BRIEFS

The Fair Political Practices Commission fined the Huntington

Beach-based California Republicans Assn. more than $2,000 for late

campaign contribution reports during the March 2000 primary election.

The association’s member action committee raised a total of $16,847.46

for candidates seeking office last year. About $1,600 was gathered for

Riverside County Board of Supervisors candidate John Bell, and $15,247.46

was gathered for Assembly candidate Dennis Hollingsworth, who ran for the

66th District seat.

Commission officials said the contributions were filed in July, well

after the primary, and garnered a fine of $2,527.11.

Harman’s environmental bills approved

Two bills introduced and supported by Assemblyman Tom Harman

(R-Huntington Beach) have passed through the Assembly’s environmental

committees.

The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee

unanimously passed legislation to set up a grant program that would

divert urban runoff during the dry weather season that would typically

wash through storm channels into the ocean, into sewage treatment

facilities.

Officials with Harman’s office said the bill, passed last week, is to

keep the flows from reaching city and state beaches. It also helps solve

pollutant emergencies and assists local communities in determining their

own strategies to reduce runoff flows, they added.

The legislation now moves on to the Assembly’s Water, Parks and

Wildlife Committee for approval.

Harman’s bill to ban the import, sale and possession of the saltwater

genus of the algae Caulerpa was also passed by the Water, Parks and

Wildlife Committee.

One species of Caulerpa, Caulerpa taxifola, has been dubbed a “killer

algae” because of its destructive nature of pushing out local plant life

and upsetting existing ecosystems. By banning the entire genus and not a

single species, scientists find it easier to fight the spread of the

algae, which has been found in Huntington Harbour and San Diego.

The bill, which also passed unanimously, moves forward to the Assembly

Appropriations Committee.

City panel seeks 2 new members

The Huntington Beach Community Services Commission is seeking two new

members to fill upcoming vacancies.

The commission is a volunteer panel that serves as an advisory body to

Ron Hagan, the city’s director of Community Services, as well as the City

Council. Applicants must be Surf City residents and be able to attend

regularly scheduled meetings at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each

month in the council chambers of City Hall.

Applications can be found at the Community Services Department in City

Hall, 2000 Main St., and the positions will be filled in June.

Information: (714) 536-5486.

Character award nominees sought

Surf City’s Children’s Needs Task Force is searching for nominations

for the American Youth Character Awards 2001.

The character awards are the only national awards given for strength

of character, not for isolated acts of generosity or heroism. Nominees

are evaluated in the six pillars of character, including trustworthiness,

responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

There are also four other specific categories used, and award honorees

will be recognized at the Huntington Beach Police Department’s open house

May 12.

Nomination applications are available at the information table on the

lower level of City Hall at 2000 Main St. A statement of 250 words of

less, detailing why a nominee should be considered, should accompany the

application.

All applications are due no later than 4 p.m. April 20, and should be

returned to Bill Fowler in the Community Services Department on the

fourth floor of City Hall.

Information: (714) 536-5496