City Council backs city ballot measure, opposed Measure EE.

Bryce Alderton

City Council unanimously voted to support three ballot measures in

next month’s election that would all ultimately beef up city coffers.

Measure FF would amend the city’s charter to establish an

infrastructure fund.

If it passes the measure would require that at least 15% of the city’s

general fund revenues be spent on infrastructure and prohibit transfers

or loans from the fund.

Council naturally supports Measure HH, which it placed on the ballot

and would repeal the gas tax exclusion for electric power plants from the

city’s municipal code. That means AES Huntington Beach, the power plant

that sits on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Newland Street,

which does not currently pay a gas tax, would have to start kicking in.

A companion measure, GG, would require the utility tax paid by an

electric power plant to be placed into an infrastructure fund to be used

solely for the maintenance, construction and repair of storm water pumps,

storm drains, alleys, streets, curbs and gutters, bridges, sidewalks,

parks, beach facilities, street medians, playgrounds, traffic signals,

public buildings, street lights and walls along highways.

The majority of City Council voted to oppose Measure EE, which seeks

to amend the City Charter to prevent the City Council from ever enacting

a rent stabilization ordinance in the city.