DESALINATION Put on the back burner for...

DESALINATION

Put on the back burner for nearly a month, the Poseidon project

has resurfaced and is hanging on for dear life at this crucial public

hearing.

The City Council is scheduled to weigh in on whether to accept the

Connecticut company’s proposal to build a 250-million-gallon

desalination facility behind the AES power plant.

Council members have been lobbied for weeks on this project, and

the fallout from the decision, whatever it may be, could have

consequences in the next election. A denial of the project could

prompt a backlash from Republicans and the business community, who

have offered nothing but support for Poseidon. Approving the project

would risk a revolt from environmentalists and residents in southeast

Huntington Beach, who contend they cannot live with another

industrial giant in their backyard. A sewage treatment plant, a toxic

waste dump and a coastal generator are enough to deal with, many

residents say.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Don’t believe anyone who tells you they know what’s going to

happen. While several council members’ votes seem locked in, Don

Hansen and Gil Coerper are emerging as swing votes. Hansen is under

particular scrutiny -- a close ally of the Republican Party, he is

also a proud southeast Huntington Beach resident who helped negotiate

a deal to save a popular little-league field. That short-term glory

might be lost if he approves the Poseidon project and draws the ire

of his southeast neighbors.

One thing is for sure: This meeting is going to go long into the

night. More than 100 people showed up to speak at the last meeting,

which lasted until nearly 4 a.m.

FEDERAL DOLLARS

The council will be asked to approve a five-year consolidated plan

to lay out the city’s annual appropriation of federal dollars from

the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Not much -- everyone wants to talk about Poseidon. The council is

going to have to blaze through this public hearing, which is expected

to take place before the desalination debate, or face the angry

crowds there to weigh in on Poseidon.

During the last desalination debate, the council simply skipped

the other public hearings scheduled and jumped straight into

Poseidon. Don’t be surprised if this item gets dropped.