OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Huntington Beach City Council Meeting – March 17, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, March 17, 2026
BodyHuntington Beach, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, March 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:41:56

Transcript — Verbatim
1:13

Financing authority to order.

1:14

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

1:20

Councilman Gruel?

1:21

Here.

1:21

Councilman Kennedy?

1:23

Here.

1:23

Mayor Pro Tem Twiny?

1:25

Here.

1:25

Mayor McKeon.

1:26

Here.

1:26

Councilman Burns.

1:28

Present.

1:28

Councilwoman Vandermark?

1:30

Here.

1:30

Councilman Williams?

1:31

Here.

1:32

All present.

1:33

Madam Clerk, do we have any supplemental communications?

1:37

We have no supplemental communications for closed session.

1:41

Madam Clerk, do we have anyone signed up to speak on closed session items?

1:45

We have no one signed up to speak.

1:47

All right.

1:48

Including closed session is Conference of Labor Negotiators Government Code Section 54957.

1:59

Also in attendance, Marissa Sir, Assistant City Manager, Mike Vigliata, City Attorney, and Zach Zee, Acting Chief Financial Officer, Employee Organizations, the Police Management Association, and the Huntington Beach Police Officers Association.

2:12

Council to have a motion and a second to recess the closed session.

2:15

Motion.

2:16

All right, recess the closed session.

3:47

I'd like to reconvene the regular meeting of the City Council Public Finance and Authority.

3:51

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

3:55

Councilman Gruell.

3:57

Here.

3:58

Councilman Kennedy?

3:59

Here.

4:00

Mayor Pro Temptwini?

4:01

Here.

4:02

Mayor McKeon?

4:03

Here.

4:04

Councilman Burns.

4:06

Present.

4:06

Councilwoman Vandermark?

4:08

Here.

4:08

Councilman Williams?

4:09

Here.

4:09

All present.

4:10

Thank you.

4:11

Tonight's invocation will be given by Huntington Beach Fire and Police Chaplain, Roger Wing.

4:25

We come before you at this meeting and in an attitude of humility and gratitude, open to your leading and your guiding.

4:33

We thank you for the opportunity that we have to gather together in service to our community.

4:39

We recognize that leadership carries both responsibility and influence.

4:44

And we ask for your guidance over every decision that's made here tonight.

4:48

Grant wisdom to the members of this council as they deliberate deliberate on matters that affect the lives, safety, and well-being of the people they represent.

5:00

Give them clarity of thought, patience in their discussions, and a spirit of cooperation.

5:05

Help them to listen carefully, speak respectively, and seek solutions that promote justice, fairness, and the common good.

5:13

As the warm weather comes, we ask for your protection and safety for the many visitors who will be coming to enjoy all the activities and amenities that Huntington Beach provides.

5:23

Please keep our city and our beaches safe, and may everyone who visits leave our city with an enriched experience.

5:30

Lord, we ask that you would bless this city and all who call it home.

5:34

Watch over our families, our neighborhoods, our businesses, and those who serve our community each day.

5:40

We ask a special blessing for the wisdom, strength, and safety of our first responders who are serving in this heightened time of security.

5:49

Give them and our keep them in our community safe, we pray.

5:53

May the decisions made here tonight reflect integrity, responsibility, and a sincere desire to serve others.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning and Zoning███████████████████████████27%
Parks and Recreation████████████████████20%
Public Engagement████████8%
Community Engagement███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Economic Development██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Housing and Community Development████4%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Huntington Beach City Council Public Finance Authority Meeting – March 17, 2026

The Huntington Beach City Council met on March 17, 2026, for a regular meeting that included a closed session, public comments, a study session on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership funding, a public hearing on an appeal of the Huntington Club remodel and bungalows, and council items including declaring Sugar the Surfing Dog Day and transferring authority for conditional use permits (CUPs) and variances. All council members were present. Key decisions included a 6-0 vote to continue the Huntington Club appeal for 30 days and a 7-0 vote to direct staff to report on the zoning administrator's CUP authority.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 16 through 21 were approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Thirteen speakers addressed the council.
  • Max Daffron (Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce) expressed concern that item 22 (transfer of CUP authority) could hinder business entry and proposed a listening session.
  • Tim Geddes opposed item 22, calling it a "power grab" and questioning transparency.
  • Leah Theodore (former Miss California) presented her children's book project "Baldi's America" and asked for community support.
  • Brian Thenis (Planning Commissioner) supported item 22, arguing that CUPs are discretionary and should be decided by a commission, not a single administrator.
  • Ann Palmer (Planning Commissioner) supported the Huntington Club project but noted that the planning commission worked hard on conditions.
  • Amory Hanson supported item 22 for ensuring fair hearings and multiple perspectives.
  • Catherine Goddard provided feedback on the library services commission meeting, noting confusion about the report's purpose.
  • Michael Selna urged support for California Senate Bill 868 (plug-in solar) to benefit renters.
  • Russ Sneal (humorous comments) asked for examples of zoning administrator overreach.
  • Bon Gomes (Marine Corps veteran) proposed a performance and recreation campus at the former gun range site.
  • Several speakers, including Patricia Gayardo (Braille Institute), Meredith Randall (Golden West College), Debbie Kylie (Republic Services), and Sean Wood (Kiwanis), promoted the upcoming Easter Family Fun Day.
  • Jason Schmidt (City Treasurer) announced investment scam classes.
  • A speaker expressed concerns about voter fraud and the SAVE Act, criticizing the council's direction.

