From: Dan Jamieson
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fw: Comment re budget item, Navy ROW plan, June 2 council mtg.
Date: Monday, June 1, 2026 8:41:49 AM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important From: Dan Jamieson <[email protected]>
Sent:
Sunday, May 31, 2026 10:31 AM
To:
[email protected] <[email protected]> Subject:
Comment re budget item, Navy ROW plan, June 2 council mtg.
Dear City Council,
I was glad to see the City’s proposed ‘26-’27 and ‘27-’28 budgets included funds for planning and improvements to the Navy railroad right-of-way open space in North Huntington Beach.
Thanks to HB staff for including this newly acquired open space in the upcoming budget plans, and for following through on the promise to use the developer money to make improvements.
The developer donated $250,000 to the City for improvements on the right-of-way, ensuring that residents have adequate recreational opportunities.
I urge the City to engage with the community and residents regarding future plan development. Many people use the property and help maintain it. They will be invaluable in offering input.
Community volunteers have already adopted a part to the site, now known as The Monarch Nature Trail, in tribute to the monarch butterflies that used to cluster nearby. Since 2017, hundreds of volunteers have helped beautify this section of the trail near the Rancho Road entrance, creating a vibrant native-plant habitat and a pleasurable walking experience.
Regarding improvements, volunteers and users of the trail have expressed a desire for an improved trail surface, access to water, and signage at the trail entrances.
Again, thank you for including this open-space project in your park improvement plans.
Sincerely,
Dan Jamieson
Huntington Beach
SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION - Meeting Date: 6/2/2026 Item No. 16 (26-477)
The docks associated with the lease for Huntington Harbour Yacht Club as stated in the excerpt attached below were built in conjunction with the construction of the Yacht Club in 1977. These docks are approximately 50 years old and have been in a state of disrepair for the past several years. Uneven and splintering boards and protruding nails and screws have caused at least one injury that has led to litigation. The primary structure has long since outlived its safe use and therefore needs to be replaced before someone else gets injured.
These docks get a lot of use on a daily basis; they are home to one of the few pump out stations helping to keep sewage from being pumped into the harbour. Charter boats, some of which work with local businesses, take tourists on harbour tours regularly.
Our local sailing school operates from these docks to teach young people to sail and seamanship.
People tie up to these docks in boats, paddle boards or kayaks to go to local businesses, the beach and to use the only public restroom in the harbor.
All that said, if the city decides that extensive maintenance is required, per our lease agreement clause Section 8, Item 3, referenced below, the Huntington Harbour Yacht Club is not responsible for any maintenance other than “routine maintenance” which Huntington Harbour Yacht Club has honored.
Huntington Beach Sailing Foundation
3821 Warner Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Tele: 562-592-2186 Fax: 562-592-0887
www.sailhb.org
The Huntington Beach Sailing Foundation (HBSF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization located in Huntington Beach, California. For over 57 years, HBSF (and its predecessor) has provided summer sailing lessons to children age 6 to 18 who live in Huntington Beach and within the surrounding cities and areas.
Our purpose is to expose children to an experience and opportunity most kids never get -- a chance to learn to sail. Statistically, less than 2% of all Americans have ever sailed. Public perception is that sailing, like polo, is considered a sporting activity reserved for the rich or affluent. Most prominent yacht clubs in Southern California operate youth sailing programs that are restricted to children of club members. Such programs are designed to serve kids whose families are heavily into boating and sailing; most of these clubs require students to purchase their own sabots or racing sailboats. In contrast HBSF’s sailing program is directed primarily toward children from the general public and from families not involved in sailing. We provide students with the use of a Foundation-owned sailboat since the cost of purchasing one would otherwise prevent or deter most parents from considering sailing lessons for their child. An overwhelming percentage of our students are the first in their family to ever set foot on a sailboat, let alone steer one in the water!
HBSF uses the public docks at 3821 Warner Ave behind the Huntington Harbor Yacht Club ( HHYC) These docks are critical to our operations, and they have been in disrepair for several years. The dock levels are uneven, up to 2 inches, causing a tripping hazard for our young sailors. The rails on the outer edges of the docks are coming apart, the wood is old causing splinters, boards are loose again causing tripping hazards, and the bumper pads are almost nonexistent.. The docks are unstable, and the supports below the water line are in terrible shape. These docks are also used by the public for charters, Duffy’s, pump outs, public docking and access to local restaurants. Boats are launched at the adjoining ramp and those boats are docked as well.
These docks are used at Christmas for the Cruise of Lights a fundraiser for the Orange County Philharmonic.
As I am down there every day for our two-month long season, these docks are constantly used by many of the Huntington Beach residents. These docks are in terrible shape and a potential liability for both the HHYC and City of HB. I did hear of an incident several years ago, as witnessed by a friend of mine, where an older person tripped and was taken to the hospital. I believe she has a pending suit against either HHYC or The City of HB.
Recently, part of the docks were reinforced with plywood over the existing wood slats. The intent was to level the docks, but it has caused additional problems with no drainage of water and potential slipping hazard. Only part of the docks were reinforced, begging the question if someone falls on the unreinforced portion what the liability is. We operate in California, one of the most litigious states in the country.
I have seen over the years HHYC try and maintain these docks with repairs to the broken slats, power washing of the docks, and even recoating the docks with a wood preserve. With this plywood “ temporary fix” it appears the city is trying to address the problem, but has only made it worse, admitting to a problem, only addressing a portion of the docks, and then not completing the job by replacing the docks.
As a member of the HB boating community the docks at 3821 Warner are the only public docks large enough to accomidate boats of any size available to the community with access to local restaurants, docking for a couple of hours, being able to pick up and drop off people. They also have the pump out station on the docks. I have seen the docks at both Peters landing and Huntington Harbor Marina replaced over the years.
In summary the docks at 3821 Warner Ave are used extensively by HBSF, HHYC, and the residents of the city of Huntington Beach and are in terrible shape. These docks need to be replaced as they are beyond repair, with operational and structural issues. They are a potential liability for the city, HBSF, and HHYC.
Sincerely
David Crowley
President
HBSF
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Item 16, Budget
Date: Monday, June 1, 2026 2:28:59 PM
Dear City Council
I like Airshow, but I don’t know how much it costs the city of Huntington Beach. How much has the city given, how much in lost revenues, and services provided? What I dislike is not being told the cost.
Charlie Jackson
25 year resident of Huntington Beach
From: Paula Schaefer
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: June 2, 2026 Agenda File # 26-477
Date: Monday, June 1, 2026 4:42:04 PM
I urge you to reconsider the deletion of 3.5 City Library positions.
The usage of the library expands every year. The numerous services and multiple events that the Library sponsors every year depends on our library's many dedicated professionals. Our libraries are run extremely efficiently, in part due to the number of dedicated volunteers who assist the employed librarians.
Budgets represent a city's priorities; the deletion of so many library positions does not reflect well upon this Council's priorities.
--
Paula A. Schaefer