The City Council on April 17 directed staff to consult with other cities’ laws and come up with an ordinance that would ban registered sex offenders from entering Fountain Valley’s parks. The ordinance would seek to protect children who gather there for various activities, said Councilman Steve Nagel.

The law would allow offenders to visit parks on a case-by-case basis after obtaining permission from the police department or a designated staff member.

“This is just to put them on notice that we’re aware they’re going to be there,” Nagel said.

Those caught in city parks without prior permission would be charged with a misdemeanor.

Fountain Valley has 38 registered sex offenders, said City Manager Ray Kromer.

– Mona Shadia, @MonaShadia, Huntington Beach Independent

…Continue reading Fountain Valley considering sex offender ban

After more than two years of talks and planning, the warehouse chain is expected to open its first Huntington Beach store at Bella Terra at 8 a.m. on May 2.

“The entire city of Huntington Beach is excited about Costco coming to our community,” said Mayor Don Hansen. “We’re looking forward to having that option in our city versus traveling to other cities to have the experience they deliver.”

For Costco, investing in Huntington Beach has been on the agenda for more than just two years. It’s been about 15 years since the company looked to open a store in the city, said Bruce Greenwood, Costco’s senior vice president and general manager of the Los Angeles region.

“We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “(We) finally found a suitable site for us, and we’re just happy to serve that area of the community.”

The City Council approved the project in September 2010.

– Mona Shadia, @MonaShadia, Huntington Beach Independent

…Continue reading Huntington Beach prepares to say hello to Costco

The council initially voted in March to bring forward an ordinance that would ban the sale and resale of pets in the city.

However, when it came time to vote on the ordinance Monday, the council scrapped the initial proposal after Councilman Joe Shaw, who said he wants to be able to support banning the sale of animals without putting pet stores out of business, proposed a middle-ground solution.

Under the new ordinance, the city would work with animal groups and the two pet stores to transition into a new model of rescuing animals within two years. The idea is to move away from selling animals that come from puppy mills, but it’s not clear how it will work at this time.

The new ordinance would also ban any new animal stores from operating in the city.

– Mona Shadia, @MonaShadia, Huntington Beach Independent

…Continue reading H.B. City Council seeks to phase out pet sales

The organizations were randomly selected during the City Council meeting from among 33 that applied to sell fireworks as part of their fundraising efforts. A blindfolded Miss Huntington Beach Hana Smith helped the Fourth of July Board choose the nonprofits.

A council action from January lifted the longtime ban of selling fireworks in the city. It will be in effect for a two-year trial period.

The organizations are: the Huntington Beach High School Lacrosse Boosters, Huntington Beach Girls Softball, Huntington Beach Host Lions Club, the Marina Vikings Football Booster Club, the First Samoan Congregational Church of Huntington Beach, the Hawes Elementary School PTA, the Marina High School Baseball Booster Club, the Ocean View High School PTSA, the Marina High School Boys Volleyball Booster Club and the Edison High Football Boosters.

Maria Isabel Garcia said the officers shot and killed her unarmed son, Erick Catalan, and failed to take appropriate measures to subdue the situation.

She said in her claim, filed April 4, that the officers then filed a false police report to cover up their use of excessive force.

On Nov. 1, officers shot and killed two men during a car stop at 4:27 p.m. on Hammon Place north of Westminster Boulevard. The incident took place in Westminster by Huntington Beach’s border.

A woman and two men were inside the vehicle.

The shooting took place after gang unit detectives, who police have said were investigating a suspect believed to be armed and dangerous, stopped a green four-door Lexus.

– Mona Shadia, @MonaShadia, Huntington Beach Independent

…Continue reading Mother files claim against H.B. after son killed by police

Starting in June, the department plans to reduce the number of per-shift patrol officers from 10 to eight, except on Fridays and Saturday afternoons and evenings, the busiest times for the department, said Capt. Russ Reinhart.

Maintaining the full 10 officers for every shift requires overtime pay, which the department will be unable to cover because of budget restrictions and diminished staffing.

“This isn’t something we want to do or look forward to doing … ” Reinhart said. “But this is where we’re at. These are all effects of past budget cuts and, unfortunately, we’re looking at more budget cuts in the future.”

Over the last few years, as budget cuts were put into place, the department had to close the gap by moving gang unit detectives to the field for patrol and stop investigating some minor financial and property crimes.

“We really have nobody left to take out without eliminating core services, like investigating domestic violence,” Reinhart said.

– Mona Shadia, @MonaShadia, Huntington Beach Independent

…Continue reading Huntington Beach police plan to reduce patrol officers, responses

Merle Moshiri, the president of Residents for Responsible Desalination, filed a complaint in March against John Foley, the board chairman of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, claiming he neglected to report more than $600,000 in income his wife, Mary Jane Foley, received from consulting she did for private and public water companies, including Poseidon.

But in a letter to the FPPC, Poseidon Vice President Scott Maloni said Mary Jane Foley has not done any work for his company.

“Contrary to Ms. Moshiri’s allegations in her signed sworn complaint form, Poseidon has never contracted with Mary Jane Foley (MJF Consulting),” Maloni said in the letter. “Furthermore, Poseidon’s accounting department has neither a record of receiving an invoice for professional consulting services from Mary Jane Foley nor any record of payment to Ms. Foley.”

– Mona Shadia, @MonaShadia, Huntington Beach Independent

…Continue reading Poseidon, company proposing H.B. desal plant, disputes complaint

Deputy Fire Marshal Jeff Lopez said firefighters responded to the blaze at the Heritage Montessori School playground, 15881 Goldenwest St., at 3:42 a.m.

“They found some indications that point to the possibility of it being an arson,” Lopez said.

One of those indications is the time the fire had started.

No one was injured, and Lopez would not say if the entire playground was destroyed due to the ongoing investigation.

– Mona Shadia, @MonaShadia, Huntington Beach Independent

…Continue reading Arson suspected in Huntington Beach playground fire

Merle Moshiri, the president of Residents for Responsible Desalination, said she filed a complaint March 13 with the Fair Political Practices Commission against John Foley, the board chairman of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

The complaint alleges that Foley failed to report upward of $600,000 in income that his wife, Mary J. Foley, received from consulting she did for both Poseidon Resources and the desalination efforts headed by the Municipal Water District of Orange County. Mary J. Foley is the principle of Foley Consulting, Inc.

Moshiri said she’s also looking into whether Foley voted on issues his wife consulted on, which could pose a conflict of interest.

“To me, the choice was arrogance or ignorance, and neither one makes for good public policy,” she said.

…Continue reading Huntington Beach activist files complaint against water official

The officer was the first to respond to a fight in front of the Hotel Huntington Beach, 7667 Center Ave., and was attacked by several people, said Lt. Mitch O’Brien.

“He became the victim really quickly over a really vicious assault,” O’Brien said.

Other officers responded shortly after, and one suspect was arrested on suspicion of felony assault on an officer.

Other suspects ran away, O’Brien said. Police are still investigating the case.

The officer suffered moderate injuries and is recovering at home, O’Brien said.

– Mona Shadia, @MonaShadia, Huntington Beach Independent