Q. What is a Redevelopment Plan?
A. A Redevelopment Plan is a very broad document that governs the activities of the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) for a specific project area. It becomes the RDA's charter that establishes long term planning goals, policies, and procedures. It also serves as the financial plan for the given project area.
Q. How does Redevelopment work?
A. Redevelopment is essentially a financial mechanism created by California law to remove blight from the community. Funds for redevelopment projects are derived from regular increases in property tax assessments, not from added property taxes.
Q. Does Redevelopment mean I have to pay additional property taxes?
A. No. The property taxes received by the RDA result only from the properties within an identified redevelopment project area. Beginning at the point in time when redevelopment is adopted for the area, only the incremental increase of the property tax assessment of properties within the area goes into a fund called "Tax Increment." Whether your property is within or outside the project area, no additional property taxes are levied by the City or the RDA due to a Redevelopment Plan.
Q. Does the RDA get all of the Tax Increment?
A. California Redevelopment law requires that twenty percent (20%) of the Tax Increment be used for affordable housing projects within the City and 30% is passed on to local school districts. The remaining percentage is used for Redevelopment Agency operations and projects.
Q. What can Redevelopment funds finance?
A. Redevelopment funds can be used to make a variety of public improvements in the project area, such as:
- Street construction
- Infrastructure repairs or installation (sewers, storm drains, and others)
- Under grounding of utilities
- Clean-up of environmentally sensitive or contaminated properties
- Landscaping of public right-of-ways
- Construction of parking facilities
- Property acquisition
- Property demolition
- Relocation, and other public actions necessary to eliminate blight.
Q. How does the RDA's debt affect me?
A. The RDA's debt does not affect the individual homeowner. Redevelopment Law requires Redevelopment Agencies to acquire debt before they can collect the increase in property taxes (Tax Increment). Debt can be created in a variety of ways. One typical way is an advance of funds from the City's General Fund that usually earns interest by lending its money. To create debt, the RDA may also issue bonds against future Tax Increment revenue (much like when a homeowner borrows from a bank to buy a house and the approved loan is based upon the homeowner's earnings). A bond for the RDA is similar to a mortgage for the homeowner.
Q. Does the Redevelopment Plan change the zoning or land uses?
A. No. In Huntington Beach a Redevelopment Plan is not a Land Use Plan, nor is it a General Plan or Zoning Code. All of the existing land uses and zoning remains in effect.
SIDEWALK, CURB, AND GUTTER REPAIR
Q. How can I get damaged sidewalks, curbs or gutters in front of my house repaired?
A. If a sidewalk is broken or raised, a temporary asphalt patch will be applied. That location will then be prioritized for future sidewalk removal and replacement. Due to funding constraints, the City does not currently have a program for the permanent repair of individual curbs and gutters; however, concrete repairs are performed on a programmed basis throughout the City as funding is available.
Questions regarding repair to the City's sidewalks, curbs or gutters should be referred to the City Corporation Yard at (714) 960-8861.
Q. The City trees are damaging the curbs, gutters, and sidewalks on my street. What do I have to do to get this fixed?
A. Public Works has developed a Tree Removal Petition process whereby all trees, sidewalks, curbs and gutters for an entire street could be repaired/replaced at one time. In order to qualify, the petition must have consent from at least 75% of the homeowners. Following submission of the petition, Public Works staff will perform a field inspection. A letter will be sent to the residents informing them of the outcome of that inspection and whether their specific street qualified to be included on the City's Tree Petition List. This list prioritizes repairs based on the date of petition and the degree of damage. However, the due to funding restrictions the wait may be up to five years from the petition submittal.
Various amounts of funding are received each year, so a repair date cannot be predicted. Interested parties may call the Street Division at (714) 960-8861 after the first of each year to learn which streets are scheduled for that year.
STREET LIGHTS
Q. Who do I call to report a burned out streetlight?
A. Please call Southern California Edison for the repair. They can be reached at 800-655-4555. The City maintains a small number of streetlights in the downtown area. If the light is the responsibility of the City, Edison will notify the proper department.
STREET SWEEPING
Q. I received a parking ticket for a violation of the street sweeping ordinance that I feel I don't deserve. What can I do?
