Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority Regular Meeting - May 6, 2025

The Huntington Beach City Council convened on May 6, 2025, at 4:00 PM for a closed session and reconvened at 6:00 PM for the regular meeting. The meeting included a closed session report, mayor's educational comments on library card policies, 94 public speakers (largely debating Measures A and B on the June 10 special election ballot), departmental budget overviews, a homeless update, consent calendar approvals, two public hearings, and two council member items. Key decisions included approving a lifeguard tower advertising program, adopting CDBG/HOME funding plans, authorizing weed abatement, directing amendments to the group homes ordinance, and filing complaints with the FPPC and IRS.

Closed Session Report

• City Attorney reported the council unanimously directed the City Attorney to file a petition with the United States Supreme Court in the case of City of Huntington Beach v. Newsom (Case No. 8:23-CV-00421-FWS).

Mayor's Comments

• Mayor Pat Burns provided an educational clarification: teens aged 13–17 may obtain a "teen card" without a parent or guardian, which grants access to all books in the library, not just the teen section. He emphasized this information is on the city website.

Public Comments & Testimony

• 94 speakers addressed the council, each limited to one minute. The overwhelming majority discussed Measures A and B (the library-related ballot initiatives for the June 10 special election).
• Supporters of Measures A and B argued that sexually explicit books (e.g., "Let's Talk About It," "Identical," "The V-Word") in the young adult or teen sections constitute pornography and should be restricted. They maintained the measures would protect children and restore parental control. Several speakers read graphic excerpts from library books. Some accused the opposition of being "groomers" or "pedophiles."
• Opponents of Measures A and B countered that no actual pornography exists in the library, that the books are age-appropriate puberty/sex education materials, and that the council's large "porn" signs near schools are misleading and harmful to children. They argued for trusting professional librarians and parents, and accused the council of manufacturing a crisis to privatize the library. Several opponents referenced vandalism of "Yes on A and B" signs.
• A few speakers raised other topics, including homelessness, library professionalism, and campaign finance concerns. One speaker, a school board trustee, alleged Councilman Chad Williams violated Huntington Beach Municipal Code by maintaining two candidate-controlled committees concurrently.

Discussion Items

Department Services and Budget Overviews

• City Treasurer (Alisa Backstrom): Presented a $1.9 million budget (69% personnel). She manages a $400 million investment portfolio generating $10 million annually. She outlined efficiency initiatives: hotel TOT audits (covering all 21 hotels over three years), a new STR software platform, electronic payment expansion, a banking RFP, improved accounts receivable collections (citing $622,000 in uncollected citations from 2024), and consolidating payment systems. The department processes over 350,000 transactions and $11 million in counter revenue annually.
• City Clerk (Lisa Lane Barnes): Presented a $1,438,904 budget (68% personnel, 26% operations). The office manages agendas (in compliance with the Brown Act), elections, FPPC filings, records management, and passport services. Key stats: 265 contracts processed, 47 documents recorded with the county, 891 public records requests (with 32,424 daily page views on GovQA), and $185,000 in passport revenue. A records retention schedule led to destruction of over 300 boxes of obsolete records.
• Community Development (Jennifer Via Senior): Presented a $12.5 million budget (63 FTEs). The department combines planning, building, code enforcement, housing, economic development, and real estate. Revenue: ~$13.5 million (two-thirds from permits, one-third from real estate and mobile home park). Efficiencies: consolidated administrative positions, reduced operating budget by 25% over two years, proposed another 10% cut next year (including one FTE elimination). The "Streamlined Surf City" program increased certificates of occupancy by 23% in one year.
• Police Department (Kristen Miller): Presented a $92 million+ budget (93% personnel). The department has 223 sworn officers and 117 civilian employees, with 21 sworn and 13 civilian vacancies. Revenue: ~$6 million (mainly parking citations). Cost-saving measures include sending one person to training who then trains others. Helicopter service contracts with Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Irvine at $850/hour. The department is upgrading online payment systems and may rent out the new training center to other agencies.

Homeless Update

• Lt. Roman Altenbach and Jessica Kelly presented the 2024 annual report. Key accomplishments: 7% decrease in unsheltered homelessness (per pit count); 78 individuals moved into permanent housing (40% increase over 2023); 45 from the Navigation Center; 4 placed in long-term care; 610 shelter referrals made; Navigation Center average occupancy of 91%; 9,603 meals served; 5,711 contacts made. HB CARES volunteers donated 750 hours (saving $22,472). The city uses a combined enforcement-social service approach. In the first four months of 2025, My HB app complaints increased 20% over the same period in 2024.

Public Hearing: 2025-26 Annual Action Plan and Consolidated Plan for CDBG/HOME Funds (Item 26)

• Housing Manager Charles Kovac presented the proposed 2025-26 Annual Action Plan, 2025-29 Consolidated Plan, 2025-29 Citizen Participation Plan, and Orange County Regional Assessment of Fair Housing. Estimated total funding: $2.4 million ($1.12 million CDBG; $538,000 HOME). The plan continues programs such as tenant-based rental assistance, code enforcement, ADA improvements, and housing rehabilitation. Staff recommended increasing the maximum housing rehabilitation loan/grant from $15,000 to $20,000. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers; the item passed 6-0.

Administrative Public Hearing: 2025 Annual Weed Abatement Program (Item 27)

• Jimmy Hong of Code Enforcement explained the program: properties declared nuisances on April 1; owners must clear weeds by May 20; city abatement May 22–June 6; costs posted and certified for tax roll. One speaker, a representative of Ocean View School District, urged using only organic herbicides. The hearing closed, and the item passed 6-0.

Council Member Items

Item 28: Group Homes Ordinance Amendment (Burns/Kennedy)

• Motion to direct the City Manager and City Attorney to amend the group homes ordinance to prevent owners/operators from applying for permits for five years after being found operating unlawfully. Councilman Twining successfully amended to also apply the restriction to the property address itself (to prevent name changes). Passed 6-0. Additionally, Councilman Kennedy announced a new comprehensive guide on group homes to be posted on the city website to inform residents.

Item 29: FPPC/IRS Complaint (Williams/Burns/Twining)

• Councilman Williams presented evidence that Friends of the Huntington Beach Public Library (a 501(c)(3)) may have illegally donated funds to a political action committee (Citizens for Good Governance and Our Library Matters) to support the library ballot initiatives. He noted the treasurer for Friends of the Library and the PAC is the same person, Joe Draxovich, and that Friends of the Library's IRS Form 990 explicitly states it did not engage in political campaign activities. The council voted 6-0 to authorize the Mayor to work with the City Attorney to file complaints with the California Fair Political Practices Commission and the Internal Revenue Service.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Items 13, 14, 16–25 approved 6-0. Item 15 (Lifeguard Tower Advertising Program) pulled for discussion and approved 6-0-1 (Councilman Twining recused). The program anticipates up to $1 million in revenue this summer, with a 70/30 city/vendor split. Ads will include beach safety messaging, and a local company will handle wraps.
• Public Hearings: Items 26 and 27 both passed 6-0.
• Council Member Items: Items 28 (amended) and 29 both passed 6-0.
• Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Central Library.