RES-9498 Appreciation for Wayne Withers and George Liang Regarding Vista Royale LandslideRESOLUTION NO. 9498
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ORANGE DECLARING ITS
APPRECIATION FOR THE EFFORTS OF CITY
STAFF, SPECIFICALLY WAYNE WINTHERS AND
GEORGE LIANG, IN FAVORABLY RESOLVING
THE VISTA ROYALE LANDSLIDE FOR THE CITY
AND ITS RESIDENTS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ORANGE DOES HEREBY FIND,
DETERMINE, ORDER AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, beginning in approximately 1996, the earth underneath the Peralta Point
and Vista Royale housing tracts began to slide downhill imperiling numerous homes; and
WHEREAS, Wayne Winthers, Assistant City Attorney, and George Liang, Senior Civil
Engineer, were given the primary responsibility for City contact and response to neighborhood
concerns, for monitoring and minimizing the slide's damage to City facilities and the
neighboring homes and for assisting in the defense of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City was made a party to a lawsuit III which City of Orange
homeowners sought to recover damages to their property; and
WHEREAS, the City made a conscious decision to continue to inform and assist the
homeowners whenever possible through night meetings, phone calls and letters whenever
possible, despite the potential for additional liability exposure; and
WHEREAS, many of the homeowners commented to the City that they came to trust and
rely more on information provided to them by City staff, in particular through Mr. Winthers and
Mr. Liang, than on the information provided to them by their own attorneys and experts; and
WHEREAS, the City undertook extraordinary efforts to ensure the safety of persons and
property in the slide area and to ultimately permit the implementation of a grading plan that led
to remediation of the landslide, despite the potential for additional liability; and
WHEREAS, it is believed that the cooperative efforts of City staff, in particular the
efforts of Mr, Winthers and Mr, Liang, resulted in the City being able to settle with all the
plaintiffs for a relatively modest amount (approximately $425,000), half of which the City
required be used to stabilize the slide; and
WHEREAS, these efforts ultimately led to the stabilization of the slide, future
construction of new homes and the majority of the liability for damages ($10 million or more)
being assessed at trial to entities other than Orange; and
WHEREAS, through the efforts of City staff, and specifically Mr. Winthers and Mr.
Liang, the City was able to fulfill its obligation to provide protection to its residents, while at the
same time protecting the City's finances,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Orange
expresses its appreciation to Wayne Winthers and George Liang for their efforts in bringing a
favorable resolution to the Vista Royale landslide and to all other City staff who assisted in this
matter.
ADOPTED this 14th day of August, 2001.
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ATTEST:
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Cassandra J. Cat art, CIty Clerk, CIty of Orange
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted by the City
Council of the City of Orange at a regular meeting thereof held on the 14th day of August, 200 I,
by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: SLATER, ALVAREZ, MAYOR MUPRHY, COONTZ, CAVECCHE
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
Cassandra J. Cathc , City Clerk, City of Orange
Reso No. 9498 2 DAD