Discussion Items

Study Session: 2026-27 CDBG and HOME Funding

  • Housing Manager Charles Kovac presented the proposed budget, estimating $1.1 million in CDBG and $500,000 in HOME funds.
  • The Citizen Participation Advisory Board (CPAB) recommended funding for seven public service organizations out of nine applicants, totaling $161,000.
  • Council members discussed the possibility of reallocating unused HOME administration funds to capital projects.
  • Staff will present the final action plan for a public hearing on May 5, 2026.

Public Hearing: Appeal of Huntington Club Remodel and Bungalows (Item 14)

  • The project involves demolishing the existing tennis clubhouse and building a new 12,046 sq ft clubhouse, pool, and four bungalows (two lofts) for short-term member accommodations.
  • The appellant (Cheryl Gates and others) argued that transient lodging is inconsistent with open space zoning and that the CEQA exemption (Class 32) was improperly applied.
  • The applicant (Jonathan Bailey and Robert O'Hill) stated the project fits the zoning as an ancillary use, will generate tax revenue, and includes upgraded lighting for six unlit tennis courts.
  • Council members expressed concerns about the lack of an operating agreement with the tenant (Camaraderie Clubs), the lighting condition compliance, and the financial projections.
  • Councilman Kennedy noted that the planning commission did not rely on the $500,000 tax revenue claim.
  • Mayor McKeon made a motion to continue the item for 30 days to allow the applicant to meet with the appellant, resolve the lighting violation, and provide a framework for an operating agreement.
  • The motion passed 6-0 (Councilman Burns present, not voting? Actually, all seven present, but one recused? The transcript shows all seven present, but the vote was 6-0. Possibly one abstention? The transcript says "Item passes 6-0" after roll call with all present. This may be an error; we report as stated.)
  • The item will return on April 21, 2026.

Council Item: Sugar the Surfing Dog Day (Item 23)

  • Ryan (owner) presented Sugar, a champion surfing dog, and requested December 5th be declared Sugar the Surfing Dog Day.
  • The council unanimously approved the resolution (7-0).

City Manager's Report: Refuse Rate Adjustments (Item 15)

  • Deborah Jabinsky previewed upcoming rate increases due to a new county landfill agreement (85% increase, phased over three years) and state mandate SB 1383 (organic recycling).
  • Residential rates are proposed to increase by $7.58 per month starting July 2026, with additional phased increases in 2027 and 2028.
  • A public hearing is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
  • Council members noted that the increases are mandated by the state and not city-initiated.

Council Item: Transfer of Authority for CUPs and Variances (Item 22)

  • Councilman Burns proposed shifting authority from the zoning administrator to the planning commission, citing concerns about overbuilding and community impact.
  • Several council members supported a fact-finding approach rather than an immediate change.
  • Mayor McKeon moved to direct staff to report back by the April 21 meeting with: a list of all CUPs currently handled by the zoning administrator, recommendations for code updates to eliminate some CUP requirements, and a timeline for a potential fee study.
  • The motion passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Consent calendar (Items 16-21) – 7-0.
  • Approved: Declaration of December 5th as Sugar the Surfing Dog Day – 7-0.
  • Continued to April 21, 2026: Public hearing on Huntington Club remodel (Item 14) – 6-0.
  • Directed staff: Report on CUP authority (Item 22) – 7-0.
  • No action taken: The city manager's report on refuse rates was informational only; a public hearing will occur May 19, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Financing authority to order. Madam Clerk, may I have the roll call, please? Councilman Gruel? Here. Councilman Kennedy? Here. Mayor Pro Tem Twiny? Here. Mayor McKeon. Here. Councilman Burns. Present. Councilwoman Vandermark? Here. Councilman Williams? Here. All present. Madam Clerk, do we have any supplemental communications? We have no supplemental communications for closed session. Madam Clerk, do we have anyone signed up to speak on closed session items? We have no one signed up to speak. All right. Including closed session is Conference of Labor Negotiators Government Code Section 54957. Also in attendance, Marissa Sir, Assistant City Manager, Mike Vigliata, City Attorney, and Zach Zee, Acting Chief Financial Officer, Employee Organizations, the Police Management Association, and the Huntington Beach Police Officers Association. Council to have a motion and a second to recess the closed session. Motion. All right, recess the closed session. I'd like to reconvene the regular meeting of the City Council Public Finance and Authority. Madam Clerk, may I have the roll call, please? Councilman Gruell. Here. Councilman Kennedy? Here. Mayor Pro Temptwini? Here. Mayor McKeon? Here. Councilman Burns. Present. Councilwoman Vandermark? Here. Councilman Williams? Here. All present. Thank you. Tonight's invocation will be given by Huntington Beach Fire and Police Chaplain, Roger Wing. We come before you at this meeting and in an attitude of humility and gratitude, open to your leading and your guiding. We thank you for the opportunity that we have to gather together in service to our community. We recognize that leadership carries both responsibility and influence. And we ask for your guidance over every decision that's made here tonight.

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