HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

Here are a few items the council will consider Monday:

GRAFFITI INCENTIVE IS BACK

Mayor Gil Coerper, who pulled a proposal to reward citizens for reporting individuals spraying or painting graffiti on private or public property at the Dec. 18 council meeting, is planning to bring it back.

The city has seen a 250% increase in the number of graffiti calls made by residents last year. The city of Fountain Valley instituted a similar policy that has been successful in reducing graffiti, according to Coerper.

WHAT TO EXPECT

If council members approve this item, residents will receive a $500 reward for reporting individuals painting graffiti that would result in an arrest by police officers. Juveniles caught spraying graffiti will be allowed to perform community service in lieu of having a criminal record.

In the December meeting, Councilman Keith Bohr suggested to Police Chief Ken Small that Retired Senior Volunteer Program members could help fight graffiti. However, it appears unlikely to work out.

ZONING REGULATION

The City Council will vote to approve modifications to three sections of Huntington Beach zoning laws relating to definitions of vehicle storage, activity and parking.

The item was approved by a unanimous council vote in November but requires a second reading before the changes are adopted as a city ordinance, 30 days after the vote.

WHAT IT MEANS

City staff expect changes to the city’s zoning law will help reduce challenges to its zoning regulations code so they can respond promptly to any violations.

The three sections pertain to vehicle storage, activity and parking. Council members wanted to define storage activity and clarify non-residential parking and loading rules in the city.

— Compiled by Purnima Mudnal