November 18, 2025
City Manager’s Office
Progress Update
#4
T I M E L I N E
October 3, 2023
City Council approved the
FY 2023-2027 Strategic
Plan
November 18, 2025
Fourth Biannual Update to
City Council
M O V I N G F O R W A R D
Staff will present regular
progress updates:
• Transparency and accountability
• Alignment with current resources and policies
• Regular opportunities for City Council to
provide feedback and recommend
amendments
Background
2S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 O V E R V I E W 2
Overarching
Goals
8 Strategies
23 Tasks
98 Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs)
73 Vision
1 “Committed to Responsive
and Exceptional Public
Service to All.”
2S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 Completed
62%
In Progress
27%
Overall Progress as of October 1, 2025
Upcoming
5%
On Hold
6%
4S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 Accomplishments
▪ Launched Streamline Surf City; completed 20 of
28 initiatives.
▪ Streamlined Olympic permitting to attract Olympic
events and athlete practice facilities.
▪ Advanced key initiatives, including downtown banner & pier pennant project supporting local businesses, “Tis
the Season to Shop Local” holiday campaign, hosted
“Know Your City” AM Connect.
▪ Created HB Inspector App to streamline permitting
process.
▪ 23% increase in businesses Certificate of Occupancy
(CofO).
▪ Awarded contract for Lifeguard Tower advertising.
▪ Created free summer Bike Valet program downtown.
Completed
100% In Progress0%
Upcoming
Goal 1: Economic Development
Future Tasks
Continue tracking and
monitoring KPIs.
Update the 2026 Action Plan.
Continue business outreach.
KPI Highlights
# of new business licenses: 2,223
# of business visits: 40
# of businesses assisted: 80
# of touches with brokers, property
owners, & existing or prospective
businesses: 100
0%
5S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 Total valuation of grants awarded :
$12.8M: 24
Grant Applications: 24
Real Estate Program: (develop)
Future Tasks
Continue to evaluate and audit city-
owned leased properties.
Continue balanced budget
initiatives.
Provide financial literacy workshops.
Accomplishments
20% On HoldCompleted
60%
In Progress20%
Goal 2: Fiscal Stability
▪ Secured $2.5M in City utility & natural gas savings
(over 5 yrs).
▪ Increased parking revenues by 122% - $1.2M in 2025.
▪ Adding diagonal parking downtown increased
revenue by $95K/yr.
▪ Approved balanced FY 24/26 and 25/26 Budgets.
▪ Implemented Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)
recovery via audits for STRs.
▪ Established Consolidated Real Estate Program
ensuring collection of revenue and updating leases
to current market rates and terms.
▪ Created City Lease review and optimization program.
▪ Consultant evaluated City-owned leased assets and
implemented audits (in- progress).
KPI Highlights
6S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 Accela customer
satisfaction rate survey
rating: 4.7/5
# of permit
applications processed &
completed: 5,970: 3,015
# of certificates of
occupancy issued: 475
Continue advancing
the Streamline Surf
City Initiatives (5 in progress &
3 upcoming).
Launch online performance
evaluation system for City
staff.
Create workforce efficiencies
by automating & streamlining
department workflows.
▪ Implemented Streamline Surf City
program and HB Inspector App.
▪ Implemented 26 Citywide
Professional development training
programs.
▪ Launched new City website
▪ Streamlined Olympic permitting to
attract Olympic events and athlete
practice facilities.
Upcoming5%
33%48%
Goal 3: High Performing Organization
On Hold14%
In Progress
Completed
Accomplishments
Future Tasks
KPI Highlights
7S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 # of volunteer hour & % of
active volunteers: 532: 56%
# of Be Well services, referrals,
& clients: 2,342
# of clients housed through system
of care: 45
Explore funding options for the
Pathways Project.
Continue to develop the
Pathways Project.
Continue to work with County,
CalOptima and other partners.
▪ 2023: 59 exited homelessness to permanent housing.
▪ 2024: 78 exited homelessness to permanent housing.
▪ 2025: 45 exited homelessness to permanent housing (Jan – Sept).
▪ Reduced Navigation Center cost to City by $205K and
created efficiencies with less staff.
▪ Built a network of 25 organizations including non-profits & religious groups to assist with needs and services.
▪ Collaboration with Congressional representative to
secure $850K in federal funding for the Navigation Center. ▪ Supported the business community by developing
Tresspass enforcement letters issued by Police.
Goal 4: Homelessness
Completed
50%
In Progress50%
Upcoming0%
Accomplishments
Future Tasks
KPI Highlights
8S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 # of housing & sober living
related policy positions taken by
City Council: 6 housing, 14
legislation, 34 letters issued
#of households received TBRA
& rehabilitated: 19
# of code enforcement
violations investigated &
enforced: 2,807
Continue to monitor
legislation related to local
control of land-use
planning.
Continue to participate in
regional agency efforts
related to housing policy.
▪ Created the 2025 Legislative
Platform supporting local
control.
▪ Continually monitoring
legislation and reviewing
intergovernmental council
actions.
▪ City in top 5 for Orange County
housing portfolio size (2929
units).
▪ Adopted sober living and group
home Ordinances.
