Council Approves Sports Complex

HUNTINGTON BEACH-With a 4-2 vote, the Huntington Beach City Council has given the go-ahead to build a 45-acre sports complex here. Planned for the corner of Goldenwest Street and Talbert Avenue, the project will cost an estimated $18 million.

Plans call for eight softball fields, two playgrounds, two, 1,700-sf restroom and concession buildings and a 900-sf maintenance building. Now that the green light has been given, city officials can begin soliciting bids from contractors who want to build the project.

Huntington Beach voters had originally approved a $1.5 million in 1996. However, additional costs were tacked on when officials realized that the proposed site would require extensive work, due to the fact that it was previously a landfill.

The city council will hold another vote in August, on whether to issue a bond to pay for the project. If issued, the city will repay the bond by soliciting corporate donations and charging user fees at the complex.