Simi Standardizes Soil Study Guidelines : Seismic safety: The City Council’s goal is to help residents in hilly areas and near fault lines build more quake-resistant homes.

Hoping to help Simi Valley residents build earthquake-resistant homes, the City Council has adopted standardized guidelines for soil studies and quake repair.

For years the city has required such studies, called geotechnical reports, for all private developments in Simi Valley.

In addition, in-depth ground studies, called geological reports, are required for developments in hilly areas and in areas along the Simi-Santa Rosa fault.

In the past, however, consultants prepared these reports on their own, without any direction from the city.

“Many consultants have asked the city if we have guidelines, but until now we have not, so they have provided services on their own personal discretion,” Public Works Director Ron Coons told the council. “In some cases we believe better service could be given with these guidelines in place.”

According to the guidelines, consultants should check for liquefaction, soil composition, slope stability and the potential for ground ruptures.

The guidelines are not mandatory, but are meant to aid homeowners and consultants helping them to repair or rebuild after the Jan. 17 earthquake.

The guidelines direct consultants taking stock of earthquake damage to describe and draw in detail cracks and other earthquake damage, outline the possible causes of the damage and suggest what could be done to keep it from happening again.

Nine active earthquake faults run under Simi Valley, according to the city’s General Plan. The Northridge quake was the most severe in the city’s 24-year history, causing more than $350 million in damage.

At the city’s request, the State Department of Mines and Geology is conducting a special study of soil stability in a severely damaged area on the southeastern side of town.

The city requested the study after residents complained that large cracks under their homes were continuing to spread.

Geologists are monitoring the movement of the ground in the area, taking aerial photographs and testing the soil along the Arroyo Simi from Kuehner Drive to Stearns Street.

The study is scheduled to be completed by June.

At the Monday night meeting, a representative from a local geology company asked the council to postpone adoption of the new guidelines until after the state completes its study.

“You don’t know what this state study will turn up,” Jeff Holt of Mountain Geology told the council. “It would be good to wait and see what they find.”

But Mayor Greg Stratton said he is eager to put the guidelines in place, adding that they could be modified when the state study is completed.

“These guidelines are better than no guidelines at all,” Stratton said. “Maybe it’s not perfect but it is a step in the right direction.”