Goal 5: Housing
Completed
100% In Progress0%
Upcoming0%
Accomplishments
Future Tasks
KPI Highlights
9S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 # of beach restrooms under renovation: 5
# of events by location:
38 Beach,14 Central Park,
4 Sports Complex, 5 Downtown Main St,
4 Other
# of special event permits executed: 65
% of facilities assessed: 95%
Complete Central Park Master Plan.
Present City-Wide Park & Recreation
Master Plan.
Started Heil Ave. Lift Station Project.
Hamilton & Magnolia Complete
Streets Projects
▪ Banning St. beautification and traffic safety upgrades; 17th Street pedestrian safety striping upgrades.
▪ Central Park Library fountain repair in progress.
Completed Marina Park and Carr Park remodels;
approved Edison Park remodel.
▪ Beach playground upgraded and re-opened; began
renovating beach restroom facilities, inspecting,
upgrading and repairing.
▪ Completed Gilbert Bridge reconstruction and
Davenport Lift Station project.
▪ Completed the enhanced Specific Events policies
and procedures and presented to City Council
Specific Events Committee.
▪ Approved Water Well project.
Goal 6: Infrastructure Investment
Upcoming14%
24%
43%
On Hold19%
In Progress
Completed
Accomplishments
Future Tasks
KPI Highlights
10S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 # of website visitors, views, & average
engagement time: 820K: 2.3M: 50
seconds
# of calls to call center: 15,782
# of social media engagements &
impressions: 2M: 23.9M
# of online videos created: 394
Create a City policy for website management
and content clean up.
Expand digital content, PSAs, and safety
awareness campaigns for Fire and Police.
▪ Placed Riptide Warning Signs on the Pier and Lifeguard Towers for public safety.
▪ Implemented numerous community-wide events in
partnership with the City Celebration Committee.
▪ Ensure ASCON participation at regular Southeast Area
meetings and provide updates to the community.
▪ Use social media posts to enhance community
engagement and highlight city programs
▪ Surf City Weekly provides timely city news updates.
▪ City Treasurer and City Attorney conducted community
Meet & Greets.
▪ Financial Literacy workshops offered to public.
▪ Community engagement through Citizens Academy
and Junior Citizens Academy.
▪ Held two Budget Community Town Halls in 2025.
Goal 7: Public Engagement
Completed
70%
In Progress17%
Upcoming13%
Accomplishments
Future Tasks
KPI Highlights
11S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 # of BreatheSafe Events: 3
# of youth enrolled in Fire
Explorers program: 154
#infrastructure & network
security measures: 21.2M
Hire the Real Time Crime
Center Specialists.
Developing a new customer
service model (Fire).
Continue to fill Police and
Fire vacancies.
▪ Overall crime is down 26% in the City.
▪ Implemented BreatheSafe HB program, a community-
wide opioid response initiative.
▪ Completed construction of the Real Time Crime Center. ▪ Completed the Special Events Policy.
▪ Created City Cyber Response Plan.
▪ Implemented E-Bike Safety program for public and
passed E-Bike Safety Ordinances.
▪ Passed Ordinances restricting the sale and distribution of Kratom and Nitrous Oxide.
▪ Passed Ordinance setting minimum distance
requirement from smoke shops to sensitive areas.
▪ Implemented cutting edge Drone as First Responder
(DFR) program.
Goal 8: Public Safety
Completed
23%
In Progress69%
Upcoming8%
Accomplishments
Future Tasks
KPI Highlights
12S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 ▪ Implemented a new contract summary form to provide greater taxpayer transparency for contracts and agreements coming to Council for approval. ▪ Initiated a new process for post CIP completion to be presented to council highlighting the project’s end result and the budgetary fiscal performance. ▪ Initiated a Business Development Ad Hoc Committee to support local businesses. ▪ Initiated the Broadband fiber project to Catalina and back to bring high speed fiber internet throughout our City and along the Pier area.
▪ Initiated the feasibility and exploration of a Community Garden with Aquaculture. ▪ Initiated review of Downlink technology and DNA lab program with Police Department. ▪ Created downtown landscape beautification advisory group. ▪ Repainted downtown bollards and updated new street (pedestrian safety) striping. ▪ Restricted the sale and distribution of Kratom and banned synthetic Kratom. ▪ Restricted the sale and distribution of Nitrous Oxide. ▪ Updating MOUs with volunteer organizations.
Additional City Council Initiatives
12S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4
U p c o m i n g - O n H o l d
Overall Progress
approaching two-thirds
completion
9% increase in
"Completed" Tasks
P r o g r e s s O n H o l d
Major Highlights
▪ City of HB Ranked Best Beach (OC
Register):
▪ #1 for City Beach
▪ #2 for HB State Beach
▪ Ranked 10th “Healthiest City in
America” (WalletHub)
▪ Ranked 10th “Happiest City in
America” (WalletHub)
▪ Ranked 6th “Best City for People with
Disabilities” (WalletHub)
As initiatives move
forward, “Upcoming”
Tasks declined to 5%
13S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4 As initiatives move
forward, “On Hold”
Tasks declined to 6%
Recommendation
Receive and file the 2023-27 Strategic Plan Progress Update #4 14S t r a t e g i c P l a n P r o g r e s s U p d a t e # 4