Huntington Beach City Council Meeting February 6, 2024: Charter Amendments, Texas Solidarity, and Public Comments
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Huntington Beach City Council Meeting - February 6, 2024
The Huntington Beach City Council met on February 6, 2024, at 5:00 PM for a closed session and 6:00 PM for the regular business meeting. The meeting was marked by extensive public comment regarding local ballot measures A, B, and C, a proposed statement of solidarity with Texas, and other city issues. The council also approved several consent calendar items, including the 2024 Legislative Platform, and discussed the council liaison list. Key votes included approval of the Texas solidarity statement (4-3) and amendments to the council liaison list (4-3).
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the January 16, 2024 meeting (item 9) as amended by supplemental communication.
- Received and filed monthly updates of activities for citizen boards, commissions, and committees for December 2023 and January 2024 (item 10) after discussion led by Councilmember Kalmick regarding the need for more detailed reports.
- Received and filed the City Clerk’s quarterly listing of professional services contracts for Q4 2023 (item 11).
- Adopted Resolution No. 2024-06 approving the 2024 Huntington Beach Legislative Platform (item 12) after discussion and suggestions for future amendments.
- Approved the reappointment of Jeffrey Dahl to the Design Review Board for a second term (item 13).
- All consent items passed 7-0, except item 10 which was pulled for discussion but still passed 7-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Approximately 79 speakers were signed up, with a 2-minute time limit imposed due to the large number.
- Measure A (Voter ID): Many speakers voiced opposition, citing costs (estimated $1.3–$1.5 million or more), lack of evidence of voter fraud, and state law conflicts. Others expressed support, arguing voter ID enhances election integrity and citing instances of voter fraud.
- Measure B (Flag Policy): Opposition argued it was a ban on the Pride flag and an unnecessary charter change requiring unanimous council votes. Supporters saw it as preventing divisive flags and promoting patriotism.
- Measure C (Council Meetings/Budget): Opponents claimed it grants the mayor unilateral power to cancel meetings and changes budgeting without public input. Supporters saw it as improving efficiency and preventing future issues like extended council terms.
- Item 14 (Texas Solidarity): Supporters cited border security, drug trafficking, and federal overreach. Opponents argued it was not a city matter, divisive, and contrary to Supreme Court rulings and federal law.
- Other comments included calls for transparency, concerns about library book reviews, city manager hiring, and appreciation for city staff.
Discussion Items
- Council Liaison List Amendments (Item 8): Mayor Van Der Mark proposed adding Mayor Pro Tem Burns to the Downtown Ad Hoc Committee and removing Councilmember Moser. Councilmember Kalmick criticized the list for conflicts and lack of minority representation, while Councilmember Bolton noted the mayor had 25 of 30 positions. The motion passed 4-3.
- Legislative Platform (Item 12): Councilmember Kalmick suggested adding specific items like coastal cleanup, broadband, and cybersecurity. The council agreed to adopt the platform as a starting document and consider future amendments.
- Texas Solidarity Statement (Item 14): Mayor Pro Tem Burns introduced the statement, citing constitutional authority and the impact on Huntington Beach. Councilmembers Moser, Bolton, and Kalmick opposed, calling it performance art and not city business. The statement passed 4-3.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Council Liaison List Amendments: Passed 4-3 (Yes: Burns, Van Der Mark, Strickland, McKeon; No: Moser, Bolton, Kalmick).
- Vote on Texas Solidarity Statement: Passed 4-3 (Yes: Burns, Van Der Mark, Strickland, McKeon; No: Moser, Bolton, Kalmick).
- Consent Calendar Items: Passed 7-0, with item 10 approved after discussion.
Closed Session
- The council convened in closed session to discuss real property negotiations, litigation, and anticipated litigation. No report was given on most items, but the council voted 4-3 to support an amicus brief in Gloria Johnson v. City of Grants Pass before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned after the Texas solidarity vote, with the next regular meeting scheduled for February 20, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call the regular meeting of the City Council Public Financing Authority to order. Clerk, please take the roll. Councilmember Mosier. Here. Councilmember Bolton. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Burns. Here. Mayor Vandermark? Here. Councilmember Strickland. Hi. Councilmember McKeon? Here. Councilmember Kalmick. Here. All present. Thank you. City Councilmember comments. Um Council, would anyone like to make a comment? Councilmember Bolton. Thank you, Mayor. Um, so welcome to Black History Month. Regardless of whether the City of Huntington Beach officially recognizes it, please take the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Black and African Americans. There are events all over the region, including author visits at libraries in Costa Mesa and Tuston, performances at Santa Anna College, and festivals. Now to the current weather situation, our public works department, I don't know if people have noticed them around town. They have been working their tails off, dealing with down trees, sandbags, flooded streets for the past several days. And I just wanted to acknowledge every single member of the public works department. Um, the director, Chow Vu, and the assistant, I'm sorry, the deputy director, Alvin Papa. Thank you very much for all that you do. Anyone else like to make a comment? Mayor Pratem Burns. Awesome event. Congratulations, those eighteen thousand runners. And uh hats off to the first place finishers. Incredible. Anyone else? Okay, we'll move on. Oh, Councilmember Moser. Oh, thank you. Um, I just wanted to um let everybody know that HB Reads One Book has a new book, and if you go to HBreads.org, you can find out all about it. They have an event coming up on Thursday, March 14th from four to six PM, where you can purchase tickets for an author presentation and book signing. Or Thursday, March 14th from seven to nine. There's a free event, an evening with Lynn Cox, who is the author of the current book. I encourage you to go check it out. HP Reads is one of the gems of our community, and it should be a great night. Thank you. Yes. For closed session item five. We received an email communication regarding request to provide amicus support with regard to Gloria Johnson at L versus City of Grants Pass.
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