From: [email protected]
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Comments on the 1/21/2025 Agenda
Date: Sunday, January 19, 2025 2:05:39 PM
City Council -
Why am I not at all surprised that this city council once again demonstrates its willingness to put its personal agenda over that of the citizens?
For the second council meeting in a row, the city council decides to delay taking appropriate action on, not one, but two petitions successfully qualified by the citizens of Huntington Beach.
Last meeting, despite having the letter of certification in hand from the OC Registrar of Voters for the petition to repeal the citizens book review committee, it was not on the agenda.
Not only that, the city did not even acknowledge receipt of that certification until nearly a week later.
Similarly, the city was in receipt of the certification for the petition on private operation of the library dated December 19, 2024, but failed to acknowledge it until January 2nd of this year.
It seems that this city council just can’t figure out how to comply with the law and honor the work of the citizens in any sort of timely manner.
So now, nearly five weeks after the first
petition was certified and a month after the second was certified, this council decides that both issues need to “be studied” for up to 30 days.
Since the first would simply repeal an
ordinance that the council added, but has not put into use, and the second would simply make the council get approval from the citizens before any further attempts to privatize the operations of out library, there’s really not a lot to study.
It’s also study that the council should
have undertaken before taking the actions that led to these petitions in the first place.
There is
essentially zero cost to the city to accept the petitions’ requests, so the only other item to consider is the cost of an election.
That cost didn’t deter this city council when they wanted to force measures A, B, & C onto a primary ballot at significant cost to the city.
So why should
that impact the decision now?
You act with alacrity when Mr. Burns wants to spout off his desire to agree with the Governor of another state or wants to disagree with the Governor of our state, yet find it ever so difficult to follow the law in a timely way in response to the citizens you are supposed to represent.
You put an item on the
consent calendar for Mr. Strickland without having done the appropriate analysis, let alone consulting with the citizenry, yet “need to study” items that would simply return city operations to the status quo, and are sponsored by a significant percentage of the populace.
In short, you are not representing the citizens you were elected to represent – you are trying to force your personal agendas down our throats, and we are sick of it. 1/21/2025
19 (25-033)
David Rynerson
Huntington Beach,CA 92647
From: Russell Neal
To: [email protected]
Subject: Jan 21 Council meeting Item 19 (25-033)
Date: Sunday, January 19, 2025 6:52:45 PM
The subject item purports to constrain the city in terms of outsourcing library services. I am not sure this is legal since it ties the hands of the people responsible for the budget.
The general idea that government employees are a higher class of people than their fellow citizens, and deserve not only above market compensation for their services but absolute protection against the ups and downs of the economy with which others must deal is one I do not necessarily accept.
Russ Neal
Huntington Beach
HBRA President
From: Carol Daus
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Agenda Items 18 & 19, File Nos. 24-797 and 25-033 Date: Monday, January 20, 2025 9:40:07 AM
Dear City Council Members,
Given the strong display of public support for our city's library through the petition campaign, I urge you to rescind the creation of the Parent/Guardian Review Board and allow the citizens of Huntington Beach to have a voice in determining whether public library operations should be outsourced to private entities. This would promote much-needed unity in our city and it would prevent our city from incurring the expenses of a special election as well as the costs of subsequent litigation involving the state's new law, The California Freedom to Read Act.
The 6-month petition campaign (resulting in 17,000+ signatures) revealed two important facts:
1) Huntington Beach residents believe HBPL is one of the crown jewels of the community and 2) HB citizens of all political persuasions believe that the public library is a nonpartisan entity that does not require fixing in terms of its management and collection.
If some of you are still concerned that there are sexually explicit or pornographic books in the children's library, I'd be happy to meet with you there so you can show me those books or materials. We never received a list of inappropriate books from the City Council or City Attorney, which makes it difficult to understand why a costly Parent/Guardian Review Board should even be considered.
Thank you,
Carol Daus
Huntington Beach resident, 30 years
Board Member
Friends of the Huntington Beach Public Library
714-235-1187
[email protected]
From: Paula Schaefer
To: Barnes , Lisa Lane; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Vote YES and accept the Certificates and Vote YES to adopt the Petitions" Ordinances Date: Monday, January 20, 2025 11:32:50 AM
Mayor and City Council Members:
Vote YES to accept the Certificates:
I encourage you to vote YES on each agenda item accepting the Certificate of Verification of Signatures.
Vote NO to requesting a study:
I strongly encourage you to forgo the study.
As you should know, the Elections Code allowed the City Council to obtain a study while the signatures were being gathered. The City Council could have requested a study upon learning that each petition met the prima facie number of signatures, which occurred on October 28 for Item #18 and on November 25 for Item # 19. Waiting until the County Registrar of Voters certified the signatures was an option, but was not necessary. Doing so now, is a delay tactic and could result in additional costs for the City for a special election.
