WHAT HAPPENED: The City Council authorized...

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council authorized free parking at the meters in Downtown

for the holidays.

WHAT IT MEANS:

City residents and visitors can park at no charge at metered

stalls Downtown from Dec. 13 to Jan. 2.

As a result, the city is forfeiting about $20,000 in revenue

collected from the meters, but offering stores Downtown a better

chance of being a stop on a holiday shopping excursion.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council decided to hand $109,920 to the Public Works

Department to remove an aggressive weed, reduce litter and pay for

maintenance at the Shipley Nature Center.

With the money, the city will hire a county group to complete the

tasks.

WHAT IT MEANS:

With the bulk of the money, the city will continue its efforts to

remove arundo, an aggressive weed, from the area around the nature

center.

The funding comes from a grant given by the California Department

of Conservation.

The council also authorized Public Works Director Robert Beardsley

to sign a contract with the Orange County Conservation Corps to

perform the duties, which would include recycling cans, bottles and

other items.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council agreed to write a letter recommending former

Councilman Ralph Bauer for an opening on a Senior Citizens Advisory

Council.

WHAT IT MEANS:

After many years of service to Surf City, first on various school

boards, then as a member of the City Council for the last 10, Bauer

isn’t quite ready to retire.

Bauer, who left his seat on the council at Monday’s meeting, hopes

to serve on the Senior Citizens Advisory Council. That committee

offers recommendations to the League of California Cities.

On Nov. 14, Bauer applied for the position to represent the Second

Supervisorial District on that committee.

Former Surf City Mayor and Councilman Jim Silva represents the

district on the Board of Supervisors.

Bauer needed the letter to be considered for the board. Bauer also

holds a seat on the Orange County Transportation Authority’s panel.

Silva appointed him to that seat.

The league is expected to consider Bauer’s application at its

January meeting.