Officials Monitoring Movement Reported On South OC Coastline

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — San Clemente City Councilmembers will discuss a growing crack that was reported behind Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens during a special meeting Monday.

At the meeting, councilmembers will determine whether or not to enter into an emergency agreement with LGC Geotechnical Inc. to evaluate the stability of the cliff that the cultural center is built on.

If approved, the city would spend $75,000 on the first phase of the investigation and analysis, which includes soil borings, installing inclinometers and engineering analysis.

The money will be drawn from salary savings from the Public Works Administration Account, however, the future costs of the project are unknown, the city said.

The special meeting comes after representatives from the center notified the City of San Clemente of a crack that has been growing at the rear of the historic property since Sunday, April 16, according to a city staff report.

According to Casa Romantica, the crack is the direct result of recent heavy rains. During Tuesday's City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Steve Knoblock said the crack has grown larger multiple times since it first appeared.

City councilmembers meet for the special meeting at 5 p.m. Monday at San Clemente City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio.