Citys

As a giant American flag hung from a fire engine, waving in the ocean breeze, hundreds of residents gathered on the steps at Pier Plaza Tuesday to remember the nearly 3,000 Americans who died on 9/11, as well as the country’s soldiers and veterans. Public officials, veterans’ groups and members of the military spoke on the meaning of the 2001 terrorist attacks, praising the public safety workers on the front lines of any such disaster. But the city’s official Patriot Day observance also honored the city’s first responders, as Huntington Beach named its Officers of the Year.

The city has announced that two of its bond ratings have been raised from AA- to AA by Standard and Poor’s, meaning the potential for reduced interest costs for the city’s debt obligations. As of Jan. 9, the city’s judgment obligation bonds and lease for revenue bonds were raised as a result of good financial practices. The AA level is described as “a very strong capacity to meet financial commitments.“ “Not having any investment losses due to credit quality and maintaining liquidity in light of the recent credit market stress was an important factor in receiving the upgrade ratings,” City Treasurer Shari Freidenrich said.

Want to see Huntington Beach’s float in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade up close — really close? The city’s Centennial Committee is holding a contest to ride on the float, marking Huntington Beach’s hundredth year, on New Year’s Day. To sign up for a chance, go to www.hb100years.org and enter your name by Sept. 3. The site also explains how to volunteer to decorate the float and describes the city’s centennial festivities. Winners will join the mayor and other city representatives, riding on a stand mimicking Huntington Beach Pier amidst waves, surfboards, and even depictions of a family barbecue.

The idea that the City Council can better manage the home foreclosure business than the private sector is insanity or worse. Banks have a fiduciary responsibility to get the most out of each property. Cost of repairs to a novice is extraordinarily high. Then, purposely limiting the price to less than retail for any buyer is certainly a bad deal to local taxpayers. Let me remind everyone that all back taxes on any property sold must be paid first, and so Huntington Beach would get its back taxes at the time of the sale.

Ready to talk politics? The Orange Coast League of Women Voters is hosting a panel discussion on all seven proposals on the February ballot. For each initiative, speakers will cover the pros and cons, as well as taking questions from the audience. The luncheon is scheduled for noon Jan. 19 at Carrow’s Restaurant, 16931 Magnolia St. To make a reservation, call (949) 400-2183. Evangelical church welcomes new pastor The Evangelical Free Church of Huntington Beach is inviting community members to the installation of its new pastor Sunday.

Three Huntington Beach residents have won places on the city’s 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade float, which is being built in honor of the city’s centennial year. Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook drew the names at this week’s City Council meeting, following a contest run by the city’s Centennial Committee. The float will be in the famous New Year’s Day parade. The winners were Patricia Pashich, Kenneth Bauer and Anita Jones. Three alternates, Sandie Justin, John Newton and Elizabeth Fok, would each ride on the New Year’s float if the winners were unable to attend.

The Huntington Beach City Council approved plans for a float in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade in honor of the city’s centennial next year. Council members voted 5-1, with Councilman Joe Carchio voting no and Councilman Gil Coerper absent, to approve a design that includes a giant surfboard on a huge wave, a family at a barbecue, seagulls, and other outdoorsy features meant to complement the city’s “Surf City USA” moniker. “It’s a very exciting design to showcase Huntington Beach,” said Community Relations Officer Laurie Payne, who presented the design on behalf of the city’s Centennial Committee.

Huntington Beach is expected to bring in an extra $200,000 a year after the City Council approved a new gas fee surcharge. The City Council approved an agreement with the Southern California Gas Co. 4 to 3 with Councilmen Joe Carchio, Don Hansen and Devin Dwyer voting against it May 3. The agreement tacks on a new 1% surcharge fee to users for the next 25 years to bring in an estimated $200,000 a year for the city’s general fund....

Huntington Beach will pay higher retirement contribution rates in the future, according to an actuary. John Bartel, of Bartel Associates, told officials during a council study session Monday that the California Public Employees' Retirement System is planning on changing its discount rate to 7.25% from the current 7.5%, requiring public employees to drop more money into the pension system. CalPERS describes the discount rate as being generally the same as the expected rate of return on investments.

