CITY COUNCIL WRAP UP

The following items were considered by the City Council Monday:

CABLE FRANCHISE FEES

The City Council unanimously passed (5-0, with Mayor Gil Coerper and Councilman Don Hansen absent) an ordinance to re-establish its current 5% franchise fees for video service providers, in accordance with new state laws.

The city additionally will now charge a 1% fee to support public access, educational, and government television programming.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city will now have additional funds for its HBTV3 government access channel.

Public access and educational programs will also get additional support, although city staff could not predict how much because they cannot predict 2008 cable rates.

PLANNING DIRECTOR

Acting Director of Planning Scott Hess was hired by a unanimous vote of the council as a permanent director of planning for the city. Hess has filled the job since August, when former director of planning Howard Zelefsky resigned.

A panel of city administrators interviewed six applicants out of a pool of 15 chosen by a consultant, according to a city report. After follow-up interviews, City Administrator Penny Culbreth-Graft recommended Hess be appointed to the permanent position as of Saturday.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city will now have a permanent head of its planning department.

CONTRACT WITH TUSTIN TO HOLD DETAINEES

The council unanimously voted to contract with the city of Tustin to hold detainees that Tustin facilities cannot accommodate. Tustin will pay a fee for each inmate held in Huntington Beach Jail.

WHAT IT MEANS

According to a city staff report, Huntington Beach houses 30 inmates a year from Tustin, but there has never been a formal contract. The inmates will not tax Huntington Beach resources, and the program will likely make at least $3,000 a year for the city, which will go to jail programs.