Vote YES to adopt the Petitions' Ordinances:
You can see from the number of signatures of residents that there is tremendous support for our City's beloved Public Library and its librarians. It should remain managed as it currently is without the unnecessary committee and by public employees.
Voting YES and adopting the Petitions' Ordinances is cost-effective and will ensure that the Public Library continues its exemplary service to our community.
As you are likely aware, 2025 is the 50th anniversary of the Central Library and your YES vote to adopt each Petition as written would be the appropriate action to ensure that the Huntington Beach Public Library continues as the crown jewel of our city.
--
Paula A. Schaefer
From: Tamara Colby
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Item #18 Community-Parent Guardian Review Board and #19 Public Operation of Library Services Date: Monday, January 20, 2025 6:29:27 PM
Some people who received this message don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important
Dear Mayor and Honorable City Council:
For item #18, a Petition to repeal Ordinance No. 4318 Deleting Huntington Beach Municipal Code Chapter 2.66 - Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children’s Library Materials, and Adding Section 2.30.090 - Selection and Use of Library Materials
Please select A) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-04, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Accepting the Certificate as to Verification of Signatures on Petition from the Orange County Registrar of Voters Regarding the Initiative Petition Entitled “An Ordinance to Amend the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by Deleting Chapter 2.66 Thereof Entitled ‘Community Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children’s Library Materials’ and Adding Section 2.30.090 Thereto Entitled ‘Selection and Use of Library Materials;’”
The community has spoken thru this petition and would like to repeal the ordinance. The A option avoids costly elections and it ends the divisiveness that has plagued our community since the ordinance was first introduced. All of us that worked on the petitions represent a broad spectrum of the citizenry, and I believe this is what the public wants. HB has an exceptional library, professional librarians and a system in place to review any questionable books. Do the right thing, the most professional and cost effective, and repeal the ordinance.
For Item #19, a Petition for An Ordinance to Amend the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by Adding New Section 2.30.100, Entitled “Public Operation of Library Services”.
Please select option A) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-03, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Accepting the Certificate as to Verification of Signatures on Petition from the Orange County Registrar of Voters Regarding the Initiative Petition Entitled “An Ordinance to Amend the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by Adding New Section 2.30.100, Entitled ‘Public Operation of Library Services;’”
The many signatures gathered represent strong public support against outsourcing and privatization. There is no need to outsource library operations, especially when there will be no appreciable cost savings, the loss of all the volunteer help, and fundraising. Librarians are the value add of a library and to replace them with a third-party operator would destroy the experience and the quality of services that the public deserve.
Sincerely,
Tamara Colby
From: Larry Slonim
To: [email protected]
Subject: Supplemental Comments on Items #17 and #18 of the HB City Council Agenda, dated January 21, 2025 Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 12:42:55 AM
Attachments: Items #17 and 18 - CC Agenda for 1.21.25 - Letter to Mayor and CC 1.20.25.docx You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Mayor and City Councilmembers:
For my wife and I, the following observations and questions raised by Carol Daus (copied below and indicated in italics), which were published in the January 9th edition of the LA Times Daily Pilot, fully resonate with our past and current opinions of this City Council and the City Attorney.
Supporters of Huntington Beach Public Library reached a major milestone last month when the O.C.
Registrar of Voters provided signature verification services on a citizen-led ballot initiative seeking to overturn the controversial children’s library book review board. Over 17,000 Huntington Beach residents signed the petition to prevent political appointees from being the primary decision-makers in determining what books are available for youths 17 and under.
Despite the strong community support for this measure, City Atty. Michael Gates publicly declared last year that he will sue the state over the new law, “California Freedom to Read Act,” to ensure that the book-banning review board can go forward in Huntington Beach. Last fall, in an interview with radio host John Kobylt, Gates stated that books in the children’s section of our library are “obscene … some call them pornographic, lewd, sexually explicit … A lot of uh, you know, homosexual … sex content.”
I wish our city attorney would provide a list of the books he described in the interview. As a longtime library volunteer and supporter, I have never seen these books in the children’s section. In fact, the only books that have been relocated from the children’s section to the adult section, based on a directive from the city attorney, are potty training and puberty books. Where is the pornography? If our city attorney and City Council members are so concerned, why don’t they show us?
Additionally, as Cathey Ryder so succinctly and publicly stated on January 2, 2025 (again, in the LA Times Daily Pilot): “Now that the ballot initiative petitions regarding Huntington Beach public libraries have both been qualified for the ballot, what will the openly partisan Huntington Beach City Council choose to do? Citizen-led ballot petitions are examples of democracy in action. Our taxpayer dollars have built and sustained the city’s public libraries for over 100 years. We deserve the right to vote on how our public institutions will acquire materials and be managed. Will we get to?”
