The Huntington Beach City Council moved through a full agenda at its March 17 regular meeting, approving millions in infrastructure spending, setting a new civic holiday for hockey, and getting a heads-up on trash rate increases headed their way.

$4.5M Sewer Contract Approved

On a passing vote, the council authorized a $4,495,550 construction contract with Vido Artukovich & Son, Inc./Vidmar, Inc. for Phase 2 of the McFadden Sewer Lift Station Wet Well Project. The council rejected three lower bids before accepting this one as the lowest responsive and responsible offer. A 15% contingency was also authorized, bringing the potential total exposure to roughly $5.2 million. The project addresses aging sewer infrastructure in one of the city's key lift stations.

February 22 Is Now USA Hockey Day

The council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2026-08, formally declaring February 22nd as USA Hockey Day in Huntington Beach. The designation honors the "Miracle on Ice" — the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's upset victory over the Soviet Union on that date — and reflects the city's longstanding connection to ice sports.

Federal Housing Funds Under Review

The council held a joint study session with the Citizen Participation Advisory Board (CPAB) to review funding recommendations for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships programs for fiscal year 2026-27. The CPAB — chaired by Hammel, with board members Pena, Pappas, Quinn, and Newkirk — presented its analysis of how federal housing and community development dollars should be allocated. No final action was taken; the study session was informational.

Huntington Club Appeal Continued

A public hearing on a developer's appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of permits for the Huntington Club Remodel and Bungalows project (Conditional Use Permit No. 22-011 and Coastal Development Permit No. 22-009) was continued to a future meeting. The project has been working its way through the approval process since at least 2022.

Trash Rate Increases Coming

City Manager Travis Hopkins presented a report on upcoming refuse rate adjustments, putting residents on notice that trash collection costs are likely to increase. The city has been managing the downstream effects of an Orange County landfill rate hike approved by county supervisors in January, which is expected to nearly double disposal costs by 2030. No vote was taken at this meeting; the presentation was a preliminary notice required before formal rate adjustment proceedings.

Closed Session: Active Litigation

Before the regular meeting, the council entered closed session to discuss labor negotiations with the Huntington Beach Police Officers' Association and Police Management Association, as well as multiple active lawsuits. Among the cases discussed: the state's voter ID lawsuit against the city, the California Attorney General's housing compliance case, a challenge from the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project over the city's voter ID ordinance, and a case called Protect HB v. City of Huntington Beach. No closed session action was publicly reported.