City Council/Public Financing Authority
September 17, 2024

City Council Meeting – Council Member Items Report To: City Council From: Rhonda Bolton, City Councilmember Natalie Moser, City Councilmember Dan Kalmick, City Councilmember Date: September 17, 2024 Subject: Physical Security of City Hall 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 | www.huntingtonbeachca.gov We are all aware of the mass shootings that have occurred in countless settings including attacks against government and political targets. California Penal Code § 171b prohibits the possession of weapons in a local public building. Jurisdictions in Southern California, including the County of Orange, have installed security technologies in their buildings where the public has access. These technologies include metal detectors, but there are also newer technologies that are designed to be less intrusive yet still have the desired effect of detecting and identifying potentially dangerous objects along with a deterrence factor. These newer technologies are now used at stadiums, concert venues, amusement parks, and at events held here in the city such as last year’s Darker Waves festival. Indeed, the public encounters some type of screening nearly everywhere we go. Our Police Department does its best to ensure the safety and security of every person attending public meetings in our Council Chambers, for example, which includes the safety of the individual officers there to protect us all. Factors such as the overheated political rhetoric now commonplace at our meetings and the known presence of weapons in the possession of individuals who are not members of law enforcement, create an uncomfortable environment for City Hall visitors. Specifically, as this Council knows, we have received many emails and in-person communications from residents saying they do not feel safe coming down to these chambers to exercise their constitutional rights. The contrast between City Hall entrances, where no screening technologies are used, and the Police Department building, where employees sit behind bullet-proof glass, is instructive. It is plain to see why one feels less safe than the other. An evaluation is overdue to ensure that our Police Department has the best available tools at its disposal to physically secure the Council Chambers, where a large audience typically assembles for public meetings, as well as the rest of City Hall. Of particular interest are innovative tools that can detect individuals attempting to enter the building with weapons. As mentioned, these tools are less intrusive than metal detectors and they do not appear to require large numbers of personnel to operate them. We are, of course, interested in other technologies the Police Department believes are worth evaluating for potential implementation as part of the building security plan. page two Councilmember Items Report September 17, 2024 Everyone who enters our City Hall is entitled to feel a sense of safety and freedom from the types of physical dangers that might be anticipated in present-day situations. This is especially the case for our young residents such as Scouts and youth groups who we want to feel welcome visiting the home of their city government. And we are certain this Council would take all necessary measures to protect the public, our police officers, and employees from unnecessary harm. An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure. RECOMMENDED ACTION Direct the City Manager to work with the Police Department to evaluate technological tools that can enhance our City Hall’s physical security, particularly tools that can detect individuals attempting to enter the building with weapons; and return to City Council to present a report with recommendations within 90 days. The report should provide details on potential costs and operational considerations associated with recommended new physical security measures.