REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Ursula Luna-Reynosa, Director of Community Development
Subject:
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Consider an Extension of the Temporary Closure of the Second Block of Main Street to Vehicular Traffic Through the End of the Calendar Year (December 31, 2021)
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Statement of Issue:
On February 16, 2021, the City Council approved a request from the Huntington Beach Downtown Business Improvement District (HBDBID) to extend the temporary closure of the second block of Main Street to vehicular traffic through Labor Day (September 6, 2021) to allow downtown businesses the opportunity to continue operating outdoors to meet physical distancing requirements in a safe manner during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that meeting, the City Council also authorized staff to engage an urban design firm to further study Main Street for future placemaking and outdoor dining opportunities, as well as the establishment of an Ad Hoc Downtown Urban Design Study Committee. Of note, at that time, the third block of Main Street was reconfigured to allow for both outdoor dining and the reopening of vehicular traffic.
Businesses are facing significant continued uncertainty with an uptick in COVID cases over the summer, and some safety restrictions have been re-imposed instead of fully lifted. Therefore, staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the second block of Main Street to remain closed to vehicular traffic through the end of the 2021 calendar year so that local residents and visitors can continue to take advantage of expanded outdoor dining and retail opportunities.
Financial Impact:
There are no direct costs to the City if the City Council is to extend the temporary closure. If there are increased sales to the businesses, then there would be a nominal, corresponding positive fiscal impact to the City's General Fund via sales tax revenue.
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