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Home My WebLink AboutApprove for Introduction Ordinance No. 4318 - Adding Chapter (2) 2000 Main Street, &,'; „„4w°,6, Huntington Beach,CA F 2 7% 92648 9 . _, City of Huntington Beach APPROVED FOR ADOPTION 4-3 ta`' ,� (MOSER, BOLTON, KALMICK—NO) File #: 24-219 MEETING DATE: 4/2/2024 REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members SUBMITTED BY: Eric G. Parra, Interim City Manager VIA: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services Subject: Adopt Ordinance No. 4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material (Approved for Introduction on 3/19/2024 by a vote of 4-3 (Moser, Bolton, Kalmick-No) Statement of Issue: There is a need to amend the Municipal Code to add language codifying the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board (Board) for procurement of children's library materials, per City Council Resolution 2023-41. Financial Impact: The Board and Staff Liaison will make an annual request for City Council approval of funding to purchase new books for Board review that are not in circulation. Recommended Action: Adopt Ordinance No. 4318, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach amending the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by adding new chapter 2.66 Entitled "Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials."" Alternative Action(s): Do not approve the recommended action, and direct staff accordingly. Analysis: On October 17, 2023, City Council approved Resolution 2023-41, establishing a policy for the review and recataloging of library materials containing sexual content. The Huntington Beach Municipal Code must be amended by adding section 2.66 to create the Community Parent- Guardian Review Board (Board) for Procurement of Children's Library Materials, referenced in Resolution 2023-41. The updated Municipal Code provides the following key information: City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 2 Printed on 3/27/2024 powered LegistarM File#: 24-219 MEETING DATE: 4/2/2024 • Definitions of children's books, sexual content, sexual references, and community standards • Board purpose and composition • Minimum meeting frequency • Appropriate use of City Council annual allocated funding • Board duties Environmental Status: Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project. Strategic Plan Goal: Non Applicable -Administrative Item Attachment(s): 1. Ordinance No. 4318 City of Huntington Beach Page 2 of 2 Printed on 3/27/2024 powered*LegistarTM' ORDINANCE NO. 4318 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING NEW CHAPTER 2.66 ENTITLED "COMMUNITY PARENT-GUARDIAN REVIEW BOARD FOR PROCUREMENT OF CHILDREN'S LIBRARY MATERIALS" WHEREAS,the City of Huntington Beach is a Charter City and municipal corporation duly created and existing under a charter pursuant to which the City has the right and power to make and enforce all laws and regulations in respect to municipal affairs. The City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does hereby ordain as follows: SECTION 1. The Huntington Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended to add new Chapter 2.66 Entitled"Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials"to read as follows: _ "Chapter 2.66 COMMUNITY PARENT-GUARDIAN REVIEW BOARD PROCUREMENT FOR CHILDREN'S LIBRARY MATERIALS 2.66.010 Established There is hereby established a new Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials (hereinafter referred to in this Chapter as the"Board")which shall be a decision-making body pursuant to Huntington Beach Charter Section 405. 2.66.020 Definitions For the purpose of this Chapter,the following definitions apply: "Children" means persons under the age of eighteen(18) years old. "Children's Books" means any book, literary work, or other material, whether in hard copy or electronic, intended for anyone under the age of 18 or intended to be placed in the Children's Section(s)within any of the City Libraries or intended for Children's access. "Community Standards" means the Board's determinations regarding whether books are acceptable for Children's access, including books that may contain Sexual Content or Sexual References. "Sexual Content" is any content of a sexual nature, whether in the form of written text, or in the form of graphic depictions such as photos, drawings, cartoons, images, etc., for example, textual or graphic content including sex, sexual organs, sex acts, relationships of sexual nature, or sexual relations in any form. ORDINANCE NO. 4318 "Sexual Reference" is any reference of a sexual nature, whether in the form of written text, or in the form of graphic depictions such as photos, drawings, cartoons, images, etc., for example, textual or graphic references to sex, sexual organs, sex acts, relationships of sexual nature, or sexual relations in any form. 2.66.030 Purpose The Board shall serve as a decision-making authority to the City to ensure that books that Children have access to in City Libraries meet the City's Community Standards for material acceptable for Children's access, including books that may contain Sexual Content or Sexual References, before such Children's Books are purchased by the City prior to placement in circulation or made accessible to Children without parental consent. Additionally,the Board may nominate Children's Books currently in circulation for review by the Board for determination of whether those Children's Books meet the Community Standards for material acceptable for Children's access,or whether those books require parental consent and are to be placed in the Adult Section of the City's Library. 2.66.040 Composition A. The Board shall consist of up to twenty-one members. Each City Council Member shall appoint up to three members of the Board to serve the same term as the City Council Member until their successors are elected and qualified. B. The service limitation contained in Section 2.100.060, which does not allow a person to serve on more than one Board or Commission at any one time shall not be applied to this Board due to its large membership, possible difficulty recruiting members, and limited scope of duties. Subject to California Government Code Section 1099,no Member may simultaneously hold two incompatible public offices. 2.66.050 Operating Policies Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter,the Board shall conform to the operating policies for Boards and Commissions as set forth in Chapter 2.100 of this Code. 2.66.060 Election and Officers The Board shall elect from its appointed members a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson at the first regular meeting of the calendar year and such officers shall serve for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson may make and second motions and shall have a voice and vote in all proceedings of the Board. No Chairperson or Vice Chairperson may serve consecutive years in the same role. 2 24-13971/333967 ORDINANCE NO. 4318 2.66.070 Secretary The Director of Community & Library Services, or his or her designee, shall serve in a non- voting capacity as Secretary to the Board and shall prepare and retain permanent minutes of the Board meetings approved by the Board per the City's Record Retention Policy. 2.66.080 Meetings The Board shall meet at least twice each calendar year, and more if deemed necessary by the Director of Community & Library Services. As a "Brown Act" Board, the Meetings shall be conducted consistent with the provisions of the Brown Act. Roberts' Rules of Order (current edition) shall govern the procedure of the meetings of the Board unless inconsistent with other provisions of this Chapter. As requires, the City Attorney and or his or her designee shall give legal advice to the Board regarding compliance with laws. 2.66.090 Quorum A. At any meeting of the Board, a simple majority of the current existing membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. -- B. In the event there is no quorum at a meeting,the Chair shall adjourn said meeting or shall adjourn to a date certain. 2.66.100 Funding All budget and expenses by the Board shall be managed in a predetermined account(s)by the City, subject to City purchasing and contracting policies and procedures. The Board and their staff liaison may determine and request an annual budget for the purchase of Children's Books to review. After review, all efforts will be made to sell or donate non-approved Children's Books to libraries outside the City of Huntington Beach. 2.66.110 Duties A. Review all Children's Books proposed for procurement by the City to determine by majority vote, in the Board's sole discretion, if such Children's Books meet the Community Standards of acceptance for the City of Huntington Beach to be placed in City Libraries. Make Recommendations for Children's Books that meet the Community Standards of acceptance to be purchased by the City, and/or to be accessible to Children without parental consent. The Board shall be provided a budget and ability to procure advance copies of Children's Books or Children's Books reviews as required for Board review. Any Children's Book may be nominated to be reviewed again after one year has passed from a previous decision by the Board. 3 24-13971/333967 ORDINANCE NO. 4318 B. The Director of Community&Library Services or his or her designee will submit a list of Children's Books intended for purchase at least 45 days before the date of any Board meeting. Any Board Member may nominate any number of Children's Books from the list for review. If a Children's Book is nominated for review, it shall not be purchased by the City for Library circulation unless first approved by the Board. Once nominated, a Children's Book must be reviewed within one year of nomination. If a Children's Book is not nominated for review within 90 days from the submittal of the intended purchase list or reviewed by the Board within one year of nomination, it will be considered approved for purchase by the Board. C. The Board may also recommend that Children's Books currently in circulation at City Libraries be subject to the same Board review process on a case-by case basis. Any Board Member may submit a recommendation form that a Children's Book currently in circulation be reviewed by the Board. Should the Board find that a Children's Book currently in circulation does not meet Community Standards for Children's access without parental notification, it shall be placed in the Adult Section and subject to parental and/or guardian consent before either Children obtain access or the book is checked out by anyone under the age of 18. D. All Board Members present must review the Children's Book(s) before it may be subject to a Board vote. E. The Board must vote whether a Children's Book meets the Community Standards before the Board may vote on procurement/placement. F. If a proposed Children's Book proposed by the Director for procurement and not yet placed in circulation is reviewed and then rejected by the Board, the Board must place findings in the record and complete the.Library Materials Review Form, which shall be placed in the minutes by the Secretary in detail as to the reasons the Board determined the proposed Children's Book did not meet the Community Standards or is unfit for placement in the Library. G. All decisions by the Board are final and non-appealable. H. A list of all Children's Books voted on by the Board, including the nomination and voting date, shall be displayed on the City's website on the Board's webpage. 4 24-13971/333967 ORDINANCE NO. 4318 SECTION 2. This ordinance shall become effective 30 days after its adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a regular meeting thereof held on the 26k day of A • , 2024. , Alk _ ayor ATTEST: APPROVED A ORM: 6444(1 9A67141741441) City Clerk ity ttorney REVIEWED ROVED: INITIATED AP ROVED: Ci Manager City Manager 5 24-13971/333967 Ord. No. 4318 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH ) I, ROBIN ESTANISLAU,the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of the City of Huntington Beach, and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of said City, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach is seven;that the foregoing ordinance was read to said City Council at a Regular meeting thereof held on March 19,2024,. and was again read to said City Council at a Regular meeting thereof held on April 2,2024, and was passed and adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the members of said City Council. • AYES: Burns,Van Der Mark, Strickland, McKeon NOES: Moser,Bolton,Kalmick ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None I,Robin Estanislau,CITY CLERK of the City of Huntington Beach and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council,do hereby certify that a synopsis of this ordinance has been published in the Huntington Beach Wave on April 11,2024. j Q qk 14741141.44) In accordance with the City Charter of said City. �'j�� (/� RobRob' Estanislau, City Clerk City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk Senior Deputy City Clerk of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, California Column OFFICIAL AD PROOF This is the proof of your ad scheduled to run in Huntington Beach Wave on the dates indicated below. If changes are needed, please contact us prior to deadline at (714) 796-2209. Notice ID:jYUpiFcfXNV1who4xYik i Proof Updated:Apr.04,2024 at 11:04am PDT Notice Name: Synopsis-Ordinance No.4318 I Publisher ID:0011660286 FILER FILING FOR See Proof on Next Page Donna Switzer Huntington Beach Wave donna.switzer@surfcity-hb.org (714)374-1649 Columns Wide: 5 Ad Class: Legals 04/11/2024:City Notices Notice 419.96 Subtotal $419.96 Tax% 0 Total $419.96 Synopsis - Ordinance No. 4318 - Page 1 of 2 H.B.Wave PUBLISH DATE: 04/11/2024 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH LEGAL NOTICE Adopted by the City Council on April 2,2024 "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING.THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING NEW CHAPTER 2.66 ENTITLED'COMMUNITY PARENT-GUARDIAN REVIEW BOARD FOR PROCUREMENT OF CHILDREN'S LIBRARY MATERIALS'" SYNOPSIS: Ordinance No.4318 amended the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by adding language codifying the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board(Board)for procurement of children's library materials,per City Council Resolution No.2023-41. The updated Municipal Code provides the following key information: • Definitions of children's books,sexual content,sexual references, and community standards • Board purpose and composition • Minimum meeting frequency • Appropriate use of City Council annual allocated funding • Board duties COPIES OF THIS ORDINANCE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a regular meeting held April 2,2024 by the following roll call vote: AYES: Burns,Van Der Mark,Strickland,McKeon NOES: Moser,Bolton, Kalmick ABSENT: None This ordinance is effective May 2,2024. CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 2000 MAIN STREET HUNTINGTON BEACH,CA 92648 714-536-5227 ROBIN ESTANISLAU,CITY CLERK Huntington Beach Wave Published:4/11/24 Synopsis - Ordinance No. 4318 - Page 2 of 2 millil..._ ,_ INCLUDES THE �/ VALLEY VIEW 1920 Main St. Suite 225, Irvine Irvine, California 92614 (714)796-2209 Iegals@inlandnewspapers.com City of Huntington Beach-City Clerk's Office 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, California 92648 Account Number: 5272431 Ad Order Number: 0011660286 Customer's Reference/PO Number: Publication: Huntington Beach Wave Publication Dates: 04/11/2024 Total Amount: $419.96 Payment Amount: $0.00 Amount Due: $419.96 Notice ID: jYUpiFcfXNV1who4xYik Invoice Text: H.B.Wave PUBLISH DATE:04/11/2024 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH LEGAL NOTICE Adopted by the City Council on April 2, 2024"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING NEW CHAPTER 2.66 ENTITLED'COMMUNITY PARENT-GUARDIAN REVIEW BOARD FOR PROCUREMENT OF CHILDREN'S LIBRARY MATERIALS-SYNOPSIS:Ordinance No.4318 amended the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by adding language codifying the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board(Board)for procurement of children's library materials, per City Council Resolution No.2023-41.The updated Municipal Code provides the following key information:*Definitions of children's books,sexual content,sexual references,and community standards*Board purpose and composition*Minimum meeting frequency*Appropriate use of City Council annual allocated funding*Board duties COPIES OF THIS ORDINANCE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a regular meeting held April 2, 2024 by the following roll call vote:AYES: Burns,Van Der Mark, Strickland, McKeon NOES: Moser, Bolton, Kalmick ABSENT: None This ordinance is effective May 2,2024.CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 2000 MAIN STREET HUNTINGTON BEACH,CA 92648 714-536-5227 ROBIN ESTANISLAU,CITY CLERK Synopsis - Ordinance No. 4318 - Page 1 of 2 See Proof on Next Page IFOUNNCLUDETAIS THE IVAI "�P N �/ VALLEY VIEW r Huntington Beach Wave 1920 Main St.Suite 225,Irvine Irvine,California 92614 (714)796-2209 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach,California 92648 AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA County of Orange County am a citizen of the United States and a resident of the County aforesaid; I am over the age of eighteen years,and not a party to or interested in the above-entitled matter. I am the principal clerk of the Huntington Beach Wave, a newspaper that has been adjudged to be a newspaper of general circulation by the Superior Court of the County of Orange County, State of California, on July 1, 1998, Case No. A-185906 in and for the City of Irvine, County of Orange County, State of California; that the notice, of which the annexed is a true printed copy, has been published in each regular and entire issue of said newspaper and not in any supplement thereof on the following dates,to wit: 04/1112024 I certify (or declare) under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct: Executed at Anaheim,Orange County,California,on Date:Apr 11,2024. CarApte S/.ture Synopsis - Ordinance No. 4318 - Page 1 of 2 H.B.Wave PUBLISH DATE: 04/11/2024 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH LEGAL NOTICE Adopted by the City Council on April 2,2024 "AN.ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH.AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING NEW CHAPTER2.66 ENTITLED'COMMUNITY PARENT-GUARDIAN REVIEW BOARD FOR PROCUREMENTOF'CHILDREN'S LIBRARY MATERIALS"' SYNOPSIS: Ordinance No.6318 amended the Huntington Beach Municipal Code.by.addlna language codifying the Community Parent.Guardian Review Board(Board)for procurement of children's library materials,per City Council Resolution No.2023-41. The updated Municipal Code provides-the following key information: • Definitions of children's books,sexual content,sexual references, and community standards' - • Board.purpose and composition • Minimum meeting frequency • .Appropriate use of City.Councll annual allocated funding • Board duties COPIES OF THIS ORDINANCE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CITY CLERKS OFFICE • PASSEDAND.ADOPTED by the City Council of the City Of Huntington Beach at ci regular meeting held April 2,2024 bythe following roll call voter AYES: Burns,Van.D,er Mark,Strlckland,•MCKeon NOES: Mosel, Bolton,Kalmick ABSENT: None This ordinance is effective May 2,2024. CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 2000'MAIN-STREET • HUNTINGTON,BEACH,CA 92648 714536-5227 ROBIN ESTAN ISLAU;CITY CLERK. Huntington Beach Wave published:'4/11/24 Synopsis - Ordinance No. 4318 - Page 2 of 2 From: Fikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW:4/2/2024 Agenda Item No.7:24-219 Ordinance No.4318 Date: Thursday,March 28,2024 11:14:08 AM SUPPLEMENTAL co anuoduATION 4/2/2024 _.____._....____._.._.._..__._._..............._..._..._____........__.... __ ____....___.__._.._.....__....___._._.__.___. Maatieg Date. .............. From: Paula Schaefer<pas92649@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, March 27, 2024 8:39 PM 7(24-219) Agende Item No.; To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org>; Gates, Michael <Michael.Gates@surfcity-hb.org>; Parra, Eric(CM)<EParra@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:4/2/2024 Agenda Item No.7: 24-219 Ordinance No.4318 Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern, Council Members, City Attorney,Acting City Manager: Have you read the draft minutes from the March 19, 2024 City Council meeting? If you have, your duty is to VOTE NO on this proposed Ordinance. There are many definitional problems in the Ordinance that were discussed by Council Members Moser, Bolton, and Kalmick. Not one of the proposed improvements or suggested revisions, have been incorporated into this Ordinance, nor have any of the questions raised on March 19 been answered. As included here, it includes the bulk of the unenforceable vague and ridiculously overbroad language. I can only suggest that the City Council rescind its decision to form this Board. In the likelihood that you did not read my email sent prior to the March 19 meeting, due to the extraordinary number of emails that were sent regarding the proposed RFP for privatising the HB library, I am including portions of it here for your convenience. I raise the following questions: 2.66.020 Definitions The definition of"Children" is limited solely to age and librarians would consider there to be at least several groups included within all persons under the age of 18 years old. The definitions of"Sexual Content" and "Sexual Reference" should be limited to humans. If not,these definitions will include sexual content that discusses behavior of animals, insects, and plants. Surely,you do not want the Board to review all books contained within those subject areas, do you? There is no definition of parent or guardian. 2.66.030 Purpose Regarding the second paragraph here, isn't the "recataloging" process for current circulation already complete? 2.66.040 Composition This does not explain who can be appointed. Can a stepparent be appointed?What about a grandparent?What about parents of adult children?Or is this only to be parents of school-age children? Do the parents have to be HB residents? Do the children have to be HB residents? What about a parent with shared custody but the children go to school in a different city? 2.66.100 Funding Why would the non-approved Children's Books be sold or given away? Why wouldn't these books simply be "recataloged" to the Adult section of the library? If these non-approved books are given away, wouldn't that be a gift of public funds? 2.66.110 Duties A.The last sentence of Section A is confusing and seems to contradict Section G, which says that the decisions of the Board are final and non-appealable. Which is it? B. Section B states a book can be considered approved for purchase if it is NOT nominated for review or reviewed within one year of nomination. Doesn't this contradict Sections D and E below? C. Section C states that a book currently in circulation can be reviewed and if not approved, this book can be placed in the Adult Section. Hasn't the "recataloging" process been completed already?So, is this Board authorized to re-do that process?Also, doesn't this contradict paragraph 2.66.100? D. Section D contradicts the last sentence in Section B discussing the process whereby books can be considered for purchase. E. Section E contradicts the last sentence in Section B discussing the process whereby books can be considered for purchase. G. Section G states that the Board's decisions are final and are non-appealable? Really? Is there any other Board or Commission under the City Council's authority whose decisions cannot be appealed? If so, why are you willing to give away this authority? Approval of this Ordinance will prove to be legally indefensible,administratively unworkable,and above all a waste of taxpayer funds. Paula Schaefer, HB resident, library patron, and consistent voter From: Levin.Shannon To: suoolementalcomm(a)surfcity-hb.orq Subject Fwd:Privatization Date: Friday,March 29,2024 7:29:37 AM Get Outlook for iOS From:JEFF HEATH <heathlawoffice@aol.com> Sent:Thursday, March 28, 2024 9:46:23 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Privatization Just thought I would drop a line to Xpress my reaction to the absurdity of trying to make Huntington Beach public library privatized. If I were cynical or suspicious,I might think that it seems for a similar result is censorship and removing books directed at teenagers Please leave the public libraries public,and keep your ideas of what is appropriate reading material to yourself.Please feel free to read whatever you like and the rest of us will do the same. Sent from my iPhone From: Adrienne low To: suoolementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Oppose Ordinance 4318:Community Parent-guardian Review Board Date: Friday,March 29,2024 3:16:36 PM I am writing in support of the HBPL and against the idea that there is a need for a Parent-Community Review Board.This ongoing assault on our public library is infuriating and insulting to the residents of Huntington Beach.The idea that the parents who live in our community are unable to make decisions about what books they deem appropriate for their own children is insulting.There is no need for an arbitrary group of people making decisions for the rest of us as to which books we should be allowed to check out from the library. If a person does not want to read a book then don't check it out. However,the city council nor some committee has the right to make that decision for myself or my family Leave the public library alone and allow the professionals,who have been doing an outstanding job,to do their job. Sincerely, Adrienne Low SUPPLEMENTAL CO1 MUN1CATION 4/2/2024 From: Pat Goodman Wet To: suonlementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL.QNCI-.CM0 STAFF) Subject Please Table April 2,2024 Agenda Item 7 7 (24-219) Date: Friday,March 29,2024 8:10:33 PM Agenda Item No.; Dear Mayor and City Council Members, Please table - Vote No - Do Not Adopt the April 2, 2024 Agenda Item # 7 . 24- 219 Adopt Ordinance No. 4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material (Approved for • Introduction on 3/19/2024 by a vote of 4-3 (Moser, Bolton, Kalmick-No) It saddens me that it does not appear that the ordinance has taken public or council members' comments into consideration regarding this Parent/Guardian Review Committee. There remains many unanswered questions that I believe sow confusion and will not provide this committee with a straight forward path to operate. • What is the definition of community standards? • What qualifies a book for review, an author, the title, graphics, a passing comment? • There is no budget for this committee. They will not be able to procure books and other resources? • What is the justification to purchase books with city funds that will then be banned by this committee? • What will the city do with 21 copies of banned books (burn them)? • Committee decisions are non- appealable, Is this legal? However the committee itself can appeal its decision for up to a year. . Do you want your neighbor deciding which books are available for your child to check out? I believe that we all agree that parents/guardians are the final decision makers for their child's reading materials. I understand that most parents are not trained in library science. It doesn't matter but it does matter that an untrained group of citizens in library science have the final say in the slection of books for the entire community. Please leave such decisions up to the parents. I believe that the major concern is over children under age 11 that have access to quesitonable materials. Parents accompany their children at this age. We still fall back to the parents to decide what their child should read. I do not understand why the system that is already in place to review books and process community concerns seems to work and that users can freely submit requests for review. Doesn't the Library Committee along with the council liasons receive reports on this activity. Why can't this committee be entrusted to follow through and resolve any complaints? I am baffled by the need for this Review Committee to our funcitoning public library system that protects parents as the final decision maker on what their child should read. Please Vote NO on agenda item # 7. Sincerely, Patricia Goodman Huntington Beach, CA Pat Goodman From: Lennie Sheri To: ,uoolementalcomm aesurfcity-hb.orq Subject Ordinance#4318 Library Material Review Committee Date: Saturday,March 30,2024 7:49:14 AM We are 100%in favor of adopting#4318- Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Materials. Thank you in advance to those of you who vote"Yes"on this matter. Sincerely,Lennie&Sheri Gallego Sent from my iPhone From: Alan Bonowit4 To: suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.org Subject Agenda item 24-219 Date: Saturday,March 30,2024 9:45:33 AM Recent history shows that this is pointless because the City Council majority routinely ignores written and in-person citizen commentary. But I'm doing it anyway. I'm against all aspects of the book review committee. It's a waste of money and opens the door a crack more to fascism. Start acting on behalf of all citizens rather than the outside interests who are calling the shots. Al Bonowitz 4791 Lago Dr Apt 306 Huntington Beach CA 92649 From: Dora oedersen To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFFL suoolementalcommCa surfdty-hb.orq Subject: From a concerned 37 year resident Date: Saturday,March 30,2024 9:59:55 AM Shame! Shame on you extremist four Huntington Beach city council members. For months, you have ignored the vast majority of residents pleading for the preservation of our award-winning public library. You have denigrated our librarians, banned books that don't suit you and now support the privatization of the library to turn a profit for a former mayor and an East Coast hedge fund. As a 30-year plus resident of the city, it is repugnant to me to be represented by council people who are the antithesis of education and family values. Our public library offers the ultimate freedoms: freedom to read, to explore new ideas, to think broadly and critically, to learn and to simply enjoy a good story. Librarians are dedicated to foster just that! Save the soul of our city, our public library. Please listen to us! Nora Pedersen From: Max McG To: suoolementalcomm(aa surfcity-hb.orq Subject Library Date: Saturday,March 30,2024 12:23:12 PM LEAVE IT ALONE! From: )udv Brusslaq To: suoolementalcomm(alsurfcity-hb.org Subject: Please Vote No on Ordinance 4318 Date: Saturday,March 30,2024 1:19:17 PM Attachments: jmaae001.pnq imaae002.onq Dear City Council, Ordinance 4318 (Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material) should not be adopted. The city has trained librarians that monitor content. Parents and guardians are the people who should guide their children on book choices. This Review Board is an intrusive overstep of City Government and is in opposition to Libertarian values. It is sad that comments made by the public are ignored by the majority of the Huntington Beach City Council, but it is important that the voices of the public are stated and recorded. Thank you, Dr. Judy Brusslan Professor of Biological Sciences Bridges to the Doctorate PI California State University, Long Beach ; LLNE F AMBASSADOR nFACUL 404*1IVI }rEEaeA3 Kpeoi ctV From: 1-I Meyers To: suoolementalcommCla surfdty-hb.arg Subject April 2,2024,Agenda item#7 Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material Date: Saturday,March 30,2024 2:01:03 PM I am a longtime resident of Huntington Beach. I strenuously urge you to vote no on Agenda Item#7,Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material,at the April 2,2024,City Council meeting.This proposal would institute book banning,regardless of what it is labeled,and attempts to legislate the beliefs of a few parents and force them on the entire community.Parents who want to restrict their children's reading,beyond the careful selection of books already being made by the professional library staff,have many options for doing so without the proposed ordinance. It is inappropriate and should be recognized as un-American to impose the type of restrictions intended by this proposed ordinance.We've heard a lot about trampling on freedoms and government"overreach",usually from the political right,but this ordinance would accomplish exactly those things. For once,please listen to the community and vote no on this proposal. Thank you, Hildy Meyers From: Michele Burgess To: suoolementalcomm aOsurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFFI Subject: Letter to the City Council for April 2 meeting Date: Saturday,March 30,2024 7:06:19 PM To the City Council and City Attorney Gates: Another meeting, another agenda, another atrocity put forth by the F4+1. This City Council majority is the bad joke that keeps on giving, an affront to the more reasonable, common-sense citizens of Huntington Beach. You're dividing our community, wrecking an award-winning library, and ruining the city's reputation as a tourist destination and a wonderful place to live. Despite over 800 letters opposing privatization of the library, and 100 public speakers at the last City Council meeting, the F4 blithely charged ahead and agreed to issue an RFP, which was completely predictable because you had absolutely no intention of doing otherwise, no matter what anyone else said. And now we have on this week's agenda a resolution to assemble a bogus committee to tell us what our "children" (ages 0-18!) are allowed — or not allowed — to read. The last meeting was ridiculous, a true clown show. The majority members, city attorney, and city manager/police chief didn't even have the courtesy to remain seated and listen to the speakers. You were gone for extended amounts of time, certainly much longer than necessary to stretch your legs or use the restroom. Seems you were actually talking with one another behind the scenes, as more than one of you were always gone at the same time. You didn't even pretend to give a damn what any of the speakers said. I read every one of the emails sent to the City Council. Did you? We know Burns read at least one, because he called the writer crazed and said she should be ashamed of herself. "ASHAMED!!!" Mr. Burns, who leaves the room often, acts like a thug when addressing not only people in the audience but minority council members, and can't be bothered to dress for his position in regular business attire to show respect for fellow council members and attendees at council meetings. Look around you, Mr. Burns, at what everyone else on the dais is wearing. Then we have Strickland, who forgot he's not mayor anymore and yelled over Gracey after the 4-3 (again) vote on the RFP. When people in the audience shouted "Shame!" Tony lost it and ordered people