From: Judy Brusslan
To: [email protected]
Subject: Supplemental Communications for HB City Council Meeting on May 7. 2024 Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 5:42:34 PM
Attachments: image001.png
image002.png
I would like to comment on two agenda items.
First, I urge approval of 24-337. I agree that non-commercial signs should be prohibited in our public rights-of-way. This would stop the competitive rush for wall space and resident complaints that force code enforcement when signs are placed in dangerous locations or are torn down or defaced. Non-commercial signs should be displayed on private property. Private citizens vote and are welcome to respectively share their opinions.
Second, I urge approval of 24-350. The proposed privatization of the Huntington Beach library system has no clear justification and will harm our libraries while costing taxpayers more money. This decision should be brought to a vote by the citizens of Huntington Beach. The City Council does not take into account the voices of people who provide supplemental communication and/or attend council meetings. The ratio of comments opposed to privatization are 4:1 over those in favor. I support a vote of the people for our libraries.
Thank you,
Dr. Judy Brusslan
Professor of Biological Sciences
Bridges to the Doctorate PI
California State University, Long Beach
AAAS Fellow
5/7/2024
29 (24-337)
From: Michele Burgess
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Agenda Items 29 and 30 for 5/7/2024 Meeting
Date: Friday, May 3, 2024 7:17:35 PM
To the City Councilmembers:
A man, a complete stranger, walks up to my 77-year-old friend who’s attending a peaceful sit-in at Central Library and asks her to tell him about her vagina. Meanwhile, an obnoxious pony-tailed man wanders around with a megaphone bellowing that the protesters (many of them senior citizens) are pedophiles and perverts. When the police arrive, he loudly asserts his First Amendment rights, tells the officers he had a 3-hour meeting with Chief Parra, his wife works in the City Attorney’s office, and he was assured that he can say whatever he wants. Apparently, he didn’t mention it would be through a megaphone, which (according to the two officers) is prohibited.
At a recent City Council meeting, several raucous people clap and cheer when a tearful long-time librarian announces her resignation due to ongoing harassment by ignorant people calling her pedophile, pervert, groomer.
A candidate for City Council waves around an award-winning children’s book and yells into the mic, loudly insinuating that a sitting council member is a pedophile for reading the book to his 4-year-old daughter.
A Proud Boy verbally attacks a sitting council member in the audience at a Library Commission meeting, calling her names and shouting obscenities (and is not removed). This same Proud Boy rambles incoherently at other Council meetings, showing explicit visuals and flipping off people in the audience on his way out. Decorum? Not so much.
These people obviously feel comfortable behaving this way because they’re mirroring the intolerance, bigotry, and conspiracy theories perpetrated by the majority four on our City Council, and appear to have their tacit approval. Is that what you really want to be known for? Numerous articles in numerous news outlets seem to think so as we get an awful lot of awful coverage. You should read it sometime to see how Huntington Beach is really viewed now. It’s not pretty.
The so-called “press conference” certainly didn’t improve our image.
Gracey whined about how Mexicans are certainly smart enough to get a voter ID. Strickland seemed to be stumping for a California Senate seat.
Burns ranted about “conc... reeducation camps” in our future if Governor Newsom has his way. McKeown was a no-show. And the minority three weren’t even invited to participate. But Mr. Gates was there, bloviating about how we’ll fight for our charter city rights on voter ID, now that we’ve once again been sued by the State. I live for the day when we’re not making news for all the wrong reasons.
Now to the two agenda items I’m most interested in.
Agenda Item 29 — Amending the Sign Code. Let’s not head toward November with yet another overabundant clutter of giant, brightly colored, distracting campaign signs plastered over every inch of open space along every street and highway. The months leading up to the primary election were the very definition of visual blight. Candidates for the November election should never have been allowed to put up signs in January. Mr.
Gates clearly overstepped in a very weaselly manner by allowing this travesty, ignoring the true intent of the city code regarding campaign signs (stating it says an election, not specifying which election). I strongly urge you to pass Agenda Item 29 to update the sign code for non-commercial signs in the public right-of-way. We’ve been talking about this for years, now is the time to finally do something about it. And while you’re at it, revise that item to specify that campaign signs can be posted only 50 days before the event (election) to which the signs relate. That's a no-brainer.
Agenda Item 30 — Privatization of the Libraries. There’s no good reason to rush into library privatization, or even an RFP for it. Have you actually done any research? Hundreds of people have written opposition letters that you seem to totally ignore. For a step this large, it makes sense to put it to a vote of the people. You received positive input from only 26% of registered HB voters, in a primary election with very low turnout, which is definitely not a majority. The wise, prudent, fair thing to do would be to put it to a vote in November, and get everyone’s opinion.
