MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - 3:00 p.m.
2000 Main Street, Lower Level Room B-8
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark
Mayor Pro Tem Pat Burns
Councilmember Tony Strickland
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Jennifer Villasenor, Director of Community Development Steve Holtz, Deputy Dire ctor of Community Development
Kriss Casanova, Ec onomic Development Manger
Nicolle Aube, Senior Analyst
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
Approval of Minutes
Administratively Approve the Minutes of the Economic Development Meeting of August 10, 2022.
A motion was made by Strickland, seconded by Burns, to administratively approve the August 10, 2022, Economic Development Committee minutes as submitted, by the following vote:
Ayes: Van Der Mark, Burns, Strickland
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Discussion Items and Potential Recommendations
Steve Holtz, Deputy Director of Community Development, gave a brief overview of the purpose of the Economic Development Committee, recent history, and its current function within the Community Development Department’s Economic Development Division.
Kriss Casanova, Economic Development Manager, gave a presentation discussing the following topics:
1. Economic Development (ED) Strategic Plan
Staff is in the process of updating the City’s 2017 ED Implementation Plan as directed by the City Council’s adoption of the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. The Mayor’s Economic Development Summit in October 2023 kicked off the update and gathered initial feedback from business stakeholders. Additionally , Streamline Surf City has launched with specialists committed to st reamlining the permit process and assisting the business community.
2. Sociable City Study
The City contracted with the Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) to conduct a Sociable City Assessment to better und erstand Huntington Beach’s social economy and its strengths, weaknesses, and opportuniti es. This assessment will provide recommendations to help support local businesses, employment, and quality of life.
3. 5th Street - Current Downto wn Police Substation
The Police Department has an existing Downtown Police Substation at 204 5 th Street,
also known as the Shank House. The stru cture is a craftsman bungalow with deferred maintenance and in need of upgrades. The Police Department desires a facility that can accommodate their modern needs. Staff is researching optio ns that include either renovating the existing structure or relocating the substation to another space downtown.
4. 300 Pacific Coast Highway - Proposed Ne w Downtown Police Substation
The property owner at 300 PCH has expressed interest in leasing space to the City for a Police substation at an affordable rate. Relocation costs are being researched, including technology/IT infrastructure and other tenant improvements. Next steps include meeting with City Council during Closed Session to get further direction.
5. 21 Main Street
Ms. Casanova provided an update on the proj ect components for the operation of a restaurant at a pier concession and a few changes due to Coastal Commission requirements. Once the Coasta l Commission issues their fi nal conditions of approval, staff plans to bring the item to Closed Session to get direction on real estate negotiations.
Since the City leases the pier from the State, the proposed lease also requires approval by the State Lands Commission.
Member Comments
Councilmember Strickland stat ed that at the Mayor’s Ec onomic Development Summit, the idea of a central City Staff point of contact to Visit HB was discussed to assist them
with event permit processing to present the most competitive applications when bidding for events and contracts. Casanova noted that the Sociable City Assessment is conducting research related specifically to events, and will include recommendations on this topic. Strickland noted that hotels rely on conventi ons and events to generate revenue during the off seasons.
Adjournment
Mayor Van Der Mark adjourned the meeting at 3:47 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. in Room B-8.