Huntington Beach council narrows Pelican Harbor affordability term, approves TEFRA recognition 4-3

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The Huntington Beach City Council on Oct. 31 approved recognition of tax-exempt financing for Pelican Harbor and substituted the developer’s proposed 99‑year affordability covenant back to the original 60 years, passing the measure 4‑3 after a special public hearing and lengthy public comment.

The action recognized a California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) tax‑exempt bond financing package tied to Pelican Harbor, a 43‑unit affordable senior housing development completed in recent years and operated by nonprofit Jamboree Housing. Council members spent more than two hours questioning the project’s financing, developer compensation, long‑term tax effects and whether denying the TEFRA approval could put current residents at risk.

Supporters of the project — including residents, faith leaders and people involved in local homelessness outreach — urged council members to approve TEFRA so the financing could close and the property’s affordability obligations would be extended. Father Nathan Bjornstead of St. Wilfred’s Episcopal Church told the council he was “here to speak in favor of giving tax exempt bonds to the Pelican Project” and asked the council to “extend these tax exempt status and to do so, quickly.” Several residents said most current occupants have Huntington Beach connections and that the building removed a…