CYPRESS : Officials Draft Plan for Quake-Proofing
Property owners who fail to earthquake-proof their buildings may risk legal action under guidelines being considered by the City Council.
In 1986, the state Legislature enacted a bill requiring all cities to implement a plan that would force all property owners to fortify unreinforced masonry buildings. According to experts, these structures are considered the most unstable in an earthquake.
To comply with the requirement, city officials have drafted a “mitigation” plan that will be considered next month by the City Council. If the plan is adopted, a survey will be conducted to determine how many buildings need to be reinforced, said building official Tony Elmo. Owners will be notified if their buildings are not up to standard.
However, the city’s decision is not final. Residents are given a chance to appeal and automatically have more than six months to get their structure analyzed by a professional firm. But if mandated changes are not made, the case will be referred to the city attorney’s office for action, Elmo said.
Although a complete survey of the city has not been conducted, so far only two structures are considered unsafe, he said.
A public hearing on the ordinance has been scheduled for Aug. 3.
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