HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY HALL (Tribune photo).

A proposal to expedite plan check for development of construction was defeated at Tuesday’s meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council.

Three councilmembers – Rhonda Bolton, Dan Kalmick and Natalie Moser – proposed a policy in which the city manager would be directed to work with bargaining units (employee organizations, unions, etc.) and the necessary city departments (community development, public works, fire, etc.) to create a “voluntary expedited plan check process with their city employees (first priority) and/or contracted plan checkers to help … the plans approved.” Those applying though the proposed expedited plan process would bear the cost.

The majority of the council – Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark, Mayor Pro Tem Pat Burns and Councilmembers Tony Strickland and Casey McKeon – voted no and the plan was rejected.