HUNTINGTON BEACH : Update : Follow-up on the news : Pastor, Neighbors Discuss Noise Issue

Residents along Midbury Drive have agreed to try harder to get along.

The city recently held a neighborhood meeting to discuss issues raised by neighbors of Kevin Dedmon, pastor of Church 24-7.

Residents had complained to city officials about noise and parking problems they said resulted when church members came to Dedmon’s home for fellowship and prayer meetings.

To resolve the differences, the City Council set up a meeting to discuss the issue.

Mike Strange, city senior planner, said about 15 people attended the session, including city staff, Dedmon, residents and Councilmen Dave Garofalo and Peter Green.

“We all concluded that religious assembly was not the real issue,” Strange said. Residents were concerned, he said, about singing, music, loud voices and traffic congestion.

Strange said the neighbors agreed to improve communications, and Dedmon agreed to comply with the city’s noise and parking regulations.

“Everybody left the meeting fairly satisfied with what occurred and felt positive that the situation would be improved,” he said.

The neighbors will meet again with city officials Nov. 30 to review the situation.

--COMPILED BY SARAH KLEIN, DEBRA CANO AND ENRIQUE LAVIN