CITY ROUNDUP:

The city’s centennial committee has announced a Huntington Beach float will be in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade.

The committee, which plans to use such a float to kick off a year-long celebration of the city’s 100th anniversary, had its request to the parade committee approved last week.

The theme of 2009’s parade is “Hats off to entertainment.”

Along with the float, special events each month will mark the city’s centennial, including a citywide beach party and centennial ball, according to the Centennial Celebration Committee.

“The Centennial Celebration Committee has already started to plan the float and is sure that Surf City USA will provide a beautiful and entertaining float for the millions of viewers of the parade,” committee co-chairman Steve Bone said in a news release. “We are counting on the community to come forward to help in this great effort both in fundraising and in volunteering to help in the construction.”

For more information, go to www.surfcity-hb.org.

Reps. form caucus to support Tibetans

U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has formed a caucus in the House of Representatives to support Tibetans in the face of China’s crackdowns on unrest in the region.

Rohrabacher and Rep. Neil Abercrombie have founded the Tibetan Caucus, which seeks to oppose reported human rights violations by the Chinese government.

“We cannot stand silently by and watch as another wave of brutality and oppression sweeps across the country by the Beijing regime,” he and Abercrombie wrote in a letter. “We urge you to join the Tibetan Caucus to uphold the rights of the Tibetan people and give a voice to those that the Chinese regime has silenced.”

Rohrabacher used the occasion to repeat his call for a boycott of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, calling the country a repeat human rights violator that lacks the moral stature to host the games.

City receives accolades for readable budget

The city has received a national award for the way it makes its budget more understandable.

Huntington Beach has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Assn. of the United States and Canada.

The city budget is available at www.ci.huntington-beach. ca.us/government/ departments/finance/ budget.cfm.

Brookhurst to receive new landscaping

A project to give Brookhurst Street a face-lift with new landscaping is already underway, according to city reports.

Pomona-based contractor Mega Way Enterprises is planting new trees, grass and irrigation, building wood fences on islands for frontage roads, and adding new access ramps on street corners. The work will be done just north and south of Yorktown Avenue on the east side of the street.

Funding for the $700,000 project will come from the federal Transportation Enhancement Act, gas tax and Community Development Block Grant funds. The work is expected to finish in early June.

Youth to learn about city government

Huntington Beach will have its annual Youth in Government Day April 17.

One hundred and seventy students from the city’s four high schools will come to City Hall and learn about government by watching city employees in their day-to-day functions.

Participants will also hold a mock City Council meeting on subjects of concern to students.

The day will also feature guest speakers, awards, and a speech contest.