MAYOR LYN SEMETA (with scissors) and members of the Huntington Beach City Council at the groundbreaking for the new navigation center (HB city photo).

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on Monday for the new navigation center for the unsheltered in Huntington Beach.

The center, located at 17642 Beach Boulevard north of Talbert Avenue, will have 174 shelter beds for adults as well as facilities for case management and support services.

Mayor Lyn Semeta, accompanied by other members of the city council, cut the ribbon. “During the past five years, addressing homelessness issues has been a top priority of the city,” she said. “Establishing a navigation center here in Huntington Beach provides us with a critical tool to help our most vulnerable adults, while facilitating an improved quality of life for everyone in Surf City.”

The center, which will be managed by Mercy House, will begin serving homeless people by the end of November, according to the city.

Noise control proposal is withdrawn

A proposed new ordinance aimed at controlling nuisance noises was withdrawn without action from the Huntington Beach City Council agenda on Monday night.

The new law was intended to bring the city’s noise ordinances in line with state guidelines.

Also on Monday night, the council approved an agreement with the Huntington Beach Community Garden to manage a community garden on Southern California Edison property south of Atlanta Avenue and adjacent to the Santa Ana River.