Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Huntington Beach City Council Meeting: Treasurer Appointment, Housing Debates, and Public Criticism on August 19, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, August 19, 2025

BodyHuntington Beach, California

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, August 19, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:52:46

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

1:04

I would like to call the meeting of the city council public financing authority to order.

1:08

Clerk may I have a roll call, please.

1:11

Councilman Twiny.

1:13

Councilman Kennedy.

1:15

Here.

1:15

Mayor Pro Tem McKeon.

1:16

Here.

1:17

Mayor Burns.

1:17

Here.

1:18

Councilwoman Bandermark.

1:19

Here.

1:19

Councilman Gruel?

1:20

Here.

1:21

Councilman Williams.

1:22

All present.

1:24

City Clerk, do we have uh any supplemental communications?

1:29

Not for this portion of the meeting.

1:32

All right.

1:32

Do we have anybody signed up to speak?

1:35

Yes.

1:36

We have five people signed to speak for the closed session.

1:39

Okay.

1:40

Per decorum at the city council meetings is in proper decorum is at the city council meetings imperative for in order for the public to remain informed about issues pertaining to city's business.

1:53

The public comments portion of the meeting is an opportunity for the public to be heard and address those issues in a public forum.

1:59

Disruptive behavior impeding or delaying our ability to conduct the council's business will not be tolerated.

2:11

Will be taken for violations of this law.

2:14

At this time, the city council will receive comments from members of the public regarding any topic, including items in the closed session agenda.

2:23

Individuals wishing to provide a comment on items may do so in person by filling out a request to speak form delivered to the city clerk.

2:31

All speakers are encouraged but not required to identify themselves by names.

2:37

Please note that the Brown Act does not allow discussion or action on topics that are not on the agenda.

2:42

Members of the public who would like to speak directly with the council member on an item not on the agenda may consider scheduling an appointment by contacting City Council administrative assistant at 714-536-5553 or emailing the entire city council at city.council at SurfCity-HB.org.

3:06

Um, call them all.

3:12

When you're called to the podium, please use both podiums.

3:16

Cheryl Freak, Linda Mortimer, George Aguirre, Kathleen Kathleen, and Michelle Morgan.

3:24

Because we have such an extensive closed session, we will be given one minute piece, please.

3:33

Uh good afternoon, City Council.

3:34

I'm going to have critical information regarding our state's voter roles and voter history from the 2024 general election.

3:42

This information comes from extensive research conducted by a team of data experts at Unite for Freedom, a nationwide nonpartisan volunteer organization.

3:51

Their team meticulously analyzed official election files from both federal and state sources.

3:58

While I am not an official spokesperson for Unite for Freedom, I am a dedicated volunteer who is deeply concerned by the findings.

4:04

Findings that are based exclusively on official state election data, our analysis of the certified results from both the 2022 and 2024 general election reveals that not all votes counted were valid and accurate under the law.

4:19

These findings are substantial and warrant careful consideration.

4:23

They have already been shared with state election officials and law enforcement agencies and have been submitted as evidence in federal court as part of an ongoing litigation by Unite for Freedom and other parties.

4:34

Unite for Freedom is not alone in raising these concerns.

4:39

Next speaker, please.

4:40

Resolution for a legally valid 2026 general election, whereas free and fair elections from form the cornerstone of the Republic of the United States, as stated in Reynolds versus Sims 377 US 533, 1964.

4:55

The right of suffrage can be denied by a debasement or dilution of the weight of a citizen's vote just as effectively as by wholly prohibiting free exercise of the franchise.

5:04

Whereas election officials bear the responsibility to ensure elections remain accurate and free from manipulation.

5:10

In Ray Choi 127 U.S.

5:13

731 1888, the United States Supreme Court affirmed that election officials must strictly adhere to federal and state laws governing process defining election misconduct as follows.

5:23

The evil intent consists in disobedience to the law.

5:26

Whereas our constitutional system of representative government relies on four functional principles for validity in our elections.

5:33

One, accurate voter rolls.

5:35

Election officials must maintain voter registration lists that are current and correct, which includes facilitating the registration of eligible citizens as well as preventing the registration of non-citizens, fictitious names, and ineligible applicants, National Voter Registration Act 1993.

5:55

Can these speakers fill out blue cards and come and see us?

5:59

Yeah, I'd like to set up an appointment, meet with you guys and uh but so fill out a blue card.

6:06

That'd be.

6:06

Yeah, because we were prepared for three minutes.