A. To contest a parking citation, a "Request for Hearing" form, which can be obtained from the Police Department, must be completed. When received, an officer will review the validity of the citation and, when the investigation is complete, a notice will be sent to you through the mail informing you of the findings. If you are dissatisfied with the results of this administrative review, there are additional options available to you.
To get complete information, call the Police Department's Traffic Division at (714) 536-5663.
Q. Why can't the City make arrangements for alternate-side street sweeping to allow people to park near their homes and not receive tickets?
A. Due to the high number of cul-de-sac streets in the City, designing efficient street sweeping routes is quite difficult. The alternate-side street sweeping schedule is employed in high-density areas where parking studies taken prior to the start of the twice-a-month program indicated it would be necessary.
Undertaking alternate-side sweeping for the entire City would be extremely costly. The current number of four sweepers would have to increase to at least six, possibly eight sweepers, and additional parking control officers would have to be added, raising the cost of the program tremendously.
To comply with signage posting regulations for alternate-side street sweeping, a sign would have to be placed every 150 feet throughout each neighborhood. The cost of such additional signs and maintenance would be over $1 million in additional annual expenditures.
TRASH REMOVAL
Q. Who do I call for a special trash pickup of a large item?
A. Huntington Beach households with weekly regular trashcan service are entitled to two special, large item pick-ups per year. Customers should contact Rainbow Disposal at (714) 847-3581 to schedule.
TREE REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT
Q. How can I get the tree in front of my residence removed?
A. A request from a citizen to remove a City tree will be considered for approval when one, or a combination, of the following occurs:
- The tree is determined to be dead, or diseased beyond cure
- The tree is determined to be causing damage to public or private property, and improvements to the property cannot be made without the removal of the tree
- The tree is determined to be damaging, or that it will cause damage to, public improvements or private property, and maintenance procedures, such as root pruning, will either cause the tree to fall or will not halt future damage for a substantial period of time
- The tree is found to be a public safety concern making its removal necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the community
Questions regarding the City's tree program and policies should be referred to the Maintenance Division at (714) 536-5480.
Q. Tree roots are causing damage to my sewer line. Will the City pay for the repair of my lateral?
A. Each home or commercial building has a separate connection to the public sewer main called a sewer lateral. Under current Municipal Code, Section 14.36.050, it is the property owner's responsibility to maintain and repair the sewer lateral up to the point of connection with the public sewer main. This includes both the portion on private property and the portion located beneath the sidewalk and street.
When a sewer backup or other problem occurs, in most cases it will not be obvious whether the problem area is in the sewer lateral or in the public sewer main. If this occurs, call (714) 536-5921 both during or after business hours. A representative of the wastewater program will be dispatched immediately to conduct an inspection free of charge. If a blockage is found within the public sewer main, a work crew will be sent to repair the problem as soon as possible. If the public main is found to be clear, the property owner will be advised that the blockage is in the sewer lateral and the property owner is responsible for the costs of repair.
VOTER REGISTRATION
Q. Who do I call for voter registration information?
A. Please call City Clerk's office at (714) 536-5227.
WATER
Q. Where does our water come from?
A. Huntington Beach is fortunate to be located over the Santa Ana River groundwater basin, which allows us to pump approximately 66% of our water supply from the basin below. The other 34% is supplied by imported water. To ensure a lasting supply for the region, the Orange County Water District manages the basin, and the City pays a replenishment assessment to the District for each acre-foot of water taken from the groundwater basin.
Water presently comes from ten operating water wells that vary in depth from 250 feet to 1,020 feet, with production varying from 450 gallons per minute to 4,000 gallons per minute. Total production from all ten wells is rated at 27,500 gallons per minute.
Q. Is our water safe, or should I drink bottled water? Does City staff test the water?
A. Our water is very safe. It is automatically tested and monitored every four seconds. State-of-the-art lab equipment allows staff to measure quantities reported in parts per million or parts per billion.
Q. Why does my water sometimes smell like chlorine?
A. Chlorine is used at each of our ten water well sites for disinfection. About thirty percent of the City's water supply is imported from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which uses a different disinfection method known as "chloramination", a combination of chlorine and ammonia. When water using these two disinfection methods is blended together, it may give off a slight chlorine odor, which is not harmful.