Four people should not be taking it upon themselves to make such a drastic change to our library, against all common sense and certainly not to save a little bit of money or to punish people who don’t agree with you on censoring what we can read, or allow our children to read. If you think you’re doing the right thing, you shouldn’t be afraid to put it on the November ballot. The cowardly way would be to stubbornly push ahead, ram it through, damn the consequences. Which will you choose? Ms. Michele Burgess
HB resident since 1961
From: Paula Schaefer
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected]; Gates, Michael Subject: May 7 , 2024; Agenda Item # 29 VOTE YES ON 24-337 Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 1:54:56 PM
Mayor and Council Members,
I encourage you to vote YES on 24-337 and remove section (2) from the City's current sign code.
The City's public rights-of-way was nearly obliterated by campaign signs during the runup to the March 2024 election and is clear evidence of the blight produced by the failure of the City's Sign Code to effectively manage this situation.
Additionally, the City Attorney's failure to provide a memorandum - as requested - that accords with the recent Supreme Court rulings and still has not produced language to amend the Sign Code shows an inattentiveness to doing the work of the City Attorney's office.
In not doing this, the residents of the City were bombarded with huge signs of candidates for an election that is still SIX months away.
Please vote yes on 24-337 to improve the appearance of the City. --
Paula Schaefer
From: Celeste Rybicki
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: In support of items 29 and 30
Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 8:23:01 AM
Hello,
Please vote yes on agenda items 29 and 30. The campaign signs were absolute chaos this year so let’s just get that under control. And the issue of privatizing the library, while just appalling to many of us, is undeniably being rushed through unnecessarily. Just slow this whole process down please and let the citizens have a say! I cannot believe that any of you would take a look at all the possible “benefits” and all the probable “cons” and still come to the conclusion that it’s the right thing to do for our city. Please just slow it down.
Thank you,
Celeste
From: Paula Shawa
To: [email protected]
Subject: Yes on Item 29 - amend sign code / City Council agenda for May 7 meeting Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 6:04:32 PM
Yes! Let’s clean up the sign blight issue.
Paula Shawa, Huntington Beach
From: Dale Martinez
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 29 for May 7 meeting
Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 6:42:40 PM
Hello City Council Members
I am writing in support of Member Kalmicks Agenda item #29 regarding non-commercial signage in public places.
Frankly, I have always thought that we go overboard with them.
I was frankly amazed that we already have guidelines that do not allow signage in the median or dividers. Obviously this is not enforced. I see them all of the time (Warner Ave. corridor, for instance.)
Please support the plan to do something about the signage in time for the next election cycle and put some teeth in it to enforce it.
Thank you
--
Dale Martinez
714-717-7235
1 From: Leslie Golson <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 3, 2024 4:22 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org>; supplementalcomm@surfcity‐hb.org Subject: Agenda Items 24‐337 and 24‐350
To Huntington Beach City Council,
I am in favor of Agenda Item 24-337, the sign code update. Campaign signs have been a blight on our city for far too long. Please follow examples of other nearby cities by restricting the size campaign signs and limiting them to private property only.
I am in favor of Agenda Item 24-350. Let voters decide whether they want to privatize the library on the November 2024 ballot, and postpone the RFP process until after the vote.
I would also like to honor the life and work of Shirley Dettloff, who gave of herself tirelessly to the city of Huntington Beach.
Thank you,
Leslie Golson
Resident
From: Estanislau, Robin
To: Esquivel, Juan
Subject: FW: Opposition to outsourcing public libraries Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 2:47:24 PM
From: Fikes, Cathy <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 6, 2024 2:34 PM
To: Agenda Alerts <[email protected]>
Subject: FW: Opposition to outsourcing public libraries
From: HAROLD AND CHERYL COOK <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 6, 2024 11:35 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Opposition to outsourcing public libraries
Our family strongly opposes outsourcing of our Huntington Beach libraries. We strongly support our PUBLIC Huntington Beach libraries. Our libraries are staffed with dedicated, highly knowledgeable and with many years of invaluable experience. It would be a disservice to the people of our city, and this includes people of all ages. We want to have the right to make our own personal decisions about what books we want and not left up to amateurs or narrow minded individuals. We would like to see this put on the November ballot so that we have the right to make our wishes known.
We request that you do away with the practice of allowing campaigns signs in the public rights-of-way. We request that this be added to the official minutes of the 5/7/24 council meeting.
From: Chris Varga
To: [email protected]
Subject: City Council Meeting 5/7/24
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 3:57:44 PM
Comment to City Council Meeting 5/7/24
Agenda Item 29 (24-337) – I support this item. Anything to reduce campaign signs I’ll support. Stop trashing the city every election cycle.
