HB Council Considers Legalizing Short-term Rentals

By Dan Jamieson Even though HB has more than 800 short-term rental units (such as typically offered through Airbnb and other services), owners of the properties are in the awkward position of breaking the law. That's because short-term rentals (STRs) are not allowed in the city. But the HB City Council looks like it will …

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Westminster Mall Plan Envisions Multi-Story Residential, Office

By Dan Jamieson On Monday, August 19, 2019, the city of Westminster gave an update to its evolving plan to redevelop the Westminster mall. The slide show is here. The initial development outline envisions extensive multi-story residential and office properties. The proposal has 3- to 4-story residential and office buildings along Edwards Street and Bolsa …

Council Dips Toe into CCA Debate

By Dan Jamieson The HB City Council on August 5, 2019, approved a motion to proceed with a request for proposal for a community choice energy feasibility study. Under state law, cities and counties can set up “community choice aggregators,” or CCAs, to buy electric power for residents. Currently there are 19 CCAs operating in …

HB Takes First Step To Address Jet Noise

By Dan Jamieson The HB City Council at its May 1, 2019 meeting took the first concrete step in addressing jet noise by approving a $48,000 contract with Irvine-based aviation consultants Landrum & Brown to come up with a plan that could reduce the noise now impacting Huntington Beach. The action follows a series of …

Issues Arise Over HB Staffing

In a controversial move, the HB Finance Commission on May 22, 2019, voted 4-3 to recommend that the City Council consider issuing a request for proposal to outsource the city’s 31 technology employees. The Finance Commission is an advisory panel made up of seven residents each appointed by a Council member. FC chair Ron Sterud …

Plan for Rodgers Senior Center Site to Emerge

The beginnings of a plan for the Rodgers Senior Center/17th Street Park (or whatever name you prefer) may finally be in the works. A plan to gauge community opinion will be rolled out next month, with a conceptual plan for the two-acre site at Orange Ave. and 17th Street coming a few months later, according …

Homelessness Focus of HBT Town Hall

Homelessness dominated the annual HBT Town Hall meeting held on March 14, 2019 at the Lake Park clubhouse. Guest speaker mayor Erik Peterson said the City council is looking at an opportunity to open a homeless shelter, in partnership with a non-profit, with the shelter to be located most likely in an industrial building. Mr. …

Westminster Mall Plans in the Works

Hundreds of  residents turned up March 12 for an update on redevelopment plans for the Westminster Mall. The project obviously impacts Huntington Beach, and Westminster officials said they want to hear from HB residents. A Specific Plan for the 100-acre mall property is now under development, and is expected to be completed by this summer, …

Save the Date: HBT Annual Meeting and Townhall, March 14

Join Mayor Erik Peterson and members of HBPD's Homeless Task Force to discuss issues facing the city and answer your questions. When: March 14 at 7:00 p.m. Where: Lake Park Clubhouse, 1035 11th Street Cost: Free (though you are encouraged to join HBT — annual memberships just $15, or $10 for students and seniors). We …

Affordable Housing Fight Erupts, as Calif. Takes on HB

Perhaps it had to come to this. After thumbing its nose at State requirements for affordable housing, the State is now suing HB. The issue revolves around a complicated process of attributing affordable housing requirements on cities (known as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation or RHNA, referred to as “Ree-Na”). The units don’t actually have …