OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Huntington Beach City Council Regular Meeting - December 16, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, December 16, 2025
BodyHuntington Beach, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:41:26
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

So as soon as it's safe.

1:38

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

1:43

City Clerk, may I have the roll call, please?

1:47

Councilman Grohl?

1:49

Here.

1:50

Councilman Kennedy?

1:51

Here.

1:51

Mayor Pro Tempt Whiny.

1:53

That mess you up, didn't it?

1:54

Here.

1:57

Mayor McKeon.

1:58

Here.

1:59

Councilman Burns.

2:00

Here.

2:00

Councilman Councilwoman Vandermark?

2:02

Here.

2:03

Councilman Williams.

2:04

All present.

2:06

City Clerk, do we have any supplemental communications?

2:09

We have no supplemental communications for this portion of the meeting.

2:12

Do we have any sign up to anyone signed up to speak on the closed session items?

2:16

We have two people signed up to speak for the closed session items.

2:19

Okay.

2:21

The city council will now receive public comments for closed session only.

2:24

When your name is called, please approach, use both podiums, state your name and organization for the record.

2:30

Russ Neal and Tim Geddes.

2:38

Mayor.

2:39

Yes.

2:40

Much time.

2:41

Three.

2:41

Three.

2:42

Three minutes.

2:52

Go ahead, Russ.

2:53

So we're getting 30 minutes here.

2:56

Three minutes, gentlemen.

2:56

Oh, just okay, three.

2:58

Uh, good evening, uh, mayor and city council members.

3:03

My name is Russell Neal.

3:04

I live in Huntington Beach.

3:06

Uh, items five and six relate to our fight for control of our police force and our municipal elections.

3:16

As a charter city under the California Constitution, Article Eleven, Section Five, Subsection B, these are our explicit and plenary powers.

3:31

It comes as no surprise, however, that our state appeals court would act as the reliable goalkeepers for their party while ignoring the Constitution's plain language.

3:45

This is the nature of a one party state.

3:50

Neither can we expect the federal courts to swoop in and save us.

3:56

Nor are we surprised that an element in our own city would cheer on this state despotism, just begging for the change.

4:08

I, on the other hand, fully support the city's fight for our constitutional rights.

4:15

Local control over local matters is an important feature of limited government, a bulwark against the consolidation of power in the central government, just as important as the separation of powers, and the same principle found in the federal nature of our U.S.

4:40

Constitution.

4:43

The time has come to combine the legal fight with a political one.

4:50

Other cities, even Los Angeles, are beginning to see the danger of letting the state take total control of local matters.

5:02

We need to combine with them and move from a strictly legal resistance to the political resistance that will ultimately be necessary.

5:16

A collective push for the voter ID and our neighborhood voices initiatives is a good place to start.

5:27

Thanks, Russ.

5:35

My name is Tim Geddes.

5:36

First of all, I would like to um congratulate Mayor McKeon on his first full meeting of the uh the last meeting of the year.

5:46

I would like to request, in the interest of full transparency, that a report be made by the city attorney regarding all co closed session items relating to litigation involving the state of California.

6:00

In the in the uh interest of uh in the in the wake of numerous court losses, our citizens deserve the right to know the status of all lawsuits, their costs in time, effort, and expenses, and the risks we face in penalties, fines, and restrictions by continuing to pursue our failed legal course courses to date.

6:25

Thank you.

6:29

All right, now including in closed session, we're gonna have conference with labor negotiators, government government government code section five four nine five point six, agency designated representative Travis Hopkins, city manager, also in attendance, Marissa Sir, assistant city manager, Mike Vigliotta, City Attorney, and Zach.

