WHAT HAPPENED: Parking for the Strand project...

WHAT HAPPENED:

Parking for the Strand project has been expanded to include 100

more spaces.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The 225,000-square-foot multi-use project will include a 152-room

Residence Inn and eight high-end shops. It will take up both sides of

5th Street between Pacific Coast Highway and Walnut Avenue.

The project was approved to include a subterranean parking

structure with 405 spaces. Now the developer plans to construct 100

more spaces.

The City Council agreed last night to use Downtown parking fees

the city collects from businesses, also known as parking in-lieu

fees, to pay for the additional spaces. The new spaces are estimated

to cost $1.75 million. The council will pay $500,000 upfront and

$1.25 million over 25 years.

WHAT HAPPENED:

A section of the municipal code that regulates live music at

businesses was amended to include pre-recorded music.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The amendment states that noise caused by pre-recorded music

cannot exceed a range of 10 feet from the exterior of any business.

Other musical entertainment is limited to a range of 50 feet.

The police department receives about 40 calls per week about

disturbing music. Of these, four or five calls concern business

establishments. Officers handle noise complaints by asking the

manager or owner to lower the volume.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The mayor awarded four firefighters for going out of their way to

improve the living conditions of a diabetic woman.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Capt. Mike Perry, Engineer Chico Sanchez, Firefighter Paramedic

John Legg and Firefighter Paramedic Bryan Russell were treating a

diabetic woman for low blood sugar when they suggested that she eat

something and found that she had no food in her home. Meals on Wheels

had already delivered her food for the day, she said.

Using $75 from the Huntington Beach Firefighters Assn., the men

purchased and delivered food for her and tidied up her refrigerator

and cabinets.