Dunn denies suit allegations
Hearthside Homes vice president Lucy Dunn is denying allegations
that her company threatened to sue the city or that she ever asked
City Atty. Gail Hutton for legal advice concerning the developer’s
dealings with Huntington Beach.
Allegations surfaced last week that Hutton advised Dunn to sue the
city in order to get city officials to take action on a proposed
housing development the company wants to build on the Bolsa Chica
mesa.
“Yes I had a conversation with Gail, no she did not give us legal
advice,” said Dunn. “Gail did not give our company legal advice and
never has -- we have our own lawyers.”
Hutton did not return calls.
At issue is a water pipeline that would lead to the proposed
Brightwater development. Southern California Water Company, the firm
that Hearthside entered into a contract with to lay the pipeline, has
failed to come to terms with the city.
Dunn called Hutton hoping to find out the status of the permit
that was needed for the pipeline.
“It was pending for almost a year,” Dunn said.
City staff told Dunn that the permit was sitting in the city
attorney’s office, Dunn said.
“It kept getting bounced around to different departments, and
that’s why I called Gail,” Dunn said. “We were asking on the status
of the Southern California Water permit.”
Southern California Water sent a letter to the city in August
threatening to sue if the matter wasn’t resolved.
“Our company did not send in any letters or litigation,” Dunn
said. “This is between the city and Southern California Water.”
The contents of the letter came out during a meeting of the city’s
legal affairs committee last week when Hutton suggested that the city
go into closed session and prevent the lawsuit by making an agreement
with Southern California Water, said Mayor Debbie Cook.
Hearthside has been trying to build the housing project on the
Bolsa Chica mesa for several years.
“[The legal affairs committee] decided that it was not appropriate
for closed session,” Cook said.
Cook wouldn’t comment on the allegation that Hutton advised Dunn
to sue the city.
“I wasn’t a party to that conversation,” she said. “I can’t verify
that that did or did not happen.”
The lawsuit will be discussed at a study session at the next City
Council meeting on Oct. 21.
-- Jose Paul Corona
Forum focuses on budget, environmental issues
The hot topics at the first City Council and City Attorney
candidates forum were the budget, the environment and improving the
city’s future economic outlook.
All but two of the 18 City Council candidates, and two of the four
city attorney candidates, spoke to more than 50 residents who
gathered at the Murdy Park Community Center Monday for a luncheon
town hall meeting to discuss important issues before the November
election.
The forum and luncheon was organized by the Huntington Beach
Coordinating Council and sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
Those in attendance listened attentively as the candidates
discussed their positions on various issues including the city’s
current budgetary woes, clean water, the environment and making Surf
City a tourist destination.
Planning Commissioner and City Council candidate Jill Hardy told
the audience that her economics degree would allow her to tackle
tough budget issues.
Huntington Beach needs to become a tourist destination, said City
Council candidate Don Hansen, adding that residents go to neighboring
city’s to do their shopping and that isn’t good for the local
economy.
“Every time that happens we’re sucking money out of our own
pockets,” Hansen said.
Marianne MacDuffee, a 28-year resident, admitted that she isn’t in
touch with many city issues, but left the forum with a desire to
learn more.
“It makes me want to get involved more,” she said.
While all the candidates didn’t attend the forum, she will give
them the benefit of the doubt, she said of the forum.
Forum organizers were pleased with the turnout.
“I think it gave the candidates a good feel for the broad
community,” said Carolyn Allen, coordinating council secretary.
--Jose Paul Corona
New city law limits campaign expenditures
The council unanimously adopted an emergency ordinance that
revises the city’s campaign reform law with regards to independent
expenditures.
The law limits the amount of money that individuals or candidates
can spend at one time. Candidates and individuals may only spend $300
of a contribution as a campaign expenditure.
A report prepared for the council by City Atty. Gail Hutton states
that the emergency ordinance would prevent quid pro quos by limiting
large campaign contributions.
While the law doesn’t prohibit individuals and groups from making
donations it does limit the amount of money that is spent from lawful
contributions. It goes into affect immediately.
--Jose Paul Corona
Going, going, gone to the city’s general fund
City coffers now have an additional $36,000 in them.
That is how much the city had been holding in unclaimed funds.
After three years of trying to reach the rightful owners of the
money, City Treasurer Shari Freidenrich asked the council to approve
transfer of the funds into the city’s general fund.
