PEACE POLE DONATION The Church of Religious...

PEACE POLE DONATION

The Church of Religious Science wants to donate a peace pole to

the city and place it on city grounds. The church made the same offer

last year, which sparked a debate about what can be accepted as

gifts.

The City Council will decide Monday whether to accept the pole,

which reads “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in six languages. If

accepted, the City Council will decide where it should be put.

Possible locations include Huntington Beach Central Library, City

Hall or the pier.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

There is sure to be some debate. Some feel that, as a gift from

the church, placing the pole on city grounds would violate the

Constitutional mandate for separation of church and state. Others

feel there’s nothing wrong with it. Last year, Councilwoman Debbie

Cook also questioned whether approving a donation from one group

would legally bar the council from denying a donation from any other

group, including those that might be considered offensive.

ZONING CHANGE NEAR RAINBOW

City Councilwoman Connie Boardman is recommending that the City

Council change the zoning at a vacant lot located directly across

from the Rainbow Disposal refuse plant on Nichols Street. The lot is

currently zoned residential.

Some feel that residents would be disturbed by trucks driving by

at early morning hours and odors wafting across the street on windy

days. Rainbow Disposal collects commercial, industrial and

residential garbage from the city.

A proposal to build 53 two- and three-story condominium units

there was withdrawn by developers last fall. Nothing is currently

proposed for the lot.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Staff members are also recommending that the zoning be changed.

NAMING OF PARKS

The council will consider changing the way it names parks in the

city. Some said that naming parks and other facilities after former

council members and mayors overlooks contributions made by other

members of the community. The City Council will vote on whether to

have the city’s Community Services Commission review the city’s

existing policy.

WHAT TO EXPECT

No decision will be made Monday, but the matter could be sent to

the Community Services Commission, a board that reviews and provides

recommendations relating to the city’s parks, beaches and

recreational facilities.