Commissioner parts on bad terms

Former Planning Commissioner Kristin Stilton had harsh words for her

colleagues in a resignation letter last month, writing that the group

was dysfunctional and had lost its mandate to govern.

In her Nov. 11 resignation letter, Stilton said some commissioners

come to the meeting unprepared and engaged in “inner squabbling,”

“mutual disrespect,” “disregard for staff expertise” and

“over-analyzing issues not relevant to the one on the table.”

“Personally, in my short experience, I feel the Planning

Commission, as a whole, has not lived up to its purpose,” she wrote.

The letter comes along with the resignation of Commission Chairman

Ron Davis and has angered commissioner Bob Dingwall, who was often at

odds with both Davis and Stilton.

“I don’t feel she’s been around long enough to know what’s going

on and criticize others,” he said.

Stilton didn’t oversee any major commercial developments during

her brief three-month tenure on the commission -- she was brought on

by Pam Julien Houchen to replace Jan Shoemaker after the Realtor

resigned because of her possible involvement in the condo conversion

scandal. Shortly after appointing Stilton, Houchen also resigned. The

controversy is being investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s

Office.

“Her blast came as a real surprise because she was so soft spoken

and didn’t say much,” said Dingwall, adding that he thinks the letter

was a reaction to recent attempts to make the Planning Commission

more open to the public -- a move he said was opposed by Houchen.

There was infighting on the Planning Commission, Dingwall said,

but he lays much of the blame on Davis whom he called “the most

disruptive force on the Planning Commission ever.” As for the long

meetings and persistent questioning of staff members, he said much of

that was done so that the commissioner’s comments could be recorded

publicly.

Davis could not be reached for comment.

Commissioner Steve Ray said Stilton’s criticism needs to be looked

at in a larger context regarding the nature of the Planning

Commission.

“To me, I read from that letter that Kristin was very frustrated,”

he said.

The inner workings of the Planning Commission can be very

difficult, he said, because of the complexity of the projects and the

many divergent views of the commission.

“Is it dysfunctional? No. Is it discordant? Sometimes, sure,” he

said.

Ray said Stilton’s comments likely irritated some commission

members, but the body plans to move on with its work with Ray as its

new chairman. Three new commissioners including one to replace termed

out commissioner Carrie Thomas will be appointed after the first of

the year.

IRS tax refunds, just in time for the holidays

Check your records. Officials from the Internal Revenue Service

have $82,273 in tax refunds have not been delivered to Huntington

Beach residents.

For whatever reason, about 72 tax refund checks sent to Surf City

taxpayers have been returned to the IRS, usually because of problems

with the listed address.

“Sometimes these people move, sometimes they get married,” said

IRS spokesperson Raphael Tulino.

The tax returns vary in size, including a whooping unclaimed check

for $21,715. The lowest tax refund amount is $1.57, Tulino said.

In Southern California, about $3.3 million are waiting to be

returned to taxpayers, while nationwide, the IRS is trying to connect

with 87,485 people who are owed about $73 million.

If you think you’re owed the money, Tulino said, contact the IRS

and update your address, or visit https://www.IRS.gov and click on the

“Where’s my Refund?” link.

“Most of the time when people change their address with the post

office, that information is forwarded on to the IRS,” Tulino said.

“However, if there is any variation between the name on the change of

address form and the tax return, we won’t receive that information.”

If a tax return is filed, but the money is never claimed, it will

indefinitely sit in a U.S. Treasury account. If no tax return is

filed, but a refund is owed, the money will only be held for three

years. About three-fourths of people each year receive tax returns,

he said.

To avoid future mistakes, Tulino said the IRS is encouraging

tax-payers to have their refunds directly deposited back into their

accounts.

Huntington trademarks Surf City U.S.A.

Huntington Beach now has a nickname that can stand up in court.

On Nov. 17, the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau

began the proceedings to copyright the exclusive use of the phrase

“Surf City, U.S.A.,” bureau President Doug Traub said.

Huntington Beach has used the name unofficially for years, but the

new status gives the coastal city exclusive rights to market itself

as the capital of the surfing lifestyle. Traub said the trademark is

part of a bigger move to build the brand of Surf City and attract

tourists from the western United States.

For the last 10 years, the city of Huntington Beach has owned the

rights to the name “Surf City Huntington Beach,” but that name was

for local residents to enjoy and didn’t have much appeal outside of

city limits, he said.

“Surf City, U.S.A. is something we can really put out on the

international stage, it really has legs,” Traub said. “It is much

bigger, much better and much more glorious.”

More importantly, Traub pointed out, Surf City, U.S.A. is more a

statement about the atmosphere of Huntington Beach than a testament

to the quality of surf in the region.

Traub said the phrase, when marketed correctly, should make

consumers think of five terms: beach, family, fun, contemporary and

experiential.

The trademark is a coup for the city over its Northern California

rival Santa Cruz. Both cities have unofficially competed for years

for the Surf City title, and Santa Cruz officials have even

challenged Huntington Beach politicians to surf contests to prove

their cold water dominance.

Sam Fischer, a store manager for Santa Cruz based O’Neill surf

company, said he’ll concede for now to Huntington Beach, but argued

that the battle isn’t over.

“I’m sure a rivalry will always be there,” he said, admitting that

he loves surfing in both towns, but generally sides with his Northern

California home.

“Santa Cruz will always be No. 1,” he said. “Per square foot we

just have better waves and more spots.”

Huntington Beach votes tallied, certified

The Orange County Registrar of Voters on Tuesday certified all

elections in the county, including the Huntington Beach City Council,

after counting all regular, absentee and provisional ballots.

The final tally shows that Keith Bohr was able to earn 101 more

votes than Don Hansen. Originally election returns had Bohr coming in

behind Hansen by about 500 votes.

Final returns place Debbie Cook far ahead in the lead for first

place, capturing 10,000 more votes than either Bohr or Hansen for the

three open seats.

Voter turnout was at a record high this year, with nearly 73% of

registered voters coming out to the polling place.

Final election night results are: Cook with 33,802 votes, Bohr

with 23,227 votes, Hansen with 23,126 votes, Joe Carchio with 20,219

votes, Jim Moreno with 17,649 votes, Steve Ray with 14,862 votes,

Norm “Firecracker” Westwell with 11,575 votes, Rex Ricks with 10,508

votes, Joey Racano with 10,253 votes, Blair Farley with 5,818 votes,

Hyman Crippen with 5,658 votes, Peter Albini with 4,895 votes, John

Earl with 4,068 votes, Robert Kliewer with 3,656 votes, Robert

Mellema with 2,972 votes and Tim Reilly with 2,864 votes.

More flu vaccines are now available

Pacific Orthopedic will hold a flu shot clinic at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday to disperse about 100 doses of the vaccine. Pacific

Orthopedic is in the old Pacifica Hospital, 18800 Delaware St., Suite

150.

Vaccines are $20 a piece and will only be given to individuals

that meet Center for Disease Control guidelines including children

ages 6 to 24 months, seniors older than 65 and individuals with

immune-system related diseases. For more information, visit

https://www.cdc.gov.