Huntington Beach City Council Meeting - February 20, 2024: Library Transparency, Ballot Measures Debate, and Consent Calendar Actions
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Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority Meeting - February 20, 2024
The Huntington Beach City Council met on February 20, 2024, at 5:00 PM for a closed session, reconvening at 6:00 PM for the regular meeting. The meeting featured extensive public comment on three charter amendments (Measures A, B, C) on the March 5, 2024 ballot, a council member item requesting transparency on library material relocation, and routine consent calendar items. The council approved the consent calendar 6-0-1 (Councilmember McKeon absent), tabled a resolution to increase fireworks permits, and voted 3-3 on a library transparency request, failing it.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of February 6, 2024 meeting.
- Received and filed the City Treasurer’s Quarterly Investment Report for December 2023.
- Approved the 2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report with amendments to clarify homeless outreach roles and note mobile home advisory board meetings were not held in 2023 (passed 6-0-1).
- Approved Final Tract Map No. 19118 for Holly Triangle Townhomes, accepting bonds and subdivision agreement.
- Approved a 5-year Joint Use Agreement with Westminster School District for Clegg-Stacey Park (item pulled for future discussion).
- Approved a 5-year Recreation Facility Use Agreement with Huntington Beach City School District.
- Approved naming parkland at 17281 Eucalyptus Lane as “Vella Park” in honor of fallen Police Officer Nicholas Vella.
- Approved a 5-year Professional Services Contract with PSQ Productions for Independence Day Celebration (item pulled for future discussion).
- Adopted Resolution No. 2024-08 (revising fireworks permit count from 15 to 16) – tabled to next meeting for definitional clarity on “foundation.”
- Approved contracts for oil well abandonment, civic center lease closure, and Miley Keck Tank Farm lease closure, appropriating $1,236,763 in HB Recovery Funds.
- Approved a Health Plan-Provider Agreement with CalOptima Health.
- Approved a 6-month extension with Newport Beach for Public Safety Helicopter Services.
- Approved a 1-year contract extension with Allied Universal Security Services for street sweeping enforcement (not to exceed $411,269.45).
- Accepted the Cal OES Violence Against Women Act Grant ($270,857) and authorized contract with Waymakers for victim services.
- Accepted the lowest responsive bid of $4,044,900 from R.J. Noble Company for Residential Zone 1 Street Maintenance Project.
- Accepted the lowest responsive bid of $315,000 from Nobest, Inc. for Residential Zone 1 Curb Ramp Project.
- Adopted Resolution No. 2024-07 authorizing OCTA grant applications for Special Event Shuttle Services and HB Circuit Program.
- Adopted Resolution No. 2024-05 certifying resources for FY 2024/25-2029/30 Federal Transportation Improvement Program.
Public Comments & Testimony
- 74 speakers signed up; speaking time reduced to 2 minutes due to volume.
- Majority of speakers opposed Measures A, B, C, arguing they are unnecessary, costly (estimated $1.3–$1.65 million for A), and based on false claims of voter fraud. Many cited the 40-year record of no voter fraud in Huntington Beach.
- Supporters of Measures A, B, C argued for voter ID, local control, and flag restrictions, citing concerns about election security and state overreach.
- Numerous speakers supported Councilmember Moser’s agenda item (Item 24) requesting transparency on library book relocation, criticizing the removal of books from children’s/teen sections without clear criteria or public input.
- Several speakers advocated for a covered roller derby track in Huntington Beach as a community recreation and tourism asset.
- Other comments included support for housing element compliance, concerns about noise from tennis/pickleball courts, and a request to fix the library fountains.
Discussion Items
- City Clerk Report: Presented the Safe and Sane Fireworks Stand Application and Lottery Process for 2024 (applications March 1–29, lottery April 16).
- City Manager Report: Caltrans provided an update on the PCH pavement rehabilitation project (November 2023–end 2025), including ADA ramp upgrades, ladder crosswalks, and traffic signal upgrades. Work hours limited to 9:00 AM–3:30 PM, no weekend/summer work. Councilmember Kalmick questioned coordination with future projects and sea-level rise concerns; Caltrans noted a separate vulnerability assessment program.
- Councilmember Moser’s Item (24) – Library Transparency: Requested a detailed report on criteria for book relocation, list of moved books, impact on youth library cards, digital access, and community feedback process. Councilmember Kalmick raised legal concerns about conflict with the municipal code’s adoption of the Library Bill of Rights. City Attorney Gates stated the resolution is not censorship as a matter of law. The item was debated and failed on a 3-3 vote (Moser, Bolton, Kalmick in favor; Burns, Van Der Mark, Strickland opposed; McKeon absent).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved 6-0-1 (McKeon absent).
- Item 8 (Housing Element) approved 6-0-1 with staff amendments to clarify homeless outreach and mobile home board notes.
- Item 14 (Fireworks permits) tabled 6-0-1 to next meeting for definition of “foundation.”
- Item 24 (Library transparency) failed 3-3.
- Item 10 (Clegg-Stacey Park agreement) and Item 13 (Independence Day contract) were pulled for future discussion by staff.
- Item 18 (Street sweeping enforcement contract) was withdrawn by Police Captain request.
- The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 5, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
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