COMMUNITY SERVICES
Conference on Aging - Eight Senior Services staff and sixteen volunteers were among the 4,000 attendees participating in the 2006 Joint Conference of the National Conference on Aging (NCOA) and the American Society on Aging (ASA) on March 15-19 at the Hilton and Marriott Hotels in Anaheim. In addition to attending as many of the 1,000 sessions on aging that time allowed, Huntington Beach Senior Services also volunteered at the event. This year's conference theme was "Invest in Aging: Strengthening Families, Communities and Ourselves." Huntington Beach Senior Services staff and volunteers were able to share with, as well as learn from, other professionals in the aging community.
Sunset Vista RV Park - Please make note of a correction in the SANDS spring bulletin. On page 12, the fee to park at the Sunset Vista RV Park for a camper vehicle or trailer and auto should be $45 per day, and for seniors (62 and older) and campers with a handicap placard, the fee should be $40 per day.
Easter Brunch - If you're planning an Easter brunch this year, you may want to sign up for the first of a four-class workshop beginning April 3 at the Art Center from 6:00-7:30 p.m. The first session will provide you with ideas and strategies to plan ahead and prepare creative, filling meals. All materials and recipes are included in the $55 fee. The menu includes: Ham, Mushroom, and Gruyere Frittata; Hash Brown Casserole with Bacon, Onions, and Cheese; Baked French Toast with Pecans; Fruit Salad with Lime Yogurt Dressing; and Blueberry Banana Muffins. Call the Huntington Beach Art Center at 374-1650 for pre-registration information.
Paintball Competition - This weekend, March 24-26, the National Professional Paintball League will hold an event on the city beach, which will include professional paintball competition and industry vendors. The site will be between Huntington Street and Lifeguard Headquarters.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Annual Sales Tax Comparison Report - Ultra Research Inc., a private sector firm, publishes an annual, countywide report using public information that compares retail sales tax by city, including some interesting information on per-capita sales and on "leakage" or "capture" of sales tax among the cities. "Leakage" is basically the amount of retail purchases that a city's residents make in another city, which has then "captured" those sales tax dollars. The most recent report, for calendar year 2004, shows the following changes in Huntington Beach:
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Huntington Beach per capita taxable sales ranking among the 34 cities in Orange County slipped slightly from 21st place in 2003 to 22nd place in 2004. Overall, our total retail taxable sales increased 8.6% from 2003, while our per capita taxable retail sales increased approximately 7.4%.
- When compared to the county average, our total per capita "Leakage" increased 9% in the most recent report to $2,017 in lost sales per resident, for a total loss to Huntington Beach of $403 million in average sales.
- The largest categories of retail sales "Leakage" are General Merchandise with $144 million in lost retail sales; Other Retail Stores at $95 million; Service Stations at $46 million; and Eating and Drinking Places with $40 million in losses. In the "Capture" category, our two money-earning categories of retail sales are Building Materials with $51 million and Food Stores earning $6 million.
PLANNING
Update on Home Depot - Tuesday, March 14, the Planning Commission upheld the Environmental Assessment Committee's (EAC) decision to continue processing a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) as the appropriate level of environmental review for the Home Depot project. A 30-day public comment period will commence on March 30 if no appeal of the Planning Commission's determination is filed.
Seawater Desalination Facility Appeal - The Planning Department was notified last week that Coastal Commissioners Mike Reilly and Mary Shallenberger, as well as the Surfrider Foundation, appealed the City Council's approval of Coastal Development Permit No. 02-05 (Seawater Desalination Project). The appeal sets the stage for a public hearing at the Coastal Commission where final action on the project's Coastal Development Permit will be taken.
PUBLIC WORKS
Slurry Seal Program on Arterial Highways - City crews have begun a slurry seal program on some of the arterial streets in Huntington Beach. The slurry seal will extend the life of the street by five to seven years. After that time, the segments will require overlay or rehabilitation. To date, crews have completed Hamilton Avenue between Magnolia and Bushard Streets, and Graham Street between Heil and Edinger Avenues. The current work location is Goldenwest Street from Warner to Yorktown Avenues. Also scheduled is 17th Street between Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street. The stretch on 17th between Palm and Main Street will be completed in mid-April during spring break at Huntington Beach High School. Although they are experts in the residential neighborhoods, this is the first year that city crews are working on the arterial streets. It is quite a challenge to navigate a slurry truck and apply a smooth surface while keeping watch on traffic control, fast moving vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles. Their effort and the end result are commendable.
Weekly Report Archive 2006
