City manager Stephen Rhodes declared a state of emergency Wednesday to help building owners affected by cliff erosion seek low-interest loans to cover expensive bluff repair work. Pacifica City Councilwoman Mary Ann Nihart explained the decision:

We’re not in a position right now where our streets or utilities are going to be immediately at risk, but we wanted to help the property owners as much as possible.

The city’s proclamation covers an the area from Manor Drive to Muscle Rock on Palmetto Ave., and must be approved at various governmental levels up to and including the Governor. If approved, it would allow: owners to apply for low-interest Small Business Administration loans; and, additional work to be undertaken immediately without the Coastal Commission’s approval.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has repeatedly denied the Esplanade area’s elibility for aide due to the threat being to only private property, and to long-standing pre-existing conditions.

Sources:

• I’ll link to Pacifica’s proclamation if/when they post it to CityOfPacifica.org City declares local emergency in and around 330 Esplanade
• UPDATE 2/18/2010: Pacifica has posted the Proclamation. For a link and copy of the proclamation, see my post: City Declares Local Emergency by proclamation on February 16, 2010 for Esplanade area
• MercuryNews.com, San Mateo County Times Pacifica declares emergency to help fund bluff repairs
• KTVU 2 (Fox) Pacifica Declares Local State Of Emergency Over Eroding Cliff

For a complete chronology and links to many more photos see Evacuation underway at 330 Esplanade:

http://adequatebird.com/2009/12/17/evacuation-underway-at-330-esplanade/

See all of my pictures of the Esplanade crisis:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisd2006/collections/72157622920945823/