Agreement on Fire Service for Bolsa Chica Mesa OKd

The City Council narrowly approved an agreement this week that takes the first step in providing fire service to a proposed housing development on the Bolsa Chica mesa.

The letter of understanding between Huntington Beach and the Orange County Fire Authority isn’t a contract but merely an outline of general areas of agreement.

If the two sides turn it into a contract, the city would be compensated for providing fire service to the mesa--which is outside city limits--even if a proposed 2,400-home development never appears.

The developer, the Koll Real Estate Group of Newport Beach, filed for bankruptcy protection last week to reorganize its debts. The mesa is the company’s largest asset, but the project was delayed to at least mid-1998 by a judge’s recent order that Koll resubmit its development plan to the California Coastal Commission.

Many residents and some council members oppose Koll’s development next to the Bolsa Chica wetlands.

“They say they’re going to come out of bankruptcy in 60 days and everything is going to be fine and wonderful,” Councilman Tom Harman said. “Frankly, I’m a little skeptical of this, and it makes me a little wary of entering into this contract that isn’t a contract.”

But Councilwoman Shirley S. Dettloff said a fire agreement would be with the county, not Koll. And she said the city needs to ensure it gets paid for the fire service it already provides the area unofficially, especially if homes are built there. The county would pay the city about $600,000 per year, plus a one-time contribution of $1.25 million for a new fire station.

The council approved the agreement in 4-3 vote, with Harman, Mayor Ralph H. Bauer and Councilman Dave Sullivan opposing.