COMMUNITY SERVICES
Sixteenth Annual Easter Hunt - On Saturday, April 15, the Huntington Beach Kiwanis Club and the city of Huntington Beach Community Services Department will be sponsoring the Sixteenth Annual Easter Hunt in Huntington Central Park. Bring the whole family for this free event! We will be having food, games, entertainment, and much more for children of all ages! Hunt times will begin at 10 a.m. for children up to the age of nine years of age.
Pee Wee Soccer - On April 20, the Community Services Department is introducing a new Pee Wee Soccer Program for children age three years old through the second grade. This noncompetitive-based introductory soccer program is a great way to start boys and girls off with a positive and fun learning experience in youth sports. Boys and girls will be introduced to the fundamentals of soccer through game-based drills and hands-on instruction. The 6:00-6:45 p.m. program filled to capacity during mail-in registration; therefore, a second session was added from 5:00-5:45 p.m. to accommodate additional youngsters.
Marine Safety - On April 2, Lifeguards responded to a vessel that came aground on Bolsa Chica State Beach (500 yards West of Seapoint Avenue). On April 6, Marine Safety Officers responded to a false alarm of a mutual aid swiftwater rescue call at the Santa Ana River (Hamilton Bridge). Thirty-six cadets, competing to become Ocean Lifeguard I's for the city of Huntington Beach, began the Lifeguard Training Program on April 8. The Huntington Beach Marine Safety Operation, in conjunction with the Huntington Beach Surf Lifesaving Association, hosted the Spring 2006 California Surf Lifesaving Association Meeting on April 6 & 7.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Community Job Center Update - The Luis M. Ochoa Community Job Center at 18131 Gothard continues to be well used by residents and contractors seeking to hire day laborers from a safe and supervised environment. For the month of March 2006, 58% of the 676 day laborers who came into the Job Center were matched with jobs for a total of 395 employed. This brings our calendar year-to-date total to 1,082 people placed in temporary positions. The Job Center is a cooperative partnership of the city's Economic Development Department and the Coastline Community College District through its Orange County One-Stop Center.
PLANNING
Planning Commission - Project Review Process Update - At their study session on March 28, the Planning Commission reviewed a Planning Commission Committee proposal to revamp and establish a new and formal public hearing process. The current draft proposes to have all pending projects processed in a similar manner for their review and action. Every item or application will be scheduled for a study session prior to the Commission's formal review and action. The Planning Commission referred the item back to the Committee for further review. The Committee is tentatively scheduled to review the item in April/May.
Meeting on Proposed Main/Crest Neighborhood Conservation District - The city will host a meeting to discuss a draft of the proposed neighborhood conservation plan Thursday, April 20, at 6 p.m., in Room B-7 in City Hall. This area was formerly referred to as the Wesley Park District.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
HB-1 Statistics - During the past few months, several pilots of the Aero Unit have passed the testing process and have become Certified Flight Instructors. This benefits the department and the city by having the knowledge and experience of a CFI in the unit, which makes for a safer unit and reduces insurance premiums. Congratulations to CFIs Rick McNaughton and Jack Paholski. The unit members also had several notable incidents during the month. The officers observed two commercial burglary suspects leave a Target Store with $25,000 in merchandise. They directed officers to the vehicle, and the suspects were captured in Long Beach and the property recovered. Officers used the PA System in a north-end neighborhood alerting the residents about a missing six year old. A resident heard the announcement and located the missing girl who was returned to her family.
Retirement - Sergeant Tom Arnold retired after 34 years as a member of the department. He has long been a mainstay of the Aero Unit as a pilot for many years and then supervised the unit for the last years prior to his retirement. He logged over 30,000 flight hours and was recognized as one of the finest pilots in the county. It is safe to say that the department's Aero Unit is a better unit because of his contributions. We wish him well in retirement.
Award Ceremony - The Police Department recently held their annual Employee Awards Breakfast. The following employees were recognized by Chief Small:
| Uniform Officer of the Year | Motor Officer Dale Shields |
| New Officer of the Year | Officer Matt Austin |
| Non-Uniform Officer of the Year | Detective Jeff Nelson |
| Civilian Employee of the Year | CSI Officer Shelly Shannon |
| Supervisor of the Year | Detective Sergeant Dave Dierking |
| Medal of Courage Recipients | Sergeant Gary Faust |
| | Officer Zachary Pricer |
Baker to Vegas Running Team - Congratulations to the Police Department's Baker to Vegas Running Team who took FIRST PLACE in the 300 division. The Challenge Cup Run is a 120 mile run beginning in Baker, California and ending in Las Vegas. Each team is comprised of 20 members who run legs averaging about six miles in length. The team has always been successful and has finished in the top five every year that they have participated. Gary Gosper is the team's Captain and does a tremendous job of organizing this huge undertaking. Congratulations to the team members and support personnel that participated.
PUBLIC WORKS
April Showers Bring Flowers and Save Money - Did you know that rains in the late spring can be worth up to $6.4 million per storm for Orange County? The Orange County Water District (OCWD) is the agency tasked with managing the county's vast underground water basin. This management includes storing water behind the Prado Dam for gradual release into the groundwater percolation areas. Along a six-mile section of the river, a system of diversion structures and recharge basins captures most of the water that would otherwise flow into the Pacific Ocean. However, Prado Dam is first and foremost the primary flood control facility for the Santa Ana River and is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. OCWD negotiated an agreement with the Corps to store an additional 27,500 acre feet of water behind the dam from any rains after March 1 of each year. Without this agreement, the water would be released into the river and flow quickly to the ocean. This extra storage does affect flood protection operations. (One acre foot of water is enough water for two average families for one year.)
Weekly Report Archive 2006 2005 2004
