CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved a salary agreement between the city and the

Huntington Beach Police Officers’ Assn. ending months of wage and benefit

negotiations.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The city has agreed to a three-year salary agreement, to expire in

September 2003, that includes an 11% wage increase for police officers, a

7 3/4% increase for communications officers and a 3% increase for

detention officers. A 4% wage hike was allotted for the detention officer

nurse.

While all increases will date back to Jan. 1, 2001 all police union

employees will receive 3% raises on Sept. 29, a 2% increase on March 20,

2002 followed by a 3% increase the following year. The annual uniform

allowance was raised from $700 to $1,200, city officials said.

Other changes include an increased city contribution to officer

medical, dental and vision benefits as well as a 3% at 50 retirement

program.

Vote:

5-0, with Mayor Pam Julien Houchen and Councilman Dave Garofalo

absent.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council members approved the final conceptual plans for the Surf

Circle, a public art piece slated for the South Beach area near the

intersection of Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Surf Circle is a revised version of Surfhenge, an art monument

designed by artists Howard and Kathy Meehan to serve as an entry

statement to the South Beach Improvement Project at Beach Boulevard.

The original Surfhenge included four vertical and one horizontal

structure, commemorating the city’s surfing persona, and was part of

three art sites -- two public plazas were also approved -- to improve the

beach.

Though initially rejected and replaced with “Sounds of the Sea,” an

art piece including whale bones, unfavorable public opinion led the

council to return to the Surfhenge concept.

The new project has been scaled back, removing two of the four

vertical elements, to meet structural costs, though it will also include

raised benches and spotlights to highlight the sculpture.

Vote:

4-1, with Councilwoman Debbie Cook opposing, Julien Houchen and

Garofalo absent.

WHAT HAPPENED:

City Council reaffirmed an ordinance setting speed limits along Heil

Avenue between Beach Boulevard and Saybrook Lane.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Speed limits along Heil Avenue between Beach Boulevard and Saybrook

Lane have fluctuated between 35 and 40 miles an hour since 1986, when

council adopted an ordinance set a top speed of 40 miles an hour.

In a May 7 council meeting, council members unanimously reconsidered a

speed ordinance supporting the 40 mile and hour limit after hearing the

concerns of a resident pleading for a 35-mile-an-hour cap to increase

safety.

Arbitrarily lowering the speed limit of a street, without conducting a

traffic survey, would preclude traffic officers from using radar and

other devices to cite speed violations.

City officials decided to reaffirm the higher speed posting, but to

reevaluate limits between Saybrook Lane and Beach Boulevard and bring the

result back to the council at a later date.

Vote:

5-0, with Julien Houchen and Garofalo absent.

NEXT MEETING

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. June 4 Room B-8

of City Hall at 2000 Main St.