Huntington Central Park renovations up for council consideration

Huntington Beach’s Central Park could be getting a face lift after the City Council on Monday considers infrastructure projects for worn-down areas.

The council will discuss replacing and repairing asphalt and making improvements to the irrigation system in the eastern part of the park, along with repairing the parking lot of the Park Bench Cafe, according to a report by City Manager Fred Wilson.

In January, the council was told that the city had a $1.6-million surplus, and staff determined that $500,000 could be used for park infrastructure improvements, the report states.

The Huntington Central Park Committee worked for months with the Public Works and Community Services departments to determine areas in need of repair.

The committee is an arm of the Community Services Commission, which makes recommendations to the council on issues related to development and renovation of parks and recreational facilities.

Waste management contract

A council committee will provide an update of its review of the city’s waste management agreement with Republic Services, formerly Rainbow Environmental Services.

The council unanimously approved the formation of the committee in May in hopes of amending an “undesirable” contract that has automatic renewals instead of a bidding process.

The idea was originally proposed by council members Erik Peterson and Lyn Semeta, who said Huntington Beach residents generally pay a higher rate than other Republic customers countywide and that they hope to rectify that with better terms and pricing.

In early June, the council approved trash collection rate increases intended to help balance the city’s refuse fund, which had amassed a deficit of $565,000.

Republic agreed to give the city a $300,000 credit to atone for violating part of its trash services contract for years.

The company charged Huntington Beach ratepayers a $3 monthly recycling fee while providing Fountain Valley senior citizens a discounted rate of $2.70, Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said in June. That violated Republic’s contract with Huntington Beach, which has a clause that says the company can’t charge Huntington a higher recycling fee than other cities, Gates said.

“We are pleased that the matter was resolved to the city’s satisfaction,” Republic Services said in a statement at the time.

Beach Cities Interfaith Services

Several supporters of Beach Cities Interfaith Services, an advocacy group for the homeless, plan to attend the council meeting Monday to voice opposition to the city evicting the group from its location at 18131 Gothard St.

The group has been given until early next year to leave the property because of city officials’ concerns that its presence has attracted homeless people and unlawful activities to Central Park.

On July 5, about 70 people flocked to City Hall to show support for BCIS.

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

benjamin.brazil@latimes.com

Twitter:@benbrazilpilot