Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority Meeting

The Huntington Beach City Council met on July 2, 2024, starting with a closed session at 5:00 PM for two existing litigation items, followed by a regular meeting at 6:00 PM. The meeting included public comments on various topics, particularly the proposed charter amendment (Item 13) regarding environmental protections for general plan amendments. The council also considered positions on state and federal legislation (Item 10) and approved routine consent calendar items. A key outcome was the 4-3 vote to place a charter amendment on the November 2024 ballot, despite concerns about process and potential consequences.

Consent Calendar

• Items 6-12 (except 9 and 10 pulled): Approved unanimously (7-0) including approval of minutes, election resolutions, appointments, naming of the Shirley Dettloff Interpretive Center, and acquisition of two lots.
• Item 9 (Appointment of Jeanne Paris): Passed 4-0-3 (Councilmembers Moser, Bolton, Kalmick abstaining).
• Item 10 (Legislation Positions): Considered individually; votes varied (see below).

Public Comments & Testimony

• 39 speakers signed up; time reduced to two minutes each.
• Support for Item 13 (Charter Amendment): Jeannie Paris, Aimry Hansen, Ann Palmer, and Butch Twining expressed strong support, arguing for local control and environmental protection. One speaker called the amendment "brilliant" and said it would protect Huntington Beach's legacy.
• Opposition to Item 13: Tim Geddes, Christopher Rini, Pablo Aspas, Adam Wood (Building Industry Association), and Perry Clitheroe opposed, citing costs, poor governance, risk of builder's remedy, and abdication of council responsibility. One speaker noted the proposed amendment would trigger builder's remedy and make housing worse.
• Other Comments: Multiple speakers presented a detailed resolution alleging election irregularities in California’s 2022 election, calling for verification of voter rolls and hand-marked ballots. A representative from the Huntington Beach Color Guard requested sponsorship for World Championships. Several speakers urged the council to adopt a compliant housing element. One speaker supported naming the Shipley Interpretive Center after Shirley Dettloff.

Discussion Items

• City Manager's Report: Announced Fire Department’s reaccreditation as ISO Class 1 (only 503 out of 38,000 departments nationwide) and provided fireworks safety tips for Independence Day.
• Item 10 – Legislation Positions: Council took positions on eight bills:
  • A) Support ACR 182 (Great Pacific Garbage Patch) – passed 7-0.
  • B) Support S.3830 (Low-Income Water Assistance) – passed 7-0.
  • C) Oppose AB 2485 (regional housing need) – passed 4-2-1 (Moser no, Bolton abstain, Kalmick no).
  • D) Oppose AB 2553 (major transit stops) – passed 4-0-3 (Moser, Bolton, Kalmick abstain).
  • E) Oppose AB 2597 (housing element revisions) – passed 4-0-3 (same abstentions).
  • F) Oppose AB 3093 (streamlined multifamily housing) – passed 4-0-3.
  • G) SB 7 pulled back to IRC for further review.
  • H) Support AB 2574 (recovery treatment disclosures) – passed 7-0.
• Item 13 – Proposed Charter Amendment: Councilmember McKeon (joined by Mayor Van Der Mark and Mayor Pro Tem Burns) proposed placing a charter amendment on the November 2024 ballot stating that no city-initiated general plan or zoning change with significant and unavoidable environmental impacts may be approved without a vote of the people. Discussion included:
  • Councilmember Kalmick: Called the item rushed and undercooked, argued it would harm local businesses and complicate future planning. He noted that CEQA thresholds change and that the proposal could force votes on many routine items.
  • Councilmember Bolton: Argued the amendment is based on inaccurate legal premises and would not solve the housing element issue; pointed to similar failed ballot-box zoning in Yorba Linda and Costa Mesa.
  • Councilmember Strickland: Questioned staff on definition of significant impacts and noted this almost exclusively targets the housing element. City Attorney stated the language is appropriate and differs from general law cities.
  • Councilmember McKeon: Defended the amendment as a high threshold (city-initiated, EIR required) that would only apply to rare permanent impacts; private sector projects are exempt.
  • Councilmember Moser: Opposed, calling it a political tactic that undermines representative government and creates chaos; urged adoption of a compliant housing element.
  • Mayor Van Der Mark: Supported, arguing it strengthens local control against state overreach.

Key Outcomes

• Item 13 – Charter Amendment Passes: Motion passed 4-3 (Van Der Mark, Burns, Strickland, McKeon in favor; Moser, Bolton, Kalmick abstaining). Staff directed to bring back ballot initiative language within 30 days for approval before the July 23 deadline.
• Legislation Positions: Adopted as amended (see above).
• Consent Calendar: Approved with exceptions noted.
• Closed Session: No reportable action.