Surf City doesn’t want to be the Naked City on beach, etc.

Here’s the naked truth. You’d better not be nude on the sand in Huntington Beach. Or in the library.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the city council, an ordinance proposed for introduction will be considered relating to public nudity. It’s an amendment to an existing ordinance that would make it illegal for anyone over the age of 9 to “appear, sunbathe, walk or be on or in any public park, city-owned or operated facility, playground, beach or water adjacent thereto, or on any other public land” or on private property open to view from public property.

Two weeks ago the total was 562.

The death rate continued to rise, though, going from 18 last week to 25 this week. Two weeks ago the total was nine fatalities tied to the virus.

Hospitalizations are at 83, compared to 67 the week before and 86 two weeks ago.

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The ordinance defines the body parts to be covered up, but it makes an exception for women engaging in breastfeeding.

If adopted, the ordinance becomes effective 30 days later.

Also on the agenda is an update on the city’s policy on invocations at council meetings, and a request to have a moment of silence instead of an invocation.

The council meets at 3 p.m. in closed session and study session, with the regular business meeting at 6 p.m. both at the Council Chambers, 2000 Main St.

HB must pay $3.5m in legal fees

Huntington Beach must pay $3.5 million to the Kennedy Commission –an organization advocating for affordable housing – to cover the cost of legal fees from a lawsuit over the city’s housing “element.”

A California court of ap- peals made that ruling on Thursday.

Huntington Beach has been involved in several legal actions to block the state’s enforcement of new housing rules and regulations that are generally aimed at encouraging construction of more homes – including affordable housing – that Surf City leaders have argued were an illegal interference with local control.

At the same time, Huntington Beach has been sued by the state over its failure to submit a new Continued