CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:Council to evaluate Bolsa annex

The Huntington Beach City Council has taken a first step to annex the remainder of the Bolsa Chica wetlands. In a vote at their meeting Monday, the council requested a study to evaluate the costs and benefits of doing so.

The addition would be a natural step after already taking on the Hearthside Homes development in Bolsa Chica, said Huntington Beach Mayor Gil Coerper, who placed the motion on the agenda.

“The Conference and Visitors Bureau always puts out Bolsa Chica wetlands as a part of Huntington Beach,” Coerper said. “What’s adding one more area?”

But in a worst-case scenario, the decision might saddle the city with serious maintenance costs for an unpopulated area that provides no extra revenue, Councilwoman Cathy Green said.

“Why would we take on something that’s going to cost our city so much?” she said. “I don’t see what we’re getting for it except lots and lots of liability and lots and lots of expenses.”

Coerper said he had been assured by experts that despite fears of litigation over oil-contaminated areas in the wetlands, “persons that caused the contamination are still responsible no matter who takes it over.”

Other council members echoed Green’s fears but said those worries warranted a study to itemize the costs and benefits of annexation, especially with a county government seemingly bent on decreasing the amount of unincorporated land.

“Those concerns are all legitimate,” said Councilman Keith Bohr. “Let’s lay it out and see what the upsides and downsides are, and we can make the decisions when we’re better informed.”

Two members of the public spoke briefly on the annexation, both in favor of it.

Ultimately, the council voted 6-0 to ask for the study, with Green abstaining.

Taste of Huntington Beach tickets on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the seventh annual “Taste of Huntington Beach,” benefiting the Huntington Beach Children’s Library and the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton.

Scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. on April 15 at the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Resort in Huntington Beach, the event will feature 50 restaurants, 30 wineries and breweries. Pre-sale tickets cost $50 and $60 after March 15.

This year, special cooking demonstrations produced by members of the Huntington Beach Restaurant Assn. can be expected at the event as well as a silent auction, door prizes and live entertainment.

Participating Huntington Beach Restaurant Assn. members will again be judged this year in more than five categories, including “Best Taste.” In 2006, the honor went to Lazy Dog Café, 16310 Beach Blvd.

For tickets, contact the Huntington Beach Library (714) 842-4481, Duke’s (714) 374-6446, The Longboard (714) 960-1896 or The Huntington Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau (714) 969-3492 or visit www.hbrestaurants.com.

H.B. is tsunami ready

With fire and police officials and public safety volunteers looking on, the Huntington Beach City Council received a plaque Monday from National Weather Service representatives declaring the city prepared for a tsunami.

The TsunamiReady certification, which requires a city to put together a detailed plan of action and hold public education programs, comes after significant preparations, Huntington Beach Fire Chief Duane Olson said.

To achieve the rating, the city bought a Reverse 911 system, allowing it to send vast numbers of phone warning messages at once, posted tsunami warning signs along beaches, sent 21,000 letters to residents in vulnerable areas and purchased equipment that receives early warnings directly from the National Weather Service.

Mayor Gil Coerper praised the city’s safety agencies as he accepted the plaque from National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Purpura.

“Everybody working for the interests of the city of Huntington Beach is just phenomenal,” the mayor said.

S&P; improves city’s bond rating

Standard & Poor’s has improved its bond rating for Huntington Beach by one step, city officials told the Huntington Beach City Council Monday. Continued economic growth in Huntington Beach as well as ample financial reserves have convinced the leading independent bond rating company to raise the rating from A+ to AA-, said city administrator Penny Culbreth-Graft.

“I know A+ sounds better,” she joked. “But this is definitely a more sound financial condition.”

If the city issued bonds in the future, it would be able to offer lower interest, and any bond ratings in the future will cost the city less, she said.