HB Residents Protest Poseidon Desal Project

HB residents came out in force on Dec. 6, 2019, to urge the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board to deny water discharge permits to the proposed Poseidon desalination project. The OC Register's Martin Wisckol has a good report and background on the project.    

HB Hit With Huge Housing Numbers

By Dan Jamieson City leaders expressed shock this week over new demands from the Southern California Association of of Governments (SCAG) to build far more housing units in future years than were originally planned. Huntington Beach's proposed future housing allocation went from an estimated 3,600 as first recommended by SCAG staff, to more than 13,000 …

HB to Consider $436 Million Bond Sale to Cut Pension Costs

  By Dan Jamieson Huntington Beach will consider borrowing $436 million to reduce its employee pension costs. City manager Oliver Chi gave an outline of the plan to the city's Finance Commission on October 30, 2019 (audio available here.) It would involve selling $436 million in pension-obligation bonds (POBs) at an estimated interest cost of …

HB Council Considers Legalizing Short-term Rentals

By Dan Jamieson Even though HB has more than 800 short-term rental units (such as typically offered through Airbnb and other services), owners of the properties are in the awkward position of breaking the law. That's because short-term rentals (STRs) are not allowed in the city. But the HB City Council looks like it will …

Westminster Mall Plan Envisions Multi-Story Residential, Office

By Dan Jamieson On Monday, August 19, 2019, the city of Westminster gave an update to its evolving plan to redevelop the Westminster mall. The slide show is here. The initial development outline envisions extensive multi-story residential and office properties. The proposal has 3- to 4-story residential and office buildings along Edwards Street and Bolsa …

Council Dips Toe into CCA Debate

By Dan Jamieson The HB City Council on August 5, 2019, approved a motion to proceed with a request for proposal for a community choice energy feasibility study. Under state law, cities and counties can set up “community choice aggregators,” or CCAs, to buy electric power for residents. Currently there are 19 CCAs operating in …

HB Takes First Step To Address Jet Noise

By Dan Jamieson The HB City Council at its May 1, 2019 meeting took the first concrete step in addressing jet noise by approving a $48,000 contract with Irvine-based aviation consultants Landrum & Brown to come up with a plan that could reduce the noise now impacting Huntington Beach. The action follows a series of …

Issues Arise Over HB Staffing

In a controversial move, the HB Finance Commission on May 22, 2019, voted 4-3 to recommend that the City Council consider issuing a request for proposal to outsource the city’s 31 technology employees. The Finance Commission is an advisory panel made up of seven residents each appointed by a Council member. FC chair Ron Sterud …

Plan for Rodgers Senior Center Site to Emerge

The beginnings of a plan for the Rodgers Senior Center/17th Street Park (or whatever name you prefer) may finally be in the works. A plan to gauge community opinion will be rolled out next month, with a conceptual plan for the two-acre site at Orange Ave. and 17th Street coming a few months later, according …

Homelessness Focus of HBT Town Hall

Homelessness dominated the annual HBT Town Hall meeting held on March 14, 2019 at the Lake Park clubhouse. Guest speaker mayor Erik Peterson said the City council is looking at an opportunity to open a homeless shelter, in partnership with a non-profit, with the shelter to be located most likely in an industrial building. Mr. …