From: McKeon, Casey
To: Erin Anderson
Cc: Gruel, Andrew; Twining, Butch; Wysocki, Ashley; Hopkins, Travis; [email protected] Subject: Re: Agenda item 14- Main Street library
Date: Sunday, December 14, 2025 6:09:49 PM
Thank you for providing this information in writing Erin. Can you please share with me where the Council said these derogatory statements? Can you please share with me where we threatened to close library branches? That was never initiated by Council.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season with your family.
Casey McKeon
Mayor
City Council
Office:
(714) 536 - 5553
Cell: (714) 794 – 5388
[email protected]
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach,
CA 92648
On Dec 14, 2025, at 5:52 PM, Erin Anderson <[email protected]> wrote:
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important I’m always happy to clarify for you, Casey.
It’s financially irresponsible to spend $75,000 on moving an infrequently visited museum that is not a city facility or city department.
It’s financially irresponsible to spend $75,000 on this non-city issue when the roof at Central library leaks every time it rains.
It’s financially irresponsible to not fully investigate how much the facility actually needs in updates and maintenance when you have already spent 10 of thousands of dollars on architectural consultants, engineers, etc for a project to add an elevator to a building that would have required literal millions to complete.
It’s financially irresponsible because had you asked library employees or public works 12/16/25
14 (25-953)
employees they would have told you how impossible that project was to begin with.
It’s disrespectful to city employees because at no time have you taken employees into consideration when drafting the multiple proposals for a project almost no one in this city wants.
It’s disrespectful to city employees because all of these proposals push library staff out of space they currently need and use, which may lead to layoffs.
It’s disrespectful to city employees because this proposal will require library staff to monitor museum property, share already cramped space, police museum pieces in library areas all without offering any compensation for additional duties.
You cannot be surprised that I am disappointed in this city council after it successfully drove 75% of the full time librarians out of town by its constant attack on library materials, on librarians and staff, and on the Friends of the Library.
Your council called librarians porn peddlers, pedophiles, predators. Your council accused librarians of hurting children by providing library materials you didn’t personally like. Your council threatened to close all of the branches within the first six months you were in office.
Your council rejected the overhaul of the Oak View Library and community center. Your council rejected any updates to the facilities of the library buildings until recently (coincidentally after losing a special election to library supporters). Your council threatened legal action against the Friends of the Library because you didn’t like them truthfully stating they couldn’t work with a private library system.
I would be happy to return any respect the library is given. But please highlight anything above that is respectful of the library.
As ever,
Erin (the librarian) Spivey
Sent from my iphone, please excuse any typos
On Dec 14, 2025, at 5:20 PM, McKeon, Casey <Casey.McKeon@surfcity- hb.org> wrote:
Thank you for your email Erin. As I was reading your email, I was taking notes on your salient points from your experience on how we can make this fusion with the Surf Museum better, until this part of your email:
“
As usual, I’m not surprised that this city council is making financially irresponsible choices and disrespecting city employees. And as usual, I’m deeply disappointed.”
With such a positive initial email draft, why divulge into personal attacks? Now that you have, can you please clarify what you mean about being financially irresponsible and more importantly, how have we disrespected City employees? Casey McKeon
Mayor
City Council
Office: (714) 536 - 5553
Cell: (714) 794 – 5388
[email protected]
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach,
CA 92648
On Dec 14, 2025, at 3:49 PM, Erin Anderson <[email protected]> wrote:
As usual, I’m not surprised that this city council is making financially irresponsible choices and disrespecting city employees. And as usual, I’m deeply disappointed.
From: Alan Ray
To: [email protected]
Subject: Item 25-953 Co-location of HBISM at Main Street Branch Date: Monday, December 15, 2025 9:23:28 AM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Dear City Council,
On Dec. 16, 2025, the City Manager's Report will include a follow-up item regarding the co-location of the HB International Surfing Museum at the Main Street Branch of the library. The presentation does not mention it, but the draft Library Facilities Master Plan is in the process of being finalized. The master plan proposes significant changes and expansion of the Main Street Branch. At their most recent public meeting, the architects showed two versions of the library, one incorporating the museum and one without. It is possible that any work done as part of this council meeting item would be torn out again just a year or two later with the adoption of the master plan. I urge the City Council to coordinate the co-location proposal in item 25-953 with the upcoming master plan to make best use of the library and funding.
Regards,
Alan Ray
From: Carol D.
