HUNTINGTON BEACH : $2.35 Trash Fee Hike Is Proposed

A city trash fee increase from $7.50 a month to $9.85, beginning July 1, was recommended by City Administrator Michael T. Uberuaga to the City Council on Monday night.

Uberuaga said the higher cost of trash collection necessitates the increase. Otherwise, he said, the city would be subsidizing trash collection from its general fund in the amount of $1.2 million.

Uberuaga also recommended that the council expand the city utility tax on telephone bills to include interstate calls, which would raise $500,000 a year. The city now taxes only calls within the state.

The city administrator additionally urged the council to increase a wide range of planning fees, which he said would raise $600,000, and fees on new construction, which would raise $150,000.

The council did not vote on the recommendations Monday night but only studied the proposed $176-million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The council indicated that it plans to do some shifting of funds to provide about $500,000 to help the high-crime Oak View area. That densely populated sector is bounded by Warner and Slater avenues, Beach Boulevard and Gothard Street.

Police Chief Ronald Lowenberg has proposed putting the city’s first police substation there.