Council approves Hueneme Beach Park dune-restoration coastal permit; project found exempt from CEQA in staff report

The Port Hueneme City Council on April 21 adopted a resolution approving a coastal development permit for a dune restoration and maintenance project at the eastern portion of Hueneme Beach Park and determined, in staff’s presentation, that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per the provision cited in the staff report.

Tony Stewart, the city’s community and economic development director, told the council the project, proposed by the Ventura Surfrider Foundation, would remove non‑native vegetation such as ice plant, expand dune area to enhance native habitat and coastal resilience, and rely primarily on volunteers and non‑city funding. City obligations would be limited to providing parking and waste‑bin support during volunteer events, the staff presentation said.

Stewart noted the staff report contains conditions of approval, including protections for the natural environment while work proceeds, assurances that public beach access remain open during activities, coordination with city public‑works maintenance, and that the project should not preclude future park amenity development in the master plan. Joan Tharp of Surfrider answered council questions about post‑installation monitoring; she said consultants will perform yearly monitoring of elevation changes and native‑species re‑establishment.

With no public speakers on the item, the council voted 5–0 to adopt the resolution. The motion passed on a roll call; council members and the mayor recorded “yes” votes and there were no opposing votes or abstentions.

Councilmembers asked staff and Surfrider to return signage mockups to the city for approval and confirmed monitoring and coordination with public works would be part of the conditions of approval.