HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council approved spending $956,000 to beautify Beach Boulevard

with landscaped medians.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The council unanimously OKd plans to build landscaped medians along

Beach Boulevard, accepting the lowest of four bids for the project.

The Terra-Cal Construction Co. was awarded the contract, with a bid of

$859,800. The council allocated $96,200 to the Public Works Department

for contingency and supplemental costs.

City officials said it will cost about $46,500 a year to maintain the

new landscape, but the city has been working to beautify the area for a

long time.

Vote:

7-0

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council adopted a resolution designating southeast Huntington

Beach as a redevelopment survey area for project study purposes.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The council approved naming the land encompassed by Magnolia and

Newlands streets along Pacific Coast Highway as a redevelopment survey

area as the first step in revitalizing about 289 acres in the area.

Reserving the area for study is necessary before the land can be

established as the Southeast Coastal Project Area and slated for

redevelopment.

The area has been a point of discussion for the city since many

industrial operations sit on the site. Neighboring residents have

complained of the abandoned oil tanks, and the AES Corp. power plant,

among others The city is interested in the remediation of the

contaminated ASCON property.

Councilwomen Debbie Cook and Connie Boardman opposed the resolution,

citing that many residents are uncomfortable with the redevelopment

process moving forward, and that study and community input could progress

without designating a survey area.

Vote:

5 to 2, with Cook and Boardman dissenting.

NEXT MEETING

The council will reconvene at 5 p.m. Feb. 20 in Room B-8 at the city’s

Civic Center, 2000 Main St.