La Palma Ca Public Facilities

The state has taken away community library money and it should give it back, City Council members said this week. The council unanimously passed a resolution this week urging the Legislature "to restore funding for the Orange County library system in order to avoid further library closures and elimination of vital library services."

The Community Development Commission recently approved an agreement with Thirtieth Street Architects to design plans for the new Community Activities Center and the renovation of three existing facilities at Central Park. Thirtieth Street Architects will receive $246,800 for their services.

Saying that more research is necessary, the City Council has delayed approval of renovation plans for El Rancho Verde Park. Council members said they particularly need more information about a proposal to increase the height of walls separating the park from private residences. City staff members told the council that many residents asked that the wall, now 6 feet high, be raised to 8 feet.

City government has a newly adopted policy on lending city equipment and facilities to private groups. The City Council this week approved a resolution that gives city staff wide discretion in handling loan requests. But the policy nonetheless makes clear that only nonprofit groups that aid the city may get approval. The policy matter came before the council because of debate last month over a youth group's request for city-owned tables for a block party.

A long-proposed project for Central Park will probably move forward next week, when the City Council expects to approve a construction contract for new restrooms at the facility. City Manager Daniel E. Keen said that if the council approves the contract at its meeting Tuesday, work will start in early January. Completion would be by late spring, in time for softball league and other games in the park, Keen said.

An unanticipated influx of money from the county library system will be used to open the city's branch on Fridays, officials said. The start date and hours of operation have not yet been set. The City Council recently approved a citizens committee recommendation that $27,000 in additional county money be spent for opening the library branch on a fifth day each week, Fridays.

The City Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to finish designing several improvements for Central Park that would include a terraced amphitheater, a gazebo, a volleyball court, a restroom and more landscaping. The council discussed preliminary plans for the changes Tuesday evening and voted to move forward with the final design work. When the work is finished in about two months, the City Council will consider whether to seek bids for the work, City Manager Pamela Gibson said.

The city's branch of the county library will continue to be open four days a week in the coming fiscal year. The City Council this week approved supplementary funds to keep the library branch open two more days than the county pays for. Since the county bankruptcy in December 1994, county library operations have been greatly reduced. The La Palma branch at one point was threatened with closure, but the county ultimately agreed to keep it open two days a week.

A plan to install restrooms at Central Park is moving forward, city officials said. City Manager Daniel E. Keen estimated the restrooms would cost $85,000. He said the city already has a $50,000 grant from the county for the project. "This is not general fund money being used," Keen said of the city's portion. "It is redevelopment money." Keen said construction probably will get underway by November and completed by late spring. The restrooms will be just north of the Central Park tennis courts.

Call it flower power. The La Palma Garden Club has found a way to pay for using the Community Center as a meeting site without having to give money to the city. Instead, club members will donate their labors to maintain the city's Memory Garden at the Civic Center. The City Council approved the barter arrangement at its meeting Tuesday night. City Manager Daniel E.

A long-proposed project for Central Park will probably move forward next week, when the City Council expects to approve a construction contract for new restrooms at the facility. City Manager Daniel E. Keen said that if the council approves the contract at its meeting Tuesday, work will start in early January. Completion would be by late spring, in time for softball league and other games in the park, Keen said.

An unanticipated influx of money from the county library system will be used to open the city's branch on Fridays, officials said. The start date and hours of operation have not yet been set. The City Council recently approved a citizens committee recommendation that $27,000 in additional county money be spent for opening the library branch on a fifth day each week, Fridays.

A plan to install restrooms at Central Park is moving forward, city officials said. City Manager Daniel E. Keen estimated the restrooms would cost $85,000. He said the city already has a $50,000 grant from the county for the project. "This is not general fund money being used," Keen said of the city's portion. "It is redevelopment money." Keen said construction probably will get underway by November and completed by late spring. The restrooms will be just north of the Central Park tennis courts.

Saying that more research is necessary, the City Council has delayed approval of renovation plans for El Rancho Verde Park. Council members said they particularly need more information about a proposal to increase the height of walls separating the park from private residences. City staff members told the council that many residents asked that the wall, now 6 feet high, be raised to 8 feet.

The city's branch of the county library will continue to be open four days a week in the coming fiscal year. The City Council this week approved supplementary funds to keep the library branch open two more days than the county pays for. Since the county bankruptcy in December 1994, county library operations have been greatly reduced. The La Palma branch at one point was threatened with closure, but the county ultimately agreed to keep it open two days a week.

"Jump houses," the large, inflatable play equipment that attracts youngsters, are now OK in Central Park, the City Council has determined. Ron Kenny, city director of recreation services, told the council in a memo that city policy had not allowed the inflatable devices, usually rented for parties and carnivals, to be used in the city park.

The City Council unanimously voted to hire a consultant to investigate whether cable television fees are too high. The council Tuesday authorized spending $2,900 to hire a cable TV consultant who will examine records to see if local subscribers are paying "the lowest rate possible." The 1992 Federal Cable Television Act allows cities with cable franchises to regulate the cost of "basic programming."

The city will use its power of eminent domain to obtain a small strip of property needed for the widening of La Palma Avenue. The City Council, acting as the Community Development Commission, voted unanimously to condemn the property, a strip of land 20 feet wide by 110 feet long facing La Palma Avenue near Denni Street. The council has said that the land is required for widening La Palma Avenue as part of an affordable-housing project.

The state has taken away community library money and it should give it back, City Council members said this week. The council unanimously passed a resolution this week urging the Legislature "to restore funding for the Orange County library system in order to avoid further library closures and elimination of vital library services."