removed. Who knows what might have happened had Chief Parra not touched Tony on the back as he left the chambers, then Tony left as well and Gracey called a 5-minute recess. It was Tony who needed calming down, not us. If you're going to do wildly unpopular things, be prepared to hear about it. You work for us, not the other way around. It seems Tony may have brought his highly questionable political ethics from Ventura to Huntington Beach. Wouldn't be at all surprised to find something fishy going on with campaign contributions. What I'll always remember about Tony is his smirking face and two thumbs up for himself when a speaker at a previous meeting commented on Trump giving props to Tony Strickland as the Trump plane flew by during the Air Show. Pathetic. Where's Gracey's call for order when people on the other side are drowning out our speakers? When Chad Williams is ranting too loudly into the microphone at every meeting and getting his knickers in a twist about drawings of people of all ages in a public bath in Japan, a culture totally different from ours. He had even drawn red blocks to hide "offensive" body parts on cartoon characters. And this strutting lunatic wants to be one of our next City Council members. If that gang of three is elected in November, we are doomed. Then we have Proud Boy Luke Skywalker hauling Gracey's giant porn poster up to the mic, rambling and ranting like he's high on something, and flipping off the audience as he leaves the room. Why are you people even associating with Proud Boys? And there's the MAGA guy in the bleachers who bellows "under GOD!" during every Pledge of Allegiance. Speaking of which, why are we hearing only Christian prayers since you disinvited the Interfaith Council? In case you haven't noticed, many people are remaining seated as an act of protest. You behave like a fiefdom of four. There are three other duly elected members in this supposedly bipartisan body who are being completely disrespected, ignored, and denigrated. You dismantled commissions, removed the minority three from almost all remaining commissions and assigned only yourselves — thus, the thousands of citizens who don't agree with you have no representation. To make matters even worse, you now require that those who want to speak sign up in person from 4:30 p.m. on the same day, and you decrease at will their allotted time from 3 - minutes to (so far) as little as 90 seconds, clearly a blatant attempt to limit citizen participation. How about Gracey? Loves to be the public face of Huntington Beach, and what an embarrassing face it is for us. Self-righteous, vindictive, petty, controlling. She takes things personally, is very defensive about her lack of education (as evidenced by her vicious personal attack on Dan Kalmick at the last meeting), completely misrepresented what he wrote in the Register. I knew exactly what he meant when he said the book review committee members would be amateurs; he meant ordinary lay people, not professional librarians. But Gracey accused him of demeaning all parents, no matter what their education. Dial it back, Gracey, everything isn't a personal attack on your parenting skills, your lack of a high school diploma, or anything but your relentless desire for power, attention, and telling other people's children what they can or cannot read. As for getting attention and currying favor, why else would Gracey publicly present an award to the two city employees who remedied the ongoing "sewer smell" issue at Calvary Chapel Harbourside? I had hope for Casey since he's the one who always responds to emails, even though I don't agree with much of what he says, but at least he's respectful to the writer. However, with his resolution to leave the League of Cities, and his petulant argument for his only reason why we should, I realize Casey has gone over to the Dark Side. Michael Gates, the invisible fifth council member disguised as an overpaid city attorney, certainly isn't looking after the best interests of Huntington Beach. He might think he is, and he believes God (a really good lawyer) is working through him. Well, Mr. Gates might need a different lawyer, because he's costing us a hell of a lot of money tilting at windmills, touting victories and not publicizing defeats and costly settlements. A secret multi- million-dollar settlement with Code 4, fighting a losing battle with the State over additional housing requirements, an imminent fight with the State over voter rights, and who knows what else. Otherwise, why would he need such a large staff to handle so many cases? Would he be picking all these fights if the money were coming out of his own pocket rather than ours? Also, why is he always texting Parra while the public is speaking? Put down the phone and pay attention. As for the Air Show, this is getting out of hand. At first there was just a small area blocked off for paid entry. Now that area extends all the way south from the pier to Beach Blvd. Tall, opaque fencing is erected to block a free view of lower-flying planes from the sidewalk, boardwalk, and cars driving by on PCH. We now have the privilege of paying $25 to bring our own chair to enter a huge fenced area where the previous year it was free (no fence). This is OUR city beach and requires free public access. Now there's talk of extending the show to 5 days (plus practice days), and they will have small planes actually landing on the sand. The noise of low-flying jets day in and day out is deafening, rattling windows, setting off car alarms, terrifying pets, impacting birds nesting in protected wetlands, and it's possible that a plane could someday crash into a densely populated area. Unless the planes stay completely offshore, this is an accident just waiting to happen. You people are vastly under-qualified to do the job you applied for, and for which you misrepresented your platform in campaigning. I hope and pray you don't completely and irreparably destroy our city before you are either recalled or voted out. You will long be remembered as the worst, most selfish, most power-hungry, most homophobic and petty City Council members in Huntington Beach history. Ms. Michele Burgess HB resident since 1961 From: Jnarvn427Caigmail.com To: suoolementalcomm(a)surfcity-hb.org Subject: RE:City Council Agenda Date: Sunday,March 31,2024 10:49:56 AM Help me understand why the City Council is taking review books out of the hands of qualified librarians and into the hands of friends of CC members. CRAZY!!! Privatizing the library does not benefit the community and library patrons, but put$$$ in the hands of a corporation. INSANE!!! 51 year resident of HB From: Susan Turner To: suoolementalcommCasurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL QNCL.CM0 STAFF), Subject: Keep our Public Libraries Public.Let our Librarians do their job. Date: Sunday,March 31,2024 11:07:23 AM Dear City Council Members, I have been a resident for 60+ years. I have used the Huntington Beach Library system for most of my life. When I was young, a book mobile would come for us to check out books. My children grew up with our beautiful libraries and the amazing staff. Our library staff is well educated and have many years of experience. Public libraries are for All people to use and for All people to be represented within the pages of the accessible books and materials. It is not City council's job to choose people who are not educated in library science to make decisions regarding which books are in any section of the library. Nor do we want a private company deciding which books will be available within our library system. It appears that the majority in our City Council are going to great effort and expense to replace our well educated and respected librarians with non-librarian persons to control our public libraries.. I am aware that 100+ persons have spoke at the last City council meeting plus, many 100s of emails were sent in opposition to these efforts. Please stop the war on public libraries and our freedom to choose what we would like to read in our public libraries. Please listen to the majority of the Huntington Beach City residence for whom you were elected to serve. This is still a democracy. Your job is too work for the majority of citizens. A majority of citizens have spoken and written in opposition to both the privatizing the library system and to having persons other than librarians make decisions for which books to purchase and where they are to be place in the library. Thank you, Susan Tuner We have many library volunteers who provide a host of public services. From: Dale Martinez To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)suoolementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Regarding agenda item 24-219 for April 2 City Council Meeting Date: Sunday,Mardi 31,2024 11:15:18 AM To the Huntington Beach City Council Regarding agenda item 24-219,proposed ordinance 4318 and also Privatization of the Huntington Beach Public Library I think that the proposed Citizens Review Board is a bad idea.I urge a "no"vote on this ordinance as currently written. 1)It is cumbersome by nature. 21 members appointed 3 each by 7 City Council members to meet just twice a year. Too many people,with too few meetings. Can't imagine that it would be effective,under any mandate. 2)It is impracticable by nature. If these books are.not purchased prior to the meeting and each member must review each book,for text and graphics,prior to the meeting(as stated in the ordinance),how is that actually going to happen?Where is the practicality in this for these volunteer board members?Is one dedicated person going to actually get a book and make an opinion?What is the point in that?That is why we should continue to belong to the American Library Association that actually has people from a variety of backgrounds who read and review books and write opinions about it. Oh,that's right... You want the HBPL to be out of the well established American Library Association so it can get book recommendations from your partisan, conservative organizations like Moms for Liberty and other christian right wing groups. So much for letting HB establish its own community standards(see below). I suppose you are also canvassing other religious organizations for their opinions on books that children should not be allowed to "see."Maybe graphic novels about David and his seduction of Bathsheba would be offensive to some mothers?What about books about war and pillage? 3) The designations of"Children's books"not to be allowed to anyone under 18?These books that are intended to be banned(yes,that is what is intended here) from the "Children's" section and not allowed to be checked out by anyone under 18 years old?What happened to the teen section idea?I can't imagine where you think an average 16 y/o gets information anyway. It is most certainly not in the Children's Section of a public library or by checking out books such as "The Catcher in the Rye" or"Gender Queer." 4)Donating or selling non-approved(banned books)to libraries outside of Huntington Beach, is hypocritical. Why not make a public burning of them? (AQMD problems, probably.) You seem to be acknowledging that these books would be beneficial to someone, just not those the conservative majority of the City Council wishes to control. Why not put them in the Adult section permanently rather than pawn them off onto some other city? Or we could have a really juicy section called "Banned Children's Books," so the Adults in our community can make up their own mind and check them out and share them with their minor children because they deemed them to be appropriate based upon their own parenting standards. 5) The term "Community Standards"is fraught with problems.As in a Supreme Court case "Community Standards" are hard to define. "With its emphasis on the reaction of an average person rather than that of an especially susceptible person, the court rejected applying the Hicklin test [(from 1857] as a means of determining whether material is obscene." [1957RA Supreme Court decision in the matter of Roth v. United States] My hope is that determination of"Community Standards" takes into account that Huntington Beach is diverse and changing and we do not cave to the will of and any political pressure applied by "especially susceptible" individuals who have large megaphones and a council majority tieing the'professional librarians hands and judgements. 6) Do not privatize our Public Library. Lastly, I want to again express my outrage that the City Council conservative majority, unable to manage a budget because of high legal expenditures (obviously) and poor management (too many high paid attorneys and inability to hire a professional City Manager (no offense intended to our Police Chief), or a professional head librarian, is trying to privatize our beloved HBPLibrary. All of the above could be handled well by our Huntington Beach Public Library, with community input and professional, community based people. Why would you want such an important thing outsourced to a for-profit organization, who is not based in Huntington Beach, or even Orange County or California? Shameful! Quit being those "especially sensitive" people who are bulldozing the Citizens of Huntington Beach with your reactionary agenda. Sincerely Dale Neuls Martinez 714-717-7235 resident of Huntington Beach, granddaughter and daughter of former residents of Huntington Beach,mother and grandmother of residents of Huntington Beach. Volunteer at Oakview Library Literacy program Save and Protect Huntington Beach Join a Banned Book Club From: Lynne Deakers To: suaolementalcommCla surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Comment an item 7 Date: Sunday,March 31,2024 3:08:18 PM Regarding Ordinance 4318 - I oppose it! I am extremely concerned about the direction the council majority is taking regarding our stellar Huntington Beach Public Library. An ordinance to amend our city code and add a Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's library materials is offensive to me as a citizen of the United States of America. I expect certain standards of a library selection committee. What are your qualifications for selection to this group? What guidelines will they follow? I have a master's degree in library science from UCLA. I was a School Librarian for 20 years at a Catholic school here in Huntington Beach. I can assure you that parents look to librarians for quality selection of books and programming for their children. Librarians are educated in all aspects of book selection. Their goal is to meet the needs of every person living in their unique community. How will a panel of 21 randomly selected individuals accomplish this goal? This cannot be about personal preferences. This oversight board is unacceptable to me. If it is pornography you are worried about: LIBRARIANS DON'T WANT PORNOGRAPHY IN LIBRARIES EITHER! I am the mother of four grown children, all raised here in Huntington Beach with free and frequent access to our award-winning public library. Caring, knowledgeable librarians are always there to assist children and teens with reading recommendations and research help. They also provide wonderful story hours, author's day programming, computer time and many other services. This is what everyone loves about our PUBLIC library. It is so much more than books on a shelf. Please do not make our library private! We don't want a corporate approach. Keep it PUBLIC! This is good use of tax dollars and the payback will be a well-educated, informed Huntington Beach community. Lynne Deakers Huntington Beach resident since 1981 From: Diana Lithoow To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF);suoolementalcommctsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: OPPOSE the HB City Council"Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children"s Library Material"proposal Date: Sunday,March 31,2024 7:42:08 PM Attachments: Lithgow HB CITY COUNCIL 4 1 24.ndf SEE ATTACHED SIGNED LETTER April 1, 2024 Re: OPPOSE the HB City Council "Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Material"proposal Dear HB City Council, Since the vote for this"Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Material"proposal is taking place the day after April Fools Day,I am assuming it is not a joke—even though it sounds like one. The suggestion to adopt such a Review Board made up of Community and Parent members— who have NO EXPERIENCE in library science or literature/writing is a demonstration of how far off track this City Council has gone. STOP THIS MAGA GRANDSTANDING NONSENSE AND GET BACK TO HB CITY BUSINESS! You are wasting our time, our money, and our much-needed focus on something that has NOTHING to do with your role as a City Council—this is the purview of the librarians and they do a VERY GOOD JOB of it. We will see you Tuesday night at the Council meeting to address this face-to-face during public input time, Diana and Douglas Lithgow 41-year Homeowners Huntington Beach City 19841 Flagstone Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92646 714-964-4145 Diana Lithgow,PhD,DNP,RN,FNP-BC, FAANP Professor of Nursing College of Graduate Nursing Western University of Health Science 909-469-5523(CGN Office) DLithgow@WesternU.edu __ April 1,2024 Re: OPPOSE the HB City Council"Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Material"proposal Dear HB City Council, Since the vote for this "Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Material"proposal is taking place the day after April Fools Day,I am assuming it is not a joke—even though it sounds like one. The suggestion to adopt such a Review Board made up of Community and Parent members— who have NO EXPERIENCE in library science or literature/writing is a demonstration of how far off track this City Council has gone. STOP THIS MAGA GRANDSTANDING NONSENSE AND GET BACK TO HB CITY BUSINESS! You are wasting our time, our money, and our much-needed focus on something that has NOTHING to do with your role as a City Council—this is the purview of the librarians and they do a VERY GOOD JOB of it. We will see you Tuesday night at the Council meeting to address this face-to-face during public input time, Diana and Douglas Lithgow 41-year Homeowners Huntington Beach City 19841 Flagstone Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92646 714-964-4145 From: Carol Daus To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFFL suoolementalcommtsurfdty-hb.orq;Parra.Eric(CM' Subject: In Opposition to Ordinance#4318-April 2 Agenda Date: Sunday,March 31,2024 10:10:10 PM Hello Mayor and City Council, I am strongly opposed to Ordinance#4318 on the April 2 agenda. It's fraught with logistical problems and censorship concerns,which raise many questions: 1)How will this group (slated to meet possibly twice a year) read the thousands of books that would be necessary for review? 2)There appears to be no librarians who will serve as back up to this group of untrained community members. Yet these biased book reviewers with no library science background will have the final say on whether books are acquired--even Young Adult books, which many adults read? (This sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.) 3)Your ordinance only refers to "children", not teenagers under 18. Will the review board be reading all the novels and non-fiction books from that section?If so,this will be a problem for our schools'English and Social Studies teachers who assign reading that contains content of a "sexual nature." It appears you will be preventing access to these popular,much-needed books since your group has to review gobs of chapter books and has a year to do it, based on the ordinance. 4) What are HB's "community standards?" The 4 of you might define them based on your own religious and moral standards, but we're a city of 197,000 people, so there's some variation of "community standards" among our rich, diverse population. Based on population standards, there are about 14,000 HB residents who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Will your biased group refuse to accept books for those individuals?(This sounds like another lawsuit waiting to happen.) 5)Books will be purchased but then donated to local libraries/charities, etc if they're considered unacceptable. This is a huge waste of money and it's hypocritical when you're contemplating outsourcing to cut library costs. 6)This ill-conceived review board is being mocked throughout Orange County and far beyond.As a tourist destination, do you really want to offend so many people who will swap out HB for other coastal cities--for conventions,pleasure and business travel?As this group gets organized and starts having Brown Act public meetings, it's going to draw bad attention to HB. A long-time realtor acquaintance told me the other day that increasing numbers of his house-hunting clients are telling him they would prefer Fountain Valley, Seal Beach or Costa Mesa over HB.He told me that he hasn't heard this level of criticism about HB in the 20 years he's worked in OC. I have so many other questions, but I'll stop here. Thank you, Carol Daus HB resident From: d.wade To: suoolementalcomm(@surfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(,INCL.CM0 STAFF1 Subject: Re:Library Privitization Date: Monday,April 1,2024 8:53:41 AM The city council was voted in to take care of and manage our city's resources, not sell them off for short gain or ulterior motives. Your ideas for governance are so bad you have to inflict controversy, division, and politics into policy. This is my assessment of the library situation: This majority council, and their supporters of measure A and this ordinance, are signaling a culture war against Igbgt people in our community under the guise of parents rights and protect the children. Parents rights have not been taken away but their intolerance to explain diversity and society's acceptance of gays, transgenders, and binary identities has put them in attack mode. The strategy, grab a handful of objectionable books but because removing them is a first amendment violation, relocate a more general category of books, create a committee of book banners, and now it is replace the library management. I ask, this is over a handful of books written for lgbqt library patrons? Maybe attacking our library isn't even about any particular content, it's just a dog whistle to a more diabolical agenda, reducing enriching services to the Community who need it most. Some people don't want to pay for services they don't use but our library is the bedrock of caring, for self improvement, and a place of comfort that uplifts all who enter and thereby improves the lives of all in HB. It's a shame the council majority doesn't see the jewel that is people powered by staff and volunteers. It will be reduced to a commercial bookstore and the people for privatization will never know the difference because they can't see goodwill. Denise Wada, From: Fikes.Cathy To: Acenda Alerts Subject: FW:Item 7 on Tuesday 4/2 agenda Date: Monday,April 1,2024 10:53:36 AM From: Lynne Deakers<Icdeakers@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 31, 2024 11:32 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Item 7 on Tuesday 4/2 agenda Regarding Ordinance 4318- I oppose it! I am extremely concerned about the direction the council majority is taking regarding our stellar Huntington Beach Public Library. An ordinance to amend our city code and add a Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's library materials is offensive to me as a citizen of the United States of America. I expect certain standards of a library selection committee. What are your qualifications for selection to this group?What guidelines will they follow? I have a master's degree in library science from UCLA. I was a School Librarian for 20 years at a Catholic school here in Huntington Beach. I can assure you that parents look to librarians for quality selection of books and programming for their children. Librarians are educated in all aspects of book selection. Their goal is to meet the needs of every person living in their unique community. How will a panel of 21 randomly selected individuals accomplish this goal?This cannot be about personal preferences. This oversight board is unacceptable to me. If it is pornography you are worried about: LIBRARIANS DON'T WANT PORNOGRAPHY IN LIBRARIES EITHER! I am the mother of four grown children, all raised here in Huntington Beach with free and frequent access to our award-winning public library. Caring, knowledgeable librarians are always there to assist children and teens with reading recommendations and research help. They also provide wonderful story hours, author's day programming, computer time and many other services. This is what everyone loves about our PUBLIC library. It is so much more than books on a shelf. Please do not make our library private! We don't want a corporate approach. Keep it PUBLIC! This is good use of tax dollars and the payback will be a well-educated, informed Huntington Beach community. Lynne Deakers Huntington Beach resident since 1981 From: Fikes,Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW:Letter in Opposition to Agenda Item#7 24-219 Ordinance 4318 Date: Monday,April 1,2024 10:55:57 AM From:Tim Geddes<timgeddes3@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 31, 2024 9:17 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Letter in Opposition to Agenda Item#7 24-219 Ordinance 4318 Dear Mayor and City Council, I am writing in strong opposition to the adoption of Ordinance #4318 on the April 2 Agenda (#7). It is fraught with peril for the Huntington Beach community in creating a committee that is anti-democratic, arbitrarily administered, openly subject to partisan manipulation, and poorly composed. I am especially incensed at the inclusion of 2.66.110 (Duties) G (All decisions by the Board are final and non- appealable). The City Attorney's Office is directly responsible for concocting this outrage and then daring to defend it when the entire provision could be struck. It is unconscionable that our local elected officials and the trained and accredited experts the community relies upon not to be able to appeal what could be a blatant misuse of authority in pressing its decisions and not being able to correct any misuse of its authorities and powers to influence a public institution such as our Library System. The entire ordinance MUST be rewritten to not include such a provision. Failure to do this may lead to civic and legal chaos in implementing it. I urge you to restructure this ordinance and remove this "poison pill" provision. The City Attorney and his staff are completely responsible for this outrage and should be publicly held responsible for its actions. An outside second opinion should be sought which could eliminate the flaws and determine accountability for this unfair and anti-community outrage. It is inconsistent with serving the best interests of the community and the entire citizenry of Huntington Beach. Sincerely, Tim Geddes 40 Year H.B. resident Homeowner/ Parent timgeddes3Pgmail.com (714) 478-0168 From: pikes,Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW:HB Libraries Date: Monday,April 1,2024 10:58:16 AM From:sailonjohn51@aol.com<sailonjohn51@aol.com> Sent:Thursday, March 28, 2024 10:43 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: HB Libraries This message is primarily intended for the 4 conservative Councilmembers: Gracey Van Der Mark, Pat Burns, Casey McKeon, and Tony Strickland. I am opposed to hiring a private company to run the Huntington Beach Public Libraries. Seems like to save lots of money they're going to have to fire the existing management and cut pay and benefits to whoever is left. Losing the knowledge and many years of experience of the current management would be devastating to the library system. They are devoted to the libraries including both the employees and it's resources. Certainly the same could not be said for new, replacement managers from a private company. I spent my career working for the government and was really glad I did. That's because, even though I knew I wasn't going to make a lot of money, I was able to earn a livable wage, get good benefits, and have job security. I suspect the HB library employees feel the same way. A private company would take these things away and likely create a lot of disgruntled employees. To save money there would probably also be reductions in services and the purchase of materials. I like to read literary fiction novels such as those found on the National Book Award lists. Since some of these are not real popular, they would likely be on the chopping block and I would no longer be able to find them at the HB library. I'd also like to comment on the "censoring" of books that's been going on in the Children's Library. It seems to me that the screening of children's books is a task that has always been ably performed by the HB professional Library Science staff. I was certainly surprised to learn that library employees are being forced to go through children's books looking for"inappropriate" content. It's equally puzzling that a panel of unqualified, biased parents will be given the authority to determine which books appear on the shelves. I would like to point out that your election in 2022 was not a mandate to impose your personal values on the Huntington Beach community via the library system. I suggest you give the citizens of Huntington Beach a chance to vote on these changes in an election before you run the risk of turning the great HB libraries into mediocre ones. Sincerely, John Honsberger From: Pikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject RN:Library meddling Date: Monday,April 1,2024 10:59:09 AM From: Krystal White<krystalwhite916@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2024 7:31 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Library meddling I'm writing to share my strong opposition to any further meddling with the public library. Four of you ignored my, and many others emails regarding creating this ridiculous unnecessary censorship panel, and now I hear talks of possible privatization? I'm sure you'll ignore my voice here as well as I now believe your agendas are to gain attention via political theater, rather than actually representing your citizens. Please just stop and listen, actually listen. My whole life I've tried to stay out of political activism in general and trust that I'm represented. Today,thanks to you four, I attended my first protest. After watching you ignore the common sense of the many people who have voiced their support for the library, I'm truly more polarized than I've ever been. I'm disgusted by your political theater and attacks on EVERYONE'S library to further your need to "win" and destroy the "other side".Stop trying to divide,stop the phony grandstanding, and leave the library alone. Krystal White • Downtown HB resident From: Rkes,Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW:Privatization of public library Date: Monday,April 1,2024 11:00:47 AM -----Original Message From:Julie Carson<juliecarson@earthlink.net> Sent:Friday,March 29,2024 10:50 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Privatization of public library I am writing of to express my dismay&concerns about the apparent plans for the privatization of the Huntington Beach public library.While I am not a resident of Huntington Beach,I reside in Orange,I have visited the library in Huntington Beach several times and enjoyed it.It has always been a quality library. From what I have seen over the years,when public services are turned over to private for-profit enterprises,even when supposedly done for"cost savings", the quantity&quality of the services to the public suffers,the treatment of employee suffers,the expertise of employees suffers,transparency suffers,and the whole purpose of those in charge shifts from rendering quality service to the public to turning a profit for those in charge.That is not in the best interests of the tax payers&residents of Huntington Beach.The taxpayers get less bang for the buck. Some tax payer public services should never be privatized. I would also be extremely uncomfortable with the way in which decisions would be made about what books would be stocked.That is a decision best left to qualified professional librarians.I would be very unhappy to have some unknown panel of persons with their own agendas deciding what books should be available to me from a public library. Please carefully&sincerely listen to the taxpayers&residents of your city in determining what is truly in the best interest of the city of Huntington Beach. I know if it was my city,Orange,I would be extremely unhappy with the direction you seem to be heading with your wonderful library.Residents of other Orange County cities are taking note of what is happening in Huntington Beach and are alarmed at what they see happening there. Sent from my iPhone From: Fikes.Cathy To: Aaenda Alerts Subject: FW: For all Council members Date: Monday,April 1,2024 11:03:19 AM From:Andrew Einhorn <andreweinhornpt@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, March 30, 2024 2:11 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org>. Subject: For all Council members Our Golden Library is a PUBLIC library. It has books and events that create enjoyment for our community. SHAME ON THE MAJORITY! You group thinkers are unfit to run our community. The majority's decision to establish a parental review committee comprised of untrained and opinionated residents to override professional librarians, without the option of appeal, is another absurdity. Item 24-219 I am totally against! The Request for Proposal to privatize the esteemed and award- winning public library system is merely a farcical political stunt. This extremist majority is willing to strip away local control in a manner that reeks of nepotism. It is disgraceful that our city continues to receive negative publicity via lawsuits, potential state penalties and flag issues. Instead of fueling culture wars, let's focus on resolving our city's issues. Try for a change to be a consensus builder and convince your peers via an argument from a moral or factual standpoint using the art of persuasion, which our democracy depends on to survive. As I see it this type of leadership is TOTALLY LACKING BY THE MAJORITY! Sincerely, Andrew Einhorn Huntington Beach, CA 92647 40-Year resident of HB PS CUT THE BUDGET OF THE CITY ATTORNEY! His budget is up by over a million dollars! From: Pikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject RN:LS&S and Privatizing the Library Date: Monday,April 1,2024 11:06:14 AM Original Message From:Lily Covey<lilycovey3@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday,March 31,2024 9:11 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:LS&S and Privatizing the Library Dear council members, My name is Lily and I am writing to express my concern with LS&S and the potential privatization of Huntington Beach Public Library. In 2017,LS&S was fined$70k for labor and wage violations,so they are already not a good company.They claim they can cut costs