6:46

I'm not even gonna try to pronounce your last name.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture██████████████████████████26%
Community Engagement███████████████████19%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Safety█████████9%
Economic Development████████8%
Pending Litigation█████5%
Animal Welfare███3%
Homelessness███3%
Environmental Protection███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Huntington Beach City Council Regular Meeting - December 16, 2025

The Huntington Beach City Council met on December 16, 2025, for a regular meeting that included ceremonial items, public hearings, study sessions, and consent calendar approvals. The meeting began with an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance led by a veteran, and recognition of new businesses. The council addressed a resolution declaring September 18 as Colby IPA Day, approved a zoning amendment for a commercial development with a car wash, and discussed the potential co-location of the Huntington Beach International Surf Museum at the Main Street Library. Public comments covered a range of topics including the surf museum, traffic safety, and council actions.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved items 16 through 22 and 24 through 33, including updated versions of items 18, 31, and 32 as amended by supplemental communication. Motion carried 6-0.
  • Item 23 was pulled by Councilmember Burns for discussion. He highlighted the grant's provision for pre-screening cancer tests for firefighters, noting early detection saves lives. The item was then approved unanimously 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Closed Session Comments (before reconvening):
    • Russell Neal expressed full support for the city's legal fight for local control over police force and elections, urging a combined legal and political resistance.
    • Tim Geddes requested a report from the city attorney on all closed-session litigation involving the state of California, including costs and risks.
  • Community Event Announcements:
    • Tim Geddes announced the "Longest Night" memorial services on December 21, 2025, honoring unhoused residents who died on the streets of Orange County.
  • Public Hearing Item 12 (Holly Seacliff Specific Plan Amendment):
    • Planning Commissioner Brian Thienes spoke in support, noting the planning commission unanimously approved the project and that the design review board conditioned the project to return for final design approval.
  • Agendized Items (Item 14 - Surf Museum Co-location):
    • Diane Bentley opposed, citing incompatibility between library quiet study and museum activity, security and liability issues, and the need for a beachfront location.
    • Chris Byrne (Roz Price) spoke in support, calling it a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the cultural heart of downtown.
    • Charlie Jackson opposed, questioning the benefits of the downlink technology expenditure (item 15) and the lack of cost-benefit analysis.
    • David Reinerson opposed, asking why the city would take on liability for private collections, noting the ISM was behind on rent, and questioning the timing before the library master plan was finalized.
    • Chris Rini opposed, citing the museum's low space utilization (only 20% of current space used), infrastructure costs not accounted for, and that the museum is not unique (one of five in California).
    • Peter "PT" Townend (Executive Director of ISM) spoke in support, noting that 50% of the library is underutilized and that the move would create a world-class surf museum to attract visitors for the 2028 Olympics.
    • Pat Goodman asked for more information and urged working within the library master plan.
    • Perry Clithrow expressed support for honoring Colby IPA but urged action on traffic safety infrastructure; also noted the library property could house a new building for both.
    • Chris Bryne spoke in support, citing increased foot traffic and cultural hub potential.
  • Non-Agendized Items:
    • Christine Browning criticized the council for not listening to voters and for bullying Councilman Williams at a previous meeting; demanded public comments be placed earlier.
    • Ken Inoue defended Councilman Williams, noting he asked for cost information and consideration of public comments before votes, and urged unity.
    • Elaine Bauer Keeley (Friends of the Library) offered an $825,000 grant over three years for library collections, asking only to remain in the library to generate funds and let staff buy books.
    • Diane Carpenter corrected the Library of Congress example used by Councilman Kennedy, noting the library part is not public.
    • Chris Rini criticized the council for not accepting the Friends of the Library grant and for calling volunteers "old women who knit"; questioned the details of the PT collection and liability.
    • Tim Geddes thanked the Huntington Beach Fire Department for responding to his wife's fall earlier in the year; supported the mayor's restoration of public comment stability but asked for clarity on time limits.
    • Brother Stephen Gerard Sidlovsky advocated for a resolution declaring Huntington Beach a "safe pre-born personhood city."
    • Denora Echevera appealed for support for housing (coastland subsidy) and praised the council's work on public safety.