Freidenrich worked with administrative services to find those who
had unclaimed money of more than $15. Nearly $4,000 of the $36,000
that was transferred into the general fund was from checks and water
refunds in the amounts of $15 or less.
After failing to contact the owners of the money the city
published a notice in the Independent on July 4 and July 11 informing
the public that any funds not claimed would become property of the
city on Aug. 26.
The council unanimously approved transfer of the funds.
--Jose Paul Corona
Engle named interim services director
Jim Engle, deputy director of community services, was named acting
director of community services on Oct. 1 after Ron Hagan’s decision
to retire and serve as a special projects manager for the city.
Engle will serve as interim director until a replacement is found
for Hagan. The search for Hagan’s replacement is expected to take
between six to eight months, City Administrator Ray Silver said.
This is the second time that Engle has served as interim director,
the first time before to Hagan’s appointment 12 years ago, Silver
said.
Engle is expected to apply for the spot vacated by Hagan. If he is
hired a search will be conducted to fill his spot, Hagan said.
“Jim is really deserving of the opportunity and is certainly
qualified,” Hagan added.
--Jose Paul Corona
City-based Notthoff gets kudos
As Boeing prepares to deliver its 100th C-17 to the United States
Air Force this month, officials from the aerospace company thanked
the 40 employees at Notthoff Engineering in Huntington Beach for all
their hard work on the military transport jets.
Boeing officials are traveling across the country thanking various
parts suppliers for the plane that is known for its role in
humanitarian missions. They visited the offices of Notthoff
Engineering last week and presented the employees with a banner, pins
and a plaque, said Bridget Hopkins, director of sales and marketing.
Boeing has thousands of parts suppliers. Notthoff Engineering is
one of four small business that were recognized, Hopkins said.
“It’s quite an honor,” she said. “Not too many people got this.”
Employees at Notthoff make the under-floor cargo bulkheads that
support the plane’s fuselage. The planes carry troops, tanks and
helicopters. Construction of the C-17 is the only military production
program left in the state, Hopkins said.
Even though his company has received awards in the past, including
Boeing’s small business award, they’ve never gotten an award of this
magnitude, said Terry Kaller, president of the company.
“I think it’s quite a big deal,” he said.
The 61-year-old company has worked with Boeing for the past 10
years, Kaller said.
--Jose Paul Corona
Meet the candidates in your living room
Residents can tune in to HBTV Channel 3 for a little help in
selecting City Council and City Attorney candidates.
The station began airing five-minute candidates statements on Oct.
5. Candidates were given air time to introduce themselves and to give
information about their positions on campaign issues.
The statements will be replayed through Nov. 3.
The station will also cover the candidates forum sponsored by the
League of Women Voters and the Assn. of University Women today
beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The city attorney candidates’ portion of the forum will begin at
5:30 p.m. and the City Council candidates’ segment of the forum will
start at 7 p.m.
Both forums will take place in the City Council chambers. They
will be aired live and replayed through Nov. 3.
The station will also cover the Huntington Beach High School
District forum taking place on Oct. 17. The forum will begin at 7
p.m. and will air live.
HBTV-3 will also bring residents live election coverage on
Tuesday, Nov. 5, beginning at 9 p.m.
--Jose Paul Corona
Offering Thanksgiving to those in need
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Project Self-Sufficiency
is asking residents to adopt a needy family.
Individuals, families, churches and offices can adopt a family in
the program and give them a food basket that will allow them to have
a traditional holiday meal this Thanksgiving.
Huntington Beach was one of the cities selected across the nation
to receive federal funding through Project Self-Sufficiency, which
was started in 1985. While most of the nation’s Project
Self-Sufficiency programs fell away as funds ran out, Huntington
Beach’s program continued due to the grass-roots efforts of concerned
citizens. The program helps about 100 needy single-parent families in
the city who have a hard time making ends meet. To participate in the
program, families have to live in the city and either be attending
college or receiving some type of job training.
Many of the parents in the program receive public assistance and
some of them work full time, but often have low paying jobs, said
Susan Edwards, program director.
Project Self-Sufficiency helps families by providing them with
food, child care and money to help pay for college tuition.
The goal of the program is to help get families off of public
assistance, Edwards said.
Those interested in adopting a family can call (714) 536-5263 for more information.
--Jose Paul Corona
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