CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
CITY COUNCIL MEETING – COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM REPORT
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Mayor Tony Strickland
DATE: January 17, 2023
SUBJECT: DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR A PUBLIC MEMORIAL HONORING DON ANDREWS
MACALLISTER
On December 2, 2022, Huntington Beach lost an iconic pillar of our history and community. Don Andrews MacAllister was known to many as “The Mayor” and “The Ambassador of Huntington Beach.” Among many other local community groups and organizations, he was greatly known for his significant contributions to our surfing community.
In addition to serving on City Council from 1978 through 1994, and as mayor in 1979 and 1983, Don MacAllister embraced the surfing culture and committed himself to the support and promotion of Surf City USA on a local, national and international level. He was instrumental in planning the world’s largest surfboard that broke a world record in 2015. Don was also a founding member of the Surfing Walk of Fame and participated on the Board of Directors for 25 years, and he passionately served throughout the years on the International Surfing Museum’s Board of Directors.
In an effort to acknowledge Don’s dedication and contributions to this community, I wish to recommend a public memorial to be established at the Huntington Beach Pier in his honor. I believe it would be most appropriate to engage the Community and Library Services Commission and our partners at the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council, who have expressed strong interest in supporting this endeavor, as with other memorials in the past. It is suggested a bronze plaque be installed at Tower Zero. This location is also the site of memorial plaques for Father Christian Mondor, Pastor Blaine “Sumo” Sato and Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti, all beloved members of the community who have made a tremendous impact throughout Surf CIty.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Direct staff to work with the Community and Library Services Commission and leadership of the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council to develop a proposal for a public memorial honoring Don MacAllister on Tower Zero. Return to City Council within 90 days to present the proposal for consideration.