Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority Meeting - November 19, 2024

The Huntington Beach City Council and Public Financing Authority met on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 5:00 PM for Closed Session and reconvened at 6:00 PM for the Regular Meeting. The meeting included a legislative update from Assemblymember Diane Dixon (postponed), public comments, consideration of a consent calendar, and several discussion and administrative items. Notable actions included approval of the Bolsa Chica Senior Care Community zoning amendment (4-3), a Mills Act agreement, a city-wide facility assessment, and side letters for firefighter unions.

Consent Calendar

• Items 9–12, 14–15, 17–21 (with item 19 amended by a supplemental memo from the Fire Chief), and 23–25 were approved unanimously (7-0).
• Items 13 (Bolsa Chica Senior Care Community zoning amendment), 16 (Mills Act agreement), and 22 (facility assessment) were pulled for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Thirty-five (35) members of the public provided comments, many of whom expressed gratitude to outgoing Councilmembers Natalie Moser, Rhonda Bolton, Dan Kalmick, and City Clerk Robin Estanislau for their service. Several speakers also commented on the Bolsa Chica Senior Care Community project (consent item 13).
• Support for item 13: Perry Clither spoke in favor, noting the project would bring $3.5 million in development fees and increased property tax revenue. Others supporting the project argued it meets a need for senior housing and is properly classified as commercial assisted living.
• Opposition to item 13: Tom Dillman, Kathleen Mooney, Michelle Ryan, Christine Pedeski, and others urged the council to reject the project, asserting it is a high-density residential development misrepresented as commercial, that the floor-area-ratio (FAR) exceeds the 10% allowed deviation, and that the environmental impact report (EIR) is flawed. Many speakers also referenced a pending lawsuit.
• Other topics: A resident (David Collins) requested city action to address the concentration of licensed and unlicensed recovery homes in his neighborhood. Several speakers expressed concerns about the future direction of the city following the November 2024 election.

Discussion Items

• Item 13 – Bolsa Chica Senior Care Community (Zoning Map Amendment No. 21-003): This was the second reading of an ordinance to rezone property at the southwest corner of Warner Avenue and Bolsa Chica Street from CG (Commercial General) to SP-19 (Specific Plan No. 19) to allow a 159-unit assisted living facility. Mayor Pro Tem Burns argued the project is residential in nature, that the developer misled the council about the FAR (actual 1.68 vs. claimed 1.65), and that the variance exceeds 10%. Councilmember Kalmick countered that the project is a commercial assisted living facility, not residential, and that the FAR deviation is within the specific plan’s cap of 1.75. Councilmember McKeon stated the property is too small for the proposed density. Councilmembers Moser and Bolton supported the project, noting it would not count toward the state’s residential housing allocation and that the city needs assisted living capacity. The item passed 4-3 (Moser, Bolton, Strickland, Kalmick in favor; Burns, Van Der Mark, McKeon opposed).
• Item 16 – Mills Act Agreement: Councilmember Kalmick requested clarification on processing time. Staff confirmed it was handled in a reasonable timeframe. The agreement allows a property tax reduction for historic preservation at 755 Main Street. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 22 – City-Wide Facility Assessment: Councilmember Bolton asked about the relationship between this assessment and the city’s infrastructure report card. Staff explained the assessment is a detailed evaluation of 1.5 million square feet of city facilities, with a cost of $424,581, funded from the general fund, and expected to take 90 days. The infrastructure report card is complete but awaiting a public rollout video. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Administrative Items 26 & 27 – Side Letters with Firefighters and Fire Management Associations: The city’s Human Resources Director presented side letters to amend MOUs with the Huntington Beach Firefighters Association (HBFA) and Fire Management Association (FMA). The changes clarify uniform allowance amounts already reported to CalPERS but not explicitly stated in the MOUs, and for HBFA, add language to address staffing changes if the city receives a SAFER grant. Councilmember Strickland clarified that this is not pension spiking but a compliance cleanup. Approved unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

• Adopted Ordinance No. 4327 (Zoning Map Amendment 21-003) for the Bolsa Chica Senior Care Community project, by a vote of 4-3 (Moser, Bolton, Strickland, Kalmick aye; Burns, Van Der Mark, McKeon nay).
• Approved and authorized execution of the Mills Act Agreement for 755 Main Street (7-0).
• Approved and authorized execution of the Service Agreement with Gordian Group for a city-wide facility condition assessment ($424,581) (7-0).
• Adopted Resolutions No. 2024-57 and No. 2024-58 amending MOUs with the Huntington Beach Firefighters Association and Fire Management Association via side letters (7-0).
• Received and filed the City Treasurer’s Quarterly Investment Report for September 2024 (7-0).
• Adopted Resolution No. 2024-56 approving the 2025 Investment Policy (7-0).
• Consent calendar items 9–12, 14–15, 17–21 (with amendment), and 23–25 were approved (7-0).
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM. The next regular meeting is scheduled for December 3, 2024.