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); Hopkins, Travis Subject: 25-953, Agenda Item 14
Date: Monday, December 15, 2025 1:21:37 PM
Dear City Council members and City Manager Travis Hopkins, Regarding Agenda Item 14, which involves the initial steps of a plan to combine the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum (HBISM) with the Main Street Library, I hope you are 100% transparent regarding the costs of such a large-scale project. Just last week, the leaking ceiling in Central Library's fourth floor was problematic. The restricted youth puberty books were removed to another location (still unclear where that is) and many patrons were concerned about the public artwork up on that floor due to moisture. The Central Library's failing infrastructure is just one example of city property that desperately needs to be updated.
The Main Street project you have outlined will require an extraordinary amount of money from external and internal sources. Last spring, you announced that our city was operating in a deficit and that the city was facing major cost-cutting measures. How will the city pay for this project?
Furthermore, I have lived here for 30 years and have noticed that the HBISM does not attract many local residents and tourists. Individuals seriously interested in surfing attend the much larger and interactive Surfing Heritage and Culture Center in San Clemente (soon to be relocated to downtown Laguna Beach). It has the largest depository of surfing material available in the U.S.
Since the Main Street Library is surrounded by homes, how will you handle parking for visitors of the museum and the library? Main Street Library is still a very popular site for kids' storytime and adult book clubs. It's hard to imagine how you will cram a museum into the library and have them both function well.
I look forward to hearing detailed reports from City Council on how this will all come together!
Thank you,
Carol Daus
30-year HB resident
From: Paula Schaefer
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected]; Vigliotta, Mike; supplementalcomm@surfcity- hb.org
Subject: Do not approve an MOU for the Co-location of HBISM at Main Street Library (Agenda #14) Date: Monday, December 15, 2025 2:19:05 PM
Mayor and Council Members:
Please do not instruct City Staff to prepare an MOU until the Master Plan for the HB Library has been issued and viewed by the residents of HB.
At a recent community meeting of the Library's Master Plan architects, there was a discussion about potentially locating HBISM adjoining the Main Street Library. This should be taken into account prior to any further discussion about "co-locating" HBISM within the Main Street Library. There are far too many issues raised by the PowerPoint and far too many unanswered questions to proceed with an MOU without allowing the HB residents to consider alternatives. Do not proceed without allowing the City's residents to obtain more information about alternatives to the single one that is presented here.
Also, are you aware of the upcoming relocation of the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center (SFCC) from San Clemente to Laguna Beach?
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/12/13/getting-the-latest-on-surfing-heritage-culture-center- from-the-crew/
Why is HB assisting an organization that is struggling to stay open and until recently was behind on paying its rent? Especially since the "Smithsonian of Surfing" will be located just a few miles away and which move is significantly supported by a Laguna Beach business owner? Was the "co-location of HBISM" prompted by the announcement of SFCC's move from a warehouse in San Clemente to Laguna Beach announced earlier this year? --
Paula A. Schaefer
From: Tamara Colby
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: HBISM project at Main Library
Date: Monday, December 15, 2025 4:57:49 PM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Dear City Council and staff:
The impact analysis on the HBISM project at Main Library is inadequate. The scope does not consider the following:
The financial impact to the city is not analyzed. Why is the city taking on a big project when it has a deficit? The cost to do the upgrades is not realistic. And any funding for expansion is still not feasible given the deficit. Let;s be realistic and accountable.
This library already had the lowest square feet per patron ratio of all the branches. It is crowded already! And the new project displaces the current children's storytime area. And the museum occupies 2033 square feet and has much in storage. How will it possibly fit inside this already cramped space?
The surf boards in the main reading room will displace the historic photo collection and distract patrons. They are also a safety issue because they are large and heavy. They could fall on small children.
The surf magazine collection is owned by who? Has it been reviewed by the chief librarian and the Library and Community Services Committee?
The parking impact of this project is going to be significant. Where is the analysis? Parking structures are located closer to the museum's existing location.
Staff sharing space with a non-profit. Shouldn’t there be a trial run and maybe just do one small exhibit for 6 months. Call it the annex. All the HBISM would need background checks and drug tests.
Inconsistent with the act of library noise makes it hard to focus, and kids will be distracted by all the visual and printed artifacts. Not to mention people taking selfies. Are we sending mixed messages to our kids to go to college but also surfing is so important we put it in front of your face. Many kids skip school to go surf. Do parents want to introduce their kids to surfing at a very your age?
The HBISM likes to have rock concerts in their parking lot. While this is fine in the retail district, Triangle park is residential on two sides. Most neighbors already have issues with the noise on the weekend.
This project is moving too fast, and it has been through the backroom. To increase transparency and engage more stakeholders, please take this project to the Library and Community Services Committee for a full review and consideration of impacts. Talk to the librarians.
Tamara C.