Is this Legal?

[No_Target]

I am looking at a "Preliminary Parcel Map" that is stamped by a post-82 Civil Engineer, produced by a Civil Engineering LLC. This is for a SB9 subdivision in the City of Los Angeles. The Map shows elevations purported to be on NAVD88, and shows boundary and proposed boundary, but no monuments.

I also have a CAD file of the "Topographic Map"
The Coordinates in the CAD file are arbitrary, and the Benchmark is based on a sewer lid. There is a Basis of Bearings and the Legal Description of the property. It is a full topographic map with dimensions from buildings to proposed lines.

My question is, is this legal, or does it violate the PLS Act?
Ric recently was defining the practice of surveying as the board sees it and I would like to learn more about where the line between the two practices is drawn.

Forgive me if this has been addressed before, searched the forum to no avail... though I am sure someone has answered in some place.

[Mike Mueller]

You might have a better response from folks if you omit the work illegal in your question. Its like asking if killing someone is murder without us being privy to all the facts.

On its face, the situation you describe certainly raises my eyebrows and seems like something is amiss. Part of the complexity is that rules around tentative maps are vague and loose. Anyone can prepare a tentative map in theory. So does the initial submittal of a SB9 parcel map count as one of these "anyone can do maps"?

The issues at hand seem to be more based on how the existing boundary was located in relation to the fixed works and who did that work. Engineers could obtain a good topographic site plan from a surveyor and not cite their source thoroughly when they overlay their proposed stuff? I can think of several versions of our universe where there was no law broken, albeit some of those universes are quite convoluted and I can hear Occam getting his razor sharp :)

I would suggest contacting the preparer of that map first, since I am a firm believer in Hanlon's Razor (IE ignorance explains more things than malice) and then depending on that interaction consider your next steps. Maybe your local CLSA PPC, or your mentors and local peers, and then if there is sufficient eyebrow raising from folks who have more/all of the facts, submit a complaint to the board.

As always, take this advice with many grains of salt, heck, perhaps a whole salt shaker :)

Mikey Mueller, PLS 9076
Sonoma County

[No_Target]

This goes right back to the ABC Engineering Firm hiring for a stamp... does the board want to hear about potential violations of the PLS Act? What level of evidence should be in hand before you report to the board?

I don't plan on pursuing this further on my own, I am not an investigator and this inquiry is about 7 hours away from me.To me it seems like a cheap and quick topo being performed by an engineering firm that is now letting their client know they need to go find a surveyor who will stamp off on it. That won't be me, and if they are already looking half a state away, I imagine a lot of people have flat out ignored the same inquiry.

[Ric7308]

This goes right back to the ABC Engineering Firm hiring for a stamp... does the board want to hear about potential violations of the PLS Act? What level of evidence should be in hand before you report to the board?

I don't plan on pursuing this further on my own, I am not an investigator and this inquiry is about 7 hours away from me.To me it seems like a cheap and quick topo being performed by an engineering firm that is now letting their client know they need to go find a surveyor who will stamp off on it. That won't be me, and if they are already looking half a state away, I imagine a lot of people have flat out ignored the same inquiry.

You are not required to pursue or investigate this on your own. The Board will never turn away complaints filed which pertain to its authority to regulate. Provide what information you have when submitting the complaint and the Board will take it from there. Based upon what you've stated and the concerns you've shared, it is worth the time for the Board to look into it.

[No_Target]

You are not required to pursue or investigate this on your own. The Board will never turn away complaints filed which pertain to its authority to regulate. Provide what information you have when submitting the complaint and the Board will take it from there. Based upon what you've stated and the concerns you've shared, it is worth the time for the Board to look into it.

Will do, thanks!

[LS_8750]

May want to forward your info to the OC Chapter JPPC.

From my experience it appears LA County has its own little Bulls Eye.

[No_Target]

What is the OC JPPC email address?

[LS_8750]

https://oc-surveyors.org/jpplc