HUNTINGTON BEACH : State Vows to Help With Beach Funding

After inspecting the state-owned beach north of the Huntington Beach Pier on Monday, State Parks Director Henry R. Agonia downplayed the possibility of the state giving the land to the city.

But Agonia said the state will try to help Huntington Beach find more money to maintain the beach.

“Obviously there is some concern on the part of the city about funding,” Agonia said. He added that the state will work with local officials to look for ways to generate more income from the beach, such as adding concession stands.

Agonia came to Huntington Beach after some city officials last month expressed concern about the cost of caring for the 2 1/2-mile stretch of beach.

The city spends about $475,000 a year to maintain the beach, which brings in only about $100,000 a year.

Last month, Councilman Jim Silva suggested that the city consider giving up its 20-year lease on the state beach. “I don’t know if we can afford it,” Silva said.

But other city officials suggested that the city might be better off trying to gain ownership. They said the state might be persuaded to relinquish the land because it is also having trouble maintaining its parks and beaches.

Silva accompanied Agonia on Monday on a tour of the area.

“That (north) beach is unique,” Silva said. “We have bluffs there that are eroding, and we have to mitigate that problem, but we don’t have the sources of revenue from that beach as we do from other beaches.”

Agonia said the state is mindful of Huntington Beach’s “cooperative agreement” in maintaining the north beach. “We were very supportive of the state’s funding a portion of the (new) pier program,” Agonia said.

Agonia did not mention any possible revenue sources other than concession stands. Because new stands would require construction on the beach, approval of the city voters might be required under Measure C.