Huntington Beach council members on Monday made multiple changes to the initial draft of an ordinance regulating campaign documents. The item introduced by Councilman Joe Shaw passed on a 4-3 vote, with Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Harper and councilmen Joe Carchio and Jim Katapodis dissenting. The ordinance, whose language is based on a law that was repealed in 2008, would require candidates to file campaign documents with the city clerk. Right off the bat, council members had issues with the way the item was written.

Josiah Whitesinger had a look of determination on his face as he wiped his goggles clean before his paintball match. Whitesinger, who traveled from Chinle, Ariz., with his family, stood in the pit area focusing on preparing for his matches Saturday morning, ignoring the sounds of double triggers slapping the frames of guns and paintballs hitting inflatable barriers. Along with hundreds of other professional paintballers, the 12-year-old participated in the National Professional Paintball League Surf City Open, now in its 11th year.

Die-hard Dodger fan Aaron Roberts did what he had to in order to secure a spot in the Major League Baseball Fan Cave this season. He made promotional videos, stayed active on social media, wrote an essay and interviewed third baseman Adam Kennedy (who played for the Dodgers and the Angels' World Series team) to stay alive in the MLB contest. But the 28-year-old Huntington Beach resident knew that he needed to step it up a notch to stand out from the 25,000 other contestants hoping to win a spot in the MLB Fan Cave, a building in New York where select baseball fans are asked to watch and blog about every game of the season.

The Huntington Beach City Council on Monday approved changes to a proposed massage parlor ordinance that would crack down on illicit businesses but maintain state-established regulations. Passing on a 6-0 vote, with Councilman Joe Carchio absent, the multiple changes include tweaks to operating hours and outcall massages, occasions when the therapist travels to the client. City Attorney Jennifer McGrath worked with Ahmos Netanel and his staff from the California Massage Therapy Council to ensure the city's ordinance abides by state laws.

Huntington Beach council members gave the city attorney the go-ahead Monday to write an ordinance regarding campaign documents. The item passed in a 4-2 vote, with Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Harper and Councilman Jim Katapodis dissenting. Councilman Joe Carchio was absent during Monday's meeting. Introduced by Councilman Joe Shaw, the law would require campaign mailers or "hit pieces" to be filed with the city clerk's office to give candidates the opportunity to respond to statements made about them or their positions on issues.

The 9/11 memorial may have found its home in the Huntington Beach Civic Center after council members approved the location Monday night. Other viable locations were addressed, such as Pier Plaza and the corner of Utica Avenue and Main Street. But in a unanimous 7-0 vote, council members decided the non-operational fountain in between the civic building and the police station was the ideal spot to build the memorial. "I have developed the ultimate respect for Huntington Beach Police and the Fire Department," Councilman Dave Sullivan said, explaining his more than 20 year-relationship with public safety officials in the city.

Huntington Beach is looking to go greener after council members moved one step closer Monday night to banning the distribution of plastic bags in the city. After nearly an hour and a half of discussion, with dialogue going back and forth between council members and public speakers, Councilman Dave Sullivan had one last comment about the topic: "Let's vote. " His comment was followed by applause and cheers from the audience in the council chambers. "I don't know that any minds are being changed up here," Councilwoman Jill Hardy said, explaining why the discussion ran so long.

They all share a love of film making and for one night during the fourth annual Surf City Student Film Festival, Huntington Beach Union High School students can showcase their work for the masses. There are around 20 7-minute films submitted by students from most of the high schools in the district, each with the hopes of earning a cash prize, said Susan West, Academy of the Performing Arts business supervisor. Screenings of the films will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Huntington Beach Union High School District Auditorium and Bell Tower on the HBHS campus at 1905 Main St. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10. The genre of the short films range from comedies to dramas and documentaries, West said.

Sparks continue to fly between residents and the Huntington Beach City School District over the future of the LeBard Park and school site near Brookhurst Street and Indianapolis Avenue. LeBard Park includes several baseball diamonds, parkland and a parking lot adjacent to what was formerly LeBard Elementary School at 20451 Craimer Lane. The building is now being used as school district headquarters, and administrators describe it as dilapidated and in need of replacement. At issue are 15 acres owned by three parties.