WHAT HAPPENED: The City Council delayed a...

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council delayed a vote on whether to approve free parking

Downtown on Tuesdays to coincide with Locals Night Out, a promotion

to encourage residents to dine out.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The Huntington Beach Restaurant Assn. launched a promotion called

Locals Night Out in which residents get a 20% discount at more than

22 restaurants in the city on Tuesday nights.

Local retailers are also looking to develop a similar promotion.

The aim is to encourage Surf City residents to shop and dine

Downtown during off-peak days in an off-peak season. If the promotion

is successful, the city will benefit from increased sales.

Officials recommended that the City Council approve free parking

to support the effort.

Councilwoman Debbie Cook questioned whether charging different

parking fees for locals and others in the coastal zone went against

the California Coastal Commission’s code of regulations.

City Atty. Jennifer McGrath will look into the item, which will be

discussed at a future council meeting.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved the executive search firm, Maximus Inc.,

to find a successor for City Administrator Ray Silver.

WHAT IT MEANS:

After a 13-year tenure, Silver will retire in July.

At a Dec. 8 meeting, the City Council interviewed five executive

search firms: Maximus Inc., Ralph Anderson & Associates, Shannon

Executive Search, RJA Management Services Inc., L.B. Hayhurst &

Associates, and Bob Murray & Associates.

Maximus employs more than 5,300 people in more than 245 offices

and has extensive experience recruiting chief executives for local

governments.

The council’s next step will be to develop a profile for a new

city administrator.

WHAT HAPPENED:

On behalf of the Planning Commission, commission Chair Ron Davis

presented the Planning Department with a plaque.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Using its own money, the Planning Commission awarded a plaque to

the Planning Department. The plaque was meant to show the

commission’s appreciation to the department.

WHAT WAS SAID:

“This is a small token of appreciation for the Planning Department

as a whole for the wonderful service to us and to members of the

community,” Davis said.