HUNTINGTON BEACH : County Antes Up $250,000 for Pier

Orange County Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder on Monday gave $250,000 in county funds to the City Council to help rebuild the city’s municipal pier.

In addition, city officials said, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has tentatively agreed to contribute $1.1 million toward the $10.5-million pier project.

The county grant, which Wieder has sought since the council voted to close the storm-damaged pier two years ago, is contingent upon the city raising an additional $55,000 in private donations to match the county’s contribution.

Deputy City Administrator Richard Barnard said “getting the money needed is not a problem.”

According to a recently completed study on the city’s fund-raising potential for the pier project, Barnard said, private donations during the next year may total as much as $4 million.

However, the city will still need the county and other government agencies to pay much of the estimated $10.5-million cost of demolishing and rebuilding the 75-year-old landmark.

Barnard predicts that the city will eventually garner about $7.5 million in federal, state and county contributions for the project.

Under the county’s proposed 1990-91 budget, $1 million in Harbors, Beaches and Parks funds has been earmarked for a major project, and officials say the pier reconstruction is a leading contender.