Paper:
Whittier Daily News, The (CA)
Title: Heights determined to adopt General Plan
Author: Mike Sprague, Staff Writer
Date: January 1, 2004
Section: News
LA HABRA HEIGHTS -- The city of La Habra Heights' new General Plan a work in
progress for more than a year should be adopted in 2004, officials said.The City
Council discussed the plan at more than 10 meetings in 2003.
"The big challenge is to get the General Plan finalized and adopted,'
Mayor Stan Carroll said. "We hope to get that done in the first month or
two in 2004.'
But even after the General Plan is adopted, the City Council will be faced
with ordinances needed to implement the plan, City Manager John Hendrickson
said.
Hendrickson said he doesn't believe the General Plan will mean major
changes for the city, but there could be minor ones.
"We're changing hardly any of the zoning, but the General Plan has a
lot of detail more so than I've ever seen,' he said.
The General Plan isn't the only challenge facing La Habra Heights in 2004.
The council must also decide whether to relocate and build a new City Hall
and fire station, Hendrickson said.
"We're looking for a more central location that will have more space
and be more permanent,' he said.
The existing City Hall is located in an old school and trailers.
One possible site is a Los Angeles County property at West and Hacienda
roads. The county has about three acres in contrast to the 1.75 acres the city
has now.
The cost is expected to be about $3 million. While the city has been
saving, details of the financing still must be determined, Hendrickson said.
La Habra Heights like other cities is faced with balancing a budget that
may not include two-thirds of the normal vehicle-license fee.
This year's budget doesn't include any VLF money, so the city should be
better off in fiscal 2003-04, Hendrickson said.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cut the fee by two-thirds, but then declared an
emergency allowing him to continue payments to cities. Officials of all cities
remain concerned about whether the emergency city funding will survive
challenges in court and by the state Legislature.
La Habra Heights could lose about $268,000 annually should the emergency
funding fail to be approved.
City officials also may be faced with a decision on how to receive
paramedic and ambulance services.
La Habra Heights now has a contract with the city of La Habra, but that
city is considering disbanding its Fire Department and paying for service
through Los Angeles County.
Mike Sprague can be reached at (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3022, or by e-mail at
mike.sprague@sgvn.com .
Author: Mike Sprague, Staff Writer
Section: News
(c) 2004 The Whittier Daily News. All rights reserved. Reproduced
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