CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved a prioritized list of projects that could be

eligible for state grant money and submitted it to a state lobbyist.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The city’s lobbyist, the Sacramento firm Advocation, can now move

forward to try to nail down funds for the projects, which include the

Edison Youth Sports Complex, cleanup of the Central Park gun range for a

dog park and the purchase of a section of Bolsa Chica.

The money would come from Proposition 40, the statewide park bond that

passed March 5. The initiative would raise $2.6 billion for projects

across the state.

Council members said they would look into purchasing any portion of

Bolsa Chica, if one of the handful of property owners is willing to sell.

Councilwoman Connie Boardman proposed the idea.

At least three private owners, and the state, own sections of Bolsa

Chica.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“My feeling is if moneys are available, we should try for that,”

Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff said. “To have open space is a gift.”

Vote: 7-0

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council listened to a handful of public speakers offer their

views on whether to designate the southeastern portion of the city as a

redevelopment zone.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, will consider a

plan to designate southeast Huntington Beach for redevelopment on June 3.

With its crumbling infrastructure, deteriorating structures, a 38-acre

toxic waste dump and a power plant, the area has long been a sore spot

for city officials who hope to improve it.

About half of the dozen or so speakers were split on whether to bring

redevelopment to the area. Several residents objected to branding an area

as blighted, while other residents said the move would ultimately be a

positive. Additional property tax revenues could be brought to bear to

help rid the area of blight.

The city could be entitled to as much as $792,000 during 2003-04, the

first year of the plan.

The area would be bounded by Newland Street on the west, Hamilton

Avenue on the north, Magnolia Street on the east and Pacific Coast

Highway on the west.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“Please don’t let this opportunity pass us by,” said George Mason, a

resident supporting the plan.

Vote: No Vote

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council tentatively approved a plan to allow the police

department to accept prisoners from Newport Beach in exchange for a fee.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Police Chief Ron Lowenberg promised to return to the negotiating table

to try to hammer out a better deal for Huntington Beach, after

Councilwoman Pam Julien Houchen questioned the deal.

Houchen, who said she worried about accepting “the undesirables” from

another city, asked Lowenberg to try to up the ante from Huntington

Beach’s southern neighbor.

Newport Beach had promised to pay $13,500 per year for the booking and

processing of about 300 arrestees, many of whom have been snared on

alcohol-related offenses, Lowenberg said.

Mayor Debbie Cook joined Houchen in opposing the deal.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“They’re getting the better end of the deal,” Houchen said. “Our

community doesn’t get the better end of the deal.”

Vote: 5-2

IN FAVOR / AGAINST

NEXT MEETING

When: Study Session: May 30, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Rodgers Senior’s Center, 1706 Orange Ave.

Regular Meeting: June 3, 7 p.m., Council Chambers, 2000 Main St.