BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

-- Kenneth Ma

Warning signs advising swimmers about excessive levels of bacteria

along a stretch of Huntington State Beach were removed Wednesday, said

Monica Mazur, an environmental health specialist with the Orange County

Health Care Agency.

But a 1,000-foot stretch of city beach near Huntington Street now

sports signs warning swimmers about bacterium enterococcus, she said.

Some of the warnings sign removed from the state beach have been up

since July 12.

Enterococcus bacteria may indicate the presence of other

disease-producing organisms, Mazur has said.

Funding for library jobs put in budget

The Huntington Beach City Council decided Monday to include funding

for nine new library jobs in the city’s proposed budget for fiscal 2001.

The council earmarked money to pay for two full-time librarians to

help patrons with questions regarding the Internet.

The other full-time positions include two librarians, a facilities

coordinator and a theater media technician.

The council also approved three part-time positions for the budget --

a computer technician and two entry-level clerical assistants.

The nine positions will cost the city $350,000 annually.

The $270-million budget proposal provides funds for police, fire,

recreation and city administrative services, and includes city employees’

salaries.