Agenda Item 30 (24-350) – Let the people decide! I support The Charter amendment to decide against outsourcing and terminate any effort on a RFP for outsourcing. Keep the Libraries public run.
Thanks,,
Chris Varga
Huntington Beach
From: Linda Moon
To: [email protected]
Subject: May 7, 2024 City Council Agenda Items 29 and 30 Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 5:40:22 PM
I am writing in support of City Council Agenda Items 29 and 30.
Item 29 would allow a much needed (although still minimal) reduction of the election sign blight that has plagued Huntington Beach for the last 40 years. Since the city's sign ordinance was severely loosened in the 1980's, Huntington Beach has been among only a few cities in California to allow political signage in public right-of-ways. This allowance has created a situation in which signage has become not only annoying but a dangerous distraction to drivers. The signs often obscure traffic signage and distract drivers' attention from pedestrians, bicyclists and general traffic conditions. Restriction of signage as proposed is more than reasonable.
Item 30 would require a public vote regarding any privatization or outsourcing of library management services. Huntington Beach's library system is the soul of our community. Its public management is critical to maintaining optimal services. Libraries are community resources and not profit making institutions. Their mission is to provide broad professionally staffed educational and information resources to the community. Residents of the city benefit from having the libraries providing diverse resources to the public. It is reasonable to require the public's assent to relinquishment of public management.
Linda Sapiro Moon
50 Year Huntington Beach homeowner and business owner
From: Lynne Deakers
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Agenda item 29
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 7:27:03 PM
As responsible citizens of Huntington Beach we are urging you to STOP the campaign sign blight during election season!!!
Tim and Lynne Deakers
45 year residents of Huntington Beach
From: Kathleen Abler
To: [email protected]
Subject: Support Agenda Items #30 and #29
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 8:06:24 PM
Council Members:
Vote YES to approve Agenda Item #30.
If four members of our City Council can blithely disregard the opinions of the vast majority of HB citizens regarding privatization of our library, what city property will be next on their political giveaway? Our parks? Our recreation centers? Our Senior Center? All voters must be given a chance to determine how our library should be managed.
This issue should be placed on the November ballot.
Vote YES to approve Agenda Item #29.
The only signs on street corners that have inspired me are the memorials placed at scenes of accidents, where someone, often a child, has been killed or injured. Immediately I’m reminded to slow down and pay attention to my driving. But the unsightly mess of campaign signs that clutter our street corners before an election is unsettling. An agitated driver is not a good driver.
Let’s get rid of those annoying political signs.
Kathleen Abler
Huntington Beach voter since 1975
From: Brynn Noble
To: [email protected]
Subject: Supplemental Communication for May 7, 2024 Meeting Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 8:10:36 PM
Members of the Huntington Beach City Council,
I am submitting this Supplemental Communication in support of Agenda Item 24-350. I believe the idea to outsource the management of the library system to a private for-profit company should be put to a vote of the citizens of Huntington Beach before any further steps are taken. The Huntington Beach Public Library is a precious and invaluable part of our community, and any drastic and irreversible actions to change it should be taken only with the agreement of a majority of Huntington Beach citizens.
I was raised in Huntington Beach and have many wonderful memories of the Huntington Beach Library system from my own childhood. I am now raising a child here myself and I bring my child (age 11) to one of the HB Library branches regularly and have since he was a young toddler. We are so grateful for our library and for the dedicated staff that make it the safe, welcoming place that it is. Our community would not be the same without it. My true wish would be that this whole idea would be taken off the table completely, but since that doesn’t appear likely we the citizens should at least be permitted to voice our opinions on this through the ballot box.
Second, I would also like to state my support for Agenda Item 24-337.
Every election cycle I am disturbed by the blight of election signage throughout the city. Huntington Beach is a beautiful place to live, and the pollution of election signage detracts from what makes Huntington Beach great. Let’s follow the lead of cities around us and get these signs under control.
Thank you,
L. Brynn Noble
From: Pat Goodman
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Yes on May 7, 2024 Agenda Items 29 and 30
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 10:14:11 PM
Dear City Council,
Please vote yes on the May 7, 2024 City Council Agenda items 29 and 30.
Item 29, Update Sign Code, clarifies that political signs are allowed to be posted 60 prior to the election the candidate/ballot measure will appear on the ballot, and not 60 days prior to any election. This appears to be a recent innovation by some candidates (2022). It is very confusing to the voters to post signs for an election that they do not appear on the ballot. I know it's a challenge to get their names out in front of the voter but cluttering up the city's parkways and intersections probably have no benefit to candidates.
