COMMUNITY SERVICES
Easter Adopt-A-Family - March brings the beginning of the Easter Adopt-A-Family Program to Project Self-Sufficiency. If you (or your group, work colleagues, family members, business associates, etc.) wish to provide an Easter gift food basket for a low-income, single-parent family in PS-S, please contact Susan Edwards (536-5439) for details. The forms went out to the community in the March PS-S newsletter mailing -- both to the community members who want to adopt a family and to PS-S single-parent families who would like a gift basket. As soon as the forms are returned, the PS-S families are matched with the person or group providing Easter assistance. For the Easter holiday, it is suggested that an appropriate gift food basket be donated to the family plus some Easter treats for the children. We have many community groups, church groups, and families participating in this event. Families tend to go fast, so please contact Susan if you wish to participate.
Youth Basketball Playoffs - As the Community Services Department youth basketball season enters its last weekend of regular season play, staff will re-enforce with volunteer coaches that their job is larger than skill development. Coaches teach young people not only the rules and strategies of games, but also important lessons about life as well. Youth sports programs help young people develop confidence and self-esteem, help them learn to resolve conflicts peacefully, teach them ways to take care of their health and well-being, and help them develop skills for communicating with others. These lessons will be important during the playoff tournament, beginning March 18, and will be useful life skills for our young players off the court as well!
Youth Track Meet - The Annual Youth Track and Field Meet is scheduled for Friday, March 10, at Huntington Beach High School. Youth born from 1991 to the present are invited to participate in activities from traditional events like the long jump, high jump, and running races, to the 12" softball throw. Once again, the ever-popular "Diaper Dash" will be part of the festivities. The Track and Field Meet will start at 4 p.m., and the cost for participating in the event is $10 per participant and $1 per spectator. Raindate for the track meet is Sunday, March 12, starting at 1 p.m. Track flyers and information can be downloaded from the city's homepage.
Annual Youth Character Awards - The Children's Needs Task Force is seeking nominees for the Annual Youth Character Awards. Nominees must be in grades K - 12 and reside in the City of Huntington Beach in order to be eligible. Anyone with knowledge of a deserving candidate can serve as a nominator. The American Youth Character Awards are the only national awards given to young people solely for strength of character. They are not to be given for isolated acts of heroism or generosity, although such acts may rightly call attention to a nominee. They are also not to be given simply for high grades, selection for leadership posts, excellence in athletics or the arts, or any combination thereof. Rather, the American Youth Character Awards are designed to honor young people (regardless of their family background, race, culture, financial status, I.Q., or physical condition) whose lives and achievements demonstrate an enduring commitment to qualities associated with good character. Nomination forms are available in the Community Services Department and are due no later than 4 p.m. on April 14. Thank you for your interest.
PLANNING
Home Depot Update - The Home Depot appeal public hearing before the Planning Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, at 7 p.m., in the City Council Chambers. Commissioner Ray appealed the Environmental Assessment Committee's (EAC) determination that a Mitigated Negative Declaration should be processed for the proposed Home Depot project.
Edinger Corridor Specific Plan Update - On February 28, the Planning Commission held a study session and a public hearing for consideration of General Plan Amendment No. 05-02, Zoning Map Amendment No. 05-02, Zoning Text Amendment No. 05-04, and Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 06-01 for the adoption of the Edinger Corridor Specific Plan - SP 14. The public hearing was opened, and a total of five people spoke. Following discussion, the Planning Commission voted to continue the Edinger Corridor Specific Plan to a tentative date of June 27 with the public hearing open. They established an Edinger Corridor Sub-Committee and requested staff to: conduct two Edinger Corridor Community Workshops with property and business owners during April; conduct one Edinger Corridor Community Workshop with the Planning Commission in May; and address several issues raised by the public and Commission before their May workshop.
Affordable Housing In-Lieu Fee Study - On February 1, the city distributed copies of an Affordable Housing In-Lieu Fee Study for public review and comment for a 30-day period, ending on March 3. The city is extending the comment period for an additional 30 days. Therefore, comments on the study are now due by Monday, April 3.
Newland Street EIR Comment Period Opened March 3 - The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Newland Street residential project opened for public comment on Friday, March 3. Interested parties will have 45 days to respond to the environmental review and have their responses included in the public record. The document will be available at the Central Library and City Hall, as well as on the Planning Department's website at http://www.surfcity-hb.org/CityDepartments/planning/major/. The Newland Street project is located west of Newland Street, south of Lomond Drive and north of Hamilton. The proposed project would develop and subdivide a former industrial site to a residential development with 204 multi-family residential units and an approximately two-acre public park. A public comment meeting will be held on Thursday, March 30, at 6 p.m., in Room B of the Huntington Central Library.
County Health and City Enforcement Staff Cooperation Improves Services - Code Enforcement staff, along with representatives from Police and Building & Safety, met with Orange County Health Department Commercial Inspection officials to discuss cooperative resources and assistance. The meeting was initiated by the Health Department to inform Huntington Beach staff of the various roles and responsibilities of the Health Department's Inspection Division. City staff used this opportunity to also inform county staff of the city's enforcement and inspection responsibilities. At the close of the meeting, both county and city staff had a better understanding of each agency's operations and identified areas of mutual assistance to improve the delivery of services to Huntington Beach residents and businesses.
POLICE
Aero Unit Statistics - February 2006 - The Aero Unit's heavy training schedule continued into the month of February with Officer Wersching nearing completion of his Commercial License and Officer Ramsey closing in on his Private License. However, the unit had several significant activities including four arrests for DUI. Officers McNaughton and Wersching assisted with a pursuit of a stolen vehicle, which eventually terminated on Oak near Mandrell. Three suspects fled on foot, and HB1 called the ensuing foot pursuit with all subjects taken into custody. Officers Reed and McNaughton observed a vehicle driving in excess of 80 mph south on Springdale from Bolsa. The vehicle was observed to make numerous lane changes and even travel in the bike lane at high rates of speed. Ground units were directed and stopped the vehicle. Further investigation determined the driver to be DUI, and he was subsequently taken into custody. Officers Paholski and Ramsey responded to the call of a stolen vehicle from Ocean View High School. The crew began an area check and located the vehicle driving through the Oak View area. Units were directed, and three subjects were taken into custody for the theft. The vehicle was returned to the victim who was a teacher at the high school.
Activity Totals
| Felony | 11 | First on Scene 98% |
| Misdemeanor | 20 | |
| Citations | 24 | |
| No Unit Available | 30 | |
| Units Canceled | 53 | |
| Field Interviews | 25 | |
PUBLIC WORKS
Construction Materials Cost Increases - Over the past year, basic construction materials, such as asphalt, concrete, steel, and pipe, have seen significant cost increases across the country. In February, rising crude oil prices pushed the price of asphalt paving materials 17% above the February 2005 price. Similar increases have occurred with concrete and steel materials. A recent edition of the Engineering News Record (ENR) cost report states that the price of PVC pipe, which is a petroleum product, is between 26-44% higher than last year. The price of ductile iron pipe, commonly used in large water lines, rose by 19% in 2005. Inflated material costs directly impact the budgets of Public Works construction and maintenance projects. Higher costs have been notable in recent bids for several projects. The Public Works staff will be developing the 2006/07 Capital Improvement Program with consideration to the recent cost increases.
Weekly Report Archive 2006
