HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

Here are a few items the council considered Monday:

CHANGES TO ZONING REGULATION

The city approved 7-0 modifications to three sections of Huntington Beach zoning laws relating to definitions of vehicle storage, activity and parking.

WHAT IT MEANS

The changes to the city’s zoning law will help staff reduce challenges to its zoning regulations and take action when they see it. The three sections pertain to vehicle storage, activity and parking. Council members agreed to clearly define storage activity and clarify how nonresidential parking and loading is to be used in the city.

FORMAL PROCESS FOR SELECTING HISTORIAN

Councilwoman Debbie Cook suggested creating a formal process to select a city historian instead of the council appointing one. Council members agreed by a 6-1 vote that the Historical Resources Board could interview candidates interested in the position and select the most qualified person. Councilwoman Cathy Green disagreed and voted against the item.

WHAT IT MEANS

Council agreed that Duane Wentworth, a city employee and son of former city clerk and historian Alicia Wentworth, who died recently, would be a great candidate, but they wanted to put in place a process that would allow other people to apply for the position also.

The position is a voluntary one. Wentworth had expressed an interest in carrying on his mother’s legacy. Funds were also set aside to support research, storage and reproduction of the city’s historical records.

RETRIEVING SHOPPING CARTS

Business owners and operators will have to take measures to retrieve lost or stolen shopping carts from their premises, according to an amendment to the city’s code that council members approved unanimously on Monday.

WHAT IT MEANS

A local business owner spoke against approving the amendment, saying it would put undue pressure on business owners as well as cause financial strain. Businesses will either have to prevent removal of shopping carts from parking lots or their premises, or pay for retrieval of lost, stolen or abandoned shopping carts.

— Compiled by

Purnima Mudnal