Recreational marijuana business ban and fountain revival on Fountain Valley’s agenda

A proposal going before the Fountain Valley City Council on Tuesday would ban commercial recreational marijuana activities in the city.

California voters last year passed Proposition 64, legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults, but the law allows for local control. Cities have until the end of this year to preemptively ban marijuana-related commercial activity. The state will begin issuing business licenses for shops and other commercial endeavors Jan. 1.

In 2015, Fountain Valley banned medical marijuana dispensaries and other commercial activity in the city.

Fountain refresh

The large, long-dry fountain outside City Hall could inch closer to coming back to life.

The council will consider a $62,578 contract with Irvine-based landscape architecture firm Tatsumi and Partners for plans, specifications, estimates and construction support to repair the fountain, partially restore its flow and add an artful garden to portions where the water won’t bubble.

The city turned off and drained the fountain in 2015 to conserve water during the state’s long drought. The drought is now over and the city wants to revive its iconic fountain, which has fallen into disrepair.

Tatsumi and Partners presented four options for the fountain this summer. Based on council feedback, city staff and the landscape architect homed in on a concept called “Modern Reflection.”

The plan would turn on the water in the section that contains the “City of Fountain Valley” sign and place plant life — a sago palm, fountain grass, succulents, trailing rosemary and agapanthus flowers — in the fountain tiers closer to City Hall’s doors and on the ground nearby.

The contract up for consideration Tuesday does not cover the full project. Construction would bring the total to an estimated $420,000.

The city budget allocates $120,000 to repair the fountain. Anything more than that would need additional council approval and could come from undesignated reserves.

The council also has the option to pursue a stripped-down version of the redesign, restore the water feature but not the landscaping or leave the dormant fountain as is.

Police raises

The council will consider a series of raises for police officers.

Under the proposed contract, officers and sergeants would receive raises totaling 11.5% over three years — 4% this year, 4% next year and 3.5% the year after. That would bring this year’s base salary range to about $74,680 to $90,780 annually for an officer and $96,396 to $117,175 for a sergeant.

Freeway bridges

City staff will present the aesthetics and signage for bridges over the 405 Freeway that will be built in Fountain Valley as part of a larger freeway expansion project.

Tuesday’s council meeting will start at 5 p.m. with a study session, followed by the regular session at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 10200 Slater Ave.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD