Huntington Beach City Council to assess parking regulations to aid outdoor services

The Huntington Beach City Council on Monday night voted unanimously in favor of directing staff to analyze and assess zoning codes and parking requirements, a move aimed at facilitating ongoing outdoor dining and retail operations after the coronavirus pandemic ends.

The agenda item introduced by Mayor Kim Carr noted that the temporary emergency use permits issued during the pandemic have been successful, adding that she has been approached by business owners who have asked if they can continue operating outdoors on private property after life has returned to normal following the pandemic.

“The parking ratio that we currently have in place for a lot of these small businesses would prohibit the ability to create an outdoor dining space that’s more permanent,” Carr said. “I’m asking for staff to look at this a little bit more deeply, to see if there’s a way that we can revise or update our city zoning or parking standards to help out some of these small businesses ... This is letting the private businesses decide if this makes sense for them or not.”

Carr noted that the parking ratios were established before ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft existed.

Councilman Mike Posey said he was “clearly and enthusiastically” in support of the idea.

“People are utilizing Uber more, bicycles more and walking more,” he said. “As we look into the housing element, this is going to come up too. Do apartments and houses need two parking spaces, when that apartment building is going to have a 50- or 60-year lifespan after it’s built?”

Owners of local breweries Four Sons, Beachwood, Riip and Flashpoint also sent a letter to the City Council in support of the action.

Huntington Beach won’t cap food delivery fees

Council members voted 4-3 against establishing emergency limitations on third-party food delivery fees during the pandemic.

Council members Natalie Moser, Dan Kalmick and Mayor Carr voted in favor, while Mayor Pro Tem Tito Ortiz, and council members Erik Peterson, Barbara Delgleize and Posey voted against the move.

The emergency ordinance, first proposed by Moser on Feb. 1, would have temporarily limited the delivery fees that could be charged by companies like Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats to 15% of the cost of the food, with a 5% cap on non-delivery charges.

The ordinance, aimed at supporting local restaurants, would have needed five votes to pass. But the majority of the council rejected the premise of it, even as a temporary move.

“I get a little bit nervous when the city is dictating how a business is supposed to operate, and that’s what this really feels like to me,” Delgleize said.

Peterson said he didn’t believe the city should be restricting the food delivery services at all, while Posey agreed.

“Government shouldn’t be involved in modifying contracts or setting prices, whether it’s an emergency or a perceived monopoly,” Posey said.

2 staff-level committees eliminated

The Environmental Assessment and Subdivision committees, two staff-level committees, will be eliminated after a unanimous 7-0 vote by the council on Monday night.

Kalmick, who introduced the agenda item, argued that the committees contributed to red tape for projects and their removal will streamline the entitlement process

Council moving back to in-person meetings

The council will be switching from virtual back to in-person meetings at City Hall for its next meeting on April 5.

Carr said the city is still working through the details. In-person public comments will be allowed, but speakers will have to leave the council’s chambers after commenting. The meetings will continue to be streamed online.

The City Council meetings have been virtual on Zoom since January due to COVID-19.

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