Huntington Beach will re-examine midnight closing time rules for some downtown bars
The Huntington Beach City Council on Monday agreed to explore the possible easing of restrictions on downtown businesses that force some to close at midnight.
The council also approved the purchase of 20 new AR-15 rifles for the Police Department.
Council members voted 5 to 1 — with an additional recusal — to have staff look into amending a 2013 resolution that requires businesses that serve alcohol and have live entertainment to start closing by midnight when they seek to amend or apply for a new conditional use permit. Councilwoman Jill Hardy was the lone dissenter, and Councilman Billy O’Connell recused himself from the vote for having a stake in a downtown business.
The resolution was part of the city’s continuing effort to control often rowdy crowds leaving the area’s bars early in the morning. But two council members said they worried about its effect on business.
According to a statement submitted by council members Mike Posey and Erik Peterson, who proposed changing the resolution, several businesses are planning to amend their conditional use permits and thus would be subject to the current restrictions — even though some establishments have been local fixtures for decades.
The councilmen asked that the council direct city staff into looking into revising the resolution so that downtown businesses are evaluated on a “case-by-case basis to determine appropriate business hours,” with a special focus on those that generate a significant number of the alcohol-related problems or violate the 2013 resolution.
The resolution also prohibits bars and restaurants from admitting new customers 30 minutes before closing time, requires last call no later than 15 minutes before closing and urges installation of surveillance cameras.
Peterson said he would like the city to be able to reward good businesses and “take affirmative action when [they] have a bad operator.”
Councilwoman Lyn Semeta said Monday that she supports looking into modification because it would “incentivise some upgrading” in downtown. She noted that some businesses are “reluctant to make changes” because they would need to amend their conditional use permits — triggering the limitation on hours.
In their statement, Posey and Peterson said they worry that the resolution could discourage new businesses from settling downtown.
Hardy, who supported the initial resolution, said she couldn’t vote for modifying it without knowing the specific proposed changes.
She added that she would consider “whatever comes forward.”
Proposal for new rifles for police
The council also unanimously voted to allocate $54,113 for the purchase of 20 AR-15 rifles for the Huntington Beach police patrol unit.
The department currently has 58 AR-15 rifles, but several are failing and need to be replaced, according to a report submitted by City Manager Fred Wilson.
He wrote that patrol rifles better prepare officers for dealing with suspects who have body armor and high-capacity magazines in their guns.
“Recent attacks on police officers and high-profile public locations, such as the San Bernardino shooting, have caused our department to evaluate the need for additional rifles in the field,” the report says.
The AR-15s are specifically given to officers working patrol and investigative assignments. Each officer is trained in a program certified by the California Police Officers Standards and Training, which sets selection and training standards for state law enforcement, and must qualify twice a year, the report says.
Twitter: @benbrazilpilot