Susan and I absolutely share the concerns of Carol Daus, Cathey Ryder and SO many other registered voters that reside and love living here, WILL WE? And if so, WHEN and HOW will we? We would suggest and support a special election that combines both proposed ballot measures, to simplify and reduce total costs.
Sincerely,
Larry and Susan Slonim
(714) 357-9600
From: Mary Ann Celinder
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Library
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 8:24:00 AM
We did the work and submitted the 2 petitions on time for the voters to decide on the spring ballot.
In a partisan play of delay, the city clerk, city attorney and city council have delayed action on these items. If we didn’t have a new inept clerk, this should have been on the December agenda. This could force a special election at no small expense. That’s on you, after all, the city is made of money.
There is bipartisan citywide objection to the actions against the library. The will of the people should not be delayed until the’26 election. You need to vote to accept the petitions and leave the libraries alone. It will take time, and money, but we shall persist and you will lose. We will not let you further damage the city libraries.
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: Paula Schaefer
To: [email protected]
Subject: Review this letter regarding Agenda Items No. 18 and 19 prior to City Council Meeting Agenda today Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 8:55:20 AM
Attachments: City Clerk re Files 24-797 and 25-0330 dated 01 17 2025.pdf Mayor and City Council Members:
I urge you to review this letter regarding these Agenda items and obtain the accurate information prior to this evening's City Council meeting. You need accurate information prior to making your decisions on these important agenda items.
--
Paula A. Schaefer
From: Fikes, Cathy
To: Moore, Tania
Subject: FW: Comments on Item #17 and #18 of the HB City Council Agenda, dated January 21, 2025 Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 9:46:51 AM
Attachments: Items #17 and 18 - CC Agenda for 1.21.25 - Letter to Mayor and CC 1.20.25.docx
From: Larry Slonim <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 12:43 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Comments on Item #17 and #18 of the HB City Council Agenda, dated January 21, 2025
Mayor and City Councilmembers:
For my wife and I, the following observations and questions raised by Carol Daus (copied below and indicated in italics), which were published in the January 9th edition of the LA Times Daily Pilot, fully resonate with our past and current opinions of this City Council and the City Attorney.
Supporters of Huntington Beach Public Library reached a major milestone last month when the O.C.
Registrar of Voters provided signature verification services on a citizen-led ballot initiative seeking to overturn the controversial children’s library book review board. Over 17,000 Huntington Beach residents signed the petition to prevent political appointees from being the primary decision-makers in determining what books are available for youths 17 and under.
Despite the strong community support for this measure, City Atty. Michael Gates publicly declared last year that he will sue the state over the new law, “California Freedom to Read Act,” to ensure that the book-banning review board can go forward in Huntington Beach. Last fall, in an interview with radio host John Kobylt, Gates stated that books in the children’s section of our library are “obscene … some call them pornographic, lewd, sexually explicit … A lot of uh, you know, homosexual … sex content.”
I wish our city attorney would provide a list of the books he described in the interview. As a longtime library volunteer and supporter, I have never seen these books in the children’s section. In fact, the only books that have been relocated from the children’s section to the adult section, based on a directive from the city attorney, are potty training and puberty books. Where is the pornography? If our city attorney and City Council members are so concerned, why don’t they show us?
Additionally, as Cathey Ryder so succinctly and publicly stated on January 2, 2025 (again, in the LA Times Daily Pilot): “Now that the ballot initiative petitions regarding Huntington Beach public libraries have both been qualified for the ballot, what will the openly partisan Huntington Beach City Council choose to do? Citizen-led ballot petitions are examples of democracy in action. Our taxpayer dollars have built and sustained the city’s public libraries for over 100 years. We deserve the right to vote on how our public institutions will acquire materials and be managed. Will we get to?”
Susan and I absolutely share the concerns of Carol Daus, Cathey Ryder and SO many other registered voters that reside and love living here, WILL WE? And if so, WHEN and HOW will we? We would suggest and support a special election that combines both proposed ballot measures, to simplify and reduce total costs.
Sincerely,
Larry and Susan Slonim
(714) 357-9600
Mr. Amory Hanson 8102 Ellis Avenue Apartment 121 Huntington Beach CA 92646 January 21, 2025
The Mayor of Huntington Beach 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach CA 92648 My Dear Mister Mayor, I
would
like
to
express
my
support
for
Item
XIXB
. Sincerely Yours, Mr. Amory Hanson CC: The Honorable Casey McKeon CC:The Honorable Donald C. Kennedy CC: The Honorable Anthony Strickland CC: The Honorable E. M. Twining CC: The Honorable Grace Vandermark CC: The Honorable Chad Williams