Keeping an outside swinging privacy gate "clean"

I'm replacing an old picket fence that has fallen down due to age and rotting. In the process, I'm digging up the old cement foundation that held each post in place. Unfortunately, whoever put in the original fence, used a ton of cement on each post. As a result, when I finally get the cement out, I've got a huge hole leftover. You can probably see where I'm going with this. Obviously, I'm going to have to fill the holes back in and re-dig a new hole for the new fence posts. Something a lot narrower than the original builders did. What I'd prefer to do is put something in the hole, like a 6x6 disposable tube, then fill the hole around it with the dirt I dug out, water it, pack it, get it solid again so it will support new cement, then at some point remove the 6x6 tube so I can easily drop in the new fence post with new cement. My question is: does anyone out there have a recommendation as to what I can use to preserve the post holes while I fill in the excess dirt around it? One of my friends suggested duct taping a couple of coffee cans together and sticking them down in the hole. Unfortunately, I don't drink coffee and I don't know where I'd get some empty cans (I'd need several.) If anybody out there has any creative ideas, I would really appreciate the input. Thanks a bunch.

[LEFT][LEFT]Re-building a Privacy Fence-Permits Codes Long beach CA [/LEFT] I'm a Landlord. I have a four unit property. A 3 bedroom 2 bath SFH and a detatched building with 3 2 bedroom apartments. I have a section of fence that was knocked over with the high winds we have had as of late. I took it the rest of the way down. Bought the materials needed to rebuild it and now I want to get a permit to do it proper. This property is in Long Beach CA. The old fence was a 2 rail frame with red wood grape sticks nailed on it. I want to replace with pressure treated 4x4 wood posts. Pressure treated 2x4 two rail frame and 4" or 6" wide by 6' tall red wood dog ear slats. I called building and planning of Long Beach CA and asked what I needed to re-build the fence. Do I need a permit? Do I need plans? The guy told me I need a building permit. Me: Do you have specs on height and all? Building Department: You can draw it all out here. All you need is your measurements. Me: Don't I have to have so many feet between posts? How many rails? etc. Building Department: No you just need a general building permit. Me: (Doh!) Is there some where online I can access this information? Building Department: Yes go to [url]http://www.longbeach.gov/plan/[/url] Click on the permits. You want a building permit application. So I go looking around again. The general building permit isn't squat. I go looking in "Help for the home builder." 103 pages. There is stuff on a block wall page 71. Info on a fence around a pool or spa page 42. That is it? Don't you have to have like a blue print, a drawing and isn't there specs for fences in the city of Long Beach CA? Like how deep the post holes have to be? I won't have any property line issues as this is the outside of a corner piece of property. It's also set into the property from the side walk about 6 feet. And up on a concrete rise about 4 foot high. It's the side yard off of the house, off of the kitchen. Thanks for any info you can provide. I haven't done this task before. It can't be a secret or difficult. Just trying to find the parameters to comply with proper building procedures. [/LEFT]