Item 30, HB Public Library: Vote of the People to Privatize/Outsource (Charter Amendment) and Postpone/Terminate RFP Process Until After Vote, is an excellent idea to give voters the opportunity to weigh in on a possible move to privatize HBPL operations.
Thank you for your consideration.
Patricia Goodman
Huntington Beach, CA
From: Tim Channel
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Cc: Tim Channel
Subject: In Stong Support of Agenda Items #29 (24-337) and #30 (24-350) Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 11:04:39 PM
Council Members,
As a 36 year resident and home owner in Huntington Beach I urge you to Approve agenda items #29 and #30.
I am particularly offended by the unmitigated gall at the majority’s attempt intent to privitize the Huntington Beach Library System ignoring overwhelming public opposition at doing so.
You brag in the press about how the “will of the voters” approved measure A, so let the voters decide! Approve agenda item #30 (24-350). Approve this measure!
If you win in a fair election, you can claim victory. Until then, many residents will hold you accountable for failing to listen to your constituents once again.
Tim Channel
36 Year Resident, Homeowner, Tax Payer, Business Owner and Voter Sent from my iPhone
From: Buffie Channel
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Agenda Items 29 & 30 - Support
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 11:17:32 PM
To City Council Members:
I aw writing today to express my support for Agenda Item 29 and 30.
Agenda Item 29: I think all residents agree that the political signage in public thoroughfares and on public spaces has gotten completely out of control. It’s a blight on our city and with wind and weather signs flying, coming loose, and turning into litter is not a positive way of supporting our candidates and is not a good look for a coastal environmental town. In addition, it seems some candidates have now taken advantage and put their signs up 8 months before their race. That is unacceptable and unethical. Let’s keep signs for our favored candidates constrained to our own yards. I support Agenda Item #29.
Agenda item 30: if the City Council truly believes in the input of the people and democracy, they will vote for Item 30. The tax payers of this city have paid for the libraries and their contents. It is not for Council members to have the power to change the management of OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES to a CORPORATION. Present the facts of the RFP, all costs and analysis, all Pros and Cons, all history of other cities that have tried it, all details about Mike Posey’s personal gain, all details about future staffing, all details about any hours or days that will be cut so the corporation can make a profit, and full transparency of how they will turn a profit — AND THEN LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.
We the people should vote on it.
Support Agenda Item #30.
It will be interesting to see if Burns, Van der Mark, McKeown, and Strickland vote against this. If they do, it will be a hypocritical vote.
Listen to the people. Your constituents have consistently and repeatedly spoken out against privatizing/outsourcing Library Services.
IF YOU ARE TRULY CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT, DON’T BE SCARED — PUT IT TO A VOTE.
Sincerely,
Buffie Channel
35 year resident
From: April Downs
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reducing Trash
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 7:16:01 AM
Dear City Council - I’m writing in support of Dan Kalmick’s agenda item to prohibit political signs in public right of way areas. These signs are overwhelming, contribute to vandalism (they are tagged and more recently purposely altering the meaning), and increase trash. This proposal allows signs on private property so political advertising is still allowed.
Thank you,
April Downs Sent from my iPhone
From: Mary Ann Celinder
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Campaign signage
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 7:33:37 AM
We are in for a crazy general election. The signage is going to be all over town. Anything that can reduce this coming blight is welcomed. Start with banning signs on public property.
Mary Ann Celinder
Celinder's Glass Design
21341 Fleet Lane
Huntington Beach Ca 92646
studio 714 962 8361
cell 714 504 8361
www.customleadedglass.com
From: Fikes, Cathy
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: City Council Meeting for May 7, 2024
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 8:53:33 AM
From: Larry Slonim <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 12:27 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: City Council Meeting for May 7, 2024
My wife, Susan, and I strongly support the introduction and approval of items 29 (24-337) & 30 (24- 350) on the City Council's Agenda for May 7, 2024.
Non-commercial signage (i.e. political campaign signs) needs to be better controlled in our City, and we agree that following the City Of Irvine's code as a model for such signage would be desirable.
We also believe that the potential privatizing of the City's Public Library System must be addressed in the same way that Charter Amendments A, B & C were, as a ballot measure to be voted on by everyone in a formal election, not solely by the vote of the City Council.
We are NOT in favor of privatizing and gutting an excellent, well-run and well-respected PUBLIC library system to try to save a highly questionable amount of expenses in the short term, sacrificing the level and quality of existing services and community value.
Sincerely,
Larry and Susan Slonim
19792 Gloucester Lane
HB, Ca. 92646