CITY FOCUS:

Huntington Beach City Council members are willing to consider building a pair of arches at Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway that recall a historic structure, but they want to know more about its feasibility before moving forward.

Council members voted 6-1 to check in with agencies like the California Department of Transportation and put together a timeline for a $900,000 pair of arches at the intersection.

Councilwoman Jill Hardy voted no.

Councilman Gil Coerper brought the issue to the council, calling it a great way to celebrate the city’s centennial. He said fundraising efforts could help with the costs.

“The whole concept is to get the community involved in this,” he said.

“It brings back to the city of Huntington Beach a lot of heritage, and that’s what I’m looking for.”

Similar double arches, arranged in an X across the intersection and hanging a “Welcome to Huntington Beach” sign, marked the spot from 1927 to 1941.

Though the arches were billed as a commemoration for the city’s 100th anniversary in 2009, with a July 4 deadline for completion that year, Interim City Administrator Paul Emery said building them that quickly wasn’t likely.

“I think it’s extremely optimistic,” he said. “It would be a Herculean effort. To suggest they would be ready by July 2009 would be absolutely phenomenal if that were to occur.”

Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau President Doug Traub said the bureau’s board had voted in favor of the arches. He called them a chance at a major achievement in public art.

“Every city of this nation has public art that captures the spirit of a community and transmits its legacy from one generation to the next,” he said. “Restoration of the arches is another rare opportunity to look forward in time and review our history, much like when the Huntington Beach Pier was constructed.”

But not all council members who voted yes said they were sure to support the arches when they were set against other budgeting priorities, even other centennial celebrations.

“I think this is going to compete directly to raise money for our float” in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade, Mayor Debbie Cook said. “I don’t want to harm our ability to raise money for the centennial or step ahead of ability to raise funds for the completion of downtown.”