City May Change Seismic Standards

The City Council is scheduled today to consider altering seismic standards.

The measure requires chimneys damaged in the Northridge earthquake to be fully rebuilt instead of patched. For example, if a portion of the top of a chimney fell off, the owner must rebuild the entire top portion.

Owners are not required to rebuild the entire chimney unless most of it fell down or there was damage to the interior portion, where fires are built.

While it is difficult to construct a chimney to withstand more violent earthquakes, it is possible to build one to minimize damage that occurs in a temblor, said Kerry Murford, assistant director of public works.

The ordinance would also require residents to obtain permits from the city to rebuild walls more than four feet high. Current building code requires a permit for walls six feet high and taller.