Q. I have a water backflow device. Why do I have to test it each year?
A. Backflow devices must be regularly tested to ensure they are in proper working order. Under the California Administrative Code - Title 17, Public Health Regulations relating to cross-connections, the water supply agency and our Municipal Water Division have the primary responsibility for preventing water from an unapproved source or any other possible contaminants from entering the public's drinkable water system. In accordance with State Department of Health Services mandatory requirements, the Water Division keeps records of the test date and results of the testing.
Q. What have you done to protect our water after 9/11?
A. Many steps have been taken and additional security measures are being implemented daily. We are working with city, state, and federal agencies to ensure our water system remains safe and reliable. Examples of steps taken include enhanced site access controls and increased testing for certain critical water constituents.
Q. What water treatment filters should I buy? What types of filters or treatment does the City use?
A. A treatment process is not necessary. However, if you like the flavor the water has after it passes through your filtration or home treatment system, it becomes a matter of taste and not one of water quality.
Q. Does the City add fluoride?
A. Fluoridation facilities have been in operation IN Huntington Beach following a 1972 voter preference to fluoridate the City's water supply. In 1997, fluoridation in large water systems became mandatory statewide. Daily tests are made at each injection location by Water Division personnel to determine the exact fluoride content.
Q. Are water softeners allowed in Huntington Beach?
A. Yes, water softeners are allowed in the City of Huntington Beach.
Q. Who should I contact concerning internal plumbing issues?
A. Frank Biangone, Chief Inspector, Building and Safety Department at (714) 536-5296.
WATER/REFUSE BILLING
Q. How much is my bill and when is it due?
A. You will need to talk to billing at (714) 536-5919 and press option 9. The phone hours for billing are from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Q. How do I apply for new water service?
A. To start water service you may contact the Municipal Services Billing Section of the City Treasurer's Department at (714) 536-5919 (press 9) to provide the City with the required information. Normal phone hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
When calling, please be prepared to provide the following information: your billing name, your service address, mailing address of the bill (if different than the service address), employer information, your driver's license number, your social security number, a daytime phone number, and the date that you wish service started. A deposit may be required to begin service.
Q. Why do I have to pay a deposit? I have good credit.
A. Unfortunately, we have no way of verifying credit if you are not a current water customer of ours. Deposits are designed to help cover the closing bills if they are not paid. You can request that your deposit be applied as a credit to your bill after 12 payments are made, as long as you have no more than one late payment. You may also obtain a credit letter later and send it to us and we will apply the credit approximately 8-12 weeks after your first bill is paid.
Q. Is it possible to have the deposit waived?
A. The deposit portion can be waived (on single family residences) if you have an existing account with us and have had no more than one late payment in the past 12 months, or by providing a letter of credit from a previous utility stating that fact. The letter must be presented at the time of application.
Q. How do I cancel my service?
A. To disconnect service in your name, contact the Municipal Services Billing Customer Service Representative in the City Treasurer's Department at (714) 536-5919 (press 9) to provide the City with the required information. Normal phone hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The request can also be made by mail, fax or in person.
Q. Do you have automatic payment or pay-by-phone capabilities?
A. The City now offers Autopay, a free service that is available to all Huntington Beach residents that automatically pays your utility bill on time each month. AutoPay automatically withdraws funds from any personal, business, or checking account to pay your bill for the City's utility services.
Anyone who wishes to sign up for AutoPay can print out an application on the City's website. If you have any questions about the AutoPay Program, your statement, or to request an application, please call the City of Huntington Beach at (714) 536-5919 and press option 9 on your touch-tone phone.
Q. Why is the bill so high even though the house is vacant?
A. There is a basic meter charge, surcharge, sewer fee, and refuse charge on all residential accounts that are automatically billed. The only variance is the water usage charges.
Q. Can I get an extension on my payment due date?
A. We do not have any way to grant official extensions, but we will try to arrange a payment schedule to help you avoid having your water shut off. Call (714) 536-5919 and press option 9. (This is handled on a case-by-case basis)
Q. Can you waive the late charges?
A. No, one late charge can be waived for any reason and any other waiving of late charges would be considered a gift of public funds.
Q. I want to close my construction water account. How do I do that?
A. You will need to contact water billing at (714) 536-5919 or you can fax the request to (714) 374-1603.