Smoking ban in city parks approved

By Jim Tortolano

A group of five ordinances aimed at improving “public safety and the quality of life” – including a ban on smoking in city parks and on the municipal pier – were approved by the Huntington Beach City Council Monday night.

The council voted 6-1 to approve the measures, which were originally introduced on April 3. Councilman William O’Connell voted no, although he recused himself in the first vote.

The proposed ordinances would:

• tighten regulations on people misusing 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.
• prohibiting 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.

Also on Monday night, the council voted to grant a conditional use permit for the HQ Gastropub, 155 Fifth St., which will allow the new restaurant to stay open until 2 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. One condition attached to the permit is to require the presence of two security personnel there from 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

The vote was 5-1 with Hardy opposed and O’Connell recusing himself.

Note: An earlier version of this article listed the voting on the ordinances incorrectly.