The clean-up effort along the Santa Cruz coastline continued Friday, days after part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed due to pounding high surf as city officials try to assess what their plans might be to rebuild the collapsed section.

Mayor, while stressing the value of the wharf in the community, says rebuilding without serious discussions would be “irresponsible.”

The iconic Santa Cruz wharf might never be rebuilt after giant swells caused the end of the pier to collapse into the sea, city officials said Friday, citing climate change as a significant factor to be considered.

Santa Cruz County officials are considering whether it makes sense to rebuild the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf after part of it collapsed into the ocean during a recent storm.

A part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed Monday afternoon during a high-surf warning, with authorities confirming two people had to be pulled from the water.

The Santa Cruz Harbor is still assessing damages that have so far amounted to $20 million after Monday's storm surge. Port District Director Holland MacLaurie said she doesn't have a timeline for when repairs will be completed.

Strong storms have repeatedly pounded Santa Cruz in recent years, most notably collapsing a chunk of its wharf this week. Is it just bad luck that has left the coastal city vulnerable to dangerous surf?

A bench memorializing David at the end of the Santa Cruz Wharf was swept away when high swells caused the end of the pier to collapse. "For us, it means everything," his mother Roberta Rodriguez said.