BUENA PARK : Permit Fees Waived for Damage Repairs Necessitated by Flood

The city will waive building permit fees for home and business owners repairing property damaged in the January floods.

City Council members also agreed this week to allocate $100,000 of the city’s federal block grant money to residents with damaged property under an “urgent need” clause.

By using the clause, the city can streamline procedures and get aid to families more quickly, officials said.

“This is a rare opportunity for the city to give something back to the community,” said Building and Safety Manager Lee Hitchcock. Waiving the fees “is a gesture of goodwill, but this will also encourage citizens to get in touch with the city for inspections.”

Permit fees range from $25 to $80 and the Building Division said the city will absorb from $1,500 to $2,500 worth of waivers.

Officials estimate that nearly 100 houses and businesses were damaged when a section of the Fullerton Creek flood control channel collapsed Jan. 4.

About 120 people were evacuated, some for as long as six nights, said May Hui, assistant director of development services.

City Manager Kevin O’Rourke has estimated that the storms and the channel collapse caused about $3 million in damage.

City officials also have arranged a Town Hall outreach session Wednesday at the Recreation Center for residents coping with storm-related aid.

Officials from FEMA and the state Office of Emergency Services will attend the session, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

Residents who believe they qualify for state or federal disaster aid should call FEMA at (800) 462-9029 to get the package of forms.

Repairs to Beach Boulevard and Western Avenue are underway, O’Rourke added.

The streets have been closed from Orangethorpe Avenue to Manchester Boulevard since the channel collapse, but the city hopes to have two lanes open on each side of Beach by Monday, with Western opening two weeks later, he said.