Here are some of the issues the...

Here are some of the issues the City Council will consider at its

next meeting

PARKING FOR SHIPLEY NATURE CENTER

Councilman Gil Coerper is asking the Huntington Beach City Council

to consider constructing a temporary parking area for the Shipley

Nature Center.

The center sits on the west side of Huntington Beach Central Park

and houses several habitats of native plants that are part of a

five-year volunteer restoration plan.

One of the drawbacks, Coerper said, is that the center has

inadequate parking. He is asking the council to review the

possibility of creating a temporary parking lot to accommodate 50

vehicles on a portion of undeveloped land that could be accessed near

the corner of Goldenwest Street and Talbert Avenue.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Shipley Nature Center enjoys popular political support in

Huntington Beach, largely because of its active volunteer base and

commitment to environmental restoration. For the most part, the

Shipley Nature Center is self-funded.

An additional parking lot is part of the master plan for the

project, so it seems likely that the council will approve the request

to direct staff members from the Community Services Department to

tackle the issue. If approved, the issue would then go before the

citizens advisory Community Services Commission for recommendations.

HOUCHEN REPLACEMENT

Former City Councilwoman Grace Winchell will be sworn in as a

temporary replacement for former Councilwoman Julien Pam Houchen.

Houchen recently resigned for her role in a real estate scandal where

she is alleged to have sold condominiums that had been converted from

apartments without the proper permits.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Winchell won’t be sworn in until the end of the meeting; the

result of an 11th hour compromise between Council members Dave

Sullivan, who wanted her to come on at the last possible moment, and

Debbie Cook and Jill Hardy who simply wanted to see the seat filled

by Winchell.

Because of the late appointment, Winchell will only serve for one

full meeting in mid-November. She will step down on Dec. 6 when the

new council candidates are sworn in.