February 14, 2006

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Winter Swimming - You don't have to give up swimming just because it's cold outside. Come to the City Gym & Pool where recreational swimming is available to all ages on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. The fee is $2. Also on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m., the pool is open to adults for fitness swimming. The fee is $2. Also, every Friday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., seniors have the pool all to themselves free of charge.

Beach Parking: Full Signs in February - This past weekend, due to the summer-like conditions at the beach, the Parking/Camping Operation put up "Lot Full" signs for the first time in February without there being a special event. The beach lots parked over 2,500 cars, while the downtown parking structure parked almost 5,500 vehicles for the two days. The Main Promenade Parking Structure reached its capacity (810) for a time on Sunday afternoon!

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Save-A-Life-Saturday Classes Set to Start - The Huntington Beach Fire Department will begin its disaster preparedness Save-A-Life Saturday Class Series on February 18. This series is perfect for employees. Their families, spouses, and children over 13 years old are welcome to attend. Classes include: Disaster Preparedness, Disaster First Aid & Triage, CPR, Fire Extinguisher Use, Care & Shelter, Light Search & Rescue, and Drill Your Skills. The classes will be taught by Huntington Beach Fire Department and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers, all of whom are excellent instructors and professionals in our community and include doctors, nurses, firefighters, etc. Classes are held the third Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to noon. If you wish to enroll, contact Glorria Morrison, Emergency Services Coordinator, at 536-5980, or email her at gmorrison@surfcity-hb.org.

HBFD Responds to Wildfires - On February 6, a wildland fire occurred along the 241 toll road in a remote area of east Orange County. The fire was fueled by dry brush and Santa Ana winds and posed a threat to nearby homes, which required some evacuations. The Huntington Beach Fire Department responded with three engines, which stayed at the "Sierra" fire for several days. A total of 1,789 firefighters battled the 10,000-acre fire. The fire was under control by Sunday, February 12.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Home Depot Environmental Determination Appealed - The Environmental Assessment Committee's (EAC) determination that a Mitigated Negative Declaration should be processed for the proposed Home Depot project was appealed by Planning Commissioner Steve Ray on February 13. As a result of the appeal, the EAC's determination will by reviewed by the Planning Commission, first at a study session and then at a Public Hearing. The Planning Commission study session is tentatively scheduled for February 28, at 5:15 p.m., in the City Council Chambers; the public hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 14 at 7:00 p.m.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Measure M Community Workshops - The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is holding a series of community workshops to present information about the Renewed Measure M Draft Transportation Investment Plan. Measure M is the half-cent sales tax passed by voters in 1990 for use on street and transportation improvement projects. The current Measure M program expires in 2011, and the draft plan represents a potential renewal of the program that may be placed on the November 2006 ballot. OCTA has developed the plan in collaboration with Orange County cities, stakeholder organizations, and the general public. Information on the draft plan is available at the website (OCTA.net) or by calling 560-5066 and requesting a copy of the plan. Comments on the draft plan will be received through March 31. Local community meetings will be held Wednesday, February 22, at Huntington Beach City Hall, 2000 Main Street, Room B-8, 5-7 p.m.; and Thursday, February 16, at Garden Grove Community Center, Conference Room B, 11300 Stanford, 5-7 p.m.

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