Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority and Special Housing Authority Meeting – June 18, 2024

The City Council met at 6:00 PM on June 18, 2024, in the Council Chambers. The meeting included roll call (all seven members present), Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation by Police and Fire Chaplain Roger Wing. Councilmember comments included a dispute over displaying the Pride flag on the dais, with Mayor Pro Tem Burns asserting his First Amendment right to display it as an individual statement. The meeting featured extensive public comment, largely focused on the library privatization proposal and concerns over the council majority's actions. Key outcomes: the lone proposal for managed library services was withdrawn, consent calendar items 3–6 passed 7–0, item 2 (minutes) was amended via a substitute motion (4–3), and an ordinance on a pipeline franchise was pulled by staff.

Consent Calendar

• Item 2 (Minutes of June 4, 2024): Councilmember Kalmick requested an amendment to include Mr. Burns' statements about council members who exercised their First Amendment rights to protest. A substitute motion to keep the minutes as originally stated passed 4–3 (Burns, Van Der Mark, Strickland, McKeon in favor; Moser, Bolton, Kalmick opposed). The amended minutes will reflect the discussion.
• Items 3–6: Approved and adopted unanimously (7–0). These included:
  • Affordable Housing Agreement for 13 affordable townhomes at 7225 Edinger Avenue.
  • Agreement with Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for Operation Stonegarden ($225,000 grant).
  • Intergovernmental Service Agreement with Costa Mesa for detention of female arrestees at HB Police Department Jail.
  • Amendment No. 1 to the I-405 Freeway Improvement Project cooperative agreement with OCTA.

Public Comments & Testimony

Approximately 36 members of the public signed up to speak; time was reduced to two minutes due to volume. Key themes:

• Library Privatization (Item 7): Dozens of speakers celebrated the withdrawal of LSNS’s proposal, thanked the community and labor unions (Teamsters, OCEA, MEO), and pledged to continue collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to require voter approval for any future outsourcing. Speakers characterized the RFP process as flawed, rushed, and divisive.
• Book Content & Censorship: Several speakers expressed concerns about sexually explicit books in the library’s teen section, arguing that the council’s resolution on sexually explicit material should be enforced. Others defended the library’s current policies and opposed the creation of a “book review committee,” calling it a book ban.
• Council Conduct: Multiple speakers called for Mayor Pro Tem Burns to be censured for using profanity (calling minority council members “pieces of shit”) at the June 4 meeting. Some also criticized the council majority for polarizing rhetoric.
• Pride Flag & Juneteenth: Several speakers expressed support for LGBTQ+ rights and Juneteenth, while others opposed the flag display. A speaker criticized the council’s focus on culture wars over practical issues.
• Budget & Tourism: One speaker noted that negative press from council actions harms tourism and hotel occupancy, referencing articles in the Orange County Register.

Discussion Items

• Item 7 – Managed Library Services RFP: Staff reported that the only proposal received (from LSNS) had been withdrawn earlier on June 18, leaving no proposals to consider. Councilmembers debated the process extensively:
  • Mayor Van Der Mark and Councilmember McKeon defended the RFP as a proper fiduciary duty to explore cost savings, noting that outsourcing is common in city operations (e.g., public works, mail services). McKeon proposed future efficiency ideas: group book purchasing with other cities, using volunteers to reduce temporary employee costs, and creating an MOU with Friends of the Library.
  • Councilmembers Bolton, Kalmick, and Moser criticized the process as secretive (confidential bids), harmful to employee morale, and responsible for polarizing the community. They argued the council should have started with a study session or request for information, not a binding RFP. Kalmick apologized to staff and librarians for the stress caused.
  • Councilmember Strickland acknowledged the community’s opposition and stated the process worked because it revealed residents did not want outsourcing.
• Item 8 – Pipeline Franchise Amendment: Staff pulled the ordinance from consideration, requesting more time for review.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Items 3–6 approved (7–0). Item 2 (minutes) amended via substitute motion (4–3).
• Item 7 (Library RFP): No action needed as the proposal was withdrawn. The RFP process is concluded.
• Item 8 (Pipeline Franchise): Pulled by staff for further review; will be brought forward at a future meeting.
• Ongoing Efforts: Community members will continue gathering signatures for ballot initiatives to protect the library and require voter approval for any privatization or book review committee.
• Council Conduct: No formal censure motion was made, but multiple public comments and councilmember statements highlighted the need for improved decorum and collaboration.