Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority Meeting - August 1, 2023

The City Council met on August 1, 2023, starting with a closed session at 5:00 PM and the regular meeting at 6:00 PM. The meeting included extensive public comments, staff reports, and votes on nine recommendations to restructure or dissolve citizen-led boards and commissions, seven proposed charter amendments (including local election control and clerk qualifications), and an item to create an ad hoc committee to amend or cancel the city's Declaration of Policy on Human Dignity. The council majority (Strickland, Van Der Mark, McKeon, Burns) passed divisive measures over minority objections (Kalmick, Moser, Bolton).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 27 (Board Restructuring): Over 50 speakers, including former mayors Shirley Detloff (co-author of the human dignity declaration) and Victor Leipzig, mobile home residents, and Human Relations Committee members, urged the council to reject the dissolution of the Mobile Home Advisory Board (MHAB) and the Human Relations Committee (HRC). Many argued the MHAB provides vital communication between residents and park owners, and the HRC is essential for addressing rising hate crimes. Several speakers accused council members of conflicts of interest due to campaign contributions from mobile home park owners. Some speakers supported dissolution, citing redundancy and the need to focus on core city services.
• Item 28 (Charter Amendments): Many speakers opposed proposals to add voter ID requirements, require 12 polling locations, monitor ballot drop boxes, and lower city clerk education requirements. They characterized these as voter suppression and a power grab. City Clerk Robin Estanislaou warned that lowering qualifications could allow unqualified candidates (including the city attorney's wife) to run. Others supported local election control and voter ID.
• Item 29 (Human Dignity Policy): Multiple speakers, including original author Shirley Detloff and former mayor Kim Carr, asked the council to leave the 1996 declaration unchanged, calling it a strong statement against hate. A few speakers supported amending or canceling it, arguing it is unnecessary or preachy.
• Other Items: A few speakers commented on the Pacific Airshow lawsuit, the need for police ticketing on the pier, and the proposed memorial plaque for former mayor Donald MacAllister.

Discussion Items

• City Manager's Report (Item 4): Presenters from staff unveiled a new service vision statement: "We are One HB, committed to responsive and exceptional public service for all." The report outlined ongoing customer service training and process improvements.
• City Treasurer's Report (Item 5): Treasurer Alisa Backstrom presented the June 2023 quarterly investment report. The portfolio's market value was approximately $360.5 million, with fiscal year earnings of $5.9 million (up 69% from the prior year). The effective rate of return for June was 2.37%.
• City Attorney's Reports (Items 6 & 7): Michael Gates provided updates on the Pacific Airshow lawsuit (settled, with the city dismissed but former mayor Kim Carr still a defendant) and a detailed presentation on the Moore v. City Gates lawsuit, criticizing the 2021 investigation by Craig Steele (RWG) as biased and procedurally improper. He alleged that former city manager Oliver Chi improperly accessed privileged emails.
• Consent Calendar: Approved (7-0) items 8-14, 16-17, 19-20, 22-26 after pulling items 15 (Kalmick recused, passed 6-0-1) and 21 (Operation Stonegarden grant, passed 7-0 after brief explanation).
• Item 18: Withdrawn before the meeting; City Attorney explained the background check on the candidate for Chief Assistant City Attorney revealed concerning information.

Key Outcomes

• Item 27 – Board Restructuring: The council adopted nine recommendations from the ad hoc committee (Strickland, Van Der Mark, Burns):
  • Rec 1: Dissolve three council ad hoc committees (Short-Term Rental, Housing Element, Cannabis) – passed 4-3.
  • Rec 2: Dissolve the Human Relations Committee – passed 4-3 (substitute motion to retain failed 3-4).
  • Rec 3: Dissolve the Jet Noise Commission – passed 4-3.
  • Rec 4: Dissolve the Mobile Home Advisory Board – passed 4-3.
  • Rec 5: Dissolve the Smart Cities & Technology Council Subcommittee and Environmental Sustainability Board, transfer duties to Public Works Commission – passed 4-3.
  • Rec 6: Rename the Downtown Urban Design Ad Hoc Committee to Downtown Beachfront Ad Hoc Committee – passed 7-0.
  • Rec 7: Restructure the Youth Board as a non-Brown Act working group – passed 7-0.
  • Rec 8: Rename the Fourth of July Executive Board to Independence Day Board – passed 7-0.
  • Rec 9: Restructure the Specific Events Executive Committee as a standing council committee – passed 7-0.
  • Directives to staff to implement changes – passed 6-1 (Moser opposed).
• Item 28 – Charter Amendments (Straw Polls for Future Ballot Measures): The council straw-polled seven proposals from the ad hoc committee, each passing 4-3 (majority in favor; minority opposed):
  1. Amend term commencement for elected officials.
  2. Allow cancellation of meetings by mayor or majority without a quorum.
  3. Revise Measure C to allow limited park facility expansions (restrooms, playgrounds) up to 20% (restrooms) and 100% (playgrounds) in 10 years; added new restroom ability per Moser amendment.
  4. Transition to a two-year budget in even years (passed 5-2; Kalmick, Moser opposed).
  5. Move city clerk and treasurer elections to gubernatorial cycles (passed 4-3).
  6. Reduced city clerk education requirement from a related bachelor's to any bachelor's degree (passed 4-3).
  7. Assert local control over municipal elections: voter ID, 12 polling locations, drop box monitoring (passed 4-3).
  • Additional proposals from councilmembers (each passed 4-3):
    • Put current flag ordinance into charter with Olympic flag exception (Burns).
    • Restrict real property transactions that forgo property taxes without voter approval (McKeon).
    • Emphasize city attorney as exclusive legal counsel; protect attorney-client privilege; require third-party investigations of elected officials (McKeon).
  • Directive to city attorney to review and return with ballot language – passed 4-3.
• Item 29 – Human Dignity Declaration: The council passed 4-3 to create an ad hoc committee (Strickland, Van Der Mark, Burns) to draft amendments or cancellation, to be presented October 3, 2023. Minority members expressed concern that the process undermines the original 1996 document and the now-dissolved Human Relations Committee.