Discussion Items

  • Colby IPA Day (Item 11): The council unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-78, declaring each September 18 as Colby IPA Day in Huntington Beach, honoring the late surfer and his legacy of aloha. The vote was 7-0.
  • Holly Seacliff Specific Plan Amendment (Item 12): The council held a public hearing for a general plan amendment, zoning text amendment, and environmental assessment addendum to allow a commercial development (fuel station and car wash) at 19026 Golden West Street. Staff presented the project, which was approved by the planning commission. Councilmembers asked questions about water reclamation and design changes. The council voted 6-0 to approve (Mayor McKeon recused himself due to a conflict of interest).
  • Adoption of 2025 California Construction Codes (Item 13): The council adopted Ordinance 4343 without discussion, voting 7-0.
  • Study Session: Huntington Beach International Surf Museum Co-location (Item 14): Staff presented a feasibility study for co-locating the surf museum within underutilized space at the Main Street Library. The proposal includes dedicated and shared spaces, with no city funds for relocation (privately funded via Visit HB). Council discussion noted benefits (cultural hub, increased foot traffic) and concerns (noise, parking, compatibility with library function). No vote was taken; this was an informational item.
  • Study Session: Downlink Technology for Public Safety (Item 15): Lieutenant Archer presented the exploration of downlink technology for streaming real-time video from the police helicopter. The project would equip all three helicopters with Starlink and cellular capability at a total cost of about $310,000, with potential for cost recovery through contracts with other cities. Councilmembers noted the value for fire, marine safety, and police operations. No vote was taken; this was an informational item.

Key Outcomes

  • Closed Session Report: The city attorney was unanimously authorized to file an appeal in the case City of Huntington Beach v. State of California (USDC case 8-25-CV-00026-SPDX).
  • Adoption of Colby IPA Day: Resolution 2025-78 passed 7-0, establishing September 18 as Colby IPA Day.
  • Approval of Zoning Amendment (Item 12): Resolution 2025-74, Ordinance 4345, and Resolution 2025-73 passed 6-0, allowing a commercial development with a car wash on Golden West Street.
  • Adoption of Construction Codes: Ordinance 4343 passed 7-0, adopting the 2025 California Construction Codes.
  • Consent Calendar Approval: Items 16-22 and 24-33 approved 6-0, with item 23 (fire grant) also approved 6-0 after being pulled for discussion.
  • No decisions on study session items (Surf Museum and Downlink Technology); these were informational and will be brought back for potential action later.
  • Councilmember Williams' Rebuttal: He addressed a prior claim that staff were afraid to meet with him, stating the city manager confirmed no such concerns existed. He also criticized moving public comments to the end of the agenda, calling it a disservice to free speech.
  • Mayor Announced Agenda Changes: New order includes pet adoption, business highlights, public hearings, public comments on agendized items, and then non-agendized comments at the end.

Meeting Transcript

So as soon as it's safe. I'd like to call the meeting of the City Council Public Financing Authority to order. City Clerk, may I have the roll call, please? Councilman Grohl? Here. Councilman Kennedy? Here. Mayor Pro Tempt Whiny. That mess you up, didn't it? Here. Mayor McKeon. Here. Councilman Burns. Here. Councilman Councilwoman Vandermark? Here. Councilman Williams. All present. City Clerk, do we have any supplemental communications? We have no supplemental communications for this portion of the meeting. Do we have any sign up to anyone signed up to speak on the closed session items? We have two people signed up to speak for the closed session items. Okay. The city council will now receive public comments for closed session only. When your name is called, please approach, use both podiums, state your name and organization for the record. Russ Neal and Tim Geddes. Mayor. Yes. Much time. Three. Three. Three minutes. Go ahead, Russ. So we're getting 30 minutes here. Three minutes, gentlemen. Oh, just okay, three. Uh, good evening, uh, mayor and city council members. My name is Russell Neal. I live in Huntington Beach. Uh, items five and six relate to our fight for control of our police force and our municipal elections. As a charter city under the California Constitution, Article Eleven, Section Five, Subsection B, these are our explicit and plenary powers. It comes as no surprise, however, that our state appeals court would act as the reliable goalkeepers for their party while ignoring the Constitution's plain language. This is the nature of a one party state. Neither can we expect the federal courts to swoop in and save us. Nor are we surprised that an element in our own city would cheer on this state despotism, just begging for the change. I, on the other hand, fully support the city's fight for our constitutional rights. Local control over local matters is an important feature of limited government, a bulwark against the consolidation of power in the central government, just as important as the separation of powers, and the same principle found in the federal nature of our U.S. Constitution. The time has come to combine the legal fight with a political one. Other cities, even Los Angeles, are beginning to see the danger of letting the state take total control of local matters.

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