Roundup

The city’s Citizens Participation Advisory Board and city staffers are

divided over what to do with $40,791 in federal grant money the city has

to spend next year.

The City Council will have to decide how to spend the money at its

Aug. 13 meeting when it goes over the city’s proposed budget for fiscal

year 2001-2002.

The $40,791 represents just a portion of the $1.7 million in Community

Development Block Grant money given to the city for fiscal year 2001-2002

by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The council has to get its decision to the housing department by Aug.

15.

Advisory board Chairman Jeff Lebow, who has spent eight years on the

board, stressed that the needs of the low- to moderate-income

neighborhoods won’t be met if the staff’s suggestions are approved.

“The money should be intended for low-income residences,” Lebow said.

“The poor are taking a hit for financial progress.”

Lebow realizes the city can only allot 15% of the grant money for

social services, but he questions where the money should go.

“The goal is the most needs met with a minimum amount of funding. It’s

a question of value judgment,” Lebow said.

The advisory board has recommended more money be spent on several

programs compared to the staff’s report: $24,791 more for the Huntington

Beach Community Clinic and $16,000 more for Adult Day Services, Council

on Aging and the Episcopal Service Alliance.

“People count on these services, like the Adult Day Center that

supports roughly 90 families in town and deals with older Alzheimer’s

sufferers,” Lebow said. “All city programs are good; it’s just a question

of how do you spend a certain amount of money.”

City staff are advocating spending more of the grant money on programs

such as the community service’s Senior Outreach program and Project

Self-Sufficiency, said City Administrator Ray Silver.

Silver has reduced $8 million in the city’s general fund from the

2001-2002 proposed budget pending litigation of the supplemental

retirement tax rate that usually provides the city $9 million.

“I’m trying to free up general fund money to pay for things like

police, fire and public works and use non-general fund money to use on

the Senior Outreach program and Project Self-Sufficiency,” Silver said.

“All the programs serve worthy causes.”

Police, fire and public works departments account for approximately

60% of total general fund expenditures.

Silver’s 2001-2002 budget shows a decrease in general fund

expenditures by $3.7 million from the previous year, mostly driven by

current litigation in the retirement tax appeal.

Parking will get public review

Residents will get a chance to talk about possible changes in Downtown

parking at a public hearing later this month.

The Huntington Beach City Council will hold the hearing at its regular

meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 in the City Council Chambers, 2000 Main St. It

will review the Planning Commission’s Downtown Parking Master Plan Annual

Review and Monitoring Report.

The report will be forwarded to the California Coastal Commission

after council reviews it.

The report analyzes building activity between June 1, 2000 and June 1,

2001 in the Downtown area and studies ways to improve parking there.

The report also reviews changes in businesses, such as new restaurants

or retail stores, said project planner Wayne Carvalho.

As part of the discussion, the council also will review the Downtown’s

“shared parking” plan, which was approved in 1995.

According to the staff reports, shared parking allows “one parking

space to serve two or more individual land uses without conflict,” with

parking demands changing depending on the hour, day and season.

“The concept is that people coming to the Downtown area aren’t making

a one-stop trip,” Carvalho said. “They’re not going to go to one

location; they might eat, shop, and/or go to the beach.”

Downtown has 500,000 square feet of commercial space and 1,974 parking

spaces.

The council will also hear appeals from Council members Debbie Cook

and Ralph Bauer of the Planning Commission’s approval of a coastal

development permit that allows construction of a 10-foot high retaining

wall along the rear property line in the 17000 block of Westport.

Mayor’s Breakfast will focus on new developments

New development projects, breakfast and a tour of the Bargain Box

Thrift Shop and Operation School Bell project will highlight the next

Mayor’s Breakfast from 7:45 to 9 a.m. Aug. 23 at the Assistance League of

Huntington Beach, 8071 Slater Ave.

The reception begins at 7:45 a.m. with the program starting at 8 a.m.

Senior Planner Mary Beth Broeren will give a PowerPoint presentation on

new development projects within the community.

Reservations can be made at (714) 536-5553 before Aug. 17.

Huntington Beach resident receives Hero award

Huntington Beach native Todd Talbert’s community service commitment

will be recognized Aug. 19 when 53 million Sears Sunday circulars are

distributed.

Talbert was named the Sears Good Life Alliance Community Hero by

Sears, Roebuck and Co. for contributing more than 60 hours to youth

sports each month in Huntington Beach.

The father of three boys coaches Huntington Valley Little League and

roller hockey at the Boys & Girls Club and also volunteers with the Cub

Scouts.

The Sears Good Life Alliance Community Hero program launched in June

2001 to honor Sears retirees and associates who make a positive

contribution by volunteering with youth and community involvement.

Talbert works as an associate at Orchard Supply Hardware.

Sears pledges to have 1 million volunteer hours by the end of 2002.