City Launches New Website
The City of Huntington Beach is encouraging its residents, businesses, and visitors to surf over to its new website www.huntingtonbeachca.gov, which has been simplified and made more user friendly. Instead of having sub-menus buried within scores of confusing menu topics, users are greeted with a search bar, right up front to get you right to where you want to be. The new website was created with the user experience in mind and City staff has been working hard to consolidate information and eliminate unnecessary and sometimes duplicative content to get the user the details they need faster.
HB Junior Lifeguard Tryouts Start this Sunday, April 14
Spend the summer on the beach with the Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard Program. Tryouts start this Sunday, April 14. There is room for your groms, ages 9 to 17 years old. The program promotes beach and ocean safety through all kinds of activities, including swimming, surfing, body boarding, volleyball, beach flags, snorkeling, running, and fun beach games. Tryouts are open at www. HBSands.org under Marine Safety Education.
All tryouts are at Golden West College Pool on April 14, 21, and 28. Appointments are required and can be found at www.HBSands.org Tryouts consist of swimming 100 yards (four laps in a 25-yard pool) at or under one minute and fifty seconds, treading water for five minutes, and swimming underwater for ten yards at least three feet deep.
HB Art Center Opens “Rasquachismo”
The Huntington Beach Art Center celebrated the opening of “Rasquachismo,” a new exhibition highlighting lowrider culture – featuring food trucks and colorful works of art including a large-scale lowrider piñata. Over 180 community members attended, including Council members, commissioners, City staff, and many of the exhibited artists. Rasquachismo is on view at the HBAC through June 1.
HB Celebrates Earth Day April 20
It is time to celebrate Earth Day! Help make our coastline and park a cleaner, happier place for humans, plants, and animals, and become part of the solution to pollution. Please join us Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 9am-12pm. Volunteer for the Annual Earth Day Cleanup Event Joining the cleanup is easy! Choose the location you want to join and register: Beach Location (21579 Pacific Coast Hwy or Bartlett Park (19822 Beach Blvd) Every volunteer is required to register and sign an e-waiver, minors will require legal guardian to sign e-waiver as well. Make sure to navigate through the website to learn how to sign up.
Work Begins on New Heil Ave. Pump Station
Work as begun on the $10 million Heil Avenue Pump Station Project. Funded with support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the project aims at improving flood protection within the 89-acre area. Benefits of the new pump station are significant, including enhanced flood management capabilities to minimize unforeseen property damage to the adjacent 352 homes within the flood zone.
Nick Vella Memorial Ride
Last weekend, the HBPD, along with our community members and law enforcement partners, came together to honor the memory of Pilot Officer Nicholas Vella with the second annual Nick Vella Memorial Beach Ride. The event served as a tribute and a means to raise funds for various law enforcement needs, including Mounted Enforcement Unit (MEU) equipment, and enabling officers to attend the National Police Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Additionally, dollars raised contributed to an established fund in Officer Vella’s honor, ensuring his legacy continues to make a difference.
Autism Awareness Project
In 2018, Officer Wilson and Communications Manager Reynolds initiated the Autism Awareness project with the HBPD. A patch was created to honor those with autism and those who dedicate themselves daily to helping individuals with their unique challenges. To spread awareness and foster acceptance, the HBPD is offering a special edition Autism Awareness patch for sale. You can purchase yours for $10 each at the HBPD’s front counter during business hours or by emailing us at [email protected]. All proceeds will go toward supporting a local charity.
Water/Wastewater Proposed Rate Increase Public Hearing April 16
To keep pace with inflation and rising costs of providing safe, reliable water and wastewater services, the City is considering rate increases over the next five years, effective July 1, 2024, with annual rate adjustments on July 1 of each year through 2028. The City Council will hear and consider oral testimony and written materials submitted regarding proposed rate increases at the Public Hearing in the Huntington Beach City Council Chambers on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 pm. In compliance with California Proposition 218, the City mailed an official notice to inform Huntington Beach property owners and water and wastewater customers that proposed rate increases are being considered. The City Council can adjust the proposed rate increases in response to oral testimony and written materials submitted for consideration. We encourage you to read the Prop 218 notice or access the digital copy and related information. You may also request information via email at [email protected] or call (714) 536-5431.
