From: Pat Goodman
To: McKeon, Casey; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Administrative Agenda Item # 28
Date: Monday, September 30, 2024 11:20:27 PM
Dear Council Member McKeon and City Council,
I reviewed the PowerPoint attached to Agenda Item # 28 and found it very interesting.
I believe the request Mr. McKeon made of staff to provide this analysis was to assure residents that the Code 4-Pacific Airshow Settlement was not unique and that the city has entered in various tax sharing, property tax forgiveness, and abatement programs that benefit the residents of the city over the past 20 plus years.
This information would have been a helpful disclosure when the council majority entered into settlement discussions with Code 4 Pacific Airshow settlement that morphed into a 40 contract and presented it to the public in the spirit of transparency.
Such disclosure would have shown what revenue
this event, currently managed by Code 4-PAS, benefits the city coffers to justify such a payout and contract.
This information would have gone
through an independent economic benefits analysis.
The public has not seen
this yet or even know if such analysis exists.
In addition, there would have
been an RFP for such a contract to manage an airshow event for up to 40 years.
Had this analysis been part of the public disclosure two years ago that followed public hearings we might be in a different place in that relationship.
I think that we can all agree that automobile dealerships could pick up their shop and move to a neighboring town more will to provide incentives.
HB
offers a unique venue for an air show and therefore holds the upper hand in any kind of contract negotiations for such an event.
It looks like other types of agreements for waived lease/rental fees are for
nonprofits
that provide services and community events.
From where I sit, I don't see any real economic benefit
to the treasury of the
city from the Code 4-PAS settlement/contracts compared to the Public Benefit Agreement to purchase Elon and Breakwater apartments that provide middle income units to HB residents. There is no financial risk to the city only the benefit of appreciation and recoupment of foregone property and pension taxes if the city decides to sell these properties at the end of 30 years.
The PowerPoint does remind residents and businesses that when shopping for automobiles and other high ticket items to buy locally.
The only
complaint I hear is there are not enough enough dealerships to choose from! 10/1/2024
28 (24-621)
I do believe that it is proper to engage the State Auditor to conduct a review of the Code 4-PAS settlement/contract in order to try to answer outstanding questions. Residents need to know there is a substantive reasons why this agreement is good for the city.
I look forward to your discussion of this agenda item at tonight's meeting.
Thank you.
Pat Goodman
Huntington Beach, CA
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From: Fikes, Cathy
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Letter Attached
Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 9:01:46 AM
Attachments: Letter to City Council Sept 30.docx
From: John Carser <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2024 8:16 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]>; [email protected]; Media Relations <[email protected]>; [email protected] Subject: Letter Attached
September 30, 2024
To the Huntington Beach City Council, City Manager and City Attorney Michael Gates:
I watched the City Council Meeting on TV on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. The demeanor of the majority block on the City Council has set the stage for disrespect towards other members on the Council, towards the audience in the Chamber and towards speakers voicing their concerns. I have yet to observe the stability and civility be returned to the Chamber by our local police force. At a prior meeting, I sat in the audience and heard the rude comments (even in the presence of young teens) directed to a council member, a concerned citizen and a presenter at the podium. When I personally heard the profanity, I commented to a nearby police officer, “Are you ok with that?” There was no response. What followed was another police officer who approached the inappropriate individual who then began filming the officer’s actions and recording his verbal instructions on his phone. Is this showing respect to our hard working police force? The majority had adopted Agenda Item 24-634 and had voted 4-3 to make it an Ordinance No. 43-26 Adding Chapter 1.23 of the Huntington Municipal Code Relating to Parents “Right to Know City.” There was discussion, but the majority did not want to hear the other views and concerns. Nothing in this ordinance has adequately defined an “educator.” Who does this ordinance apply to? Is it crossing guards, volunteers, police, fire department, junior guards, administrators, teachers in all the surrounding districts…or owners of art, dance, theater, gymnastic studios…or coaches conducting athletic workshops…business owners who hire young adults to work for them? I am not an attorney but would be willing to seek legal representation regarding this flawed ordinance. Michael Gates is the City Attorney to represent the City Council, yet he will use taxpayer monies to defend wronged parents…am I correct in learning this? What are the consequences of violations of this ordinance? Fines, jail, WHAT? This is perhaps the most undefined legislation I have ever witnessed. Stop wasting our tax dollars!!!!!!!
Agenda Item 24-672 was addressed and immediately shut down. It turned into uncomfortable interaction by Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark towards Dan Kalmick. And, once again, she was totally out of line by not addressing the respect of Chamber decorum. I am not the only individual who regards the Council Chambers unsafe. SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: Since the majority is so concerned about voter ID, I would like you to put on the agenda that in order to attend the City Council Meetings commencing on October 1 or October 22 that you must show proof of residence. (I learned that one speaker in the past meeting of July 16 was from Glendora.) This City Council is losing control and it must stop before people are injured. It is fine to disagree peacefully and respectfully but the attacks and verbal confrontations by those in the Chamber must STOP!
It is time the Council and the City Attorney roll up their sleeves and put Huntington Beach back on track. I have lost confidence in the majority four to govern. The rumbling from residents reveals unhappiness about the performances in three key issues: the “unsolicited” library outsourcing to Library Systems and Services and the subsequent ordinance of a book review committee; the City Attorney’s settlement with Code 4 owner Kevin Elliott for the Pacific Air Show lawsuit along with his lack of his transparency to the tax payers; and the countless, expensive and frivolous lawsuits our City Attorney files against the State of California. The Council majority along with the City Attorney need to leave their political agendas at home and work together with the various departments within the City of Huntington Beach to accomplish fundamental tasks for its community.
Respectfully submitted,
John Carser