March 01, 2005
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Spring Sands - The spring edition of the SANDS will be hitting resident mailboxes the week of March 7. One of the new programs to be offered this spring will be Kids and Chemistry for preschool-age children. This class will help parents answer all of those "why?" questions. Irish Dancing will be another new program that will be offered. Look for the SANDS and see all of the great programs that are available in Huntington Beach. Registration information is located in the back of the catalog. Don't forget to send a self-addressed stamped envelope when registering through the mail.
Project Self-Sufficiency Adopt-A-Family - Easter is early this year, March 27. Call the Project Self-Sufficiency office (536-5439) if you wish to sponsor a low-income, single-parent family for Easter this year. It is a fun way for an office, community group, or even a department at City Hall to help a family this Easter. All you have to do is prepare a gift food basket (plus something for Easter for the kids) and deliver it. You would make a PS-S family very happy. Call with questions or to sign up and get a family to adopt.
Surf City Senior Providers Network - Thirteen years ago, the Surf City Senior Providers Network first met in the Seniors' Outreach Conference Room over a brown bag lunch with 30 people in attendance. The purpose of the forum was to address senior issues and concerns, facilitate access to needed services, provide advocacy on behalf of older adults, and improve communication between interested professional and community organizations. Since that time, a small sampling of the many topics discussed at meetings includes: The Senior Age Wave, Community Outreach, Nurturing Caregivers, Advanced Directives, Alzheimer's, Mental Health Issues of the Elderly, Transportation for Seniors, Transitions in Later Life, The Grieving Process, Hospice, Medication Management, Substance Abuse, Fiduciary Abuse, Family Violence, Volunteering, Sleep Disorders, Telehomecare, Home Nutrition, Spirituality, and Health Insurance. The popularity of the luncheon-networking meeting outgrew the Outreach conference room, and new meeting locations were sought. In February, Senior Services hosted 100 Senior Service Providers at the Newland Barn. A speaker from the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program of the Orange County Office on Aging spoke on Medicare Trends in 2005. Golden Care Homes provided a catered lunch. Because the network is open to all organizations, private and nonprofit, which provide services to seniors, the meeting location and time are changing to accommodate continued growth. On April 21, the Surf City Seniors Networking meetings will be coming home to the Michael E. Rodgers Seniors' Center. Jane Hannah, RN, will address Preventative Health Care for the Aging. The Guardian Financial Group will provide lunch. Future meetings will be held the third Thursday of even months from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. at Rodgers.
Marine Safety - The Calvary Chapel Surf Contest was held at Goldenwest Street on February 26, and the NSSA Surf Contest was held at 9th Street on February 26 and 27. Marine Safety Statistics for February 21 through February 27 were as follows: Attendance - 66,015; Public Contacts: 1,145; Rescues - 1; Preventative Actions - 88; Law Enforcement Contacts - 153; Medical Aids - 2; Wildlife Calls - 1; Drownings - 0. The USSF Surf Contest will be held on the south side of the Huntington Beach Municipal Pier on March 5 and March 6.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Bella Terra Featured - The January 2005 edition of Urban Land, the monthly magazine of the Urban Land Institute, had a special section on retail development in Southern California entitled "Retail Hotspots." One of the projects profiled in the article, including a rendering, was the transformation of Huntington Center into Bella Terra.
League of California Cities - As an outreach effort to promote California cities in their marketing materials including their website, the California League of Cities requested that Huntington Beach send photographs depicting city facilities, activities, and development. Approximately 50 photographs were sent to the League.
Orange County Agencies - The Redevelopment Agency made its February pass-through payment to the Orange County General Fund and the Flood Control District, totaling $49,760. This payment is required by an agreement with the county that was entered into when the Huntington Center Project Area was formed, prior to the merger of the project areas. According to other agreements and Redevelopment Law, the remaining pass-through payments to all of the other taxing agencies will be made in August.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Safety Officer Training - The Fire Department recently conducted a class for all employees who serve as Civic Center Safety Officers in their respective departments. The class agenda included an overview of the Safety Officer Program, a presentation by the Fire Marshal on the new life safety system at City Hall, proper evacuation techniques, fire extinguisher use, and the use of radios. Each Civic Center Safety Officer was issued a radio that will be used during emergencies. After the classroom training, every Safety Officer was required to put out a live fire using an extinguisher. The class was excellent! As soon as all safety officers are trained, an evacuation drill will be held at City Hall.
