MAIN STREET in downtown Huntington Beach (Flickr/Dan Lund).

Two blocks of Main Street in downtown will remain closed to vehicle traffic for the next three-and-a half months, and perhaps longer.

On Monday the Huntington Beach City Council voted to keep closed the second and third blocks of Main through Feb. 28, 2021. The vote was 7-0, although Councilmember Erik Peterson voiced his opposition to closing the third block.

The closure is intended to accommodate outdoor dining and shopping on sidewalks and streets in the downtown area, partly in response to business restrictions imposed in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.  Street closures will be revisited at the Dec. 21 meeting of the council to discuss extending the temporary closures past February, extension of dining hours and a long-range vision for the downtown area.

Also Monday night, the council voted 7-0 to approve professional services contract with Soundskilz, Inc. (production and management services) and Stacey Newton (consultive services) for the annual Fourth of July celebration.

The next meeting of the council will be on Monday, Dec. 7, at which new members of the council are sworn in and seated.