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Home My WebLink About2020-07-01 Minutes City Council Emergency Meeting City of Huntington Beach Wednesday, July 1, 2020 6:00 PM - Council Chambers Civic Center, 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, California 92648 A video recording of the 6:00 PM portion of this meeting is on file in the Office of the City Clerk, and archived at www.surfcity-hb.org/government/agendas/ 6:00 PM - COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER — 6:01 PM ROLL CALL Present: Posey, Delgleize, Hardy, Semeta, Carr, and Brenden Absent: Peterson ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS (Received After Agenda Distribution) — None PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 Minute Time Limit) — 15 by Phone At 6:00 PM, individuals wishing to provide a comment on an agendized or non-agendized item may call (669) 900-6833 and enter Webinar ID: 962 2522 6995. Once a caller has entered the meeting, their call will be placed in a holding queue and will be answered in the order received. When invited to speak, callers are encouraged to identify themselves by name, and can speak for no more than 3 minutes. The number[hh:mm:ss]following the speakers'comments indicates their approximate starting time in the archived video located at http://www.surfcity-hb.org/government/agendas. Caller Emmett was invited to speak and shared his support for keeping the beaches closed. (00:02:19) Caller Angie was invited to speak and shared her support for keeping the beaches open. (00:03:03) Caller 1018, Linda Fish, a resident of Sunset Beach, was invited to speak and asked that Sunset Beach be closed for the July 4th weekend. (00:03:40) An anonymous caller was invited to speak and stated her support for keeping the beaches closed. (00:05:04) Caller 115, an anonymous caller, was invited to speak and stated her support for keeping the beaches closed for the July 4th weekend. (00:06:06) City Council/Public Financing Authority Emergency Meeting Minutes,July 1, 2020 Page 2 of 4 Caller Ruth was invited to speak and shared her support for keeping the beaches closed for the July 4th weekend. (00:08:09) Caller Mi Kubu was invited to speak and shared her support for keeping the beaches closed. (00:10:25) Caller Eric, a resident of Huntington Beach and Emergency Room Physician, shared his support for keeping the beaches closed for the July 4th weekend. (00:11:22) Caller Bridgett Cobb, a long-time Downtown resident, was invited to speak and shared her support for keeping the beaches closed for the July 4th weekend. (00:12:17) Caller David Martin was invited to speak and shared his support for keeping the beaches open for the July 4th weekend. (00:14:16) Caller Bonnie was invited to speak and shared her support for keeping the beaches closed for the July 4th weekend. (00:15:27) Caller 927, an anonymous caller, was invited to speak and shared her support for keeping the beaches closed for the July 4th weekend. (00:16:23) Caller 989, Gail Brice, a resident of Sunset Beach, was invited to speak and shared her support for keeping the beaches closed for the July 4th weekend. (00:17:04) Caller 982, Beth, a resident of Huntington Beach, was invited to speak and shared her support for keeping the beaches closed for the July 4th weekend. (00:19:30) Caller 578, Amory Hanson, a Candidate for City Council in 2020 and member of the Historic Resources Board, was invited to speak and stated his request that the City allow deliberative boards and commissions to meet in July, even if they are virtual meetings. (00:20:18) ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS 1. 20-1740 Emergency meeting held to consider the closure of all City controlled beaches and associated infrastructure during the period between July 3 - 5, 2020, to protect public health, safety, and welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic City Manager Oliver Chi presented a PowerPoint communication entitled: July 4th Holiday Beach Closure Consideration with slides titled: Background and Huntington Beach Options Councilmember Delgleize reported that the entire Board of Supervisors for Riverside are in quarantine, and she has received multiple messages from residents urging closure of Huntington and Sunset Beaches for the July 4th weekend. Mayor Semeta and City Manager Chi discussed that it is up to the Council to decide if he and staff will have the authority to close beaches and if so, which days. Mr. Chi stated that the intent is to impact residents as little as possible while promoting health and safety. There was discussion of the challenges of being the only beach open with good weather and higher than normal surf conditions, and City Manager Chi stated his opinion it will be important for Huntington Beach to coordinate with the plans of other beach