CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UPS

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council continued a public hearing of an appeal by Frank Negri

about a Planning Commission decision to allow Del Taco, at 17295

Brookhurst St., a conditional use permit to operate a 24-hour,

drive-through window on Friday and Saturday nights. Staff revealed that

the location, which was originally Naugles restaurant before Del Taco

purchased it, had been granted a permit for 24-hour drive-through

operations on Feb. 23, 1977. Staff explained that due to these

circumstances, the application by Del Taco for a conditional use permit

and its subsequent appeal were therefore moot.

WHAT IT MEANS:

A public hearing on this matter is not required as the request for a

24-hour drive-through was granted by a conditional use permit more than

20 years ago. The city plans to meet with Del Taco and refund any permit

fees that were spent unnecessarily.

VOTE: 5-0

IN FAVOR

WHAT HAPPENED:

City staff presented updated zoning ordinances that regulate the land

uses in the community. This was done to be consistent with the 1995

general plan, which acts as a master plan for the design and build-out of

the community. One of the issues addressed was the ordinance that did not

permit churches the use of changeable signs. Due to the updated

ordinances, churches and assembly groups will be permitted to have

changeable signs once the code becomes effective, which is expected to be

at the start of next year.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The city adopted the development plan that staff presented and will go

to a second reading at the next council meeting Dec. 5.

VOTE: 5-0

IN FAVOR

NEXT MEETING

The City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 in City Hall, 10200 Slater

Ave.

HUNTINGTON BEACH

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council approved a plan to set aside $97,172 in the city’s general

fund to pay for increased wages and benefits for members of the

Huntington Beach Firefighters Assn.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The city and firefighters union tentatively agreed to a three-year

contract expiring in September 2003, which includes pay raises over the

duration of the contract.

The funds set aside by the council will go to an immediate 11% wage

increase, a 3% raise in 2001, an overall increase of 4% in 2002, and an

additional 2% raise in 2003.

VOTE: 4-1 with Councilman Dave Sullivan dissenting, and council

members Peter Green and Pam Julien absent.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council approved a list of 29 traffic intersections throughout

Huntington Beach in need of street lights for the 2000-01 fiscal year.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The street light priority list determines the number and priority of

traffic lights needed to keep motorists at safe speeds.

Of the 29 intersections on the list, city traffic officials said their

budget typically has enough money to install three new stop lights, which

can cost up to $125,000 a year depending on complexity, so there is

currently no money to install most of the lights.

Councilwoman Pam Julien, with the support of other council members,

opted to place the intersection of Seapoint Avenue and Doral Drive No. 26

on the priority funded list after a young bicyclist was struck by a

speeding car during the summer.

Traffic officials said that in addition to the three intersections

each year, there is usually about $35,000 reserved for minor signal

advancements that could cover a three-way stoplight at Seapoint and

Doral.

VOTE: 6-0 with Councilman Tom Harman absent.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council OKd $700,000 in state funds from the city’s gas tax fund

for street resurfacing and tree removal and replacement.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Last month, the city received $1.4 million from the state for the

preservation, maintenanceand rehabilitation of street and road systems.

City officials will save half for the future need to improve arterial

streets, while allocating the remainder now for residential street

overlays and the repair of streets damagedby parkway trees.

The city has a seven-four program to resurface all city streets at

least once before the end of December 2002. About 162 streets are now

being repaired, which is below city expectations largely due to the

increased cost of oil.

About $300,000 of the state money will be used to overlay 19 streets

and bring the resurfacing schedule back on track. The remainder will be

used to repair sections of Rhapsody Drive, Heron Circle, Pioneer Drive

and Adams Avenue Service Road.

VOTE: 6-0 with Harman absent.

NEXT MEETING

The council will reconvene at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 in the council chambers of

City Hall at 2000 Main St. A 5 p.m. study session in Room B-8 will

precede the meeting.