Agoura Hills : Crews Begin Work to Prevent Mudslides
Work crews have begun winterizing an area prone to mudslides that in heavy rains could threaten homes in an eastern Agoura Hills neighborhood, city officials said.
The work, officials said, consists of laying plastic along the slope above Via Amistosa to prevent further erosion. It is expected to be complete by mid-December, Agoura Hills City Manager Dave Adams said.
The city has also begun working on a permanent solution to the mudslides. City officials said this involves installing pilings in the slope to stabilize it against future slides.
Officials said the work is designed to prevent damage to homes along Via Amistosa and on Calle Montecillo, a street located above Via Amistosa.
A mudslide destroyed two homes on Via Amistosa in February 1993. The slide has sparked various lawsuits, including one against the city by the two Via Amistosa homeowners.
The city, to settle the suit, agreed to purchase the two homes. But the city claims the county is responsible for the damage because it gave approval for the construction before the city incorporated in 1982. The city argues that a drainage system installed on the slope was faulty.
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