by one million dollars,but the first thing to be cut will be staff and their benefits.By partnering with LS&S,you will be putting many people out of a job.Beyond this,privatization and libraries shouldn't be in the same sentence.Their purpose and goals contradict each other.Public libraries serve the community and they do so without payment of any kind. Privatizing the library will hurt staff,patrons,and the quality of service to patrons. Secondly,creating a Board to review and censor children's books contradicts the library's mission to provide materials to all patrons.With no oversight,appeals,or public input on decisions,you are taking away any chance of a fair and democratic process.The state should not have a say in what children can or cannot read.That is up to the parent or guardian. The second law of Library Science is every reader their book,which means books are for all.It stresses the democratization of of the library where every reader has the right to the book of their interest.It is crucial that libraries uphold this law. I urge you to keep libraries public and for all people.The consequences for not doing so are dangerous for staff and patrons. Best, Lily Dawson From: Fikes,Cathy To: Aaenda Alerts Subject: FW:Do Not Privatize our Libraries Date: Monday,April 1,2024 11:07:19 AM Original Message From:Margaret Sloan<peggysloan@gmail.com> , Sent:Sunday,March 31,2024 11:02 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Do Not Privatize our Libraries I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed demolition of our revered library system and turning it over to a for profit company. As it is,our library system is the most efficient in Orange County yet is only a relatively small item of the city budget. "Improving"that scenario will mean cuts in services and the salaries of our professional staff,whom we will most certainly lose to other systems. I am especially disturbed at your asking the library management company-represented,as I understand,by former councilman Posey-for a Request for Proposals(RFP)instead of a Request for Information,since an RFP will be a sealed bid,undisclosed to your constituents. You must surely agree that this represents something less than "transparency". I am a long time resident of Huntington Beach,and my family and I are devoted patrons of our libraries. I urge you to abandon your attempt to control our reading lives and curtail our intellectual freedom under the pretense of "protecting"anybody. Finally,any attempt at library privatization should be considered political suicide for its proponents.This is a line in the sand. Peggy Sloan From: Fikes,Cathy To: Aaenda Alerts Subject: FW: Library Date: Monday,April 1,2024 11:09:00 AM Original Message From:ROSE SAYLIN<rsaylin@aol.com> Sent:Sunday,March 31,2024 1:35 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Library Please keep our librarians and stop planning the children's book selection committee.We have a wonderful library with dedicated,well qualified staff. Rose Saylin Sent from my iPhone From: Pikes.Cathy To: 'genda Alerts Subject: FW:CC Mtg March 19;proposed book review panel Date: Monday,April 1,2024 11:12:32 AM From:Jean Peterson <jpetersonl@socal.rr.com> Sent:Sunday, March 31, 2024 7:30 PM To:Walker, Renee<Renee.Walker@surfcity-hb.org>;Wysocki,Ashley<ashley.wysocki@surfcity- hb.org>; Hopkins,Travis<thopkins@surfcity-hb.org>; CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:CC Mtg March 19; proposed book review panel March 30, 2024 Eric Parra Temporary City Manager Travis Hopkins Assistant City Manager, Huntington Beach Ashley Wysoki Director of Community and Library Services Huntington Beach City Council Members Gracey Van Der Mark Rhonda Bolton Dan Kalmick Natalie Moser Pat Bums Tony Strickland Casey McKeon Huntington Beach 200 Main St#5 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 To whom it may concern and to those who don't appear to be concerned at all; My name is Jean Peterson, and I'm a twenty-seven year resident of Huntington Beach. I am writing you this letter as I am concerned about privatization of our wonderful public library. li sent an email regarding this issue prior to the March 19th, 2024 City Council meeting. I also attended that meeting. This letter is in response to that meeting. I will also address the proposed parent advisory board for the children's section of the library. I was shocked and saddened at how the March CC meeting was conducted, and by the behavior of some of you. The library is an extremely important fixture in our community, as evident by the impassioned statements from then Huntington Beach residents that spoke and attended the meeting. As resident after resident expressed their concerns with valid points and passionate speeches, several of you left the City Council Chambers for extended periods of time. Several of you left the Chambers more than once. There were three CC Board members that didn't leave when the residents were voicing their concerns. There were hundreds of people attending the City Council meeting who remained in their seats the entire time. At the end of resident comments, Van Der Mark made a comment similar to"We respected you guys when you made comments, now you need to respect us." I laughed out loud at that remark by Van Der Mark. All of you people that left the meeting when residents were making public comments showed your complete disrespect and distain for the speakers and the residents of Huntington Beach who attended the meeting. Three City Council members gave valid, concise, and impassioned reasons as to why the library should not be privatized. Perhaps you did not hear what was said by those City Council members. I know that Van Der Mark did, as she made a comment to one Council member, indicating that he "felt that she wasn't as worthy or didn't have a reasonable opinion because she does not have a college degree" and added that the Council member that had been speaking was an "elitist.' Van Der Mark seems insecure with her level of education, and quite possibly her grasp of issues. This alone should cause her to think about the public library and all it has to offer, including literacy programs. Another member, Strickland, I believe, said that there was possibility that donations would be made to LS&S for-profit business)for library. That suggestion by Strickland is ludicrous and insulting. The four of you City Council members, and those that were there as an official part of their duties, - - gave no valid reasons for wanting to privatize the library.As I understand it, Posey, a former mayor of HB, approached you people with this proposal by LS&S. I can't imagine that the library, which takes up approximately 2%of the city budget is sinking the ship. I'm curious as to whether Posey or LS&S donated to your campaigns, or made promises for your future campaigns for whatever you all plan for next. All of the volunteer hours, grants, and donations that our public Huntington Beach Library receives will be lost, making any savings by this privatization of our library null and void. The diverse collection of books, coupled with the extremely valuable services to the community that the library offers is priceless. The expertise of the librarians and other library employees is priceless. The notion that"people can go out and buy the books that they want to read" is ridiculous. Libraries are for all people to use, regardless of financial ability, to read books. I myself, could never afford to just go to a bookstore and buy books that I want to read. I don't know anyone who can, either. I never heard a reason why you people think the library is not being run efficiently. Not one. No other bids were presented at the meeting from other vendors regarding privatization of library services. That's not good business practices. The research and investigation regarding LS&S services was incomplete and not thorough, from what I heard at the CC meeting. The"staff'was unable to answer basic questions asked by CC members during the meeting. Any answers given were incomplete. There are some of you people that gave no reasons why you want to privatize the library, other than to save money. When was then library found to be a financial concern to the City? I can think of several ways to save the city money. Privatize Parking Enforcement. Hire part time employees to issue tickets, impound abandoned and stolen vehicles. No benefits or retirement pensions. Think of the money you will save the city. For many months, the Chief of Police has also been working as the City Manager. That's two part-time jobs, right there. Again, part-time employees equal no benefits or costly pensions. Here's another great idea to cut the city's budget. What about the three helicopters? Do a study with the cost of the helicopters, maintenance, fuel used and cost of man hours for pilots with the City's use and outside cities' request for service from these helicopters.DoAre three helicopters need for the City of Huntington Beach? It is a small city. What great ideas, right?That is a rhetorical question. For those of you who don't know what rhetorical means, I suggest you go to the library and look it up. You could look it up on the internet, but there is child and adult pornography on then Internet. There are photos of mangled bodies due to car accident, shootings, wars, and other violence on the internet. Photos of naked bodies and people kissing can be found on the internet. Just go to the library. It is a much safer space than the Internet. A great way to save money is to stop the City Attorney from filing lawsuits that there are no hope of winning. Gates talks about his winnings on NextDoor. Wow. Where is the money? Have only two lawyers working in the City Attorney's office. The rest of the employees, yeah, you guessed it, can be part-time legal assistants. You can find law students to work as unpaid interns. Think of the valuable experience they would gain. Plus it will save money for the budget. When the four of you people voted to go ahead with the LS&S proposal, several members of the audience reacted by saying "shame." Strickland became unhinged and "ordered"the"sergeants' to remove anyone who said "shame." He made this"order" several times. Strickland put on quite a show. He said, in a public meeting, as an elected official, "I don't have to listen to this shit."Well, Mr Strickland, you, in fact, DO have to listen to this"shit." If you can't handle the duties of a City Council member, you need to leave. Perhaps a better word for all of the people non that meeting should have been "Recall.' Now I will speak about this"parent review board." If that board comes to fruition, I would like to be considered for a position in the twenty-one member panel. Van Der Mark will be happy to know that I am not an elitist, as I too, have just a high school education just as she does. Let me back up. I don't actually know that Van Der Mark has a high school diploma. I am interested in the details of how this panel will operate. How many books will be included yearly in the review? How will the books be provided to each member. Will the City pay for twenty-one copies of each book, one for each member? How often will the panel meet for discussion? In what manner will books be chosen?What will be done with books that don't meet the"standard."What will the standard be?Who ultimately decides what books will be placed in the library, and what will be done with the books that are deemed not appropriate?Will there be some mechanism to insure that a each panel member reads each book? I want to let the City Council members know of my work experience that qualifies me to be place on the"Parents Review Panel"or whatever it will be called. I worked in the Los Angeles County Public Library system for five years. I worked in the Children's section, the Young Adults section, and the Adult's section of the library while employed. I also worked as a Los Angeles Police Officer, holding the ranks of police officer, detective and sergeant. I am extremely capable of being able to form an objective opinion regarding the suitability of children's books. Although I am not a parent, I am an aunt in good standing to five wonderful nieces and nephews. Again, I would like to be considered for a position on the children book review panel. From: David Rvnersor To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);suoolementalcomm a4surfdty-hb.orq Subject: Agenda Item#7 Date: Monday,April 1,2024 10:24:56 AM City Council majority- Item#7 on the agenda for tonight’s meeting should be dropped from today’s vote.As it stands,it is a sloppily written proposal that shows a complete lack of thought about how such a commission should be administered. Besides having zero qualifications for membership besides being over 18,it also shows a serious lack of thought about logistics.If the commission meets a minimum of two times a year but has twenty-one participants and is responsible for reviewing all books before they can be placed into library circulation,the review process could significantly slow getting books into the library.It also requires that the city either acquire twenty-one copies of every book to be reviewed or requires a lessor number to be circulated between commission members.It makes no provision for the fact that there are very few,if any,books that the library holds twenty-one copies of.So,the city either procures twenty-one copies and then is left with twenty-one copies of books that we need only four or five copies of,or we’re left with twenty-one copies of books that won’t be put into circulation at all.The proposal make no statement about the cost of procuring multiple copies of books for review,nor does it address what should be done with excess copies and how that should be handled. As an example of how detached from reality this proposal is,it has absolutely no way to be reasonably implemented in connection with the library’s ZIP Books program.That program allows users to submit a book for consideration to be acquired via Amazon.Approved books are sent directly to the requestor from Amazon and then put into circulation when returned to the library.Are you seriously suggesting that the new process would require sending 21-copies of the book to the review committee and waiting for their approval before a book could be sent to the requestor?In all likelihood,this would not only increase the cost of the program dramatically but would also slow the process down so much as to be effectively unusable. In reality,the control you seek is already in your hands.Any parent can accompany their child to the library and help them select the books they will read or checkout.This is the way parents have exercised guidance over their children’s reading material for years,and it allows each parent to make the choices they feel are right for their children.It is much less expensive and bureaucratic and far more flexible than the commission you are proposing. I would further point out that books like the Bible should be sequestered under the guidance you have provided to the commission.It has numerous places where it talks about sex of a great many types including homosexual sex and masturbation.So,are you going to require that the Bible is sequestered?That’s not to mention the numerous references to killing,smiting,destruction of entire cities and countries. The proposal further states that decisions of the commission cannot be appealed,which at the very least is undemocratic and the opposite of public engagement,and at the very worst is possibly at risk for legal action. In short,this is just another proposal that has not been thought through in any meaningful way and is really just another one of your“own the libs”proposals that are not serious efforts to actually run the city in a responsible manner. It is clearly just another step along the council majority’s“my way or the highway”attitude, which has been on full display at every council meeting. David Rynerson 6272 Newbury Drive Huntington Beach,CA 92647 From: Paula Shaw' To: 5unolementalcommCla surfcity-hb.orq Subject: No on Agenda Item 7-Censorship/book ban committee/April 2 City Council Meeting Date: Monday,April 1,2024 11:19:13 AM • Despite overwhelming opposition from the residents, the extremist majority city council is pushing forward with a book-banning/censorship committee that undercuts and disrupts the smooth operation of the city's award-winning library system and takes away people's right to read what they choose. No on this wasteful and unwanted book-banning vendetta driven by hatred and fear. Paula Shawa, 20-year HB resident From: Suzanne Hart To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);suoolementalcammesurfcity-hb.orq Subject Library Privatization/Book Censorship Date: Monday,April 1,2024 12:46:03 PM We are writing to you in opposition of privatizing our public libraries. It has statistically been established that privatization of public libraries has resulted in fewer books and a smaller staff of less qualified personnel who frequently work in a revolving door atmosphere due to low pay and job dissatisfaction as they are not professionals who hold a MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) degree from an ALA accredited program. Yet, according to Ms.Van Der Mark, who has far less education, she considers herself to be an "equal," as per her comments stated in the LA Times. One would therefore fear that the group of people who are picked for choosing books where there are no published guidelines, would be similarly lacking in education or experience. We are also concerned that this appears to be a CONTROL issue and a money grab benefitting your buddy, former councilman Mike Posey, who just happens to be an employee of a library privatization firm. We implore you to actually LISTEN to your constituents, which last time we looked, was your JOB. With regards to book censorship, author Gretchen McNeil states it well: "Unfortunately, by restricting access to these books, censors undermine one of the basic functions of education--teaching students how to think for themselves." Elana Arnold, another author states that "When someone makes that choice for readers by banning a book that has been included in a library's collection by a trained library • professional, they rob readers of their freedom. They cheat them of an opportunity to engage safely with information and art." We therefore ask you to reconsider your choices here and DO THE RIGHT THING. Chris and Suzanne Hart 25 year stake holding residents From: dfabentlev()omail.corq To: 5uoolementalcommasurfcity-hb.orq Cc: dfabentiev(@amail.com Subject: Opposition to Ordinance#4318 Date: Monday,April 1,2024 1:00:39 PM Dear Mayor and City Council, I am writing to express my opposition to Ordinance#4318, item#7 on the April 2, 2024 City Council Meeting agenda. The idea of appointing a small number of clearly unqualified people to decide what books the entire Huntington Beach population can read is absurd. And that these unqualified people are being appointed in an entirely partisan manner to evaluate books based on vague definitions of"appropriateness" is beyond belief. And THEN that there is a stipulation that the decisions of this unqualified group of people are FINAL and NON-APPEALABLE is anti-democratic and an insult to the citizens of Huntington Beach!! You have heard from many. many citizens about their opposition to this ill-conceived ordinance; and you undoubtedly have seen the many negative articles in the news media about this and your other attacks on our beloved and well-run public library system. You should heed the overwhelming calls to reconsider these ill-advised actions. Sincerely, Diane Bentley, 23-year HB resident dfgbentley@gmail.corn From: Caroline Brandenburger To: CITY COUNCIL.