HB City Council Issues

HOLDING ELECTED LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE

In February we sponsored a program on this extremely timely topic. HB is a hot spot right now, but other governmental entities are also vulnerable. In any case, the right thing to do being concerned citizens is to keep informed and act on issues we care about on behalf of ourselves and our community. The program slides are available by clicking here. Learn how to

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CITY COUNCIL UPDATES

At the July 15 Council Meeting, City Manager Travis Hopkins removed Be Well Item number 25-597 from the agenda.

The Council unanimously directed City staff to research Council Member Andrew Gruehl's idea to create a Community Garden with Multi-trophic Aquaculture (MTA).

The Council also unanimously approved to research the effects of kratom before voting on the agenda item calling for the Prohibition of the Sale and Distribution of Kratom. One public speaker who lives in Big Bear urged the Council not to pass the agenda item, stating that kratom has beneficial effects for people who are recovering from opiate addiction.

In a rare occurrence of having the Council act immediately on a public comment, Council Member Gracey Van der Mark and other Council Members decided to gather more data on kratom before moving forward on item 25-602, which called for an ordinance to prohibit and/or restrict the sale or distribution of kratom in Huntington Beach.

The Council also unanimously approved the item submitted by Council Member Don Kennedy, calling for Transparency for Taxpayers in Public Contracts.

In light of the recent revelation reported by Surf City Sentinel about new PTZ cams being installed in the Oak View neighborhood without bringing the item before a public City Council meeting, Kennedy's boast of transparency regarding Public Contracts appears to be an empty gesture. According to Surf City Sentinel, two project contracts for these cameras were signed by Mayor Pat Burns on the same day in April 2025. Multiple contracts under $100K would not require approval at a Council Meeting.

There will be no city council meeting on August 5, 2025, due to a lack of quorum.

LIBRARY ISSUES

Both HB petitions to stop the book banning group and to not privitize library services were successful. After the city council chose to put the issues up for city wide election, we mounted a campaign and won. The city council will now have to accept the result of the vote. Will the library be left alone? Probably not. Library patrons have always had the right to challenges books that they thought were "objectionable." Up to last year there had only been five challenges; four being from the same person. Look for challenges to go up, more challenges to young adult books, sex education, and LGBTQ+ issues.

IMMIGRATION ISSUES

In defiance of state law, the HB City Council voted to declare HB to be a "non-sancuary" city. See: www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2025-01-22/huntington-beach-city-council-declares-city-non-sanctuary-friendly-to-trump-policies also voiceofoc.org/2025/01/huntington-beach-disregards-californias-sanctuary-laws-directs-police-to-work-with-ice/?sourceid=1043933&utm_campaign=morning_report&emci=85e8c1de-a9d9-ef11-88f8-0022482a9579&emdi=e0f639ab-24db-ef11-88f8-0022482a9579&ceid=195536 There might be possible actions against the OakView community. Stay alert.

VOTER ID LEGISLATION

Our former State Senator Dave Min's bill SB 1174 has been enacted into law. The bill prohibits local governments from imposing voter identification (ID) requirements in local elections and reinforces the State of California's exclusive jurisdiction on the matter. Our city council might still try to hold local city elections that would not be run by the Orange Country Registrar of Voters.

REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT

Huntington Beach will be in court once again this August for a jury trial. This time, the City is defending its use of the “at-large” election system. The plaintiffs allege that the City's current system, which allows for residents to vote for as many candidates as there are open seats, disenfranchises minority voters and city council candidates. The California Voting Rights Act 2001 is the basis for the argument for the case. The plaintiffs hope to see a switch to a “district-based” election system where the city would be divided into districts and residents who live in a district would vote only for candidates who reside in their district.

Multiple cities such as Irvine, Anaheim, Aliso Viejo among others in OC and LA Counties have switched to the district-based election system. Santa Monica is one city which is fighting the move and by some reports, is paying dearly for it with current cost to the city at $40 million. (from post at ProtectHB)

Also See article: laist.com/news/politics/a-jury-trial-could-force-huntington-beach-to-switch-to-by-district-elections

SYMPHONY OF FLOWERS LAWSUIT

Protect HB filed a lawsuit this Spring to stop the HB City Council from enacting a three year contract for a light show at Central Park. A court date has been set for August.

LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS!!!

Eliminated celebration of Black History month and Women's Rights month and others substituting them for HB historical events. See: voiceofoc.org/2023/12/huntington-beach-nixes-black-history-month-other-ethnic-celebrations/?emci=fbbc8c29-019f-ee11-bea1-002248223f36&emdi=8b638610-409f-ee11-bea1-002248223f36&ceid=195536 See statement from State Senator Dave Min below.

Just when HATE CRIME is on the rise HB eliminated the Human Relations Committee which was established 25 years ago. See: voiceofoc.org/2023/09/new-report-shows-hate-crimes-and-incidents-continue-increasing-in-orange-county/

CITY COUNCIL AGENDAS FOLLOW BELOW.

The agenda for all city council meetings are found on the city website at: huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=36680&GUID=BEFA9BEC-D352-4133-B594-8F0E324DF248 Regretably the documents cannot be individually linked at this time.

PRESS COVERAGE

Go to From the Press page sites.google.com/view/orange-coast-huddle/voter-engagement/from-the-press

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