Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority Meeting

Date: March 4, 2025
Time: Closed Session 4:00 PM; Regular Meeting 6:00 PM
Location: Council Chambers, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA

The City Council convened to address a full agenda including budget presentations from the Finance and Human Resources departments, public comment on library books and a controversial plaque, consideration of two citizen initiatives related to library materials and operations, approval of a new City Manager employment agreement, and opposition to proposed air quality rules. The meeting also featured farewell remarks for outgoing Councilman Tony Strickland, who was elected to the State Senate.

Consent Calendar

• Items 11 & 15 approved 7-0: Approved minutes of February 18, 2025; accepted the lowest responsive bid ($4,138,097) from All American Asphalt for the Residential Zone 2 Overlay Maintenance Project (CC-1812).
• Item 12 (Legislative Platform) pulled by Councilman Kennedy: After discussion about creating a public informational document on sober living facilities (licensed vs. unlicensed), the item passed 7-0.
• Item 13 (Opposition to AQMD Rules 1111 & 1121) pulled by Councilman Twining: The council voted 7-0 to direct the City Manager to send a letter opposing the proposed rules, citing economic hardship, grid strain, and equity concerns; one public speaker supported the rules citing public health benefits (16,000 asthma cases reduced).
• Item 14 (Contract amendment with CSG Consultants, Inc.) pulled by Councilman Kennedy: The council approved $385,000 for inspection services through 2027; passed 6-0 (Councilman Twining absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Library and MAGA plaque: Over 30 speakers addressed items 17 and 18. Many expressed support for the citizen initiatives to repeal the Community Parent Guardian Review Board and to require public operation of library services, arguing that parents—not the government—should control children's reading. Others opposed the initiatives, stating that library books are age-appropriate, that the MAGA acrostic on a library plaque is divisive, and that the council is engaging in censorship. Several speakers repeated a prepared statement accusing the MAGA movement of racism, transphobia, and authoritarianism. A few speakers defended the council's actions as protecting children from explicit content.
• Other topics: Speakers thanked Councilman Strickland for his service; criticized the council for a $15 million surplus claim (later rebutted by Acting City Manager Hopkins as COVID funds); urged the council to focus on infrastructure and budget deficits rather than culture wars; and one speaker called the invocation inappropriate for a public meeting.
• Total speakers: 47 signed up; time reduced to 1 minute each.

Discussion Items

• City Manager's Report – Department Budget Overview: Acting City Manager Travis Hopkins introduced a series of department budget presentations aimed at addressing a structural budget deficit where recurring expenses exceed recurring revenues. Finance Director David Kane presented the Finance Department budget ($5.6 million, 28.5 FTEs) and highlighted revenue sources ($2.7 million in business licenses), while identifying opportunities for efficiency (online business licensing, data ticket for collections) and revenue recovery (TOT audits). Human Resources Director Marissa Sur presented the HR budget ($2.9 million, 15 FTEs) and cited cost-containment measures (online training, evaluating medical screenings) and proactive worker’s comp management. Hopkins clarified that a reported $15 million surplus was entirely COVID relief funds, not a recurring surplus.
• Item 16 – Approval of City Manager Employment Agreement: Marissa Sur presented the salient provisions: a four-year term starting March 15, 2025, annual salary of $311,750 (no automatic increases), benefits tied to the non-associated employee pay resolution, and termination without cause with six months’ pay if less than six months’ notice is given. The council voted 7-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2025-17 appointing Travis Hopkins as City Manager.
• Items 17 & 18 – Citizen Initiatives on Library Materials and Operations: Staff presented two options: place the initiatives on the November 3, 2026 general election, or call a special election within 88–103 days. Councilman Burns moved for Option B (special election on June 10, 2025) and designated Mayor Burns, Mayor Pro Tem McKeon, and Councilwoman Van Der Mark to author written arguments and rebuttals (against the initiatives). Both motions passed 7-0.
• Appointment to Fill Vacancy: At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Burns requested that the City Manager place an item on the March 18, 2025 agenda to appoint a new council member to replace Councilman Strickland (who will resign upon assuming his State Senate seat). Council members were asked to submit names to the City Manager prior to agenda posting.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: City Manager Employment Agreement (Travis Hopkins), 7-0.
• Approved: Special election for two library-related citizen initiatives on June 10, 2025, 7-0.
• Approved: Letter opposing South Coast AQMD Rules 1111 and 1121, 7-0.
• Approved: Legislative Platform (Resolution No. 2025-18) and contract amendments for inspection services.
• Direction: City Manager to place a council vacancy appointment on the next agenda (March 18, 2025).