CHRIS MACDONALD NEWS Jan 31, 2021

2021 Newsletters

Your Concluding January 2021 Huntington Beach Area Happenings

Hello Friends,

Leslie Gilson at The Huntington Beach Tree Society said: We are requesting funds to have Lubica Selica redo our front pylons. She has come up with a magnificent rendering that will complement the other two projects that she has done at the park. Donations can be sent to HB TREES - PO Box 1269, Sunset Beach Ca 90742. Specify Gibbs park art project.

From Huntington Beach City Council Member Barbara Delgleize:

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION/ZOOM ACCESS: In keeping with the Governor's mandate to limit in-person gatherings that can spread COVID-19, the Monday, February 1, 2021 meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council will be held virtually.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: At 6 p.m. individuals wishing to attend the meeting to provide a comment on agendized or non-agendized items may enter Zoom Webinar  Attendees utilizing computer devices to request to speak may select the "Raise Hand" feature in the Webinar Controls section. Attendees entering the Webinar and requesting to speak by phone can enter *9 to enable the "Raise Hand" feature, followed by the *6 prompt that unmutes their handheld device microphone. Attendees will be prompted to speak when the Clerk announces their name or the last three digits of their phone number. Speakers are encouraged, but not required to identify themselves by name. Each person may have up to 3 minutes to speak, but the Mayor, at her discretion, may reduce the time allowance if warranted by the volume of calls. The Public Comment process will only be active during designated portions of the agenda (Public Comment and/or Public Hearing). After a speaker concludes their comment, their microphone will be muted, but they may remain in Webinar attendance for the duration of the meeting. Members of the public unable to attend the Zoom Webinar but interested in communicating with the City Council on agenda- related items, are encouraged to submit a written (supplemental) communication . 

Mayor Kim Carr to recognize Black History Month throughout the month of February 2021. In addition, Mayor Carr will present information about the City's various Town Hall Series on topics including COVID-19, Community Choice Energy, and Homelessness. City Manager, Oliver Chi, will update us on our Downtown Outdoor Dinning Program, an update of the City COVID-19 response plan and Vaccination Update. In conjunction with the County of Orange there will be discussion on Small Business Micro Grant Program. Magnolia Tank Farm will have its second reading.

Lastly, the City Council will be considering maintaining membership with the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA),   Community Choice Energy (CCE) Joint Power Authority (JPA). Council Member Natalie Moser bringing forward to consider directing staff to prepare a temporary ordinance that limits the fees paid by the restaurants to third party delivery services during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am sad to report that there has been some real damage and vandalism at Gibbs Park. A lot of volunteer hours go into keeping our parks so everyone can enjoy them. Please say something when seeing something that you know is not right. And a big shout out to Adam Bushman Orozco for being our Graffiti Fighter spreading clean walls and benches again.

Do you have questions about what is happening in your city? Go to HBReady.com you find all things you need to know about who to call or where to go to get answers.

The "Making a Difference in HB" Awards recognizes selflessness, volunteerism and exceptional community service in HuntingtonBeach. The "Making a Difference in HB" Awards applauds the unsung heroes in our City. While we will always place tremendous value on individuals, businesses and groups whose good works consistently improve our community, this award is designed to bring attention to the efforts of lesser-known volunteers who make a positive difference, often behind the scenes or without widespread recognition.
Eligibility Criteria: We are seeking nominations of individuals, organizations or businesses that possess three or more:

— Inspires others to get involved, takes responsibility, or assumes leadership roles to make positive changes within the community
— Encourages and educates others to value community involvement
— Impacts lives through positive actions
— Is a proven leader who collaborates well with other groups
— Seeks to accommodate and include all community members

Nomination Guidelines: Using the nomination form, nominate one individual, business or organization. Please make the nomination as detailed as possible and no self-nominations or members of your own family.

Winner Selection: Completed nomination packets will be reviewed by the City Manager's Office for recommendation to the Mayor for consideration.

Recognition: Once approval has been given by the Mayor, the City Manager's Office will schedule the award presentation for a City Council meeting each month where they will be recognized for their efforts and receive a Commendation.

From Patrick Brenden, Bolsa Chica Conservancy CEO...

The rains have finally arrived and with them comes the promise of a spring-time explosion of vegetation. Unfortunately, not all vegetation is good for our precious Bolsa Chica wetlands. As we emerge from the COVID crisis and the State begins to allow us to conduct public service days again, I hope you'll volunteer to help us as we battle the weeds!

 There are many ways to volunteer at the wetlands and I hope you'll make plans to join us this Spring. And remember, volunteering is a great way to SHOW LOVE for your wetlands!

And watch for our upcoming Valentine's campaign with social media posts featuring Wild Love Stories, all about the mating rituals of wildlife at the Bolsa Chica.

Big Storms that hit Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach City Historian Jerry Person Presents Remembering When:

The weather forecaster says we will have stormy weather for three days this week, but that could change if the forecaster happens to look out the window and the sun is shinning.

Storms are nothing new to Surf City USA over all these years and this week lets remember back to the rain, wind, and flood damage that shaped its rich history.

In 1903 a wooden pier had been built at the foot of Main Street, this pier was constructed as a way to attract people to the new town of Pacific City. At that time both side of the wetlands would flood and the only way to get here was from Westminster.

In 1904 the name of the new beach community was changed to Huntington Beach in hopes that Streetcar millionaire Henry Huntington would bring his Pacific Electric's Red Car and put in a depot and with the wooden pier it was hoped that it would bring more people to our town, but in 1906 a strong winter storm severely damaged that wooden pier.

The damaged pier was repaired and lasted until a winter storm in January of 1910 damaged it to a point that it had to be replaced.

According to William Newland's family history, a severe storm struck Orange County that caused the Santa Ana river waters to form a vast lake between the Newland's mesa and Costa Mesa's heights in the winter of 1916. Some of the Newland children found a row boat and rescued some of their neighbors that were stranded on the roofs of their flooded homes.

In 1938 storm water from the northern parts of Orange County flooded much of the farm land around here and destroyed the bedding of the Pacific Electric's tracks near our border with Newport Beach.

A year latter in September, 1939, a surprise summer storm hit Huntington Beach and washed away almost 300 feet of the pier, but by 1940 the insurance paid for the repairs and it was open to the public again.

One of our longtime residents remembers the massive storm of 1968 that hit Huntington Beach that flooded the streets in the downtown area and the outlining farms and the resident reminded me of another Huntington Beach resident, J. Sherman Denny and his 70 plus year collection of weather data of this area.

Who could forget that cold winter storm that blanketed the beach with snow and hail in 1978. It didn't last long but it was quite a sight to see.

The 1983 storms not only left numerous city streets flooded, it closed Pacific Coast Highway between Warner and Goldenwest for six month. The waves of the storm tore off part of the end of the pier sending part of the old End Cafe into the drink.

On the next day I remember seeing the late John Gustafson, the End Cafe's owner, standing on the sand looking at what had once been his cafe, hanging out over the ocean as huge waves pounded the helpless pier. A short time later I ran into him on the pier and watched as Gustafson committed the cafe's door key to "Davy Jones locker."

Little did Gustafson know that after the city rebuilt his End Cafe that in 1987 the new cafe would follow the old cafe's key into "Davy Jones locker."

Then there is those pesky water spouts that form at sea and head inland to trailer parks, breaking off tree branches along the way.

After 2000 I can't recall seeing any really heavy storms hitting Surf City that did major damages. 

Many Thanks for reading this Newsletter,

Chris MacDonald

Website: calcoasthomes.com

E-Mail: justlisted@yahoo.com