Report of Effect on Proposed Initiative
Public Operation of Library Services
February 18, 2025
Citizen Initiative
An Ordinance to Amend the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by Adding New Section 2.30.100, Entitled “Public Operation of Library Services” On January 21, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-03 accepting the Certificate as to Verification of Signatures from the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
On January 21, 2025, the City Council ordered a “Report of Effect of Proposed Initiative” to be given within 30 days. Staff is now returning with this Report for the above initiative.
Analysis – General Election
Pursuant to Elections Code 1405(a), should the City decide to order an election, the election “shall be held at the jurisdiction’s next regular election occurring not less than 88 days after the date of the order of election.” Article VII, Section 700 of the City’s Charter provides for general municipal elections to be held in the City on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year – November 3, 2026.
Analysis – Special Election
Pursuant to Elections Code 1405(b), the City may also “call a special election for the purpose of submitting an initiative measure to the voters before the date on which the initiative measure would appear.” Special election to be held not less than 88 days, nor more than 103 days after the order of the election.
Should the City Council elect to call a special election, staff also requests adoption of Resolution Nos. 2025-13, 2025-14, 2025-15, and 2025-16.
Election Costs
Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV) provided the following costs of submittal for the initiative to the voters:
November 3, 2026, General Election: $340,515 -$399,499
Special Election: $1,190,478 - $1,315,405
Cost to add second initiative: $8,500
The cost is in addition to $58,289.60 due to ROV for verification of signatures.
Recommended Action
Receive and File this Report; and,
Adopt Ordinance No. 4330, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Amending the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by Adding New Section 2.30.100, Entitled ‘Public Operation of Library Services’;” OR, Submit Citizen Initiative to the Voters at the next General Election, November 3, 2026; OR, Call for a Special Election to be Held Not Less than 88 Days, nor more than 103 days after order of the election; OR, Do not approve, and direct staff accordingly.
Questions?