Huntington Beach slated to receive $200,000 to fund domestic violence services

The Huntington Beach City Council is expected to approve a state grant of more than $200,000 for domestic violence services at its Monday meeting. Members will also vote whether to approve a city match of about $68,000.

The Police Department applied to the state Office of Emergency Services for the grant, which will fund the city’s Violence Against Women Program. The city match will come from the Police Department budget.

The majority of the grant will pay for two victim advocates contracted through the Waymakers Victim Assistance Program and Interval House. The remainder will pay for two part-time domestic violence investigators through the end of the year. The two part-time investigators will assist a full-time detective.

The additional staffing aims to meet the Police Department’s goal to “investigate domestic violence incidents in a timely manner, resulting in improved services to victims,” according to the staff report.

City Council considers contracts for road repairs

The City Council will also vote on whether to approve more than $7.5 million in contracts to repair roads in north Huntington Beach.

Members will consider a $2.5-million contract to repair 139 street segments that have been been determined to be in “very poor” condition based on a city rating system. The streets, which will be repaved and reinforced, are all north of Slater Avenue and east of Edwards Street.

The bid for the proposed $2,551,614 contract with R.J. Noble Company came in about $200,000 lower than the next bid and $500,000 below the engineer’s estimate, according to the staff report.

The total cost of the project is $2.87 million including the construction contract, contingency cost supplemental inspection services.

Also being considered is a contract with All American Asphalt Company for $5.1 million for repairing arterial roads.

The project would consist of 2.5 miles of arterial streets including a stretch of Slater Avenue, which would be paved with a 4-inch layer of new pavement after the underlying road base is treated. Other areas that would be repaired include stretches of Graham Street, Atlanta Avenue and Newland Street.

The four segments have been rated as being in very poor to poor condition and haven’t been rehabilitated since the early 1990s, according to the staff report.

The total cost for the project, including contingency and supplemental fees, is estimated at $5,869,000. The chosen bid came in nearly $800,000 lower than the next bid, according to the report.

Huntington Harbour property to be rezoned

After a series of failed proposals to construct a public marina, a Huntington Harbour property that falls within the Coastal Zone Overlay Boundary and a flood zone is slated to be recategorized for low-density residential development.

The vacant lot, 16926 Park Ave., is surrounded by single family residences on three sides and an open space waterway to the north. No development is currently proposed for the property.

The city entered a settlement agreement with the property owner, Medhat Rofael, in September 2018, calling for the rezoning to be approved in exchange for Rofael withdrawing the application for the marina project.

In July 2017 the Planning Commission unanimously denied a proposed marina after opposition from residents who said it would bring unwanted traffic to the narrow street.

The project included a public marina with a 66-foot community docking area, a floating pedestrian ramp and a two-story building with an office, public restroom and caretaker’s unit totaling 1,328 square feet, according to city documents.

As part of the settlement, the city agreed to process a general plan amendment, zoning map amendment, local coastal program amendment, environmental assessment for the property at a fixed fee.

Monday’s council meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 2000 Main St.

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