Carlsbad City Council Debates Landslide Repairs

SAN DIEGO -- The Carlsbad City Council is scheduled to debate Tuesday whether to spend $900,000 to make repairs along La Costa Avenue, where a landslide is destroying part of the Marbella condominium complex.

Although the item is on the council's agenda, there has been no legal settlement between the city and the complex's homeowners association, lawyers for both parties told the North County Times.

An agreement is needed before any work can begin on private property, though work can start on the city-owned roadway, City Attorney Ronald Ball told the Times.

Condominium residents have blamed a leaking city fire hydrant or broken water main for causing the slide in early March, the Times reported.

City officials dispute that, contending that record-setting winter rains caused the damage.

Eight condominiums in the complex have been damaged beyond repair.

The homeowners association and one of the residents have filed claims against the city totaling $8.1 million.

The $900,000 repair request the council will consider Tuesday is an estimate of what it will cost to fund the investigation, analysis and construction work, the Times reported.