CITY ROUNDUP:Senators approve budget cuts

State senators approved a $145-billion budget Tuesday, after a month-long standoff between Senate Republicans and Democrats.

Republicans got a key concession, a promise from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to reduce the deficit to zero by slicing $700 million in spending, but Huntington Beach Sen. Tom Harman said they’re not disclosing where the cuts will come from until the governor follows through.

“It fully funded education, it fully funded public safety, [and] there is a fairly substantial reserve fund,” Harman said. “We felt like we did succeed in getting some of the things we wanted.”

Harman said the GOP also got Democrats to agree to changes in the California Environmental Quality Act to limit certain lawsuits.

But despite those concessions, the 15-member Senate GOP caucus only cast the two required votes to pass a budget.

Every Republican other than Santa Maria Sen. Abel Maldonado — who first broke ranks Aug. 1 — and minority leader Dick Ackerman voted against the budget.

The failure to pass a budget meant some agencies that depend on state funding, such as schools, day cares and elder care facilities, had to borrow money to pay their bills for several weeks.

Harman said they’ll start getting checks in a day or two, and they’ll get everything they are entitled to, but agencies that took out loans to fill the gap will have to cover the interest.

Officers honored for saving woman from oceanf

Three police officers who rescued a woman who jumped off Huntington Beach Pier earlier this month were honored by the city this week.

At Monday’s council meeting, officers Francisco Jimenez, Frank Choyeski and Mike Thomas received commendations from Mayor Gil Coerper, with police Chief Kenneth Small congratulating them as well.

The three officers jumped into the ocean Aug. 6 to save a Stanton woman who had jumped from the pier. Authorities said Lillian Tyson, 56, resisted aid and did not hold onto a life preserver thrown to her.

She yelled that she could not swim, according to police.

“We’ve had three drownings in the past several weeks in Huntington Beach,” Small said. “If it weren’t for the actions of these three, there definitely would be four instead.”

Choyeski, a former Navy SEAL, and Thomas, who used to swim competitively in school, leapt off of the pier to save the woman, Small said. Jimenez then grabbed a lifeguard paddleboard and swam out to help.

Planning department to discuss revitalizing streets

The city economic development and planning departments will hold their third community meeting on revitalizing Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue Monday.

Earlier workshops focused on general principles of redevelopment and a broad vision of the future corridor, while this third event focuses on transportation and traffic issues.

Those who live, work or do business on or near either street are invited to offer their input.

For more information, call associate planner Rosemary Medel at (714) 536-5271, or project manager Paul DaVeiga at (714) 536-5544.

Groups to walk on behalf of Freedom of Choice Act

The Orange County National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood will be walking precincts on behalf of the Freedom of Choice Act, a congressional bill which would nullify restrictions on abortion. Supporters will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, 6267 Corral Circle. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Workers begin construction at Bolsa Chica Street

Bolsa Chica Street is now under construction.

A pavement rehabilitation project began last week and is expected to run through the end of September.

When finished, the street will be reconstructed from Warner Avenue to Rancho Road near Boeing.

This week, workers have been replacing asphalt at Bolsa Chica Avenue and Edinger Avenue, closing the intersection during daytime hours.

The rehabilitation of Goldenwest Street between Warner Avenue and McFadden Avenue is nearly finished, according to city officials.

Only a few jobs remain: installing traffic signal loops, striping the road, and adjusting manhole covers and valves.

Once those tasks are finished, the project — the second of three this year — will be complete.