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Dunn denies suit allegations

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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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