April 17, 2019

Orange County

Daily Pilot: Huntington Beach calls a special council meeting for homeless shelter vote

Council members had planned to vote on the acquisition at Monday’s regularly scheduled council meeting, but City Manager Fred Wilson said that his staff needed more time to finalize the plans for a 75- to 90-bed homeless shelter.

 

Daily Pilot: Huntington Beach OKs plan to distribute federal funding for homeless outreach and other public service programs

Following the 6-1 vote, staff will submit its plan next month to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city projects it will receive about $1.15 million from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program.

 

Voice of OC: ‘Slurred’ speech and a blood test refusal: Report details police leader’s alleged DUI

The leader of Santa Ana’s influential police union, Sgt. Gerry Serrano, went from facing potential DUI hit-and-run charges to leading one of the larger police unions in California, according to details of the incident in a police report obtained by Voice of OC.

 

OC Register: Orange is looking at a parking structure to add more spaces in Old Towne Orange

The City Council last week approved paying $56,000 to Watry Design for a site plan with possibly 200 to 300 stalls in a structure at Almond Avenue and Grand Street, possibly replacing the Orange Fire Department headquarters and an apartment complex.

 

Labor

OC Register: High court seems likely to rule against California oil workers

The case involves Brian Newton, who worked on drilling platforms off California’s coast near Santa Barbara from 2013 to 2015. Employees worked 14-day shifts, spending 12 hours on duty and 12 hours off duty but on call — what his lawyers call “controlled standby.”

 

Labor 411: Harley-Davidson workers win 14% raise

Other terms of the deal approved Monday by United Steelworkers Local 2-209 and USW Local 460 include a signing bonus, no changes to health care, significant pension enhancements for current employees and a retirement incentive for those who are eligible to retire.

 

California

OC Register: Proposed bill would allow cities to veto needle exchange programs

Regardless of whether a court allows an Orange County nonprofit to run a mobile syringe exchange, the program’s organizers could find themselves barred under proposed legislation from working in the cities they hoped to serve.

Publication Date: April 17, 2019