City needs Poseidon project money I have...

City needs Poseidon project money

I have lived here in Huntington since I was born -- much longer

than about 80% of the residents. As a child, I remember the

population sign reading 39,000.

I have watched the City Council mess up over the years at the

meetings personally and on Channel 3.

I wholeheartedly support the Poseidon project. It will bring

Huntington income that is sorely needed.

One concern of mine is the way that part of the coastline looks.

Maybe some aesthetic landscaping?

SCOTT WATSON

Huntington Beach

Desalination plant would be an eyesore

I have lived in southeast Huntington Beach for 13 years now, and

in that time, I have seen most of the city’s waterfront change from

an endless stretch of oil derricks to lavish resort hotels. Standing

on the Huntington Beach pier looking back at the beach I scan this

new waterfront and see the future of Huntington Beach with its Gold

Coast style of development and it’s endless miles of pristine

beachfront property.

Oh wait. What the heck is that ugly thing right next to that

expensive resort? Why it’s the old prehistoric AES power plant. I’m

sure the new resorts are having a heck of a time trying to erase this

monstrosity from the six miles of pristine beach shown on their

advertising brochures.

Now there is talk about adding another ugly production plant. Wake

up people. The writing is on the wall. This is prime oceanfront

property. Not only will this desalination plant never be built, but

five years from now -- if not sooner -- the AES plant will also be

history.

Therefore, let’s not waste our time asking the residents of

Huntington Beach if they want a desalination plant behind the

existing blight of the AES plant. Let’s ask them for ideas on what we

should do with the land currently occupied by the AES power plant --

a huge eyesore whose days are definitely numbered.

The way I see it, that’s the real story here.

HALLIE MURRAY

Huntington Beach

Huntington will benefit from plant

As a longtime resident of California and a 30-plus-year resident

of Huntington Beach, I believe it is time for us to unify behind a

solid plan for water procurement and conservation. One exciting

component of such a plan is seawater desalination, such as that

proposed for Huntington Beach.

As a former chairman of the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce

and an active volunteer in the community, I support the proposed

water desalination treatment facility as good business for our

residents, city government, the environment and for the people of

Southern California.

We can sit and do nothing in the belief that either “Mother

Nature” or some other jurisdiction will “take care of it” or we can

step forward and admit that concerns over water shortages in

California are real and need to be addressed immediately. When we

turn on our kitchen faucet or the front yard garden hose, we take it

for granted that the water will flow. But even record rainfall over

the past year in Southern California did not solve our over six-year

drought while people continue to migrate into the state. We don’t

have sufficient means, even in times of heavy rainfall, to properly

catch, store or even temporarily hold water.

Depending on water from the Colorado River to meet our present

needs, not to mention our future requirements, is risky business.

Between the demands of the population, agriculture and industry there

is not enough water to go around. Even with strict rationing and

conservation our traditional water sources are at or near record

lows.

Currently, nearly 40% of Huntington Beach’s water supply is

imported from northern California and the Colorado River. Do we have

sufficient, multi-year guarantees in place related to that water

supply? Guarantees such as that don’t exist, of course. But we must

work to protect our homes, businesses and families by securing

alternative sources of water.

One taxpayer-friendly, proactive solution is the proposed

desalination facility in Huntington Beach, which will serve as a

vital new source of safe drinking water and a major relief to our

depleted traditional water sources.

In addition to a reliable water supply, the desalination facility

offers significant tax benefits to Huntington Beach residents, using

private investment for public benefit at a time when cities are

desperately reaching out for their fair share of tax dollars for

parks, sewers and vital public safety services.

With a public-private partnership on the planning table, the

Huntington Beach desalination facility will be a tremendous economic

asset to the city.

Consider the following economic benefits -- all at no cost to

taxpayers:

* Bringing the city of Huntington Beach nearly $2 million in

annual tax revenue -- money that could help support schools, public

safety, libraries and parks.

* Generating $500,000 per year in sales tax revenue, a third of

which will go the county and area cities for police, fire and other

local services.

* Contributing $50,000 per year to the city of Huntington Beach in

utility tax dollars.

Beyond the tax benefits directly attributed to the desalination

facility, the stabilization it provides to the local water supply has

a very important “big picture” economic impact. How? A stable,

abundant water supply will protect property values and attract

businesses to the area.

We can’t afford to let water shortages threaten our economic

future.

Huntington Beach has always been a leader in maximizing its water

resources through conservation and smart water management, but

limitations to the region’s water supplies means new solutions are

needed.

This proposed desalination facility represents one key building

block to a more secure “water future” for our area, while helping to

secure a healthier city economy by bringing millions of annual tax

dollars to Huntington Beach.

Charlie Bunten

Costa Mesa

Poseidon plant will fill water need

I wish to voice my support of the Poseidon Water Treatment

Facility in Huntington Beach, knowing very well the need for a clean

and more dependable water source for Southern California.

Desalination using the technique planned by Poseidon is

environmentally sound, and locating it adjacent to the existing power

plant will improve the appearance of that section of our coast. I am

a native Southern Californian, and since 1968 have lived and

volunteered in community environmental affairs in Huntington Beach.

MARGARET CARLBERG

Huntington Beach