New trees may be on the way

A plan by the Downtown Merchants Assn. to replace the trees that line

Main Street may happen now that City Council narrowly OKd paying half

the cost.

The council agreed to pitch in $7,500 as long as the Downtown

Merchants Assn. matches it, to remove the 44 Rhaphiolepis trees that

line the first four blocks. They would be replaced by queen palms or

something similar, as recommended by the Downtown Economic

Development Committee.

“The thought was that the redevelopment agency, through the tax

increment, has money, and we want to keep Downtown appealing to make

money from tourism,” City Councilman Dave Sullivan said.

The death of eight of the trees spurred city officials to propose

removing all 44.

“The concern is that the [Rhaphiolepis] tree doesn’t fit in the

practical use of the sidewalk,” Public Works Director Bob Beardsley

said. “They’re not at a height that acts for easy maneuverability. We

prefer to see trees with something more conducive.”

Some Downtown business owners are also unhappy with the majestic

beauty trees, city officials said.

The cost of removal is estimated at less than $15,000, said Paul

Emery, deputy director of public works.

City Councilwomen Connie Boardman and Debbie Cook opposed the

decision.

“I can support replacing dead trees, but it goes against our

current policy to replace trees because they’re messy, but not

pretty,” Boardman said. “To rip out live trees because they’re

inconvenient, I will not support that.”

Cook said that there were too many cuts coming next year to

support the decision.

City officials will be sending out letters to Downtown merchants

alerting them of the council’s action.

“The next step is to work with the Downtown Merchants Assn. to

determine if they have the resources available and are interested in

pursuing the removal and replacement of all 44,” Emery said.

Pacific City to be heard by Planning Commission

Plans for Pacific City, the 31-acre coastal development project,

will go before the Planning Commission on Tuesday.

The commission is scheduled to vote on the environmental report

for the project, slated to be built on the former Chevron oil field

bordered by Pacific Coast Highway, Atlanta Avenue and Huntington and

First streets.

The massive project would include a luxury resort, 516 residential

townhouses, upscale shopping, restaurants and office space.

The residential district would have two-, three- and four-story

condominiums, and the retail section would offer specialty food

outlets, outdoor dining, a day spa, a yoga center and a live

entertainment venue.

The residential and commercial portions would include two levels

of subterranean parking.

More information on the project can be found at the Pacific City

Discovery Center, at Pacific Coast Highway and 2nd Street.

District offering a Water 101 course

Cheap education is hard to come by these days.

But the Orange County Water District is offering a free course

called O.C. Water 101 for those who want to learn more about their

local water supply.

Students will learn about water from global, national and local

perspectives.

Instructors will address how Orange County is able to maintain

lush, green gardens, parks and golf courses despite its semi-arid

climate and four years of drought.

It will discuss the district’s newest project, the groundwater

replenishment system, a $450-million joint project with the Orange

County Sanitation District, which will purify sewage water to produce

70-million gallons of fresh drinking water per day.

They will teach conservation measures to help residents save water

at home.

Classes are one evening only. They will be held Wednesday evenings

at the district’s Fountain Valley office, at 10500 Ellis Ave., at the

corner of Ellis and Ward.

Reservations are required. Classes will be held May 26, June 23,

July 28, Aug. 25, Sept. 22 and Oct. 27.

For more information, call (714) 378-3217 or log on to

https://www.ocwd.com.

Huntington Beach Tomorrow to meet

Local activist group Huntington Beach Tomorrow will be holding its

annual general meeting tonight.

While Huntington Beach Tomorrow’s board of directors and officers

meet regularly, the group holds an open public meeting only once

annually.

The meeting will include presentations from Mayor Cathy Green,

Assistant City Administrator Bill Workman and Assemblyman Tom Harman.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Room B-8 at Huntington

Beach City Hall.

New senior living community opens

Huntington Beach seniors have more long-term healthcare options

now that a new senior living community has opened.

Sunrise Senior Living of Huntington Beach had its grand opening

celebration on Feb. 26.

The new community, at 7401 Yorktown Ave., will offer housing and

care options for seniors. It will offer assisted and independent

living, and there will be an area designed specifically for residents

battling Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory impairment.

There will also be a special area called the Terrace Club for

those experiencing mild memory loss.

The community will have 95 suites, enough to house 100 to 115

people, said Ronda Wilkin, director of community relations.

About 60,000 Orange County residents older than 65 have

Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange

County.

Sunrise already operates eight senior living communities in Orange

County and 380 communities in the United States, the United Kingdom

and Canada. The Huntington Beach facility will be one of eight in

Orange County.

More information can be found at its website,

https://www.sunriseseniorliving.com.