PEOPLE are using downtown city planters for more than just plants. Five proposed city ordinances go before the Huntington Beach City Council on Monday (OC Tribune photo).

Smoking in city parks and on the pier would be prohibited under one of a series of ordinances aimed at bringing more order to the use of public property – especially in the downtown area –will highlight Monday’s meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council. The council will meet in public session at 6 p.m. at its chambers at 2000 Main St. (at Yorktown Avenue) following a study session at 4 p.m.

The council will consider five proposed ordinances labeled as efforts to “enhance law enforcement efforts to provide public safety and quality of life in Huntington Beach related to sidewalks, beach regulations, camping on public property, park regulations and refuse management.”

The proposed new laws would:

• tighten regulations on people using fountains, bike racks, planters, railings and other public property and address the blocking of sidewalks and streets. Included would be people bathing, wading or washing in public fountains.
• expand city regulations for the beach area from the waterline to the west curb of Pacific Coast Highway and add a strip south of Anderson Street and the property lines of South Pacific Avenue.
• a new ordinance regulating camping on public property, replacing the existing one with more modern language.
• prohibit smoking at the city beach, adjacent beach area, the city pier, Pier Plaza and city parks, including the use of electronic cigarettes, or “vaping.”
• banning the discard in public trash receptacles of infectious waste including hypodermic needles, diapers and other contaminated materials.