Mr. Amory Hanson
8102 Ellis Avenue
Apartment 121
Huntington Beach CA 92646
June 7, 2022
The Mayoress of Huntington Beach
2000 Main Street
Huntington Beach CA 92648
My Dear Madam Mayoress,
I would like to urge the Huntington Beach City Council to consider postponing Item XII, the appointment of Mr. Austin Edsell and Miss Catherine Johnson to the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board to the Huntington Beach City Council's Meeting on July 5, 2022.
For sometime now, the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board has been allowed to provide input on the applications submitted by applicants to join as boardmen. This was done prior to my and Mr. Zambrano's appointment on January 22, 2019. Unfortunately, city staff have since February 18, 2022, chosen to not release the applications received by the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board until the agenda for the Huntington Beach City Council's meeting where their appointment will be considered is released. This policy is in my opinion as an individual in violation of the California Public Records Act.
At the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board's Meeting on April 20, 2022, the boardmen, including myself, had an opportunity to express our concerns regarding the refusal to release the applications to Councilwoman Bolton. While I cannot speak for all of the members of the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board, I know based on my attendance at the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board's Meeting on April 20, 2022 as a boardman that all boardmen expressed a desire to have the applications released to the board so they could provide input on the applicants, as has been the process for the last 8 years. Based on the board's discussion, Councilwoman Bolton indicated she would speak with Mr. Joyce or, potentially upon his arrival, Mr. Zelinka, about seeing if the original process could potentially be done again the way it has been done for 8 years. Councilmen Bolton and Peterson also invited the 3 applicants to attend a meeting of the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board.
SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
Meeting Date: 6/7/22
Agenda item No.: 12(22-485)
Mr. Amory Hanson
8102 Ellis Avenue
Apartment 121
Huntington Beach CA 92646
At the May 18, 2022 meeting of the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board, we received no update on if the board would be able to read and provide input on the applicants. One applicant, Miss Johnson, attended the meeting, and I appreciate that she did so. Unfortunately, the two other applicants did not attend the meeting.
At this point, since Mr. Edsell and Miss Johnson's applications are now public record due to the release of the agenda for the Huntington Beach City Council's June 7, 2022 Meeting, and the third applicant failed to show up to the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board's meeting on May 19, 2022, the dispute regarding the applications is in my opinion as an individual, a matter that can be resolved at a later date.
Having said that, I would like to be able to provide input on the proposed applicants. While I cannot speak for all of the boardmen on the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board, I believe they would as well, based on our discussion at the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board's meeting on May 18, 2022. I therefore urge a postponement of these applications to the meeting on July 9, 2022 to allow the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board to provide input on the two applicants at the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board's meeting on June 15, 2022.
I am also concerned that Mr. Edsell did not attend the meeting on May 19, 2022. Applicants should attempt to attend a meeting of a deliberative assembly they are invited to attend regarding interest in serving on that particular deliberative assembly. Prior to my appointment, I did so, as did Mr. Zambrano, as did several applicants who ultimately chose not to serve. Since my appointment, Miss Johnson and several other applicants who chose not to serve have done so.
The Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board has had some boardmen, including Mr.
Edsell's predecessor, Mr. Epting, who did not attend regular meetings to the point where they were no longer able to continue serving. Mr. Edsell's decision to not attend the meeting on May 19, 2022 indicates to me that his service may potentially conclude in a similar way to his predecessor, Mr. Epting, though I certainly hope that will not be the case.
Mr. Amory Hanson
8102 Ellis Avenue
Apartment 121
Huntington Beach CA 92646
If the Huntington Beach City Council postpones Item XII to the Huntington Beach City Council's July 5, 2022 Meeting, Consideration might therefore be made by Councilmen Bolton and Peterson to invite Mr. Edsell to attend the June 15, 2022 Meeting of the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board, so that he may reaffirm his interest in serving on the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board.
Once again, I urge the Huntington Beach City Council to postpone Item XII to the Huntington Beach City Council's Meeting on July 5, 2022.
Sincerely Yours,
Mr. Amory Hanson
CC: The Honorable Michael Posey
CC: The Honorable Rhonda Bolton
CC: The Honorable Kimberly Buck Carr
CC: The Honorable Daniel Kalmick
CC: The Honorable Natalie Tomich Moser
CC: The Honorable Erik H. Peterson