Surf City council rejects charter amendments again

Kenneth Ma

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The City Council voted 4 to 3 Monday to reject

plans from the Infrastructure Advisory Committee to place amendments to

the city’s charter on the fall ballot, citing a need to educate the

public on infrastructure issues.

The vote struck down a ballot proposition that would have created an

infrastructure fund and oversight committee if approved by the voters.

Council members Shirley Dettloff, Peter Green and Tom Harman voted in

favor of the measure.

Councilman Dave Sullivan said the charter amendments were premature.

“The education process has not begun,” Sullivan said.In a special

meeting held at Huntington Beach Central Library, the council reviewed

and accepted the final report of the 35-member advisory committee, which

outlines a $1.3-billion plan for the next 20 years to repair or replace

everything from streets and sewers to sidewalks and storm drains. Nearly

$15 million from the general fund is now being spent on infrastructure.

The committee, made up of residents, worked for two years to create a

plan for fixing the city’s aging infrastructure.

Committee members pushed for an amendment to the city’s charter that

would have created an infrastructure fund with an oversight committee to

ensure the money was used for its intended purpose. They also proposed

another amendment for the city to continue spending 15% of its general

fund on such infrastructure needs as streets, sewers and sidewalks.

In June, the council voted 5 to 2 to reject the same amendment

recommendations.

“I would have preferred [the council] went forward with the charter

amendment,” said Dick Harlow, the committee’s chairman. “Our committee

feels it is important to do it now because of the momentum.”

Harlow said putting amendments to the city’s charter on the ballot

this year could have led to a possibility of voters approving a ballot

measure in 2002 to raise revenue for infrastructure.

Sullivan said he supported the charter amendments, but at a future

date when the public is more informed about infrastructure issues.

Dettloff and Green, the committee’s council liaisons, will now meet

with committee members to create a new committee, which may be comprised

of council members and former infrastructure advisory committee members,

to carry out the plan’s objectives.