CITY ROUNDUP:

Nearly a dozen people asked the City Council to save a skateboard park next to Huntington Beach High School, but council members said it wasn’t up to them.

Council members said the Huntington Beach Union High School District, which runs the school, plans to build a multi-million dollar stadium, which will nix the park. The council did vote unanimously to accept a deal on the agenda to terminate the park’s lease in exchange for the district paying to demolish the park and paying $75,000 toward a new one; however, council members said the park would still be lost if they hadn’t taken the deal.

Members criticized the district for what they called a stingy deal, saying they should help more to replace what was being lost.

“I think the school district really needs to step up,” Councilwoman Cathy Green said. “They approached us [when the park was built] and we helped out. They owe us. I don’t think we should have to do this alone. This is just plain old cheap that they can’t even come up with this much.”

The loss of the park will be a blow to youth, Huntington Beach High School student Kenta Kito told council members.

“Every day after I go to school I go to the park and skate,” he said. “Just hearing about that really breaks my heart. I don’t know what else I’m going to do. I met all my friends at that park and without them I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Councilman Keith Bohr said those who wanted to fight the loss should go to the school district’s next meeting Feb. 12.

While council members said it wouldn’t happen soon enough, they did discuss finding a new place for a new skate park.

“I for one want to embrace the idea that Huntington Beach is a haven and welcomes and embraces these type of alternative sports,” Councilman Don Hansen said. “They’re not even alternative anymore — they’re mainstream. We should do our best to promote them as best we can.”

Library to replace old computers, workstations

The Main Street branch library, 525 Main St., has just undergone big renovations, with new paint, carpeting and flooring. The restrooms will soon be fully remodeled as well, according to city reports.

In the works for the library is an effort to replace computers and workstations in the computer lab with new ones. That move is also expected to add two terminals to the four now open to the public.

Make comments on Ripcurl project today at meeting

Those interested in weighing in on the proposed Ripcurl mixed-use development across from Goldenwest College are invited to make comments before an environmental impact report is drafted, with a public meeting today.

Developer Red Oak Investments plans to put five stories of residential units above 15,000 square feet of street-level retail and commercial property.

Direct questions to Tess Nguyen at (714) 374-1744 or tnguyen@surfcity-hb.org. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in rooms C and D of Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave.

Construction to finish Friday if weather permits

Repaving and striping of Newland Street between Atlanta Avenue and Yorktown Avenue, as well as Adams Avenue between Newland Street and Magnolia Street, is expected to be finished by Friday if weather permits.

Trees will be planted, utility covers adjusted, and traffic signals set over the next two weeks.

Once the job is done, the next street under construction will be McFadden Avenue between Graham Street and Edwards Street, which is expected to begin within two months, according to city reports.

Women’s group honors Harman for advocacy

Concerned Women of America, a socially conservative public policy organization, this week has named state Sen. Tom Harman its Legislator of the Year, honoring the senator for his “tireless advocacy” on family values and religious freedom.

The group cited Harman’s bills requiring parental notification for teenage abortions, strong penalties for online child predators, and barring convicted child abusers from becoming teachers, Harman said.