Contact: Eric McCoy, Public Information Officer emccoy@surfcity-hb.org (714) 536-5411 For Immediate Release April 30, 2020 Release Type Coronavirus Update #20 HUNTINGTON BEACH SET TO CHALLENGE THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER TO CLOSE ALL ORANGE COUNTY BEACHES In response to Governor Newsom’s announcement earlier today directing the hard closure of all beaches in Orange County, the Huntington Beach City Council voted tonight to pursue a legal challenge against the State’s beach closure order. “Governor Newsom’s mandate to close all beaches in Orange County today was a jarring decision that significantly impacts us here in Huntington Beach,” said Mayor Lyn Semeta. “Given that Orange County has among the lowest per-capita COVID-19 death rates in California, the action by the State prioritizes politics over data, in direct contradiction of the Governor’s stated goal to allow science and facts to guide our response to this horrible global pandemic.” In response to the Governor’s Orange County beach closure order (see attached letter), the Huntington Beach City Council voted 5-2 (with Council Member Kim Carr and Council Member Barbara Delgleize dissenting) to direct the City Attorney to pursue any and all legal actions necessary to challenge the State’s beach closure directive. Out of concern for being the only Orange County city with beaches still open, Huntington Beach will be closing all beaches starting May 1, including the City’s bike paths, boat ramps, restrooms, parking lots, and associated recreational amenities. In addition, activities such as sunbathing, walking, running, and watersports will be prohibited. Prior to the issuance of the Governor’s directive, the City had been following the State’s Stay-atHome Order guidelines, and had invested considerable effort and expense in order to discourage overcrowding while facilitating effective social distancing at our beaches. In this way, the City was attempting to provide the community with the ability to safely experience the physical and mental health benefits associated with accessing the Pacific Ocean. Our experience locally had been that most people were being responsible and complying with social distancing requirements. For more information about City updates and services during the COVID-19 pandemic, please call our City Service Call Center at (714) 536-5511, or visit our HB Ready website at www.HBready.com. A comprehensive resource list to support our community during this time is available, along with other tips and tools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. ### MARK S. GHILARDUCCI Cal OES OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES GAVIN NEWSOM GOVERNOR <8 April 30, 2020 Sem eta, Mayor Jill Hardy, Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Brenden, Council Member Kim Carr, Council Member Barbara Delgleize, Council Member Erik Peterson, Council Member Mike Posey, Council Member Huntington Beach City Council 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 City Council Members: Thank you for your ongoing leadership protecting Orange County communities amidst the 9 pandemic. The Governor?s March 19,2020 Executive Order EO-N-33 directs all residents to heed current State public health directives to preserve public health and safety. CurrentState public health directives prohibit gatherings of any size and direct residents to stay home unless parlicipating in essential workforce activities or authorized necessary activities. As explained here, among other things: ?Californians can walk, run, hike and bike in their local neighborhoods as long as they continue to practice social distancing of 6 feet.? These restrictions are in place and are necessary to protectall Californians from the spread of COVID- l9. Lastweekend, state and local beaches in Orange County experienced exceptionally heavy visitation that generated a high concentration of beach visitors in close physical proximity. State public health leadership reviewed conditions on these beaches and determined that this beach visitation created unsafe conditions. These conditions threaten the health of both beach visitors and community members who did not visit the beach but are threatened by worsening spread of the virus, including first responders and health care providers. In response, ourState Department of Parks and Recreation is shifting to full closure of all Orange County State Beaches on a temporary basis. These beach Huntington Beoch City Council April 30, 2020 Page 2 closures will take effect Tomorrow morning, Moy l.Additionol y, beoches operated by locol governments in Orange County ore directed to institute full closure starting tomorrow, May 1, to restrict the gothering of visitors that create unsafe conditions. Full closure means that there is no public dccess to these beaches on tempordry bosis to protect public health. All restrooms ore closed, and there ore no porking fdcilities open for visitors, or recredtionol boots. No dctivities ore permitted on the beach (including walking or running or wotersports). We understand that many Colifornidns ore edger to spend time and recreate outdoors given the public health crisis necessitoting the state?s Stoy?dt?Home Order. We continue to encourdge residents to spend time outdoors in their neighborhoods and local parks that remain open for activities while maintaining sofe physicol distonce. Additionolly, we ore hopeful ond confident thot we con colloborote with local Orange County leaders to identify meosures thot con restore sofe beoch dccess as soon as possible. But until such time as those medsures ore in ploce, this odditionol step to preserve public heolth ond sofety hos proven essentiol. This is criticol moment in California's bottle ogoinst 9, and Colifornions hove stepped up to limit the spredd of the virus. Temporory bedch closures in Oronge County will help to ensure continued progress on limiting spreod of the virus, which will expedite our process to restore dctivities within our economy and communities. Thank you very much for your ongoing collaboration and leadership during this criticol time. Sincerely, WC AMA MARK S. GHILARDUCCI Director, Governor?s Office of Emergency Services 4?wa WADE CROWFOOT Secretory, Cdlifornid Noturdl Resources Agency Huntington Beach City Council April 30, 2020 Page 3 cc: Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff?Coroner Kirsten Monfeleone, Dana Point Chief of Police Robert Handy, Huntington Beach Chief of Police Laura Farinella, Laguna Beach Chief of Police Jon T. Lewis, Njulieewport Beach Chief of Police Edward Manhart, San Clemente Chief of Police Philip L. Gonshak, Seal Beach Chief of Police Senator Patricia Bates Senator John Moorlach Senator Tom Umberg William Brough Cottie Petrie Norris California Coastal Commission .- me 3650 SCHRIEVER AVENUE, MATHER, CA 95655 (Quadrant ,9 (9t 6) 845-8506 TELEPHONE (916) 845-8511 FAX