CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council voted to allow City Administrator Ray Silver to seek

professional service contractors that will provide training and develop

new mayor’s workshops.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Instead of the traditional Mayor’s breakfasts, which have typically

included a city staff member providing updates on certain projects, Mayor

Debbie Cook suggested workshops that will be open to staff, council

members, the public and members of boards and commissions be held in lieu

of the breakfasts.

Speakers would come to talk on a myriad of topics, such as open

meetings requirements, ethics, problem solving, resolution skills and

regional issues. The first speaker will talk about conflict of interest

laws.

The $2,500 budgeted for Mayor’s breakfasts will be used for the

workshops.

Vote: 5-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council approved an annual review of the city’s code of ethics for all

elected officials, officers, employees and members of advisory boards,

commissions and committees. The code was originally passed by City

Council in 1993.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The code will be reviewed annually by Council, city departments and

all boards, commissions and committees. All new employees will be

provided with a copy of the code when they are elected or appointed.

The annual review hadn’t been done for a few years and I wanted to

reinstate that, said Mayor Debbie Cook.

Vote: 5-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council gave its approval for the Huntington Beach Redevelopment

Agency and Fountains Huntington Beach, LLC to enter into an agreement to

make the Fountains Huntington Beach Senior Apartment Complex affordable

housing.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The redevelopment agency will use a $2 million loan to reduce rents on

80 units of low-income senior housing for 60 years at the apartments,

which are currently being constructed near the southwest corner of Main

and Gothard streets behind the Seacliff Village Shopping Center.

The complex will have 271 units when it is completed late this year or

early 2003. The redevelopment agency has $2 million allocated in the

2001-02 fiscal year budget for the project.

Vote: 5-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council approved a preliminary report and made an Environmental Impact

Report available to the public about potential projects in the city’s

Southeast Coastal Redevelopment Area.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The preliminary report includes guidelines between the agency and

property owners in an area bordered by Hamilton Avenue to the north,

Newland Street to the west, Magnolia Street to the east and Pacific Coast

Highway to the south. Tanks owned by Southern California Edison and the

AES power plant occupy land in the southeast redevelopment zone.

Goals of the proposed Southeast Coastal Redevelopment Project include

improving the environmental areas around the AES power plant, protecting

and restoring wetlands and creating park and trail improvements.

The Environmental Impact Report is now available for public review at

Banning Library, Huntington Beach Central Library, the Edison Community

Center and in the economic development department on the fifth floor of

City Hall, 2000 Main St. Public comment and review period is underway

and the first of two community meetings of the Southeast Area Coastal

Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 11 in Council Chambers, 2000 Main

St. Huntington Beach.

The planning commission is expected to consider approving the final

report in April and a joint public hearing is scheduled for City Council

in May.

Vote: 5-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council did not approve an ordinance that would have given the

Huntington Beach Police Department authority to regulate escort services

in Huntington Beach.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The Police Department claimed there was a proliferation in the city

and county of prostitution and pimping, and an increase in robbery and

assault associated with escort services.

There’s one escort service in Huntington Beach, but that doesn’t count

those that come from other cities that try to do business within

Huntington Beach, said Sgt. Craig Junginger.

Dissenting votes were cast by Cook and Council Member Connie Boardman.

Council needed four votes to approve the ordinance.

Vote: 3-2

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT THEY SAID:

“I haven’t seen enough hard facts to create legislation and question

whether there would be time for public comments or council would be

notified of any changes to an ordinance that would be handled by the

police chief,” Cook said.

NEXT MEETING

When: Jan. 28, 2 p.m.

Where: Room B-8, Civic Center, 2000 Main St.