MOORPARK : 3 Engineers to Hear Landlord’s Appeal

Three retired civil engineers have been appointed to hear an appeal by a Moorpark landlord who has refused to make repairs of his earthquake-damaged building to city specifications.

Don Wokal, who owns a building in the 100 block of High Street in the city’s historic downtown, hired an engineer to repair the building soon after the Northridge earthquake in January, 1994.

But a structural engineer working for the city determined that Wokal’s plans to repair the two-story, non-reinforced masonry building would not protect it during another quake. Also, city inspectors say the building, despite continuing to house an operating print shop and a veterinarian’s office, is unstable and poses a threat to public safety.

Wokal was ordered to repair the building or have it demolished, but asked for a chance to appeal the decision.

Last week, the City Council appointed an appeals board of retired civil engineers from outside Moorpark to hear the case.

“It’s meant to be an impartial hearing based purely on the facts,” Councilman Scott Montgomery said.

The three men chosen to serve on the board were drawn from a list of civil engineers who offer their services in such cases, Montgomery said.

“What we have is a difference between our engineers and [Wokal’s],” he said. “This gives us a chance to have independent, unbiased professionals look at it. I talked to Mr. Wokal . . . and he was supportive of having professionals on the board.”