CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP

-- Tariq Malik

Huntington Beach officials opted not to take on any legal defense and

indemnification fees for Councilman Dave Garofalo that may arise from

ongoing conflict of interest investigations.

By a 5-1 vote, the City Council turned down the proposal from

Garofalo’s attorney Steven Churchwell to provide funds for the

councilman’s defense, should investigations by the Orange County district

attorney and the Fair Political Practices Commission turn up charges.

Councilman Peter Green dissented.

In a May 9 letter to City Atty. Gail Hutton, Churchwell sought

compensation for about $30,000 in incurred defense fees, as well as any

necessary future costs, on the grounds that the conflict of interest

allegations arose “from his position on the council and as mayor of

Huntington Beach, and in each instance he was acting within the scope of

his employment.”

Churchwell added that Garofalo sought and followed legal advice on

potential conflicts.

The City Council was scheduled to discuss the matter behind closed

doors, but decide during a 5 p.m. study session to bring the matter up

for vote in the open meeting.

“I don’t think we should indemnify him at the present moment,” Green

said, despite his vote. “But I do believe we need more information. This

is a very nebulous situation that we have here.”

Investigations into Garofalo arose out of allegations of conflicts of

interest stemming from his business, David P. Garofalo & Associates.

The business held publishing rights for the Huntington Beach

Conference & Visitors Bureau’s visitors guide for several years starting

in 1993, with allegations claiming that Garofalo may have profited from

that contract and had conflicts of interest when voting on the projects

of advertisers in the publication.

Hutton agreed that more time is needed for her office to digest all

the facts related to the case, adding that Churchwell and Garofalo had

made a request Monday morning for a two-week continuance.

“We’re not likely to gather any additional information in that time,”

said Councilwoman Debbie Cook.

Churchwell and Garofalo, who was not present during Monday’s meeting,

did not return phone calls Tuesday.

Resident Kevin Messner said he was uncomfortable with the city

discussing the issue before Garofalo has been officially charged with any

wrongdoing. The city, he added, should make decisions only after that

action took place.

Though some residents opposed the idea, not everyone was against

paying any future legal fees for Garofalo.

In a late letter submitted to the council, resident Bob Polkow said

that if the city’s taxpayers pay the legal fees of hired and appointed

personnel, such as police employees and department heads, then denying

such action for Garofalo “is a blatant display of political arrogance and

an insult to the constituents that voted” for the councilman.

Furthermore, Polkow added, the council should have no choice but to

pay Garofalo’s legal expenses and “he is innocent until his political

foes prove him guilty.”

Funds to pay for water improvements

Millions of dollars in state money will finance a number of storm

water quality improvements, ranging from equipment upgrades to a citywide

water plan over the next two years, city officials said.

The funds, allocated from state Proposition 13, total about $4 million

and are specifically reserved to improve storm water quality.

“The money will be broken up for a number of projects, some of which

for the city’s 14 storm drain pump stations,” said City Engineer David

Webb, adding that about nine of those stations will be outfitted with

hoses for urban runoff diversion into the local sewer system. “We’re also

drawing up a citywide water quality management plan to determine what

kinds of structures and practices work best to address urban runoff.”

Urban runoff flows from city streets through city storm drains and

into Orange County Flood Control Channels, Huntington Harbour and the

Pacific Ocean. City officials said the state money will allow them to

install gross pollutant separators -- filters that can screen out objects

the size of cigarette butts, some oils and greases, as well as about 70%

of vehicle brake dust and metal from runoff water -- on twelve of its

pump stations.

Not all of the projects, however, will involve improving or replacing

equipment, they added.

“Some of the projects laid out in the water plan are educational too,”

Webb said. “Subjects can include teaching people what kinds of lawn

fertilizer, and how much, is safe, stressing the importance of picking up

your dog’s waste.”

The city has also hired environmental engineer Geraldine Lucas to a

new, but permanent, position of associate civil engineer in charge of

water quality.

City one of safest in nation

Surf City is a safe place.

Annual crime statistics collected by the FBI named Huntington Beach

the eighth safest city in the nation, coming in just behind Irvine and

above Glendale and San Jose.

Simi Valley took the number one slot.

The FBI figures compare the populations of cities with more than

100,000 residents with the amount of crime they contain. In Huntington

Beach last year, there were 23.89 crimes per 1,000 residents, a 7% drop

from the previous survey.

A 32% increase in violent offenses, attributed to assaults resulting

from barroom fights, is being addressed, police officials said, adding

that their efforts have reduced property crime by 10%.

“For a city our size in a metropolitan area, we’re very fortunate to

have a crime rate so low,” said Police Chief Ron Lowenberg. “We’re in

good shape.”

Lowenberg credited the staff and officers in his department with

playing a large role in the city’s safe persona, but added that its

technology, with computer-aided dispatch and a helicopter, have kept it

on the cutting edge.

“I think the community-oriented policing is where it starts,” said

Councilman Ralph Bauer. “We’re always flattered to be placed among the

top in the country.”

Police officials said volunteer organizations such as those for

retired seniors, as well as youth education programs, have increased

safety awareness in the city.

The city’s nuisance house task force, which keeps tabs on residences

with a history of disturbing the peace with loud parties and the like,

has also been a major asset, Bauer added.

Groups needed to help sell Fourth of July tickets

The Huntington Beach Fourth of July Executive Board is looking for

local service organizations that want to raise funds for their groups by

selling Community Breakfast tickets to Huntington Beach’s Fourth of July

pre-Parade Breakfast.

The breakfast will be held from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Lake Park,

located at Main and 11th streets.

Local service organizations get a $1 profit from each ticket sold.

Community Breakfast tickets will sell for $5.

For information on selling Community Breakfast tickets, call (714)

898- 4842, and for general information on the 97th Annual Huntington

Beach Fourth of July Celebration, call (714) 374-1535.

Books for sale at library

The Friends of the Huntington Beach Library is offering thousands of

quality used books for sale during normal library hours, continuing from

June to September at the Huntington Beach Library, 7111 Talbert Ave.

The used book sale will feature fiction books in June, sports in July,

health and fitness in August and self education in September.

All books may be purchased at a fraction of their original cost.

Information: (714) 374-1627.