By Mark Bixby

The commission showed some amenability to my proposal to reduce the number of petition signatures for initiative/referend um/recall by 25%, but opted to refer the matter to staff for investigation into what other cities have done re tweaking their signature requirements. This will be coming back to the commission in the future, and it will be critical for anybody on these mailing lists who feels that initiative/referend um/recall should still be within reach of the grass roots despite major population growth in the past and planned high-density growth in the future to show up to that future commission meeting to support the proposal.

After my first three campaign finance reform proposals all went down in flames, the charter consultant spoke up and said that maybe we ought to be considering campaign finance in a broader context alongside the recently revised campaign finance ordinance (HBMC 2.07). A straw vote was taken to determine whether the commission felt it was appropriate to
have any campaign finance content in the charter on general principle, and after that passed it was decided to bring back the whole issue towards the end of the commission's schedule next year for broader discussion.

On more than one occasion, commissioners have asked me where is the public outcry demanding some of these reforms I have been bringing forward? Part of what I'm trying to do is to scan the horizon for things that may not be problems now (and thus not on the minds of the public) but could become problems in the future. But for things that ARE a problem today, support from the hbtalk/SEHBNA/ etc community of people who actually pay attention to what goes on a city hall would be extremely helpful.

The charter commission really is the most dangerous group of people in HB right now. ;-) PLEASE make an effort to participate in the process. Remember, whatever we come up with that makes it onto the ballot and gets approved by the voters is going to have implications for
the next several decades. You have been warned. ;-)

Originally posted on HBTalk/Sehbna discussion groups.

Vandersloot, of Newport Beach, was a central figure in the fight to preserve nature from the encroachment of development, focusing his energy and considerable intellect on areas of Newport Beach and the Bolsa Chica wetlands in Huntington Beach. Vandersloot, a dermatologist, died Thursday. He was 64. The cause has not been determined, but his son believes it was cardiac arrest.

"I managed to get word to [Coastal Commission Executive Director] Peter Douglas about Jan -- and while it was a short tribute, Peter Douglas said very kind words about him, and [Coastal Commissioner] Achadjian paused for a moment of silence and then they adjourned in Jan's memory. [Coastal Commissioner] Sara Wan was visibly shaken and saddened when she said "it will be a huge loss."

"This is so shocking and so very sad. [We] were just talking with Jan after the CCC meeting yesterday. We were making plans to take more pictures of the Cabrillo Wetlands and contacting the two other agencies of NOV's. He was my idol in the environmental world. Everyone respected him for his honesty and knowledge. He will be so missed. No one can do all that he did, nor as well. God Bless Jan. Maybe from Heaven he will guide us."

"Dr. Jan Vandersloot, Doctor, Director of the Ocean Outfall Group and Bolsa Chica Land Trust, the man was a legend. One of California's best activists ever, my friend, died yesterday. "A giant of a man in stature as well as accomplishments, Doc, thanks for saving half the California Coast and teaching we who follow in your footsteps."

"Jan was a member of the Amigos board in the 1980s and through his analytical style was an enormously valuable contributor to the organization. Although we may have disagreed on some issues, he was never, ever disagreeable. I don't recall him ever disparaging anyone who did not agree with him, never uttering a personal attack. A true gentleman. He was a frequent contributor to letters to the editor pages of our local papers on a number of environmental subjects including, of course, Bolsa Chica. Speaking before the Coastal Commission on November 16, 2000, he said, "The Bolsa Chica has a natural beauty that has struck me for 20 years, and that should not be sacrificed."

"He was the heart and soul of the environmental movement in Orange County."

Press release from Residents for Responsible Desalination:

Poseidon Resources proposal to construct an ocean desalination facility in Huntington Beach has just run into new potential obstacles.

In a letter dated July 15th, 2009, to Poseidon Resources, Lt. Governor John Garamendi, who sits on the State Lands Commission and Ocean Protection Council, expressed concerns and opposition to ocean desalination. (Letter attached)

"I will oppose new desalination plants that use ocean water until all options for treating wastewater are explored...."  Garamendi's letter states.  The Lt. Governor expressed concerns about the huge amount of electricity used in the ocean desalination process and the associated impacts on global warming, as well as the adverse impacts on marine life from the facility's ocean intake.  Garamendi also praised the efforts of the Ground Water Replenishment System in Orange County, saying that "it demonstrates what can be done" to conserve water resources before investing in costly unproven technologies.

Local groups applauded Garamendi's letter.

"Mr. Garamendi has put in writing what we have been saying all along - there are water supply alternatives that are cheaper for ratepayers and benefit the environment -- as opposed to the destruction caused by poorly designed ocean desalination," said Merle Moshiri, President of Residents for Responsible Desalination (R4RD. "Poseidon will hopefully listen to Mr. Garamendi even if they have ignored our pleas."

After receiving the letter from the Lt Governor, Poseidon quickly requested that their application for a lease from the State Lands Commission be postponed - an unusual move for a company that consistently blames the State for unnecessary delays in the permitting process.

This letter came on the heels of potentially explosive news that Poseidon let its Conditional Use Permit (CUP) with the City of Huntington Beach expire over two years ago.  The City is currently on record as allowing an extension of the permit well beyond the missed deadline for renewal.

But community members are arguing the CUP is null and void and must be formally re-issued.

According to Joe Geever of the Surfrider Foundation, "The Huntington Beach Zoning Ordinance is perfectly clear. Poseidon was required to renew their CUP application in a timely manner - or lose it and be required to apply for a new permit. This rule applies to everyone equally and the City cannot legally make exceptions for Poseidon."

Councilmember Jill Hardy has requested a review of the Planning Department's decision to allow Poseidon an exception to the rule, and Surfrider Foundation is seeking a reversal of the Planning Department's decision.

Poseidon's proposed ocean desalination facility has been a contentious issue in the community for numerous years - and recently the proposal seems to be losing support and momentum.

 I can only imagine how many people are saved each summer by the Huntington Beach Lifeguards. Lots.

But unless something really dramatic happens, these incidents hardly ever make the news. However, when the lifeguard at Tower 2 this afternoon lept into the water to bring someone back to shore, I just happened to be on the pier with a camera. 

In the photo above, the lifeguard has just thrown the swimmer (who was about halfway down the pier, without a board) a floatation device. In the photo below, the lifeguard is swimming back to shore, towing the swimmer behind him. The water was really choppy, so I'm sure this was no easy task. Once they were close enough to shore to stand on the bottom, the lifeguard gave the rescuee a little pep talk about safety and possibly about rip currents. (A surfer floated over to listen in.)

The lifeguards were also warning people with fins on their boogie boards to stay away from the north side of the pier. It seems the water was sweeping them toward the pilings. 

Based on the rescuee's tanline in the photos above, I'm guessing he's not from around here -- or at least doesn't spend much time at the beach. Of the many rescues performed in H.B. each year, I wonder what percentage of them are out-of-towners.

Anyway, thanks to the lifeguards for keeping all of us safe.

Yes.

The surfing Congressman has invited Congressman Barney Frank and his partner, a surfing enthusiast, to Huntington Beach and the Franks accepted.

Says Politico:

“We have them set up at surfers hotel,” says Rohrabacher, joking that Frank “will probably have to lie on the beach like a whale while the rest of us are in the water.”

The Main Street Post Office is closing and that the city is attempting to get a price from the USPS in order to purchase it, sources say.