WHAT HAPPENED: The City Council accepted a...

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council accepted a donation by Rainbow Disposal for

additional trash collections Downtown.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Rainbow Disposal has offered to donate $33,400 worth of additional

trash collections on Friday and Saturday in January and February, and

on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from March through June.

The city covers the cost for Rainbow Disposal to collect trash

from 96 public trash bins along Pacific Coast Highway, Main Street

and adjoining streets Downtown at a rate of $2 per receptacle. The

cost of the present service is budgeted at $57,000.

The city will return to regular service after March.

Councilwoman Pam Julien Houchen was out of the room for the vote.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved free parking on Tuesdays at Downtown

parking lots to coincide with Locals Night Out, a promotion

encouraging residents to dine out Downtown.

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 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.

Starting this month, a free parking coupon will be mailed to all

households with the water bills. The coupon will offer up to three

hours of free parking in the Main Promenade Parking Structure

Downtown on any Tuesday night in February or March.

Councilwomen Connie Boardman and Debbie Cook opposed the measure

for financial reasons. Both said that with the city under financial

strain, they could not support the drop in parking revenue that could

result from the measure.

Councilwoman Pam Julien Houchen was out of the room for the vote.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Rick Ayers, a lead worker in landscape maintenance, was honored

with the mayor’s award.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Public Works Director Bob Beardsley and Mayor Cathy Green jointly

presented Ayers with the award.

Ayers moved to Huntington Beach at age 13, attended Marina High

School and began working for the city in January 1970. Beardsley

described him as a hard worker, dedicated to his department and to

the city.

Over the years, Ayers has accrued 2,000 hours of sick leave.

WHAT WAS SAID:

“This guy can’t stay home. He really loves coming to work,” Public

Works Director Bob Beardsley said.