cities in the area. City Council/Public Financing Authority Emergency Meeting Minutes,July 1, 2020 Page 3 of 4 Councilmember Posey stated his opinion that it is important to look at how the beach can be closed, but have minimal impact on local businesses, and therefore he would like to see the beach closed on July 4th, leaving authority to close on July 5th with the City Manager. He added that Downtown businesses can provide take-out and possibly outside dining service. Councilmember Posey also suggested closing beach parking lots but leaving the bike path open. Councilmember Carr stated her concern regarding large groups congregating at the beach, and support for closing the beach on July 4th. Councilmember Carr, Police Chief Handy and Fire Chief Haberle discussed the challenges of keeping the beach open for early hours for surfing and active recreation only on July 3rd, 4th and 5th, with parking and infrastructure closed. Chief Handy highlighted the challenges his department already faces in today's atmosphere in addition to clearing the beach, and the other issues that will require safety staff attention such as fireworks, parties, expanded parade routes and marine safety. Councilmember Delgleize suggested that regardless of the policy in effect for Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach should be closed for the weekend because of their proximity to Los Angeles and their closed beaches. Mayor Semeta emphasized how much the Council supports all of the City's safety officers and appreciates their dedication. Mayor Pro Tern Hardy stated her support for a 3-day closure, including the Pier, all harbors and Sunset Beach, and reminded everyone it is not an indefinite closure as was done in May. She does not support allowing surfing and/or active recreation in early morning hours, but does support the bike path being kept open. Councilmember Brenden stated that everyone is sensitive to the plight of local business owners and removing business opportunities. He stated his support for complete beach closures, keeping only the bike path open, and suggested expanded signage on the importance of face covering and hand sanitizer stations on Main Street. Councilmember Brenden confirmed with City Manager Chi that all state and county beaches and parking lots will be closed, and staff recommends if the City beaches are closed, the parking should also be closed. Councilmember Brenden stated his support for Mayor Pro Tern Hardy's suggestion for a 3-day closure in spite of the negative impact on local businesses. He further stated he has received hundreds of emails from residents with the majority asking that the beaches be closed for the July 4th weekend. Mayor Semeta stated her support for giving the City Manager the authority to decide which days the beach should be closed based on local considerations and matching the actions taken by neighboring beach cities. Councilmember Delgleize and City Manager Chi discussed that currently the general sentiments of other Orange County coastal cities is to close their beaches on Saturday and Sunday. Mayor Pro Tern Hardy and Councilmember Brenden stated support for a 3-day beach closure, especially since Friday is a holiday for many people, as the best option for providing and enforcing public safety. A motion was made by Posey, second Semeta for beach closure on Saturday, July 4th, including Sunset and Harbor beaches, beach parking lots, beach parking meters and the Pier; granting the City Manager authority to institute the same closure parameters on Friday, July 3 and/or Sunday, July 5, City Council/Public Financing Authority Emergency Meeting Minutes,July 1, 2020 Page 4 of 4 based on local considerations and similar actions taken by neighboring beach cities; and, allow the bike path along the beach to remain open. The motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Posey, Delgleize, Hardy, Semeta, Carr, and Brenden NOES: None ABSENT: Peterson Mayor Pro Tern Hardy briefly described the modified parade route being planned and announced that at 5 AM on Saturday, July 4th, the final route details would be posted at www.hb4thofjuly.org. ADJOURNMENT at 7:12 PM to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority on Monday, July 6, 2020, at 4:00 PM, in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, California. INTERNET ACCESS TO CITY COUNCIL/PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY AGENDA AND STAFF REPORT MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE PRIOR TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AT http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov I i City CI e -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach and Secretary of the Public Financing Authority of the City of Huntington Beach, California I ATTEST: Z" -s- ;j6- Irn lerk- ecretary M or-Chair i