6:09

Yeah, if you can fill out a blue card uh and we'll get in contact with you and set up because I think maybe all you are together to speak about the same thing.

6:17

We can all have you come up and we can meet with you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Affordable Housing█████████████████████████25%

Procedural███████████████████19%

Public Safety███████████11%

Elections Administration██████6%

Environmental Protection█████5%

Community Engagement█████5%

Economic Development█████5%

Personnel Matters████4%

Fiscal Sustainability████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Huntington Beach City Council Meeting - August 19, 2025

A lengthy and contentious meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council and its associated authorities focused on public comments, appointments, and a series of land use and finance items. The meeting included significant public testimony regarding election integrity, council conduct, and accessibility, followed by council deliberations on an affordable housing agreement amendment, parking fines, and future planning for the 2028 Olympics. A new City Treasurer was appointed and sworn in.

Public Comments & Testimony

Election Integrity Concerns: A group of five speakers, volunteers with Unite for Freedom, presented a resolution alleging millions of 'material errors' and improper votes in the 2024 election. They demanded immediate action for a 'legally valid' 2026 election. The mayor directed them to schedule a meeting.
Criticism of Council Conduct and Transparency: Multiple residents criticized the council's actions, citing a projected $11 million general fund loss, opposition to SB 707 (which would restore remote public comment access), and a lack of financial accountability. Specific allegations included cronyism, disparaging comments by the mayor towards residents, and secret meetings.
Support for SB 707: Several speakers expressed strong support for SB 707, arguing the council's opposition limits access for people with disabilities, those without transportation, and seniors.
Questions on Treasurer Appointment: Multiple residents questioned the qualifications and background of the proposed City Treasurer appointee, Jason Schmidt, and alleged his campaign donations to council members indicated 'pay-to-play.'
Infrastructure and Safety Requests: One speaker advocated for a two-way, separated bike lane on Magnolia Street near Edison High School to improve safety. Another opposed allowing alcohol at the city's sports complex.
Praise for City Services: Two speakers thanked the Police and Fire Departments for their support in organizing a large Porsche parade for two children with illnesses and for their general service to the community.
Other Concerns: Additional comments included opposition to offshore oil drilling, concerns about drug overdose rates, allegations of improper police searches during death investigations, and support for the Free Reign Foundation's therapeutic programs.

Discussion Items

Appointment of City Treasurer (Item 27): The council debated and then unanimously appointed Jason Schmidt as City Treasurer. Council members defended the selection, citing his Harvard education, CEO/CFO experience, and institutional knowledge. They rejected public allegations of 'pay-to-play,' stating they were unaware of his donations prior to his application. Supervisor Janet Nguyen administered the oath of office.
Amendment to Affordable Housing Agreement (Item 18): A proposal to amend a 2022 agreement for the 18750 Delaware project to correct the bedroom mix of affordable units (reducing 3-bedroom units from 7 to 3 and increasing 2-bedroom units by 4). Staff stated the change aligns the project with city code. Council expressed frustration over the builder's late discovery of the error and concerns about liability and high-density impacts. The item was tabled to September 2nd for further review.
Extension of Affordable Housing Covenants (Item 19): A request for a one-year extension of affordability covenants for the Five Points Senior Villas, expiring in 2026. Staff said the owner sought time to plan for potential rehabilitation and to avoid alarming senior residents. Council members questioned the owner's motives, criticized the city's past negotiation leverage, and debated linking extensions to city loans. The item was tabled to September 2nd to negotiate for a longer-term extension.
Update to Parking Fine Schedule (Item 21): A proposal to increase parking fines and add a CPI-based annual adjustment, projected to generate ~$1 million in additional revenue. Councilman Williams moved to earmark the new revenue for public safety (a second Fire Captain position and police equipment), but the city attorney advised that specific allocation was not on the agenda. A substitute motion to adopt the resolution as written passed unanimously, with an agreement to agendize the revenue allocation discussion separately.
Exploring Olympic Programming (Item 28): A motion, co-authored by Councilmembers McKeon, Gruel, and Vandermark, directed the city manager to develop a plan to engage with the 2028 Summer Olympics. The goal is to capitalize on the event through media coordination, training site use, hosting delegations, and community events, while creating a streamlined permitting template for businesses.
Beach Sand Replenishment Education (Item 29): A motion, co-authored by Councilmembers Vandermark, Gruel, and Kennedy, directed staff to prepare a public presentation on the history and critical importance of beach sand replenishment, aiming to build community awareness and advocacy for sustained funding.
Consent Calendar Items: Several items were approved unanimously, including acceptance of a $4.66M OCTA grant for Magnolia Street improvements (Item 25) and a $640,000 contract for roof replacement and siding at a city building (Item 24).

