Marathon receives a name change

The only oceanfront marathon in the county is coming back for at least three more years. But when the Pacific Shoreline Marathon comes back next year on Super Bowl Sunday, it won’t be the Pacific Shoreline Marathon.

The City Council voted unanimously this week to approve a three-year contract with Pacific Shoreline Marathon. At the same time, the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau has announced that the popular event will now be the Surf City USA Marathon.

The change of name is a powerful way to draw attention to the city and the event, bureau President Doug Traub said.

“It benefits us all collectively,” Traub said. “It conjures up the association of the outdoors and fitness, and it turns it into something that puts us on the radar screen for hundreds of thousands of people. There’s not another event that says ‘Huntington Beach’ better than the Surf City USA Marathon.”

The Surf City USA Marathon will still be run by the same company, and operator Pacific Shorelines Marathon LLC will have a chance to renew the contract for three more years after it runs out.

Traub called the marathon a powerful engine for business and tourism.

“For the past 11 years, the city has hosted a fabulous event,” Traub said. “On a weekend normally quiet as a mouse, it’s an economic driver for local business.”

Councilman Joe Carchio praised the agreement and the marathon.

“I’d like to thank the community services department, especially [director] Jim Engle, for banging out this agreement so we can have this kind of quality affair,” he said. “Everybody’s looking forward to see it again.”

At the same meeting, the council narrowly voted to endorse an assembly bill that requires pet owners spay or neuter their animals. It is a similar bill to the city ordinance that council members recently asked city staff to write for council consideration in a few months.

Councilman Keith Bohr, who first introduced the issue to the council, said he supported a statewide bill even more than a city ordinance because it would prevent more animals from being euthanized and give every city the same standards.

“I support this because it would be more uniform and give us fewer legal issues,” he said. “It would be that much more effective.”

Four members voted to endorse the California Healthy Pets Act, while councilwoman Cathy Green abstained because she heard it might have constitutional issues, and Councilman Don Hansen opposed it. Hansen also objected to the city’s spay and neuter ordinance. Councilwoman Jill Hardy was absent from the meeting.