CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

The following items were considered by the City Council on Monday:

STUDY OF ANNEXING THE BOLSA CHICA WETLANDS

The City Council voted 7-0 to have city staff put a study of annexing the unincorporated portion of the Bolsa Chica wetlands into next year’s budget request. The council had approved Mayor Gil Coerper’s proposal to study the issue at a meeting in February, and now the council has accepted a preliminary report on how much it will cost and how long it will take.

WHAT IT MEANS

A new city report says it will cost anywhere from $28,000 to $70,000 to study annexing the wetlands and then carry out the annexation. It will take 18 to 24 months to annex the Bolsa Chica wetlands if council members approve it when the study comes back, but the study itself would only take two months.

No money has been set aside yet for the study, but staff will request funding for it in the next fiscal year’s budget, which starts in October.

Councilwoman Cathy Green asked that the study include a complete analysis of costs, benefits and legal liabilities associated with taking on responsibility for the area. Director of Planning Scott Hess said those would be included.

CONTRACT WITH MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES’ ORGANIZATION

Council members unanimously voted to approve a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Huntington Beach Management Employees’ Organization, which represents 106 employees ranging from civil engineers to the Marine Safety Chief. The retroactive agreement runs from Dec. 20, 2006 through Dec. 19, 2008.

WHAT IT MEANS

The total cost of the contract over two years will be $1,766,876, according to a city report. Employees in the association will get a 4.5% pay raise, as well as “market compensation adjustments” for some positions that differ for each job; those increases vary from 2.5% to 12.5%.

— Compiled by

Michael Alexander