COUNCIL WRAP-UPS

-- Tarik Malik and Torus Tammer

Here’s some of the action taken at Monday’s meeting:

HUNTINGTON BEACH

ISSUE: SURF CITY CREDIT CARD

VOTE: 6-0, with Councilman Tom Harman absent

Summary: The City Council agreed to move forward on a plan to team

with a financial institution to offer a city credit card. The Surf City

Credit Card Program is expected to create a new revenue source for city

services and community organizations.

Cardholders will be able to choose from three scenic views -- a

cityscape, beach or wetlands. The city will receive $2 in sign-up and

annual fees, as well as 0.5% of each purchase going to community

libraries, cultural centers and the city’s park fund.

City officials have not yet selected a financial institution.

ISSUE: WHEELCHAIR RAMP CONSTRUCTION

VOTE: 7-0

Summary: The council approved the completion of a project that created

wheelchair-access ramps at 41 locations throughout the city.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires the city to build the

ramps upon request to meet the needs of disabled residents. The $40,602

project was funded by a Community Development Block Grant.

ISSUE: COMMUNITY ART FUND GRANT PROGRAM

VOTE: 6-0, with Harman absent.

The council adopted a Community Cultural Arts Grant Program to help

local arts and cultural organizations apply for annual grant money

offered through the city’s Allied Arts Board.

Using money from state and federal grants, as well as revenue from the

Surf City Credit Card Program, the city will set up the grant program to

support and encourage local artists and cultural groups.

City officials said that by supporting these types of community

endeavors, the city will enhance the quality of life for residents and

increase opportunities for tourism and visitors.

ISSUE: FIRE ENGINE REPAIR

VOTE: 7-0

The council agreed to spend $304,530 to repair or replace four fire

engines.

Between 1996 and 1998, the city spent $1.37 million to buy the fire

engines, but retired them from service in January because of severe

pumping and pressurization problems. The vehicles’ manufacturer,

Emergency One Inc., has provided three loaner engines.

The city will repair and replace any faulty cabs, chassis, pumps,

cooling systems and all support equipment on the engines as needed.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Here’s some of the action taken at Tuesday’s meeting:

ISSUE: PLANNING REPORT

Vote: 5-0Summary: After reviewing the annual report of the Fountain

Valley Planning Commission and the Planning Department activities for the

fiscal year 1999-00, the City Council approved the report for filing. A

copy of the report will be transmitted to the state’s Office of Planning

and Research as well as the U.S. Department of Housing and Community

Development.

ISSUE: ROAD REPAIR

Vote: 5-0Summary: The council approved the amendment of the traffic

improvement fund budget for the fiscal year 2000-01 and authorized a

purchase order in the amount of $177,263 to the city of Huntington Beach

for its reconstruction and resurfacing of Warner Avenue from Newland

Street to Magnolia Street, within Fountain Valley’s city limits.

ISSUE: COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION

Vote:5-0Summary: The council authorized a renewal agreement with the

Orange County Fire Authority for fire and paramedic services for two

county islands -- between Harbor Boulevard and Edinger Avenue -- for five

years, starting June 30, 2000.