Comments Sought on Pier Rebuilding

The City Council has sent a set of recommendations on how to repair the wave-battered Ventura Pier to the city’s Community Affairs Commission.

The commission has been asked to solicit public opinion on whether the historic structure should be strengthened or extended using stronger materials such as steel or concrete.

The Ventura council decided at its meeting Monday that the commission would be instrumental in gathering residents’ ideas by serving as a clearinghouse for community views.

Nearly a quarter of the pier’s timber deck and supports, about 425 feet, was washed away when high waves pounded the 124-year-old landmark in December.

The damage was estimated at about $2.5 million. Insurance is expected to cover the cost of repairs so long as they stay under that amount.

The city hired a pier expert earlier this year to recommend ways to fix the structure and protect it from further storm damage.

Engineer Charles I. Rauw identified six options that range from leaving the structure as is to rebuilding a portion of its destroyed section with stronger materials.

City officials have recommended reinforcing and partially rebuilding the structure with steel supports.

Insurance would not cover the cost of rebuilding the pier to its original length of 1,958 feet. But it would allow the city to extend the pier an additional 160 to 300 feet.