(INCL.CM0 STAFF);suoolementalcommesurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Supplemental Communication regarding Ordinance No.4318 Date: Monday,April 1,2024 2:00:02 PM To all HB City Council members: I vehemently oppose the adoption of the "Community-Parent Guardian Review Board." I support our wonderful librarians who have the education and knowledge for book procurement for the HB Children's Library as they have been doing for many, many years. The proposed "21 member community parent / guardian committee" should not be adopted because parents and guardians can and should make the best decisions for their children regarding book selections. This proposal seems very much like a "Moms for Liberty" agenda that is supported by the far-right conservatives and it SHOULD NOT be brought into our HB Public Library! Caroline-HB Resident Sent from my iPhone From: Bev San one To: CITY COUNCIL.(INCL.CM0 STWFF);suoolementalcomm( surfcity-hb,orq Subject Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children"s Library Material Date: Monday,April 1,2024 3:08:23 PM I am a long-term resident of Huntington Beach since 1996. I am very concerned about the proposed review board for the procurement of Children's Library Material. I agree that parents should have the right to decide what books THIER children are reading,but I do not agree with parents deciding what books other parents'children are reading. This proposal puts people in charge of ordering books for the library and determining which books belong in the library,but the review board has no experience how to make these decisions. What may be right for their child may not be right for someone else's child. We have experienced librarians who spent years in college learning how to choose books for a community library. I have written other letters to the city council,and I have no illusions that this one will be listened to,as the others were not. I would like to know how many other issues in our city's past have drawn the number of emails and City Council meeting speeches by citizens that have been ignored like the issues this city council has ignored. I feel that this city council does not represent me or a disproportionately large number of other citizens who are doing their best to let their opinions be known. I do not approve of the Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Material,nor do I approve of privatization of our wonderful city libraries. Beverly Sansone,MD 201 20th St. Huntington Beach,CA From: Pikes.Cathy To: Aaenda Alerts Subject FW:4/2/24 agenda items Date: Monday,April 1,2024 3:29:00 PM From:Annilise Flanagan-Frankl <anniliseff@gmail.com> Sent: Monday,April 1, 2024 2:58 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO.STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:4/2/24 agenda items I wish to inform you I am against Agenda Item # 7. 24-219 Adopt Ordinance No. 4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material. Parents are not trained librarians who have the education and knowledge of child development to make determinations regarding children's literature. Parents with opinions, not based in child development, and who have political agendas ARE NOT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SHOULD MAKE LIBRARY DECISIONS. Parents can parent by monitoring what their own children read - not for the community! In addition, I am against privatizing the PUBLIC library! Annilise M. Flanagan-Frankl, M.A. CounselingPsychologist Nationally Certified School Psychologist Remember - the past is over, the future is a mystery,and today is a gift. That is why it is called the PRESENT. Make today count. Call: 847-226-3119 From: Linda Moon To: suoolementalcommesurfcity-hb.orq Subject City Council Agenda Item 7 Ordinance 4318 Opposition Date: Monday,April 1,2024 3:58:12 PM I am writing to request that the Council reconsider its March 19 decision to enact Ordinance 4318 implementing a "parent-guardian review board for procurement of Children's Library Materials." Children's library materials should be procured by experienced professional librarians,relying upon knowledge and principles acquired through their education and experience and the child development experts guiding publication of children's materials. The assertion that uneducated parents are somehow more qualified to screen library materials is outrageous. Each parent has the right and responsibility to determine what materials their own children should access in the library and what they check out. The assertion that what is available in the library should be determined by a politically appointed committee of residents is without justification. You are not "letting the parents" decide, as you falsely claim. You are preventing parents from determining what is appropriate for their own children. You are not"protecting"young _ -- children either. No child has had sexually explicit material thrust at them in the library. Young children do not enter the library or view material on their own and they are not developmentally able to comprehend material written for teens. Teens may benefit from materials that will help them become responsible adults, including those containing sexual content. Barring them from the adult section of the library,without parental consent, creates an unreasonable burden,when they are mature enough to properly comprehend the material. The ordinance would even bar 17 year old college students from accessing materials open to their 18 year old peers. The mayor's statement to the effect that it is elitist to say that people are less qualified just because they don't have degrees is shocking. Of course our libraries should be managed by educated professionals,who determine procurement standards in a professional manner. Degreed librarians are most definitely more competent than those without degrees. Libraries exist to impart knowledge. The lack of knowledge is ignorance. The rejection of knowledge is stupidity. Linda Sapiro Moon Huntington Beach resident for 50 years. From: Isabella Ford To: CITY COUNCIL QNCL.CM0 STAFF);suoolementalcommCa surfdty-hb.orq Subject Stop the RFP that LS&S has requested Date: Monday,April 1,2024 5:11:52 PM Dear City Council Members, It would be a step showing you actually care about our city if you would stop wasting staff time and city monies and cancel the RFP for outsourcing library services. It would also show folks you are somewhat educated and of sound mind if you got rid of ordinance 4318 that forces our library to treat all children under 18 the same. You have handcuffed the library from being able to properly support high school students with resources to research whatever subjects they need to further their education. Do you know that a lot of our high school students are taking college courses? We have an amazing dual enrollment program at HBHS so students can take college courses while still in high school. We also have EMR classes to help our high schoolers decide if they want to pursue their EMT license. These teens are very competent and should not be limited to baby books just because you feel offended by something. Our library is an amazing resource that has only improved in the 30 years we've lived here. Focus city resources and energies and budget on other projects that will actually improve quality of life in HB like updating the lighting in downtown as well as bathroom facilities downtown and along the beach. You have spent so much money and time stoking hate by focusing so much attention on voter id and flags when that money would've been much better spent to simply update city charter 612. Or,hire a city manager. Or,hire a new chief of police and\let Chief Parra collect his pension and then hire him as city manager. Isabella Ford 714-308-0660 From: buzz mccord To: suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAJF) Subject: RE:No to Library sell-off Date: Monday,April 1,2024 6:16:07 PM Pat Burns put it damn accurately two weeks ago. Past 11PM, nearing the end of Council's deliberations over the empanelment of a cumbersome 21-person library book committee, he stated simply and wisely that there must be an easier way.There's good reason to dwell on that. Complications?The Council has gotten itself and HB citizenry all lathered up over book banning. Now the Council is moving to sell library operating privileges to an outside company. It's a salted wound that the ownership,central management and profits of this private company lie far from Huntington Beach and even our state.Tax dollars that should be going to our time-tested,award-winning library will profit an LLC thousands of miles away. I understand that two years of Tony's leadership put the city in a financial hole. But fixing that on the back of our library is foolish. Find an easier way. No privatization under any name. Buzz McCord Huntington Beach Resident. From: Ada Hand To: sunolementalcammC)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Huntington Beach Public Library Date: Monday,April 1,2024 8:16:16 PM I am totally against privatizing our wonderful library system. I am also against having a 21- person(or any size)committee decide which books can come in our libraries. This is not the job of the city council to squander away our resources and give it to a profit-making group. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Why don't you do what you were elected to do: deal with legitimate city issues instead of culture war stuff. The library and Gates'propensity to sue right and left is causing us millions,. Get rid of some of his budget if you want to save money. Ada J. Hand Huntington Beach Resident and Voter 714-717-1294 (cell) adajhand@gmail.corn From: MARILYN Boehm To: suoolementalcomm(@surfcity-hb.orq Subject: My STRONG opposition to Agenda Item#24-219 Date: Monday,April 1,2024 8:28:18 PM . This agenda item presupposes that our very professional library staff cannot make appropriate decisions regarding the books selected for purchase in our libraries. The majority City Council members appear to believe that unqualified parents and community members are a more reliable source for choosing appropriate books. I cannot disagree MORE!!! We all know that this is part of a political stunt intended to lead to a book ban. First,you censored books designed to be read by LGBTQIA youths,which were NOT found in the"children's section"of the library.These books were moved to an inaccessible 4th floor location of the library. Next you introduced this absurd recommendation for a parent based committee to screen purchases.Just because people are capable of giving birth to children does NOT make them qualified to decide what other parents might want their kids to read. The FINAL straw is selling our library to a private company owned by a previous member of the CC. There is only one applicable word for the current majority CC: SHAME on all four of you for destroying our wonderful library system.SHAME. Marilyn Boehm,HB resident From: Sharon Hathaway To: sunolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq Subject Vote No on Agenda item#7 24-219 Date: Monday,April 1,2024 8:29:17 PM It continues to amaze me the majority of the council feels that parents do not have the right to decide what books are available to check-out and read by their children and teens. Yet, a parental group of strangers are to be given that exact right to decide for other parents what their children and teens should be exposed to. I appeal to Mayor Van Der Mark,with seven children, Councilman Burns with two daughters, Councilman Strictland with a son and daughter, and Councilman McKeon with a young son; do you really want other parents taking over your role as parents in dictating what is available to your children and teens? Do you all really believe this is needed? Or is this what I suspect is an issue with one councilwoman's opinion, and you all agreed, no matter what. I use both children and teens,because the ordinance defines children as under 18, however,the most commonly used definition of children is birth to 12, and teens are 13-17. There is a reason for this, as children mature into teens,their level of understanding and comprehension changes as they get older. 17 year olds, should not be treated the same as a 7 year old,yet that is what this ordinance is doing. Even movie ratings,which were mentioned last year have a PG-13 level for the content you are proposing. The library already restricts the children's check out process, so what this ordinance is all about is restricting teens to access. The contradictions in this ordinance have been outlined; I see no reference to the meetings of this board being open to the public,and that was agreed to at the meeting on March 19. It is sad that the concerns of HB citizens are not being considered or barely even acknowledged. I urge you to turn this around and vote NO on this agenda item. Sharon Hathaway Resident for 28 years From: Elizabeth SanFiliooQ To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);suoolementalcommta)surfdty-hb.orq Subject: Community Parent/Guardian Review Board for Review of Children's Library Materials—Oppose Date: Monday,April 1,2024 8:58:05 PM I am a Huntington Beach resident for over forty years and a homeowner. I am opposed to a Community Parent/Guardian Review Board for Review of Children's Library Materials. Recommendations of professional librarians for purchasing books for the library should not be subject to review by non-professionals. Further,this ordinance has been drafted to indicate that the decisions of non-professionals are not appealable. This is un-American. Our systems include the right of appeal. Please re-write this ordinance to describe an appropriate appeal process. Thank you for your consideration. Elizabeth San Filippo From: Sue Welfrinner To: suoolementalcommAsurfcity-hb.orq Subject Regarding:OBJECTION TO:24-219/Ordinance No.4318(letter attached as PDF,in addition to pasted below) Date: Monday,April 1,2024 10:19:52 PM Attachments: jmaae001.pnq irnaoe003.pnq jmaoe005.pnq jmage007.onq jmage008.anq jmaae009.onq City Council Letter 040124.odf April 01,2024 Regarding:OBJECTION TO:24-219/Ordinance No.4318 Dear Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern, and Council Members: I oppose this ordinance and ask that you consider rescinding it tonight. I hear council talking about"common sense"and I believe you know:this ordinance does not make sense. I am curious: • Will a person on the review committee even need to have a library card? • How much time and energy did each council member spend learning about the publishing industry and their process for accepting manuscripts? • How little do you understand about the publishing industry,that you believe a parent with no experience in the library/book publishing world is qualified to curate a book collection for the library? • When a council member says he anticipates the group to only read 6 books a year, is he imagining they will rubber stamp every other book,and simply use Moms for Liberty banned book list as a guide? • What exactly will constitute sexual content? Will award-winning Author/Illustrator picture books such as"No, David!"by David Shannon, "In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak, and/or"Draw Me a Star"by Eric Carle be moved to the adult section because of - nudity? I understand that a majority of our council members trust Mr.Gates beyond