WHAT HAPPENED: The City Council approved a...

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved a $3 to $5 hike in parking fees at beach

parking lots for the Fourth of July fireworks show. It also approved

a ticketed VIP event that night at the pier.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The VIP admission and parking surcharge will help the Fourth of

July Executive Board to generate revenue for the $61,912 fireworks

show.

The cost includes $39,500 for the actual fireworks, $12,512 for

the barge and $3,900 for production equipment. A pre-fireworks show

at the Pier Plaza, with a patriotic concert and a small aerial

pyrotechnics show, will cost a additional $6,000.

City costs, which include staffing of police, fire and marine

safety officers and beach cleanup, is estimated to be $49,524.

Organizers predict that the parking surcharges will generate a

minimum of $12,000 in additional revenue.

VIP tickets for seating on the pier and a picnic dinner will be

sold for $50 each and are expected to bring in $25,000 to $35,000.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council directed the community services commission to

consider changing the way the city names its parks, park features and

community facilities.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Under the current policy, parks are named after schools, major

donors, former mayors and City Council members, with a priority given

to those who are still living.

Councilwoman Debbie Cook questioned whether naming parks and other

facilities after former council members and mayors overlooks

contributions made by other members of the community. She was also

troubled by the priority given to living mayors over those who have

died.

The commission will review the policy and develop new

recommendations for naming the facilities. Mayor Cathy Green cast the

sole dissenting vote.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Mayor Cathy Green and Planning Director Howard Zelefsky presented

a proclamation to Jean Nagy, president of the Huntington Beach Tree

Society and Elaine Craft, a member of the Huntington Beach Women’s

Division of the Chamber of Commerce in honor of the upcoming National

Arbor Day.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The two groups are jointly promoting an official city tree

planting at 11 a.m. on April 26.

A sycamore tree will be planted at the Huntington Beach Central

Library behind the youth center.

The Huntington Beach Tree Society was founded in 1998, with a

mission to increase Huntington Beach’s urban forest. Since then, the

group has planted more than 1,000 trees. Nagy said that the society

is always looking for volunteers to help water the trees.

WHAT WAS SAID:

“All you have to do is hold [the hose] and water the tree.” --

Jean Nagy, president of the Huntington Beach Tree Society.