A push for tougher training

Assemblyman Tom Harman is pushing a bill that would require the

training of Huntington Beach lifeguards to meet a more stringent set

of standards, set by the United States Lifesaving Assn.

As it is now, the state has set no mandated training standards or

regulations for lifeguards on minimum training received or equipment

used.

“I think it’s important for all lifeguards to have the same type

of training up and down the state,” Harman said. “Some cities have

fine adequate training ... Huntington Beach being one of them.

However, in other cities, their training is not that good.”

The eight-mile stretch of Surf City beaches attracts nearly

11-million visitors each year.

California’s open water lifeguards’ range of duties is vast. They

are responsible for providing flood rescue, rescue for swimmers and

boaters and emergency medical aid.

“There will be physical requirements, but also a minimum amount of

schooling, like classes in first aid and medical emergency

treatment,” Harman said. “It’s an effort to make sure they have the

minimum standards and to make sure everybody has the same standards.

If you have training in Santa Barbara, you’ll have the same minimum

standard as you would have in San Diego.”

Adopting statewide minimum training standards will improve their

efficiency and their ability to save lives, Harman added.

“Police have standard training to become police officers, firemen

have standard training to become firefighters. They are a part of

public safety just as lifeguards are part of public safety.”

If approved, the bill probably wouldn’t change training at the

city beach, since its lifeguards already comply with the highest

level of standards set by the United States Lifesaving Assn., Lt.

Mike Baumgartner said.

The Newport Beach Lifeguard Assn. is sponsoring the bill, which

has been referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee. A

hearing will be held within the next few weeks.

Huntington Wetlands get $300,000 from state

The California Coastal Conservancy approved $300,000 for the

Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy last week for a plan to restore

a strip of degraded wetlands stretching from Beach Boulevard to the

mouth of the Santa Ana River.

This will add to the $50,000 already contributed by the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service.

It will take about a year to create the plan, said Gary Gorman,

Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy project manager.

An engineer has already been chosen for the project. Gorman hopes

to start work within the next week or two.

“We’re going to map it out, we’re going to evaluate what’s there

and we’re going to evaluate how water flows into it,” Gorman said.

“We’re going to study the hydrology of ocean outlets and come up with

a couple of different alternatives for restoring. Then there will be

a series of public meetings to share this all with the public. It’s a

pretty extensive process.”

The plan will be overseen by a committee that includes

representatives from the conservancy, the city of Huntington Beach,

the County of Orange, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the

National Marine Fisheries Service, the Army Corps of Engineers,

Caltrans and the University of California.

The conservancy already owns and manages 93 acres and is hoping to

acquire another 66 acres, in order to accomplish its goal of

restoring a continuous strip of wetlands along the coast.

The area has been identified as a high priority for the Southern

California Wetlands Recovery Project, a partnership of public

agencies that work to acquire, restore and enhance coastal wetland

and watersheds in Southern California.

Earth Day cleanup to sweep state in April

Local volunteers are invited to join thousands across the state

expected to participate in a massive cleanup of California state

beaches on April 24.

Huntington State Beach is one of 44 of California’s state parks

scheduled to take part in the cleanup for the California State Parks

Foundation’s Earth Day 2004 Restoration and Cleanup.

Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to take part in removing

trash and debris from the beach. Work will include cleaning up along

the berm and around the fire rings, planter and tern preserve.

Since the Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup program was developed

in 1998, it has received $570,000 grants. About 40,000 participants

have contributed more than 173,000 volunteer hours.

This year, the foundation has awarded more than $80,000 to the

project sites involved in the Earth Day Cleanup.

Volunteers will meet at the Huntington Lifeguard Headquarters, at

Magnolia Street and Pacific Coast Highway.

The cleanup will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring sunscreen, gloves

and water. For more information, call (714) 536-1454.

City appoints new water quality coordinator

Derek Smith has been appointed water quality coordinator for the

city. Smith, a Huntington Beach resident, comes from Fullerton, where

he served as its water quality specialist.

Smith will replace Rich Ottolini, who took a supervisor’s position

at Rancho Water, a water agency outside Temecula.

Smith was hired for his qualifications, his time in the field and

his education, Utilities Manager Howard Johnson said.

He will be responsible for insuring that the city meets all state

and federal standards for water quality testing and reporting. He

will also oversee the cross connection control and backflow programs.

Throughout his 16-year career in the water industry, Smith has also

worked for the city of Fountain Valley and the Irvine Ranch Water

District.

Smith has an associate’s degree in water quality science and holds

certifications in water treatment, distribution and backflow testing.

“We looked at him and we looked at how he ran his system,” Johnson

said. “And he came highly recommended. Rich said, if you guys can get

him, than you’re lucky. Through the recruitment process, [Smith] came

in No. 1.”