Alcohol, entertainment rules may change

The City Council will get back to work after almost a month-long hiatus Tuesday with a number of issues, including a resolution for tougher conditions of approval for downtown businesses selling alcohol or providing entertainment.

The council approved a resolution to increase fines for entertainment permit violators in December, and another resolution is on the table to standardize conditions for new entertainment permits and alcohol sales permits, according to city documents.

The changes are meant to “change the current nightclub atmosphere, which has created a public safety issue along with compromising the surrounding neighborhoods’ quality of life,” according to the documents.

Businesses wanting to sell alcohol or provide entertainment could be limited to operating until midnight, except for establishments on the west side of 5th Street and east side of 3rd Street between Walnut and Orange avenues, which will have to close by 10 p.m. Businesses will also be required to use a minimum of 70% of floor space for dining; serve a full menu until one hour before closing and discontinue policies requiring customers to buy a minimum number of alcoholic drinks.

Establishments must also illuminate all areas of the facility, a conditional use or entertainment permit must be obtained for any dancing or entertainment, and any games or contests involving alcohol are prohibited.

Permits for entertainment will prohibit outdoor promoters, all exterior doors and windows have to be closed during any entertainment, and any outdoor entertainment can’t be loud enough to be heard more than 50 feet away.

If approved, the conditions will only impact new businesses.

Downtown

The Downtown Specific Plan will be reopened at the request of Mayor Cathy Green to change her vote on density.

The plan is an update to a long-range planning document that dictates building and parking specification and design guidelines to increase development over the next 20 years.

The plan gained approval by the Planning Commission and the City Council, but Green requested reopening it to lower her vote on density allowances.

A group of residents have opposed the updates for the plan every step of the way, holding rallies, circulating a petition and flooding public comment during meetings.

Lawsuits

The council will also be discussing the Parks Legal Defense Fund lawsuit against the proposed $22-million senior center to be built on Huntington Central Park. An Orange County Superior Court judge determined the city needed to look into alternative locations for the center and halted construction, but the city filed an appeal of the decision Jan. 7.

A lawsuit by Huntington Beach Neighbors against the Downtown Specific Plan will also be reviewed. The lawsuit contends the Environmental Impact Report for the plan violated state environmental laws by not adequately analyzing the impacts the plan will have on downtown residents.

The council will meet Tuesday instead of its usual Monday meeting time because of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Civic Center on Main Street. To see the full agenda, go to www.surfcity-hb.org.