Build Arroyo Simi Bridge Soon, Family Asks

Eight months after their 11-year-old son was found drowned in the rain-swollen Arroyo Simi, Dan and Laura Burchfield pleaded with the Moorpark City Council on Wednesday to quickly build a footbridge over the stream.

“I am here to tell you that we are playing Russian roulette with their lives,” Laura Burchfield told the council, referring to children who are sure to cut across the surging arroyo this winter to get to a local park.

Young Joel Burchfield died wading through the stream near Arroyo Vista Community Park on his way home from school in January.

Joining the Burchfields in their plea for action were four young friends of the dead boy--all sobbing as they recalled the day of his death--and parents whose children knew Joel as well.

Mother Rebekah Evans, a neighbor of the Burchfields, recalled the tears of local children as they learned of Joel’s death.

“I heard a wail come from deep down in their souls,” she said.

Council members, themselves frustrated by their inability to get a bridge built, pledged action. They placed on next week’s council agenda a proposal to buy land that would allow the project to be built.

Efforts to build the bridge near Liberty Bell Road have been stalled as the city has laboriously negotiated with Southern California Edison about gaining access to the new bridge through its property.

Placing blame on Edison, Councilman John Wozniak blasted the electric company. The bridge already would have been built if not for Edison’s foot-dragging, he said.

“The ball is in their court and has been for months,” Woznaik said. “They are holding the children of Moorpark hostage.”

Edison Regional Manager Rudy Gonzales said Wozniak’s representation was not accurate. Gonzales said the company would be happy to give the city the easement across utility property that officials need for the bridge.

But the city has been unwilling to comply with conditions Edison has placed on granting the easement. The company wants unlimited access to its property on a road that runs through the park. But the city has balked at that condition, saying it has nothing to do with the footbridge issue.

“Our argument has always been, just give us access along the existing road,” Gonzales told city Public Works Director Ken Gilbert in a hallway conversation outside the council meeting.

But Gilbert was adamant: “You want the city to give you prime access to your property through that road. . . . The access is irrelevant.”

Edison wants the increased access to help it develop its property, where the company hopes build batting cages and a golf driving range.

City officials had hoped to have the footbridge ready before the upcoming rainy season, but conceded this summer that they would not be able make that deadline.

Unable so far to reach an agreement with Edison, city officials have had an appraiser study the disputed property as a first step toward condemnation proceedings.

City Manager Steven Kueny said Wednesday that the appraisal was finished, although he declined to reveal the results.