COMMUNITY SERVICES
Feel Like Dancing? - The SANDS Community Services Guide offers many kinds of dance lessons for all ages. For adults who want to learn Ballroom, Swing, Foxtrot, & Waltz, Edison has a class beginning July 31 at 7 p.m., and another Ballroom & Swing Intermediate class at 8 p.m. At Murdy, adults can take Country Line Intermediate on July 27 at 6 p.m.; Salsa, Cha Cha, & Merengue at 7 p.m.; or Salsa Intermediate at 8 p.m. Another Country Line class is offered at Murdy on July 28 at 6:45 p.m., or Country 2 Step & Cha Cha Plus at 7:45 p.m. Teens and adults may learn Flamenco-Ole! at the City Gym on August 2 at 6 p.m. For the younger crowd 12 years and up, Nritya-The Art of Indian Dancing is offered at the City Gym on July 27 at 7:45 p.m. Adult classes are available on August 3 at Murdy with Swing Intermediate at 6:15 p.m.; Swing Advanced at 7:15 p.m.; and Swing Basics at 8:15 p.m. And, not to be left out, the City Gym has a Flamenco - Toma, Que Toma! class on August 3 at 5:45 p.m. for youth six to twelve. Simply Funk Street Style Dancin' is offered for five to twelve year olds at Murdy on August 4 at 3:20 p.m., and at Edison on August 7 at 5 p.m.
Summer Sports Programs - Sign ups start August 12 for Flag Football for third through eighth graders; Junior Football for first and second graders; and Youth Volleyball for fifth through eighth graders. These Saturday programs are held at Edison and Murdy Community Centers and run for nine to ten weeks. The fee is $40 and a team shirt is included.
Central Park Sports Complex Batting Cages - The Central Park Sports Complex Batting Cages are open for business. The cages are located at the center of the complex and feature seven cages: four baseball, two slow-pitch softball, and one fast pitch softball. Summer hours are Monday through Friday from 12 noon - 9 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hours are subject to change due to inclement weather. Tokens for the cages are $1 each for 18 pitches or six tokens for $5. Cages can be reserved in 30-minute increments at the cost of $14. For more information, please contact the batting cage office at 375-3960.
Senior Softball at the Central Park Sports Complex - This past weekend saw sunshine and warm weather for the city's hosting of the Eighteenth Annual Senior Softball Tournament. The tournament continued to have interstate appeal as teams from Las Vegas and Arizona joined teams from Thousand Oaks, Palm Springs, Oxnard, and, of course, Huntington Beach for a relaxing and fun time in the city. There were 31 teams competing in seven divisions for the claim to the best of the Southland in their competition level. The Senior Tournament was held at the Central Park Sports Complex. All participants received the very popular, special edition, commemorative shirt celebrating the anniversary of this event. Local teams faired well in this annual event. Full Count, based out of Westminster, topped the R & R Pumping team from Oxnard for their third straight tournament championship; Fountain Valley Outlaws came into town and left with their second straight championship; The Las Vegas Heat outlasted Centerfield Sports Bar in extra innings; and Jimmy's Dukes defended their crowns from 2004 and 2005. Two Huntington Beach teams took home championships: Thirsty Bunch took the Division IV championship, while the Eagles took the Division VII. Regency Homes from Banning took top honors in Division VI. Many of the participants in this year's event commented on how much they enjoyed the tournament and were already looking forward to next year's tournament.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Redevelopment Agency Pass Through Payments - The primary revenue source for Redevelopment Agencies is the collection of Tax Increment, which is the incremental growth of property tax paid within the project areas from the time the project area was adopted. Redevelopment Agencies are required to share their Tax Increment revenue with other taxing agencies either through existing agreements or by law. A total of $1,131,121 will be paid this year. The elementary and high school districts are the primary beneficiaries, receiving a combined total share of $555,762. The county agencies will receive $222,462. This year, the city of Huntington Beach will be provided $179,804. The community college district and other special districts receive the remaining amounts.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Verizon Building Evacuated - At approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 13, the Fire Department responded to the Verizon building located at 7280 Edinger Avenue for a report of a noxious odor. On arrival, Firefighter Paramedics treated 17 patients for symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Seventeen patients were treated at the scene, nine of whom were transported to local hospitals. The entire building was evacuated. The Hazardous Materials Team responded and entered the building in an attempt to locate the source of the odor. After a thorough search, they were unable to determine where the odor had come from. By that time, the odor had dissipated. The Hazardous Materials Team determined the building was safe for return of the employees, and by 3:30 p.m. the employees were allowed to return.
PLANNING
Planning Commission Approves Home Depot - The Planning Commission approved the Conditional Use Permit and Mitigated Negative Declaration for Home Depot at their regular meeting on July 11. Occupying the former Kmart at the southwest corner of Magnolia Street and Garfield Avenue, the new Home Depot will consist of a 124,000 square foot home improvement store which includes a 25,000 garden center, on-site landscaping, and other site improvements.
PUBLIC WORKS
Safe Routes to School Grant -The Transportation Division of Public Works was once again successful in obtaining a grant through the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program. The new project will improve pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety near the Newland Elementary School. The area is bounded by Newland and Magnolia Streets, between Yorktown and Adams Avenues. The project includes the installation of a new traffic signal at Yorktown and Windward Lane. This location now has a crossing guard and is a top ranked location on the city's Traffic Signal Priority List. Other project components include upgrading school warning signs and speed feedback signs. New curb ramps and sidewalk modifications will be made as necessary. The SR2S program is federally funded and administered by the state of California Transportation Department (Caltrans). The grant will fund approximately 75% of the estimated $296,000 project cost. This is the fifth SR2S grant the city has been awarded. The project will be included in the FY 2006/07 Capital Improvement Program.
Weekly Report Archive 2006
