Sunset Beach to meet about incorporation

The Sunset Beach Community Assn. is expected to decide if it wants to take another step toward incorporation at a special meeting at 7:30 tonight.

The community will discuss hiring a consultant to see if becoming a city is a realistic option.

Sunset Beach is looking into incorporation after it was put under Huntington’s sphere of influence in early July. The Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission put the community under the city’s sphere in an effort to get rid of all county islands.

Huntington Beach is working on a fiscal analysis on annexing the beach community and Surf City Mayor Keith Bohr has said city officials won’t make a decision until the analysis is done.

The association filed an intent to file a petition, the first step in the incorporation process, with the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission in August. The association sent out a survey questionnaire to all registered voters and landowners to find out the community’s position on incorporation and annexation.

About 37% of surveys were returned and about half said yes to incorporation. Residents have given about $27,000 for gathering more information about becoming a city. Before spending any of the money, the association is putting together a plan on how, or if it is possible, to raise the more than $100,000 needed for the incorporation process.

— Britney Barnes