Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority Meeting – July 1, 2025

The Huntington Beach City Council met on July 1, 2025, in regular session at 6:00 PM after a closed session beginning at 4:30 PM. The meeting included public comments, a city manager’s report on fireworks safety and downtown improvements, approval of consent calendar items, discussion of on‑call engineering consulting contracts, and a directive to evaluate co‑locating the International Surf Museum with the Main Street Library. All votes were 7‑0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• 25 speakers addressed the council. Many criticized Mayor Pat Burns for a remark made at the June 17, 2025 meeting, in which he called a speaker “another fucking cow.” Speakers called for his censure or resignation, citing a pattern of disrespect and potential Brown Act / First Amendment violations. Several noted that decorum must start with the dais.
• Several speakers supported Agenda Item 14, the feasibility study for co‑locating the International Surf Museum at the Main Street Library, emphasizing Huntington Beach’s identity as “Surf City.”
• Other topics included: immigration enforcement (ICE raids), parking ticket disputes, budget transparency (use of a Section 115 trust), the June 2025 special election results, and the redesign of council chambers accessibility.
• One speaker highlighted water safety and drowning prevention.

Consent Calendar

• Items 9–12 were approved 7‑0:
  • Item 9: Approve minutes of June 17, 2025.
  • Item 10: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-49 reciting the results of the June 10, 2025 special municipal election.
  • Item 11: Approve a consent to license with Verizon and Southern California Edison for a cell site at Talbert Park.
  • Item 12: Approve a three‑year, $224,820 professional services contract with Davis Farr LLP for financial audit services.
• Item 13 (on‑call engineering contracts) was pulled by Councilman Kennedy for discussion.

Discussion Items

1. On‑Call Engineering Consulting Contracts (Item 13)

• Public Works Director Tom Herbell presented a slate of 27 firms for on‑call general civil engineering and professional consulting services, each with a $2,000,000 not‑to‑exceed contract (aggregate $54 million). The contracts cover bridges, environmental, ocean, storm drain, sewer, streets, and water projects.
• The city received 37 proposals; firms were selected based on qualifications (Brooks Act). The contract is a “license to hunt”—actual spending depends on annual budget and task orders. In the last five years, the city issued over 100 task orders, with total CIP project value of $238 million and approximately $60 million in fees (roughly 25% of project costs).
• Councilman Kennedy questioned the $2 million cap, calling it arbitrary and potentially misleading to the public. He suggested tying contracts directly to annual budget allocations instead. Staff explained the cap is a standard accounting practice; other agencies use no‑limit lists. Councilman Twining, a former engineering consultant, confirmed the cap is a “bookend” and that firms compete for task orders regardless.
• Vote: Approved 7‑0.

2. Potential Co‑location of the International Surf Museum at Main Street Library (Item 14)

• Mayor Pro Tem Casey McKeon, Mayor Pat Burns, and Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark proposed directing staff to evaluate the feasibility of moving the Huntington Beach International Surf Museum (HBISM) from its current Olive Avenue location into underutilized space at the Main Street Library.
• The museum has outgrown its current facility and cannot display many larger surfboards (some dating to the 1930s) or archival materials. Co‑locating could create a specialized research collection, activate the library, and potentially collaborate with the Huntington Beach Art Center to form a cultural district. Visit Huntington Beach has expressed preliminary support and may help underwrite relocation and operational costs.
• Council members expressed strong support, noting the synergy between the library, museum, and the city’s “Surf City” identity.
• Vote: Unanimous 7‑0 to direct staff to report back within 90 days with findings and next steps.

City Manager’s Report

Fireworks and Public Safety for Independence Day

• Police Lt. Toby Archer and Fire Chief Darren Witt presented safety measures for the 121st Independence Day celebration. There are 16 fireworks booths permitted to sell “safe and sane” fireworks; hours are July 1–3 (noon–10 PM) and July 4 (10 AM–9 PM). Fireworks are prohibited on beaches, wetlands, parks, and within 100 feet of gas stations.
• Police will be on max deployment on July 4. Enforcement is challenging because violators often flee; the department uses undercover teams, letters to known prior offenders, and a fireworks hotline (714‑536‑LOUD) and My HB app for complaints. 911 should not be used for fireworks complaints.
• Proper disposal: soak spent fireworks in water, wrap in plastic, and discard. Improper disposal causes many fires.

Downtown Huntington Beach Improvement Update

• Denny Bacon (Public Works) reported on recent cosmetic upgrades to Main Street, including brick planters with new strawberry trees, petunias, flax lily, irrigation repairs, bollard painting, center line striping, and curb painting. The work was done in partnership with the Main Street Garden Club volunteers. The project improved four blocks of Main Street in time for the Independence Day Parade.
• Councilman McKeon noted that the upgrades have already attracted a new restaurant (Champagnes) to the former IHOP space. Visit Huntington Beach is contributing more to future improvements.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar (Items 9–12) approved 7‑0. Item 13 pulled and discussed separately.
• On‑Call Engineering Contracts (Item 13) approved 7‑0, with staff to consider alternative contract structures in the future.
• Surf Museum Co‑location Study (Item 14) approved 7‑0; staff to return within 90 days.
• Fireworks safety and downtown improvement reports received; no formal action required.
• Council committee appointments announced: Eric Creshenson to Planning Commission, Ben Goldberg to Public Works.
• Next regular meeting: July 15, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Civic Center Council Chambers.