COUNCIL WRAPUP

PET ORDINANCE FURTHER CUT

On a second reading of an ordinance to require business license numbers be displayed in any advertisement for sale or adoption of pets, the council dumped the licensing requirement. What was left in the law handed authority to set licensing fees to Orange County Animal Control Services, something the city has been doing already in contracts for 10 years.

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WHAT IT MEANS

The rule is all that remains of a months-long debate on mandatory spay and neuter ordinance proposed by Councilman Keith Bohr. In the face of constant criticism from local and statewide breeders’ groups and dog owners, the ordinance was reduced to a financial incentive — a compromise that failed as well. With this vote finished, nothing remains to be decided.

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NO CITY SUPPORT FOR COASTAL ACT CHANGES

The council squeaked through on a 4-3 vote to oppose changes in the California Coastal Act that would limit who can appeal to the Coastal Commission. If state Senate Bill 1295 passed, commissioners would no longer be able to make their own appeals, only interested parties. While city staff and some council members said it was unfair to make developers wait for sometimes frivolous appeals with no set time limit, local environmentalists and former mayor and Coastal Commission member Shirley Detloff said it was an attempt to erode protections for the coast.

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WHAT IT MEANS

Originally, the city’s Intergovernmental Relations Committee was recommending support for the law, but council members narrowly reversed course, with a minority of members Don Hansen, Joe Carchio, and Cathy Green voting against opposing the bill. The city will officially oppose the law change.

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NO ANNOUNCEMENT ON BUYING SCHOOL SITES

The council held a closed session on possible purchase of the former Le Bard Elementary school put up for sale by Huntington Beach City School District, but announced afterward that no action had been taken in the session.