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Record of Proceedings

Huntington Beach City Council Meeting on July 15, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, July 15, 2025
BodyHuntington Beach, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:33:44

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:16

I'd like to call the meeting of the City Council Public Financing Authority to order.

1:21

City Clerk may have a roll call, please.

1:24

Councilmember Twine?

1:25

Here.

1:26

Councilman Kennedy.

1:28

Protem McKeon.

1:29

Here.

1:30

Mayor Burns.

1:31

Here.

1:32

Councilwoman Vandermark.

1:33

Here.

1:33

Councilman Groul?

1:34

Here.

1:35

Councilman Williams?

1:36

Here.

1:37

Six present.

1:38

Absolutely.

1:39

Don't here.

1:40

Councilman Kennedy.

1:42

All present.

1:45

Okay.

1:46

City Clerk, do we have any supplemental communications?

1:50

We do have supplemental communications for the closed session.

1:54

Item number five, one email received.

1:57

Item number six, one email received.

2:00

Item number seven, one email received.

2:02

Item number eight, one email received.

2:04

Item number nine, one email received.

2:08

All right, thank you.

2:09

Do we have any somebody signed up to speak?

2:12

No, mayor.

2:13

We have no one signed up to speak for the closed session.

2:16

That's not a bad thing.

2:20

Umcluded in closed session, conference with labor negotiators, agency designated representatives, Trafford Hopkins, City Manager, also in attendance, will be Marissa Sir, Director of Human Resources, Mike Vigliota, City Attorney, and Robert Torres, Interim City, Chief Financial Officer.

2:41

Employee organizations are going to be Marine Safety Management Association and Sir City Lifeguard Employees Association.

2:50

Also is conference with real property negotiators, properties one zero four four nine Adams Avenue, Huntington Beach, California, nine two six four six.

3:26

Do I have a motion and a second for recess into closed session?

3:30

I make a motion.

4:58

Councilman Twine?

5:00

Here.

5:00

Councilman Kennedy.

5:01

Here.

5:02

Mayor Pro Tem McKeon.

5:04

Mayor Burns.

5:04

Here.

5:05

Councilwoman Vandermark.

5:06

Here.

5:07

Councilman Gruel?

5:08

Here.

5:08

Councilman Williams.

5:09

Here.

5:10

All present.

5:12

All right, tonight's invocation will be given by police fire, fire and police chaplain Roger Wing.

5:19

And Roger, after that, if you can do the Pledge of Allegiance.

5:26

Would you please join me in prayer as we ask God's blessing on this evening's city council meeting?

5:32

Heavenly Father, you tell us in your word that we're two or three are gathered together in your name.

5:38

You're there with us.

5:40

Now that's an awesome thing to consider that God is actually amongst us tonight, watching and taking in everything we say and we do.

5:48

And I pray that that realization will guide each one of us here this evening as we participate in tonight's meeting.

5:56

May we all demonstrate how Huntington Beach can maintain a gracious unity amidst our diversity.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Parks and Recreation█████████████████17%
Public Engagement█████████████13%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████11%
Cannabis Regulation██████6%
Personnel Matters██2%
Environmental Protection█1%
Community Engagement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Huntington Beach City Council Meeting on July 15, 2025

The Huntington Beach City Council meeting on July 15, 2025, focused on post-4th of July reviews, public safety concerns, and several legislative proposals. Key discussions included a fire department award for cardiac care, public testimony on crime and governance issues, and council items on community gardens, Kratom regulation, and contract transparency.

Consent Calendar

  • All consent calendar items passed 7-0, with Councilman Kennedy abstaining from item 14.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • John Ridelli expressed support for transparency in public contracts, relating it to the bocce ball courts at Murdy Park.
  • Jim Banks voiced strong opposition to the lack of police response during the 4th of July crime wave in downtown Huntington Beach, calling for increased arrests and enforcement.
  • A speaker criticized Mayor Burns for past unprofessional conduct and called for his resignation.
  • Tim Geddes criticized the mayor for arbitrary time restrictions on public speakers.
  • Amory Hanson expressed full support for a new community garden with aquaponics.
  • A speaker discussed the federal Administrative Procedure Act, arguing it is unconstitutional.
  • Russell Neal shared views on the collapse of the enlightenment and the rise of a Christian order.
  • A speaker accused the council of hypocrisy regarding First and Second Amendment protections.
  • Jignesh Paddy commended the council and urged planning for America's 250th anniversary in 2026.
  • Jordan Richard opposed a proposed ban on Kratom, stating it saved his life and arguing against misinformation.
  • Jennifer Thomas urged the council to make decisions that benefit the entire city, not personal values.

Discussion Items

  • Community Garden with Multitrophic Aquaculture: Councilmembers Burns and Gruell proposed exploring a community garden using integrated aquaculture. The item passed 7-0, directing staff to report back within six months.
  • Kratom Regulation: Councilmembers Vandermark, Burns, and McKeon proposed developing an ordinance to regulate Kratom sales, focusing on synthetic variants. The item passed 7-0, initiating a research phase.
  • Transparency for Taxpayers: Councilmembers Kennedy, Williams, and Burns proposed a contract completion reporting policy to enhance oversight of public projects. The item passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Fire Department received a gold award from the American Heart Association for cardiac care excellence for the fifth straight year.
  • Independence Day recap showed increased parking revenue and generally safe events, with planning underway for the 250th anniversary.
  • All council items passed unanimously: community garden feasibility study, Kratom regulation research, and transparency policy development.
  • Informational item on previous contract awards was discussed, with no further action required.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call the meeting of the City Council Public Financing Authority to order. City Clerk may have a roll call, please. Councilmember Twine? Here. Councilman Kennedy. Protem McKeon. Here. Mayor Burns. Here. Councilwoman Vandermark. Here. Councilman Groul? Here. Councilman Williams? Here. Six present. Absolutely. Don't here. Councilman Kennedy. All present. Okay. City Clerk, do we have any supplemental communications? We do have supplemental communications for the closed session. Item number five, one email received. Item number six, one email received. Item number seven, one email received. Item number eight, one email received. Item number nine, one email received. All right, thank you. Do we have any somebody signed up to speak? No, mayor. We have no one signed up to speak for the closed session. That's not a bad thing. Umcluded in closed session, conference with labor negotiators, agency designated representatives, Trafford Hopkins, City Manager, also in attendance, will be Marissa Sir, Director of Human Resources, Mike Vigliota, City Attorney, and Robert Torres, Interim City, Chief Financial Officer. Employee organizations are going to be Marine Safety Management Association and Sir City Lifeguard Employees Association. Also is conference with real property negotiators, properties one zero four four nine Adams Avenue, Huntington Beach, California, nine two six four six. Do I have a motion and a second for recess into closed session? I make a motion. Councilman Twine? Here. Councilman Kennedy. Here. Mayor Pro Tem McKeon. Mayor Burns. Here. Councilwoman Vandermark. Here. Councilman Gruel? Here. Councilman Williams.

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