in 1986 that forced dozens of landlords in older sections of town to either pay for costly repairs of tear down their buildings, council and staff members said the state was forcing the city to adopt a program to strengthen its potentially hazardous buildings.

State officials, however, say the state law encourages local governments to adopt programs to reinforce old buildings, but does not mandate them.

“The only mandate is that cities and counties notify building owners after it’s been determined that they own potentially hazardous masonry-construction building,” said Peter Arne Stromberg, a specialist with the state Seismic Safety Commission.

But City Atty. Joseph Pannone said Thursday that the law also requires a mitigation program to repair the buildings. Stromberg confirmed this last May, he added.

“In my discussions with Mr. Stromberg, he indicated to me that the interpretation I was making of the law was a correct interpretation,” he said. “That’s still where this office stands, unless Mr. Stromberg sends a letter indicating (otherwise).”

But Stromberg, who helped draft the law, said he has never told Pannone, nor anyone else, that a program to repair the buildings was required.

“There is a mitigation program required and that is notifying the owners of potentially hazardous buildings,” he said. “(The law) is very clear.”

About 40 unreinforced masonry buildings have been targeted and, so far, repair plans for the 10 to 15 buildings that pose the greatest danger have been submitted for approval, according to Ben Yousefi, a city building official.

‘I Was Upset’

George Kimura, owner of MGM Auto Body on Washington Boulevard, said repairs to an old building he owns there will cost him about $30,000.

When a city building official told him his building needed to be reinforced, “I was upset,” Kimura said. “I’m near retirement and I didn’t think I would have to do anything (more) with the building.”

Kimura said he reluctantly hired an engineer who prepared plans for strengthening the building, a one-car garage for brake and suspension work.

“It has to be done,” he said. “If we don’t and something should happen, we’re liable.”

Penny Bell, general manager of the Sagebrush Cantina on Culver Boulevard downtown, said that the engineering study alone cost her business $6,000, and the total repair bill could run as high as $40,000.

But she was not upset, she said.

“It hurts everyone financially, but in the long run it does make the buildings safer for customers,” she said.

Mayor Richard Brundo said on Wednesday he thought the repair program was both mandated and “in the best interest of our community.”

“I definitely support an ordinance that would protect the life and limb of the people in Culver City,” he said.

The merits of the ordinance have not been disputed, but some residents are disturbed by the manner in which it was passed.

“It’s much easier to come out against earthquakes than for them,” said Morris Marmon, a resident and local newspaper columnist. “But the question is, did the council play fair and open with the people in Culver City? My answer to that is no.”