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the naturally steep condition of the creek, and the volume of water that is carried in the <br />creek — together create a condition of unstopable [sic] erosion. My concern is that these <br />factors should be seriously considered when reviewing the setback from the top of bank." <br />2AR 626.) <br />Interestingly, Respondent's City Engineer did not use the municipal ordinance <br />definition of "top of bank" but rather utilized a manual of guidelines and standards used in <br />Santa Clara County. (2AR 627, 631.) <br />C. Barry Butler of Cornerstone Earth Group provided an expert opinion to <br />Respondent on "top of bank" after reviewing documents and going to look at the subject <br />property. (2AR 620 -622.) Butler states: "[I]t appears that the top of bank designations <br />are in relatively close agreement except for Lots 3 and 4, where the differences generally <br />vary from several feet up to around 10 feet." (2AR 621.) Butler acknowledged the lack <br />of disclosure of what criteria was used by MacLeod for delineating the "top of bank ". <br />2AR 621.) Butler also noted that Respondent was using a measure of 100 -year flood <br />level plus one foot. (2AR 621.) <br />Butler did not utilize the applicable Zoning Ordinance definition of "top of bank" <br />but rather opined that looking at the changes in grade is variable, "there is no clear top of <br />bank transition ", and the Creek bank and where Real Party in Interest claims is the "top of <br />bank" is still below the high flow level of Cordilleras Creek. (2AR 622.) Accordingly, <br />Butler suggests that a &fferent definition and criteria be used to determine "top of bank ", <br />i.e., 100 -year flow elevation plus one foot, and that Butler agrees with the determination <br />made by the City Engineer as to the "top of bank" locations. (2AR 622.) <br />The Zoning Ordinance indicates that if the "top of bank" cannot be determined by <br />distinct changes in grade, "the top of banks shall be as determined by the Engineering and <br />22 <br />8.B. - Page 81