H.B. council adopts ordinance banning objects that could be used as weapons from public events

Weapons and various items that could be used as weapons will be banned from demonstrations, protests, marathons, parades and other public events in Huntington Beach under an ordinance the City Council unanimously adopted Tuesday.

The list of items attendees will now be prohibited from bringing to such events includes baseball or softball bats; lengths of lumber, wood or pipe; aerosol sprays, including pepper spray and bear repellent; projectile launchers, balloons and water cannons, glass bottles, open flame torches, shields, or bricks and rocks.

The ordinance, which becomes effective in 30 days, also requires signs, posters and banners displayed during public events to be made only of soft materials or cardboard no more than a quarter-inch thick — though they can still be attached to thin or hollow wood or plastic materials.

Violations would be considered misdemeanors and punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or up to six months in jail.

Police Chief Robert Handy said there’s been an uptick in public gatherings that draw protesters and disruptions in recent years. In some cases, those have devolved into violence, leading to numerous arrests at events locally and across the state.

“We’ve had officers injured,” Handy said.

At an event, he said, “We would like to take proactive action ... instead of waiting for an assault.”

The text of the new ordinance was updated ahead of Tuesday’s meeting to make it clear that concealed carry permit holders and government employees authorized to carry weapons can still do so at public events. Previously, concerns were raised about whether the ordinance would create issues with uniformed and government employees participating in parades and other ceremonial affairs.

Councilman Erik Peterson pointed out that one condition for having a permitted concealed weapon is “you aren’t allowed to participate in a protest, anyway.”

“Hopefully we aren’t going down a slippery slope with a heavy hand,” Peterson said, offering “kids with squirt guns” at the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing as an example of something the city doesn’t need to focus its attention on.

“We’ve seen squirt guns filled with urine and other things,” Handy said, “and I believe our officers are very good at using their discretion.”

New fire chief named

Scott Haberle was named Huntington Beach’s newest fire chief Tuesday after the council unanimously approved his employment contract.

Haberle’s first day with the Huntington Beach Fire Department will be Feb. 10 and he will earn an annual salary of $221,124.80.

Haberle has been the fire chief for Monterey Park since 2014. Before that, he spent 22 years working for the city of Monrovia, where he last served as deputy fire chief.

He will replace Dave Segura, who retired as Huntington Beach’s fire chief on July 26 but later agreed to temporarily return to the post while the city conducted a search to fill the vacancy long term.

City looks to Costa Mesa for potential sober-living regulations

City Manager Oliver Chi said Tuesday that an ordinance regulating local sober-living homes is expected to come to the council for review within the next few months.

Since Peterson and Councilman Patrick Brenden asked staff to return with ordinances related to sober-living homes in September, Chi said the city has worked to “balance the need to allow for group homes, but also provide some regulations to manage neighborhood impact.”

The city attorney’s office also has looked to the “Costa Mesa ordinance that’s survived a couple of rounds of legal challenge,” Chi said.

A central component of that city’s ordinance, which also would be incorporated into Huntington’s, is a requirement that group homes obtain permits and be at least 650 feet away from similar facilities in residential areas, according to Chi. Operators also would need to complete background checks, among over provisions, he added.

City staff is expected to have a draft of the ordinance done by the end of the month. The regulations are slated to go to the Planning Commission for consideration in February or March and could come before the City Council by April, Chi said.

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