SOUNDING OFF:Senior center deserves Quimby funds

On Sept. 18, the Huntington Beach City Council, in a 5-2 vote, allocated as much as $22 million of Pacific City Development’s Quimby Act funds (the total amount of Quimby funds from the project could be more than $25 million) to the construction of the proposed senior center.

This was not a vote on where the senior center should be; it was a vote to fund it with potentially available funds. Quimby funds are designated for “parkland and/or development of recreation facilities.” A senior center is such a facility and an appropriate use of these funds.

As the past chairman of Save Our Kids, I campaigned for more than 11 years to get facilities for our children, including but not limited to soccer, softball and baseball fields; roller hockey rinks; swimming pools and more.

Most of those desires have come true, with the exception of my primary focus: a competition-grade Olympic swimming pool.

Councilwoman Debbie Cook, in her comments prior to voting, acknowledged my desire for a pool, and listed a pool as a potential beneficiary of the Quimby funds if the agenda item failed. That was another Cook smoke screen. I made it very clear during my presentation to the council that I felt funding the senior center was the right thing to do.

In fact, Cook and Jill Hardy, who opposed the allocation, were a true disappointment that night. Their inability to separate the location from funding made it obvious that they were really not interested in servicing the needs of our seniors. Councilman Don Hansen accurately pointed out the council had an opportunity that night to establish with a vote where they really stood in relationship to the needs of seniors. Cook and Hardy failed the test.

That said, I have to commend Mayor Dave Sullivan for bringing the item to a vote. He obviously sees the unique opportunity the city has to provide for the needs of many generations of senior citizens within Huntington Beach, without adding an additional tax burden to its citizens.

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CHUCK BEAUREGARD is a Huntington Beach resident. To contribute to “Sounding Off,” e-mail us at

[email protected] or fax us at (714) 966-4667.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Should park funds be used to pay for a new senior center? Call our Readers Hotline at (714) 966-4691 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Please spell your name and include your hometown and phone number for verification purposes.