H.B. council to consider establishing economic recovery task force

The Huntington Beach City Council on Monday will consider multiple measures to respond to local needs as they relate to the economic, social and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Lyn Semeta requested the formation of an economic recovery task force “comprised of stakeholders from key economic sectors of the city” to develop and recommend a plan to help the local economy cope, according to Monday’s meeting agenda.

If approved, City Manager Oliver Chi would be asked to return a proposal to the council to create the Huntington Beach Economic Recovery Task Force within two weeks and appoint two City Council members to serve as liaisons.

“These needs must be directly correlated with efforts to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic ... The task force may recommend necessary strategies and effective tools that may be implemented by the city to support the recovery plan that is developed and proposed for implementation,” Semeta wrote in a memo added to the agenda.

Emergency shelter

The City Council will also consider adopting an agreement with Orange County to establish an emergency shelter at 17631 Cameron Lane in response to the pandemic.

If the Emergency Facility Use Agreement is approved, the county along with the OC Health Care Agency would spearhead the shelter development, according to a report by the city manager. The proposed project will help Orange County reach the 2,300 shelter beds required after an order in March by Gov. Gavin Newsom designed to protect the homeless during the pandemic.

The county would construct a shelter for homeless individuals who are not COVID-19 positive and who do not have symptoms, according to the staff report.

The estimated $2-million project would be paid for, developed and operated by the county.

When the county is done with the shelter, the city would have the option of using the space for any of its long-term homeless program needs.

There will be no capital or operating costs to the city under the proposed agreement.

Payment deferral program for local businesses

City staff will also seek approval to establish a payment deferral program for business license renewals and transient occupancy taxes as an economic relief measure. The proposed program would cover the period of March 1 through July 31 with the potential to extend to Sept. 30, the staff report said.

The program aims to assist local businesses who have shut down in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The proposal was “developed to provide business support in a manner that does not relieve the obligation of businesses, hotels and motels to pay their requisite taxes, fees, and assessment,” the staff report said.

The program may also defer benefit assessments on properties and business, contingent upon the approval of the Huntington Beach Tourism Business Improvement District.

“It is estimated that the current occupancy rate of the hotels could be as low as 4% and may decrease even further in the coming months,” the staff report said of the business impact that ongoing stay-at-home measures are having on the city’s hotels and motels.

The public can stream the council meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at bit.ly/3dMOEut. Public comments can be submitted at bit.ly/2JEyWn7.

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