A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY has been declared in Huntington Beach.

A state of “local emergency” has been declared in Surf City, as many events and meetings are cancelled and library and recreation services halted at least through the end of the month.

Here’s the city’s notice:

On Monday night, the Huntington Beach City Council declared a local emergency to bolster the City’s ongoing efforts in managing the novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) situation.

In addition, the City Council officially adopted a phased HB Ready Response Plan to provide a framework to address this rapidly evolving situation, and the City is now operating under Phase 2 (see below).

The city urges the community to work as “One HB” to mitigate COVID‐19 transmissions to at‐risk populations, including adults ages 65 and older and individuals with chronic medical conditions.

The local emergency declaration will allow the city to seek Federal and state reimbursement of eligible costs incurred during its response efforts. This follows President Trump’s national emergency declaration on March 13, 2020, announcing $50 billion in emergency funding would be made available to assist governments in mitigating COVID‐19.

The city continues to encourage “social distancing” of six feet between people as the most effective way to limit transmission to at‐risk populations and to avoid overtaxing our health care facilities and first responders.

Under Phase 2 of the HB Ready Response Plan, the following will take effect immediately:

• Cancel all recreation and library services. The Central Library and all library branches will be closed to the public, in addition to all rental facilities and community services centers. A complete listing is available at http://www.HBready.com.
• Postpone city special events with over 10 people.
• Cancel most community advisory commissions, boards, and committees through March 31.
• Close the police department front desk and both substations (Downtown and Oakview) to the public. To reach the Police Department, call (714) 960‐8811.
• Suspend city clerk’s passport services.
• Close the lifeguard headquarters to the public. For parking passes, please visit Community Services at City Hall, 5th Floor.

• Close all contract classes.