CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved the California Statewide Communities

Development Authority to apply for multifamily housing revenue bonds of

up to $31.5 million from the state.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The bonds will be used to acquire land and construct the 271-unit

Fountains Senior Apartments on Main and Gothard streets behind the

Seacliff Shopping Center.

Amenities of the complex will include a pool, spa, exercise room, a

putting green, croquet field, library, covered parking and a clubhouse.

City staff negotiated with project developer FountainGlen Properties

for the city’s redevelopment agency to provide a $2- million loan in

exchange for long-term rent and income restrictions.

In the complex, 55 units will be for households earning 50% of the

median income, which is $26,450 for a household of one and $30,250 for a

household of two. Another 25 units will be for households earning 80% of

the median income, which is $38,100 for a household of one and $43,500

for a household of two.

Vote: 7-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council voted to amend the city’s zoning code to permit

public-semipublic uses in commercial districts regardless of size.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Previously, public-semipublic uses such as churches, schools and

hospitals were limited to sites under two acres in commercial, industrial

and residential districts.

Public-semipublic uses on sites two acres or more must be zoned

commercial.

Property owners were concerned with the limited uses they could have

with the public-semipublic zoning.

The planning commission recommended approval of the change.

Vote: 7-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council voted to re-designate the 13.8-acre Huntington Beach

Hospital complex at Beach Boulevard and Newman Avenue from public use to

commercial use.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The project site includes the hospital, a medical office tower, a

surgery center and another medical office along Newman Avenue.

The new designation will bring the zoning into compliance with the

city’s general plan and will give hospital officials more flexibility in

use of the site.

The planning commission recommended approval of the zoning change.

Vote: 7-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

Results from the March 5 election were approved by the City Council.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Overall voter turnout for the city’s March 5 municipal election was

39.75% with 107,902 registered voters.

Measure EE, the Property Rights Protection Measure, passed with 27,513

“yes” votes to 12,588 “no” votes; Measure FF, which created an

infrastructure fund, passed with 21,314 “yes” votes to 15,667 “no” votes;

Measure HH, which would have required the AES Corporation to pay a

utility tax on gas failed to pass with 24,974 “no” votes and 13,098 “yes”

votes; Measure HH nullified Measure GG, which would have earmarked

portions of the AES utility tax go into the city’s infrastructure fund,

which passed with 21,327 “yes” votes to 15,398 “no” votes.

Vote: 7-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

Public Works Director Bob Beardsley was given the go ahead to begin

requesting bids for a company to retrofit five remaining storm drain

catch basins located Downtown.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Of the 15 catch basins Downtown, five need improving to comply with

current standards. The five basins are on Orange Avenue, 13th Street,

Main Street and two on 12th Street. Funds totaling $70,000 have been

allotted from the city’s general fund for the improvements.

Vote: 7-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

After hearing from several residents who said they would like their

neighborhoods gated, the City Council postponed voting on repealing a

city ordinance that designated a portion of land between Ellis and

Garfield avenues and Edwards and Goldenwest streets be used for a

neighborhood park.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The City Council will consider at its April 15 meeting whether to

repeal the ordinance to allow added time to hear legal opinions about the

fate of a five-acre site designated for a park in 1995.

The repeal is part of the settlement of a lawsuit filed by four

property owners who sued the city in Orange County Superior Court in

1995. The owners allege the city took 10 parcels of their land without

just compensation.

As part of the settlement, the city agreed to pay a total of $75,000

and give the land back to the property owners.

Residents don’t want to see a park built on the corner of Quarterhorse

and Saddleback, claiming that the park will bring increased traffic to

their neighborhood and the city has sufficient parks such as Central

Park, Lake Park and Peninsula Park.

Residents also claim repealing the ordinance would be a violation of

Measure C, an initiative approved by voters in 1990 that amended the

city’s charter to state that no public utility, park or beach owned by

the city can be sold, leased, exchanged or transferred without voters’

and the Council’s approval.

Vote: 4-2

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

NEXT MEETING

When: Monday, April 15, 5 p.m.

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