Key Outcomes

Votes:
- Jason Schmidt appointed as City Treasurer (7-0).
- Motion to explore Olympic programming partnerships passed (7-0).
- Motion to direct staff to create a public education program on beach sand replenishment passed (7-0).
- Updated parking fine schedule (Resolution 2025-53) adopted (7-0).
- Item 18 (affordable housing agreement amendment) tabled to September 2nd (7-0).
- Item 19 (affordable housing covenant extension) tabled to September 2nd (7-0).
- Consent calendar items 12-17, 20, 22, 23, and 26 approved (7-0).
Directives and Next Steps:
- Councilman Williams directed an item be placed on the next agenda to consider allocating the new parking fine revenue to public safety enhancements.
- The public hearing for the Pacific Air Show Environmental Impact Report was opened and continued to September 2nd.
- The council recessed to closed session earlier in the meeting regarding unspecified items.
Announcements:
- Councilman Kennedy announced a new online resource for information on sober living homes and noted increased resident requests for street signs.
- Councilwoman Vandermark announced the city solidified its sister-city relationship with Ramat Gan, Israel.
- Councilman McKeon presented a commendation to Jesse Hayes, an e-bike crash survivor, to serve as a safety ambassador.
- The meeting was adjourned in memory of Fountain Valley Fire Chief Bill McQuaid.

Meeting Transcript

I would like to call the meeting of the city council public financing authority to order. Clerk may I have a roll call, please. Councilman Twiny. Councilman Kennedy. Here. Mayor Pro Tem McKeon. Here. Mayor Burns. Here. Councilwoman Bandermark. Here. Councilman Gruel? Here. Councilman Williams. All present. City Clerk, do we have uh any supplemental communications? Not for this portion of the meeting. All right. Do we have anybody signed up to speak? Yes. We have five people signed to speak for the closed session. Okay. Per decorum at the city council meetings is in proper decorum is at the city council meetings imperative for in order for the public to remain informed about issues pertaining to city's business. The public comments portion of the meeting is an opportunity for the public to be heard and address those issues in a public forum. Disruptive behavior impeding or delaying our ability to conduct the council's business will not be tolerated. Will be taken for violations of this law. At this time, the city council will receive comments from members of the public regarding any topic, including items in the closed session agenda. Individuals wishing to provide a comment on items may do so in person by filling out a request to speak form delivered to the city clerk. All speakers are encouraged but not required to identify themselves by names. Please note that the Brown Act does not allow discussion or action on topics that are not on the agenda. Members of the public who would like to speak directly with the council member on an item not on the agenda may consider scheduling an appointment by contacting City Council administrative assistant at 714-536-5553 or emailing the entire city council at city.council at SurfCity-HB.org. Um, call them all. When you're called to the podium, please use both podiums. Cheryl Freak, Linda Mortimer, George Aguirre, Kathleen Kathleen, and Michelle Morgan. Because we have such an extensive closed session, we will be given one minute piece, please. Uh good afternoon, City Council. I'm going to have critical information regarding our state's voter roles and voter history from the 2024 general election. This information comes from extensive research conducted by a team of data experts at Unite for Freedom, a nationwide nonpartisan volunteer organization. Their team meticulously analyzed official election files from both federal and state sources. While I am not an official spokesperson for Unite for Freedom, I am a dedicated volunteer who is deeply concerned by the findings. Findings that are based exclusively on official state election data, our analysis of the certified results from both the 2022 and 2024 general election reveals that not all votes counted were valid and accurate under the law. These findings are substantial and warrant careful consideration. They have already been shared with state election officials and law enforcement agencies and have been submitted as evidence in federal court as part of an ongoing litigation by Unite for Freedom and other parties. Unite for Freedom is not alone in raising these concerns. Next speaker, please. Resolution for a legally valid 2026 general election, whereas free and fair elections from form the cornerstone of the Republic of the United States, as stated in Reynolds versus Sims 377 US 533, 1964. The right of suffrage can be denied by a debasement or dilution of the weight of a citizen's vote just as effectively as by wholly prohibiting free exercise of the franchise. Whereas election officials bear the responsibility to ensure elections remain accurate and free from manipulation. In Ray Choi 127 U.S. 731 1888, the United States Supreme Court affirmed that election officials must strictly adhere to federal and state laws governing process defining election misconduct as follows.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com