Councilman says future of former senior center site should be up to entire city while downtown residents push for park
Huntington Beach Councilman Michael Posey has wanted a November ballot measure asking city residents what they want to do with the old Michael E. Rodgers Seniors’ Center site now that the new facility is up and running at Central Park.
But apparently taken aback by dozens of resident emails, he pulled the matter from Monday’s agenda.
That didn’t stop about a dozen residents from showing up at the council meeting to voice their disapproval of Posey’s opposition to creating a public park at the Rodgers site. Some held signs reading “Parks Make Life Better.”
At a meeting in April, Posey had retracted his ballot proposal in the face of resistance with an eye toward bringing it back later. It would have asked voters on the Nov. 8 general election ballot if they want to sell the 12,000-square-foot center on 2 acres at 17th Street and Orange Avenue. The vote would have been advisory only.
Downtown residents who live near the site have expressed opposition to selling the land to developers, but Posey said he wanted the views of all the people of the city.
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“The people who live downtown are basically saying they want this to be a park at the expense of every other citizen of Huntington Beach,” he said in April, explaining later that selling the Rodgers site — which is valued at about $14 million — could fund park improvements citywide but that turning the area into another park would further strain city expenses.
On Monday, Posey said he pulled the item to allow the Community Services Commission, which makes recommendations to the City Council on matters relating to development, acquisition and renovation of facilities, additional time to determine appropriate uses for the site, further educate the public and invite more public comment.
Residents argued at the meeting that they made their stance known a decade ago, when 51% of voters supported Measure T, which asked Huntington Beach voters in 2006 if they wanted a senior center in Central Park. The new center opened earlier this month.
The ballot measure failed, however, to include the fate of the old senior center. However, around the same time, then-Mayor Dave Sullivan and four other council members expressed support for returning the old senior center land to public use.
Residents also told council members Monday that the city’s deed to the property, granted by the Chevron Corp. in 1917, provided that the city use the land for a park or another recreational purpose.
However, City Atty. Michael Gates said that the condition no longer applies because the city now owns the property free and clear. Gates said that under the state’s Marketable Record Title Act of 1988, Chevron needed to renew its interest in the property then — and for every 30 years thereafter — but had not done so and thus the land defaulted to the city’s ownership that year.
Other options include turning the center into a veterans’ memorial hall or keeping it as is, though it would need to be refurbished. The center, a former World War II army barracks built in the 1940s and converted to a senior center in 1975, is in disrepair.
At Monday’s meeting, residents again spoke in favor of the site being used for park space.
“You should be advocating for the city as a whole and not a few developers for their success,” said resident Eric Bauer, directing his comments to Posey. “You should be guarding the life and security of the people of Huntington Beach.… Quit beating a dead horse and save our parks.”
Resident Andrissa Dominguez said she was tired of the issue not being solved by now.
“I feel like this is ridiculous,” she said. “I feel like this is redundant. I don’t understand why we keep talking about this. Move on.”
Posey said Tuesday in a phone conversation his intention for the vote was not to sell the land but to “engage citizens in democracy.”
“I wouldn’t call this a misunderstanding,” he said. “I’d call this a misinterpretation. I was very clear about what my intention was. ... I want every citizen to weigh in because every citizen owns the Rodgers site. Every park in the city needs work.”
He added he will not bring up the idea for a vote again.
“As for me, there’s really nothing next,” he said. “If someone else wants to bring it forward, be my guest.”
Proposed budget reviewed
During a study session Monday, the council began to look at a proposed $220.4-million budget, a $3.7 million increase from last year.
Most of the revenue will come from taxes on property, sales and utility users, said Carol Molina-Espinosa, the city’s finance manager.
A majority of the general fund — 54% — focuses on public safety, with most of that money going toward animal control services, equipment replacement and building renovations.
Increased funding for the new senior center, repairs on beach facilities and park improvements is also being proposed.
Also, the city expects to hire a deputy city attorney and a recreation supervisor.
The council is expected to adopt a budget in September. It would take effect Oct. 1.
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Brittany Woolsey, brittany.woolsey@latimes.com
Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey
