POLICE UNION The council will be asked...

POLICE UNION

The council will be asked to shift the position of police sergeant

from the police management association to the police officer’s union,

allowing the return of former police union boss Russell Reinhart.

Reinhart had to resign from the Huntington Beach Police Officer’s

Assn. in March after Chief Ken Small promoted him to a management

position.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Reinhart’s return would be a significant reunion for the police

union, and Reinhart would likely find himself in a leadership role,

perhaps reelected as the union’s president.

During Reinhart’s four years at the helm, the police union was

able to land a lucrative pension deal and several major pay increases

for police officers.

VERIZON WORK

The telecommunications giant has been tearing up city streets for

more than a year now to install a high-speed Internet system said to

be one of the fastest on the consumer market.

The massive project to link every home and neighborhood has drawn

concern from neighbors who say their streets have been torn up and

sometimes inadequately repaired.

This has been a particular problem for residents in private

homeowners associations with streets that don’t fall under the

jurisdiction of the city.

Councilwoman Debbie Cook has introduced a ordinance requiring city

staff to draft up a set of restoration standards so that homeowners

associations can ensure their streets are properly repaired.

The inspections could be done by private consulting firms, or the

associations could hire city inspectors to see that the proper work

has been done.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The measure will likely pass because it won’t cost the city any

money beyond the time it takes to draw up the standards.

Verizon has yet to weigh in on the proposal.

Stiff opposition from the company could slow the resolution.

Verizon officials have already proven they have sway with the city.

Still, it seems unlikely Verizon would oppose a resolution holding

them to the same standards for private streets they already face for

city streets.

CEMETERY FENCE

The council will hold a public hearing to consider approving a

six-foot-high, see-through fence for the Good Shepherd cemetery along

Newman Avenue.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council will likely approve the project.

There may be some some opposition, however, from neighbors who

have been opposed the project as it has wound its way through the

planning commission.