HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council amended the nonresident library card fee to exempt

city employees living outside Huntington Beach from paying the fee.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The annual fee for nonresidents to use city libraries is $25, with a

temporary one-day fee of $5 for infrequent users and exemptions for

business owners who already pay taxes in Huntington Beach.

Councilman Ralph Bauer opposed the measure, citing employees should be

required to pay the same fee as other library users and choosing them as

a special group ignored others such as senior citizens.

The library fees generate about $50,000 annually, 60% of which goes to

the purchase of new books. The remainder goes into the city’s general

fund.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“I don’t think that this perk is too much to ask for our city

employees who dedicate their time and effort to serve the city,”

Councilwoman Debbie Cook said.

Vote:

6-1, with Councilman Ralph Bauer dissenting.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council approved a plan to include a section of Pacific Coast

Highway in the annual Fourth of July Parade.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The Fourth of July Parade is the city’s oldest community tradition,

but typically stayed clear of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street

because of traffic and business reasons.

Tommy Hilfilger, the parade’s title sponsor, chose not to renew its

sponsorship for 2001 due to the city’s inability to commit a route

including PCH and Downtown Huntington Beach.

The parade, which traditionally runs on Main Street from Orange Avenue

to Clay Street, will follow Main Street to the ocean and travel along PCH

to 8th Street.

Council members set a deadline of March 30 to find a new title sponsor

for the parade, with sponsorship revenue covering any parade cost

increases and will revert to the traditional route if one is not found by

then.

Vote:

7-0

NEXT MEETING

The next council meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Dec. 18 in Room B-8

of City Hall at 2000 Main St.