WHAT HAPPENED: The City Council received...

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council received $24,500 to be used for an abridged Drug

Abuse Resistance Education program.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The Promoting Resources in Drug Education Foundation, a

fund-raising organization for the police department, officially

presented the city with a check to be used to launch a spring DARE

program. A community effort has allowed the program to continue

despite being cut from the city budget. Funding was cut Dec. 16.

Police Chief Kenneth Small said he is committed to designing the

program based on the funds received.

Donors recognized at the ceremony included the Kiwanis Foundation

of Huntington Beach, the Robert J. Mayer Corporation, Dream

Merchants, Inc. Rainbow Disposal, South Coast Oil Corporation and the

Huntington Beach Police Officers Foundation. There are more funds

already on the way, council members said.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“This isn’t the end of it. We’re just getting started on our DARE

program.”

-- Councilman Gil Coerper

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council voted to pursue a plan to remove Garfield Avenue and

Banning Avenue bridges from the county’s master highway plan.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The city is committed to removing two bridges from the County

Master Plan of Arterial Highways. Both proposed bridges would cross

the Santa Ana River, connecting Costa Mesa to Huntington Beach and

Fountain Valley -- one at Banning Avenue and 19th Street and another

at Garfield and Gisler avenues.

The city of Huntington Beach, along with Costa Mesa, Newport Beach

and Fountain Valley recently issued a joint study on the need for the

bridges. Based on the study, the city found alternative roadway

improvements to be more cost effective and less intrusive to

surrounding communities.

The city has agreed to take action to oppose the project at every

step.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“Our opposition to the bridges is very firm.” -- Councilwoman

Connie Boardman

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council appointed acting Fire Chief Duane Olson as the

representative to various Orange County joint powers authorities.

Operations Division Chief Jacques Pelletier was appointed as an

alternate board member.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Olson will replace former Fire Chief Michael P. Dolder, who served

as board member for three different county organizations. Dolder

retired Dec. 27.

Olson will serve as the city’s board member to the Orange

County-City Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Joint Powers

Authority. The purpose of this authority is to provide prompt and

efficient response to hazardous materials emergencies. Dolder will

serve as an alternate member.

Olson was also appointed as an alternate board member to the

Central Net Operations Joint Powers Authority and the Metro Cities

Fire Authority Joint Powers Authority.

The Central Net Operations Authority oversees the Joint Powers

training facility and provides fire suppression, fire prevention and

emergency medical training. Metro Cities Fire Authority handles

training and fire dispatch services.