REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Travis K. Hopkins, Assistant City Manager
Subject:
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Considering the Duration of the Closure of the Second and Third Block of Main Street for Restaurant / Retail Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Statement of Issue:
On July 1, 2020, Governor Newson ordered the closure of indoor operations for restaurants, personal care services, hair salons, and other select businesses, in response to an increase in coronavirus cases statewide. To help ease the impact of these restrictions on the Huntington Beach business community, the City developed a Temporary Emergency Use Permit program, whereby businesses could apply to expand their operations outdoors. Additionally, on July 6, 2020, the City Council directed the City Manager to temporarily close the 2nd block of Main Street to provide greater opportunity for downtown businesses to operate outdoors. After a successful pilot program on the 2nd block that increased business and pedestrian activity in the area, particularly for dining establishments, the City Council further directed on August 3, 2020, that the City Manager expand the street closure program and temporarily shut down the 3rd block of Main Street. These measures were directed to be short-term in duration, and that the street would be reopen to vehicular traffic when the State permitted indoor restaurant operations to resume.
Recently, the City has received competing requests regarding the closure of the 2nd block and 3rd block of Main Street. First, the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) has asked that the City extend the closure of the 2nd block of Main Street until December 31, 2020.
Additionally, we have received requests from certain retail businesses on the 3rd block of Main Street that the road be reopened to vehicular traffic. Concurrently, we have received competing requests that the...
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