Huntington Beach to Seek Fund-Raising Help

HUNTINGTON BEACH — After hearing that donations for the city’s proposed new pier are falling behind expectations, the City Council on Monday night narrowly voted to solicit proposals from professional fund-raisers.

The motion passed 3 to 2 after spirited debate about fund-raising efforts. The debate started when Ron Shenkman, representing the city’s volunteer Pier Fund-Raising Committee, told the council that there is a $3.5-million shortfall in the estimated $11-million cost of the new pier.

Shenkman said the committee has found that efforts to raise money outside of Huntington Beach are meeting a cold shoulder.

“We really have to look to ourselves to fund this pier,” Shenkman said. He and Dick Harlow, another committee member, recommended that the city solicit proposals for a professional fund-raiser.

But Councilman Wes Bannister strongly objected. He said several fund-raising groups have been approaching the community and he was skeptical that the $3.5 million could be raised by donations.

Bannister said the city should issue a bond instead. But Mayor Thomas J. Mays said, “We don’t want to use that except as a last resort, because if it fails on the June ballot, we’re right back where we started from.”

Councilman Jim Silva said he objected to any of the money earmarked for the new pier being used for architectural studies for a plaza planned at the base of the pier. Silva and Bannister cast the opposing votes on the motion.

According to the committee, $750,000 has been pledged by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; $2 million by the state; $1.25 million by the county, and $3.5 million by the city.