City Fairs Well in Spite of Weather - Huntington Beach has been included in a state and federally-declared disaster area as the result of the storms that hit in late December and early January. Total estimated damage to Huntington Beach was close to $200,000. Costs included debris removal, beach cleanup, pump repairs, other flood protection measures, and overtime costs that were accrued as the result of Public Works' crews working day and night providing flood protection to the city. Additionally, Huntington Beach was hit by a waterspout on February 19, and it experienced two tornado warnings on February 21 and 22. Flood channels crested on February 21, and the Santa Ana River was at a high enough level to warrant activating the city's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at a Level I. The responsibility of the EOC was to monitor the flood channels and Santa Ana River, manage city resources, and be prepared to recall additional personnel if the flooding got worse.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Department Suffers Loss of Two Family Members - The department recently suffered the loss of two respected members of our family. Officer Mark Hanson passed away on February 13 due to a sudden illness. He was a 20-year member of the department and a well respected Traffic Motor Officer and SWAT Team member. Senior Aide John Crotty passed away on February 23. He was with the department for 16 years and worked in various areas of the department. These two individuals touched the lives of many people in the city both inside and outside the Police Department. Our lives are better for having known them both.
Outstanding Arrest and Grateful Citizen - A citizen called to report that his car was just stolen from in front of his house. Ten minutes after reporting it stolen, an officer spotted the car in the area of Beach and Yorktown. The car was stopped, and the suspect was arrested without incident. The citizen was reunited with his undamaged car and was very appreciative for the quick action by the Police Department.
PUBLIC WORKS
Personnel Changes - Public Works Administration welcomes two new employees to the City Hall staff. Silvia Giragossian comes to Public Works from the City Treasurer's office to assume the duties of Accounting Technician. Former City Hall employee Janelle Case has transferred to the Accounting Technician position for the Maintenance Operations Division. Julie Waggoner recently completed her first month as the Administrative Secretary for the Engineering/Transportation Divisions. Julie is a long-time resident of the city but new to our workforce. In addition to the new employees, we congratulate 30-year employee Duane Wentworth on his promotion from Senior Public Works Inspector to Contract Administrator.
Weekly Report Archive
Feb 22, 2005
Feb 15, 2005
Feb 08, 2005
Feb 01, 2005
Jan 25, 2005
Jan 18, 2005
Jan 11, 2005
Jan 05, 2005
Dec 28, 2004
Dec 21, 2004
Dec 14, 2004
Dec 07, 2004
Nov 30, 2004
Nov 23, 2004
Nov 09, 2004
Nov 02, 2004
Oct 26, 2004
Oct 12, 2004
Oct 05, 2004
Sep 28, 2004
Sep 21, 2004
Sep 14, 2004
Sep 07, 2004
Aug 31, 2004
Aug 24, 2004
Aug 17, 2004
Aug 10, 2004
Aug 03, 2004
July 27, 2004
July 20, 2004
July 13, 2004
July 06, 2004
June 29, 2004
June 22, 2004
June 15, 2004
June 08, 2004
May 25, 2004
May 18, 2004
May 11, 2004
May 04, 2004
Apr 27, 2004
Apr 20, 2004
Apr 13, 2004
Apr 06, 2004
Mar 30, 2004
Mar 23, 2004
Mar 16, 2004
Mar 09, 2004
Mar 02, 2004
Feb 24, 2004
Feb 17, 2004
Feb 10, 2004
Feb 03, 2004
Jan 27, 2004
Jan 20, 2004
Jan 13, 2004
Jan 06, 2004
Dec 30, 2003
Dec 23, 2003
Dec 16, 2003
Dec 09, 2003
Dec 02, 2003
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