A special meeting was held on April 29 in order to discuss the Bluff Rehabilitation Project and possible alternatives to what is already being done, ultimately resulting in a temporarily halt to construction.

The meeting, led by 2nd District Councilmember Suja Lowenthal and 3rd District Councilmember Gary DeLong, was prompted when Long Beach resident Gordana Kajer approached the Council on April 22 with a report and concerns regarding the use of shotcrete—or sprayed concrete, as pictured below from Kajer’s presentation—to rehabilitate the bluff.

The $6.8M rehabilitation began in 2007 with the specs adopted for the area around 12th Place and moving forth from there. The concern arose when bluff erosion began causing sidewalk damage and limiting public access, while also increasing the potential for public safety concerns. However, many residents became concerned as construction began to show just what the bluff would look like: a sprayed concrete mess, or what Seamus Innes of the Surfrider Foundation called “prison-esque” at the meeting.

“I would like it to be made clear that the reason we are here is that the project as it is currently standing is not consistent with the surrounding communities,” Kajer said at the most recent meeting, “It does have adverse affects on the environment—that is clear. The question is what can be done to mitigate the impacts.”

Presenting a letter from Dr. David Revell of Environmental Science Associates in San Francisco—who also appeared at the special meeting—Kajer noted that the shotcrete is used for bluffs which receive multiple wave crashes against its facade. However, our bluff is set back from the coastline, opening up possibilities that include vegetation-based geotextile erosion control that, after a few years of growth, would have the bluff filled with plants instead of a concrete slope.

“[The bluff] seems rather sheltered from wave action that would accelerate bluff erosion,” Revell stated in his letter. “[I]t seems that there may be some alternatives to the current shotcrete wall that may be more aesthetically pleasing, and less expensive while still providing bluff stabilization benefits.”

One of Dr. Revell’s proposed alternatives.

In a 7-0 vote, the Council agreed to halt the construction for 45 days at what could amount to $100,000, a note of concern brought up by Lowenthal, who had hoped that the funds would be found within the contingency monies of the project but Assistant City Manager Suzanne Frick was unable to confirm.

Though the 45 day hiatus has been called, it is unclear where the project will go as City staff begin looking at possible alternatives.