question. But, maybe,just maybe,this one time,you might consider that his staff has drafted an ordinance that has problems. Maybe,just maybe,this one time,you can think independently and vote to pause this ordinance until it makes more sense for the library operations and patron experience. Aside from the fact that I oppose the formation of a book review committee,this ordinance doesn't make enough sense. Sincerely, Sue Welfringer, HB Resident April 01,2024 Regarding:OBJECTION TO:24-219/Ordinance No.4318 Dear Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern,and Council Members: I oppose this ordinance and ask that you consider rescinding it tonight. I hear council talking about "common sense"and I believe you know:this ordinance does not make sense. I am curious: • Will a person on the review committee even need to have a library card? • How much time and energy did each council member spend learning about the publishing industry and their process for accepting manuscripts? • How little do you understand about the publishing industry,that you believe a parent with no experience in the library/book publishing world is qualified to curate a book collection for the library? • When a council member says he anticipates the group to only read 6 books a year, is he imagining they will rubber stamp every other book,and simply use Moms for Liberty banned book list as a guide? • What exactly will constitute sexual content? Will award-winning Author/Illustrator pictures books such as"No, David!"by David Shannon,"In the Night Kitchen"by Maurice Sendak, and/or"Draw Me a Star"by Eric Carle be moved to the adult section because of nudity? NZa lr 32"L7i5AT , I understand that a majority of our council members trust Mr. Gates beyond question. But, maybe,just maybe,this one time,you might consider F. that his staff has drafted an ¢ &ALA ordinance that has problems. Maybe,just maybe,this one time,you can think independently and vote to pause this ordinance until it makes more sense for the library operations and patron experience. Aside from the fact that I oppose the formation of a book review committee,this ordinance doesn't make enough sense. Sincerely, Sue Welfringer, HB Resident From: Celeste Rvbicki To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF);suoolementalcomm(alsurfaty-hb.orq Subject: No on agenda item 24-219-no library review board necessary Date: Monday,April 1,2024 10:42:10 PM Hello, If there is a chance that you can stop this train wreck that a 21 person parent/guardian review board for our library would be - now is the time to take it. Your community has spoken out time and time again -the vast majority of Huntington Beach does not want it. Authors, librarians, people across the country have spoken out against it- no good can come from this. I would urge you to watch The ABC's of Book Banning,the Academy Award nominated short film (it's under 30 mins!) and hear actual children speak out about their feelings and the effects of restricting, censorship, and banning books. Kids and parents just want access to as many age appropriate books as possible and we trust librarians to curate and shelve as they see fit. And if something slips through the cracks or doesn't feel right there is already a process in place for parents to object. The library works. That's why it's so popular. That's why it wins awards and is known as a"gem" of our city! You know what isn't working? What's becoming increasingly unpopular and embarrassing on a national stage?This council. If anything we should consider forming a community review board of the decisions you've been making here. But we don't do that in a reasonable society. You were elected and you'll continue doing a job, whether I agree with it or not, until we vote you out. Just let the librarians do the jobs they were hired to do. Do the right thing. Vote no on item 24-219, please end this board before it hurts our community even more. Celeste HB resident and parent of young children From: )inales To: suoolementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF) Subject: Regarding City Council Agenda Item#7 and Library Management Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 12:40:07 AM To the City Council of Huntington Beach, My name is Anne Chen, and I am a resident of Huntington Beach. I have been going to the Huntington Beach Central Library for years and have always enjoyed its books and services. I am against the agenda to "Adopt Ordinance No. 4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material." I believe that knowledge and information should be free for the public to access, and hiding it behind political censorship will harm our residents and our children. Being able to experience and learn from different viewpoints is an integral part to being a member of society at any age. I believe in life there is no way we,as people,will agree with every story or view that we are exposed to. But being exposed to those different stories is also a learning experience, and a vital part of understanding history,people,and the world around us. There is no council,especially not the one that Ordinance No. 4318 would establish,that should be allowed to limit that knowledge for the public to access. Historically, banning books has shown a tendency to censor books relating to LGBTQ+ communities as well. Much of this information is essential for teenagers who are struggling to navigate issues of identity and interpersonal relationships who do not have access to support from other parts of their life.There is also the possibility that books will be unfairly judged due to cultural differences,and children of different groups could feel isolated by the lack of representation in their own libraries.A council that bans these books is also a council that neglects and harms these communities. I do not agree with the privatization of the Huntington Beach library management and the recent measures taken to ban books from the library. Public libraries should benefit the public. I love our libraries,not just as a quiet place to read and study, but for what they represent: free access to knowledge, a safe place to learn, and a beautiful part of our communities. Please do not try to cut corners or limit that. Sincerely, Anne Chen Resident of Huntington Beach From: diannef220vahoo.com To: suoolementalcomm(alsurfcity-hb.orq; CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF) Subject: Oppose Agenda Item#7 Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 4:35:08 AM Dear Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern, and Councilmembers, I am writing to urge you to oppose agenda item #7 as it is currently written. At the last City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tern Burns stated that he expected that only about 6 books a year would need to be vetted through this Parent/Guardian Committee. However, as this ordinance is currently written, many more (if not most) children's and young adult's books will get caught up in this process. As has been presented by many librarians, the HB Public Library often purchases thousands of children's and young adult's books in a year and this proposed Committee will be expected to review all of them in some manner before the library can procure the books. There is no explanation of how the Committee members are supposed to review books that have not been purchased, however it is stated that books that have been reviewed and rejected will be donated to other libraries that don't have this review requirement, so one must suppose they are being purchased for the review process. There is no explanation of how this Committee will be able to review the thousands of books proposed by the librarians when the Committee is only going to meet twice per year. Is the intent to simply prevent any new books from entering the library? If not, this ordinance must be sent back for revisions. The definitions in the ordinance are so vague as to be useless. For example, the term "sexual content" doesn't even define that you are concerned with human sexual content (I'm assuming that's your concern). I'm sure you are aware that plant pollination is considered sexual reproduction. Pollination is part of the basic California science curriculum and instruction on that topic begins in kindergarten through second grade. Are parents going to be expected to go to the X-rated adult section to find a children's book on pollination to supplement their school books? As ludicrous as this whole Book Review Committee is, I understand that you will be moving forward with your plan. I just hope you will send this ordinance back for revision to be sure that it will actually be functional, and as Pat Burns expects, only affects a small number of books. As it is written, it will just shut down all new book orders. According to your videos during "Library Month", you all love the library and have fond memories of childhood discoveries in the library. Please don't prevent the next generation of children and young adults from having those same experiences. Sincerely, Dianne James From: )inrla RRCP To: suoolementalcommCasurfcity-hb.orQ Subject: HB Public Libraries Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 6:53:07 AM To the City Council,why are you taking rights from the public in HB?You ignore 800 emails and 100 public comments in the last meeting about this?You take parents right to choose the books their children read.Do you have higher college degrees than the librarians with a masters degree in library science?And you are privatizing our public libraries?This to remove the educated librarians from the library and taking my right to read these books for free?We paid for those books with our taxes.I trust the librarians not random people in the city to choose what books go on the shelves.Please stop taking away our rights!Linda Rose,homeowner in HB for over 40 years Sent from my iPad From: j5abella Ford To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF).supolementalcomm(asurfaty-hb.orq Subject Cancel Ordinance 4318 Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 7:02:54 AM Professional librarians must run our library. Simply read the first page of you Ordinance 4318 and notice it defines "children" as anyone under 18 years of age. Do you really feel a high school graduate should only have access to biology books that a 5 year old can understand? My daughter and many of her friends will still be 17 join graduating HBHS. I didn't turn 18 until months into my first year on of college. Your Ordinance is written to handcuff the library to only offer books that meet your strange, poorly written criteria. You are entitled to your opinion on what books you find offensive.. but you are not allowed to force your opinion on the whole community. The library already had processes in place and you can provide input by going through defined processes if you find a book you feel shouldn't be in the children's library. Instead, you decide to create an Ordinance?? Your Ordinance treats high schoolers the same as preschoolers. Do you really believe our children's library had books teaching 8 year old how to give fellatio? From: Isabella Ford To: McKeon.Casey Cc: suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF Subject: Re:Stop the RFP that LS&S has requested Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 7:25:12 AM If you really cared about cost savings,you would not have pushed measures ABC. You say this is just a request for proposals,yet you also write " The Library will remain a Public Library free to the community except for the resident's tax dollars that pay for the $5 million annual Library Department budget." So you have already made your decision. Stop lying. Kids are watching and seeing so many public officials lie...I used to at least be able to count on local officials that have the most impact on our daily lives to be honest,moral and admittedly human. Mistakes happen,and it is our job as residents to question you, but to blatantly lie about your intent under the guise of"cost savings"... how much is the library budget compared to the legal department's? Libraries,parks,public restrooms, roads,community centers, citizens academies, community Cafe...these are areas that benefit the most if not all residents. Yet you canceled the community Cafe and are now attacking the library. You voted to spend on pet projects like the air show,flags,voter ID,book bans,retroactively increasing Gates' salary... The city budget should be spent on departments that benefit the quality of life of the majority of residents. The Community and library service department and Public Works have one of the highest impact on the quality of our daily HB life. On Mon,Apr 1,2024, 5:14 PM McKeon, Casey <Casey.McKeon@surfcity-hb.org> wrote: Thank you for your email Isabella. We simply issued a request for proposals as different groups have approached the City about potential costs savings to the Library system. The City performs these types of analyses all of the time throughout all City departments and is a normal operating procedure.RFP's go out to the entire public and then companies submit proposals if interested through an open bid process. I feel it's appropriate to perform research into possible cost savings for the taxpayers in any City Department. I completely understand the concerns and sensitivity and will be very judicious in my research and analysis. The Library will remain a Public Library free to the community except for the resident's tax dollars that pay for the $5 million annual Library Department budget. Thank you. Casey McKeon City Council Member City of Huntington Beach 714-536-5553 On Apr 1, 2024,at 5:11 PM,Isabella Ford<issyford@gmail.com> wrote: Dear City Council Members, It would be a step showing you actually care about our city if you would stop wasting staff time and city monies and cancel the RFP for outsourcing library services. It would also show folks you are somewhat educated and of sound mind if you got rid of ordinance 4318 that forces our library to treat all children under 18 the same. You have handcuffed the library from being able to properly support high school students with resources to research whatever subjects they need to further their education. Do you know that a lot of our high school students are taking college courses? We have an amazing dual enrollment program at HBHS so students can take college courses while still in high school. We also have EMR classes to help our high schoolers decide if they want to pursue their EMT license. These teens are very competent and should not be limited to baby books just because you feel offended by something. Our library is an amazing resource that has only improved in the 30 years we've lived here. Focus city resources and energies and budget on other projects that will actually improve quality of life in FIB like updating the lighting in downtown as well as bathroom facilities downtown and along the beach. You have spent so much money and time stoking hate by focusing so much attention on voter id and flags when that money would've been much better spent to simply update city charter 612. Or, hire a city manager. Or,hire a new chief of police and\let Chief Parra ° collect his pension and then hire him as city manager. Isabella Ford 714-308-0660 From: Gabriela Peschiera To: suoolementalcomrr alsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Opposing approval of ordinance#4318 Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:12:28 AM Dear Mayor & Members of the City Council of HB, I am writing to express my opposition to the approval of Ordinance # 4318 and to the possible consideration of the privatization of the Huntington Beach Public Library System. Please leave the libraries in our city alone! They are working fine and offer many programs and services to the senior population, like I. Thank you so much for your consideration to these requests. Sincerely, Gaby Peschiera From: Claudia Locke To: suoolementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Opposition to Item 24-219 and the possible privatization of our HBPLI Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:19:38 AM Mayor of HB, Mayor Pro Tern, & HB City Council Members, We are writing to you to express our opposition to approve the ordinance#4318 (agenda item 24- 219). We do not think that is well written. There are many items that are not clear and would create confusion. and major problems. Also, we are opposed to the possible privatization of our libraries! Please discard that idea and save your time and energy to take care of other important needs in our City! We appreciate your consideration of our requests. Sincerely, The Locke Family HB Residents From: Amv Black To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);suoolementalcomm(asurfdty-hb.orq Subject: NO Community-Parent Guardian Review Board Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:25:56 AM To HB City Council, As a parent I am disheartened and disappointed by the recent acts of the city council. Our Huntington Beach libraries and librarians are one of the things that make our city so great! The fact that we are going down this road to police books is ridiculous. I didn't realize we were living in Nazi Germany. If you don't like the contents of a book,you don't have to read it or allow your children to read it. That's your choice as an individual,but you and this proposed review board don't get to dictate what I can and can't do as a person or parent. I strongly disagree with this proposal to enact a community-parent guardian review board. Rather than promoting progress and inclusivity, it's taking us backwards. Please vote NO!!!! Thank you, Amy Black Huntington Beach resident and parent From: Steven C Shepherd Architect To: 5upolementalcomm(a)surfdty-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF) Subject OPPOSED TO AGENDA ITEM#7-STOP MEDDLING WITH HB PARENTS! Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:32:37 AM Forming a board of political appointees to meddle with our public library services is nothing more than interfering with parents rather than protecting children. Individual HB parents should make the determination about what is or is not appropriate for their own children, and this local government's attempt to intrude is nothing less than offensive. Steve Shepherd Huntington Beach 92646 From: Leslie Golson To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF1;suoolementalcommCalsurfdty-hb.org Subject: Library Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:41:05 AM I am against privatization of our public library. I am against a citizen book review committee. Leslie Golson Sent from the all new AO!,app for iO$ From: Fikes,Cathy To: Aaenda Alerts Subject RN:Community Parent Guardian Review • Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:46:56 AM From: Kathleen Lueck<k_l_lueck@yahoo.com> Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 11:12 PM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Community Parent Guardian Review I am dismayed and embarrassed by the attempt of our City Counsel to appoint a committee (of THEIR CHOICE)to monitor and approve books in our PUBLIC LIBRARY. Why is this group so anxious to control our rights to read and to be the monitors of books that our WE ALLOW our children to read?This unfortunately reminds us all of book-burning in Nazi Germany. We are intensely proud of our Publuc Library System and are dismayed to see four POLITICAL HOPEFULS attempting to dismantle it. I am appalled by your attempts to do just that. You SHOULD be ashamed. Kathleen Lueck 17411 Mayor Lane H.B. 92647 Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone From: Fikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alert Subject FW: HB Public Libraries Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:48:17 AM From: Linda Rose<Irlindarose3@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday,April 2, 2024 6:54 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Fwd: HB Public Libraries Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Linda Rose<Irlindarose3lagmail.corrl> Date:April 2, 2024 at 6:52:56 AM PDT To: SupplementalComml@surfcity-hb.org Subject: HB Public Libraries To the City Council,why are you taking rights from the public in HB?You ignore 800 emails and 100 public comments in the last meeting about this?You take parents right to choose the books their children read. Do you have higher college degrees than the librarians with a masters degree in library science?And you are privatizing our public libraries?This to remove the educated librarians from the library and taking my right to read these books for free?We paid for those books with our taxes. I trust the librarians not random people in the city to choose what books go on the shelves. Please stop taking away our rights! Linda Rose, homeowner in HB for over 40 years Sent from my iPad From: Fikes,Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:52:08 AM From:Alex VandenBos<alexvbos@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday,April 2, 2024 8:51 AM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: To HB City Council,As a parent I am disheartened and disappointed by the recent acts of the city council. Our Huntington Beach libraries and librarians are one of the things that make our city so great! The fact that we are going down this road to police books is ridiculous. I didn't realize we were living in Nazi Germany. If you don't like the contents of a book,you don't have to read it or allow your children to read it.That's your choice as an individual, but you and this proposed review board don't get to dictate what I can and can't do as a person or parent. I strongly disagree with this proposal to enact a community-parent guardian review board. Rather than promoting progress and inclusivity, it's taking us backwards. Please vote NO!!!! From: Belindajon To: suooIementalcomm(@surfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF) Subject: Opposed to Agenda Item#7 Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:48:29 AM The only people who should be gatekeeping books for children are their parents. Stop making excuses for lazy parents. Allowing politicians to appoint and therefore make decisions for the public at large is a gross overstepping of boundaries and parental rights. Belinda Shepherd HB Resident From: Harry McLachlan To: suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF) Subject: Proposed Ordinance 4318 Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:54:33 AM Huntington Beach Special City Council Meeting April 2, 2024 Agenda Item No.7: 24-219 My name is Harry McLachlan. I am a resident of Huntington Beach. I am writing in opposition to agenda item 7, the poorly written and ill- defined Ordinance No. 4318. On March 19th over 800 constituents wrote supplemental comments and over 100 spoke in person expressing concern about the haphazard wording and vagueness of this ordinance. Yet, despite the many requests for clarification and genuine concern on the part of our citizens and public library patrons, proposed Ordinance No. 4318 remains unchanged. Not one word of it. Please table this item so that the following items may be, perhaps for the first time, thoroughly and intelligently addressed: • The definition of"Children". • "Community Standards" • "Sexual Content" !supportLists]-->• "Sexual Reference" • "ReVieW" • Board member qualifications. • BOard member attendance requirements. • Meeting parameters. All Board decisions are final and unappealable? Fertile ground for lawsuits. How about a public listing of board members and how they all voted on these books? Please table this item for review and revision. You can do much better than this. The citizens of Huntington Beach deserve much better than this. From: maureen moviu5 To: suoolementalcomm@ surfcity-hb.org Subject: book banning Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:55:20 AM Not hard to believe HB MAGA 4 are on a book banning binge. Many parents want our children to learn about diversity and communities that discusses inclusiveness. Shame on this city council in favor of this craziness. I'm curious about the education of these council members, particularly our mayor. From: Fikes.Cathy To: agenda Alerts Subject: FW:A Palmer slides 4.02.24 HBCC comments agenda items support Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 8:46:02 AM Attachments: Ann Palmer Aor 2 2024 multiple agenda items su000rt.potx From:Ann Palmer<714anniep@gmail.com> Sent: Monday,April 1, 2024 6:37 PM To: Estanislau, Robin <Robin.Estanislau@surfcity-hb.org>;Toledo,Julie<Julie.Toledo@surfcity- hb.org>; CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:A Palmer slides 4.02.24 HBCC comments agenda items support Attached is a brief PowerPoint presentation in support of several agenda items listed for the City Council meeting,Tuesday,April 2, 2024. My hat is off to our elected officials and all staff regarding the volume and efficacy in addressing both day-to-day issues and matters of volatile public concern. It is my intention to sign up to speak during the General Comments session but may not address each of these if further time restriction is needed to address a large volume of speakers. I have no complaints on that practice! However, I wanted to provide these slides--without speaker notes-- just as one resident's POV. Thank you, Ann Palmer 30+yr resident Huntington Beach 92648 714annieplWgmail.com - email 310.982.8263 - ph/txt u ° < .s..._ .... „, , ---N-r,„,..,..„ ,,•;.;..,..;:,'< ' ""..:•....„'''.i.- ...T,,,,,,..:;1:,,,:iii311 .40:1!;:V::]:;iiii::,!:,:i!:,,...,,.':',7,'...;,:.:',:::' ::,,;.Aiii,,.,',.,::;,V:!;f::;:,;:;,,ft!;„,,o!:.i.,:::':.2i:'tii,:.,,::!rjt;toi.ito:.:4.:t,,:::4.1::::ixiii7:1:11.i.t.:::!,;.gi':;rojtit:;:itiiiiifi:.. ,,,,...,, , .,,,,,,„,;.„',,iv,,:.1",x;::::.:.:::N.::vV '41,i.'1W44,,,,.-1100,::::: Ck ':'.*. '' - IIIIIIIIb 1) )'' ' . '' ''''''''-.:•.: ' 4' ;: ,,,„,. ;;.;r•.. , _ „,., . . ,,., . .. ,_.„„....... , A,;£w m .• fry ' °Ii r. • 0 HBCC 4,02.24 Easter A Palmer Easter Tuesday Multiple Agenda Items '' , .-,,,..,,..,,,,,,.. -..- - : , ,,-, ''':::,Pii 'gf-':-,,,--,„,7 -tfariki,,;'2,,'o,-# 4:''frr''' ..., -..,-,`',i-yAlei,;;',•-•,,,ri, -.F-.-::. ,,,,,,,,,-,;,,,,,,,,,-„;',.,,,:;;.;,..,,AR':°,; 't-:-..)'','-' - ..::::'7 .'1::;,-,, ',-- '','---,„ -,i,, -'.-----.:-- ' SUPPORT 7:-''‘,.i.: *. #7) 24-227 : Community„„ , .... Parent-Guardian Review ,.., Board 3.. . , WHY? • Archetype of Participatory Government — a leading principle of Local Governance ..,.., • Community Service,,. Librarianship ... „.„ ' Elevate cohesive, homogenous patron experience • Embrace larger community as a whole • Builds public trust & confidence • Protects Children , . HBCC 4.02.24 A Palmer Multiple Agenda Items r`. W•i e SUPPORT #8) 24-146 : Weeds and Rubbish = Public Nuisance WHY . ■ Cheap and efficient component to city beautification • HB lacks fundingvs other communities ( NB, Irvine) • Improves Public Health and Safety of specific area • Issues noted during OCC Infrastructure activities • Opportunities for neighborhood and community service volunteers w clear compliance timeline • Clarity to property users/owners/lessees Multiple Agenda Items ,-,- , . , 4., SUPPORT ,4,..„. ,..;,,,,,,,„.....,„ _ ...,,,, „ ,, , --::, # 11 ) 24-230 : Beach Activity Zone Code '- Amendments ,.., , ,, ., '' WHY? ■ Clarifies code and reduces ambiguities • Assists in enforcement: Rescue, Law • Ensures access for other City Services • Improves Public Health and Safety of specific area • Preserves infrastructure and other community investments HBCC 4.02.24 A Palmer Multiple Agenda Items 1r SUPPORT #8) 24-215 : ordinance No . 4317 related to Use of Law Enforcement/ Loud Activities • WHY . ■ Responsive to community concern • Amends existing Municipal Code (Ch 8.42) appropriately • Clarifies violation/situations • Assists Law Enforcement • Improves Public Safety HBCC4.Q2.24A er Multiple Agenda Items ••',.., , , , ,,‘,.., . c,- ... • '. 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',;' h e . ih-Nin .,, ,.,41,,,„,..., „3, _,.„,. ,, 4, 4..‘' .;;.i..!. ,ssi... .(0 . „...,.„ S4, • ', .., E s e N. ..4 ,• •,,, 'r- t• e , vcra v e • FIBCC 4.02.24 Easter A Palmer ,.. ,:,....,-••,.,:,#•• •„,gtzr. ;•,;<,.,-:;v4,;•,,,,,,!,,,••,••.:7-,•,,.,?:#,<.•-•...-,‘,Easter Tuesday Multiple Agenda Items ' "- ,,-..;•,: • ,.. -. ... 2000 Main Street, i 4 ; Huntington Beach,CA 92648 Cityof Huntington Beach g APPROVED FOR INTRODUCTION` 7:. cFtist _E� ,'� (MOSER, BOLTON, KALMICK -NO) ;i File#: 24-209 MEETING DATE: 3/19/2024 REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members SUBMITTED BY: Eric G. Parra, Interim City Manager VIA: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services Subject: Approve for introduction Ordinance No. 4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach '_Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material Statement of Issue: There is a need to amend the Municipal Code to add language codifying the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board (Board)for procurement of children's library materials, per City Council Resolution 2023-41. Financial Impact: The Board and Staff Liaison will make an annual request for City Council approval of funding to purchase new books for Board review that are not in circulation. Recommended Action: Approve for introduction Ordinance No. 4318, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach amending the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by adding new chapter 2.66 Entitled "Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials."" Alternative Action(s): Do not approve the recommended action, and direct staff accordingly. Analysis: On October 17, 2023, City Council approved Resolution 2023-41, establishing a policy for the review and recataloging of library materials containing sexual content. The Huntington Beach Municipal Code must be amended by adding section 2.66 to create the Community Parent- Guardian Review Board (Board)for Procurement of Children's Library Materials, referenced in Resolution 2023-41. The updated Municipal Code provides the following key information: City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 2 Printed on 3/13/2024 powered LegistarTo File #: 24-209 MEETING DATE: 3/19/2024 • Definitions of children's books, sexual content, sexual references, and community standards • Board purpose and composition • Minimum meeting frequency • Appropriate use of City Council annual allocated funding • Board duties Environmental Status: Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project. Strategic Plan Goal: Non Applicable - Administrative Item Attachment(s): 1. Ordinance No. 4318 City of Huntington Beach Page 2 of 2 Printed on 3/13/2024 power LegistarTM' ORDINANCE NO. 4318 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY QF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING NEW CHAPTER 2.66 ENTITLED "COMMUNITY PARENT-GUARDIAN REVIEW BOARD FOR PROCUREMENT OF CHILDREN'S LIBRARY MATERIALS" WHEREAS,the City of Huntington Beach is a Charter City and municipal corporation duly created and existing under a charter pursuant to which the City has the right and power to make and enforce all laws and regulations in respect to municipal affairs. The City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does hereby ordain as follows: SECTION 1. The Huntington Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended to add new Chapter 2.66 Entitled"Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials"to read as follows: "Chapter 2.66 COMMUNITY PARENT-GUARDIAN REVIEW BOARD PROCUREMENT FOR CHILDREN'S LIBRARY MATERIALS 2.66.010 Established There is hereby established a new Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials (hereinafter referred to in this Chapter as the"Board")which shall be a decision-making body pursuant to Huntington Beach Charter Section 405. 2.66.020 Definitions For the purpose of this Chapter,the following definitions apply: "Children" means persons under the age of eighteen(18) years old. "Children's Books" means any book, literary work, or other material, whether in hard copy or electronic, intended for anyone under the age of 18 or intended to be placed in the Children's Section(s)within any of the City Libraries or intended for Children's access. "Community Standards" means the Board's determinations regarding whether books are acceptable for Children's access, including books that may contain Sexual Content or Sexual References. "Sexual Content" is any content of a sexual nature, whether in the form of written text, or in the form of graphic depictions such as photos, drawings, cartoons, images, etc., for example, textual or graphic content including sex, sexual organs, sex acts, relationships of sexual nature, or sexual relations in any form. ORDINANCE NO. 4318 "Sexual Reference" is any reference of a sexual nature,whether in the form of written text, or in the form of graphic depictions such as photos, drawings, cartoons, images,.etc., for example, textual or graphic references to sex, sexual organs, sex acts, relationships of sexual nature, or sexual relations in any form. 2.66.030 Purpose The Board shall serve as a decision-making authority to the City to ensure that books that Children have access to in City Libraries meet the City's Community Standards for material acceptable for Children's access, including books that may contain Sexual Content or Sexual References,before such Children's Books are purchased by the City prior to placement in circulation or made accessible to Children without parental consent. Additionally,the Board may nominate Children's Books currently in circulation for review by the Board for determination of whether those Children's Books meet the Community Standards for material acceptable for Children's access, or whether those books require parental consent and are to be placed in the Adult Section of the City's Library. 2.66.040 Composition A. The Board shall consist of up to twenty-one members. Each City Council Member shall appoint up to three members of the Board to serve the same term as the City Council Member until their successors are elected and qualified. B. The service limitation contained in Section 2.100.060,which does not allow a person to serve on more than one Board or Commission at any one time shall not be applied to this Board due to its large membership,possible difficulty recruiting members, and limited scope of duties. Subject to California Government Code Section 1099, no Member may simultaneously hold two incompatible public offices. 2.66.050 Operating Policies Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter,the Board shall conform to the operating policies for Boards and Commissions as set forth in Chapter 2.100 of this Code. 2.66.060 Election and Officers The Board shall elect from its appointed members a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson at the first regular meeting of the calendar year and such officers shall serve for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson may make and second motions and shall have a voice and vote in all proceedings of the Board. No Chairperson or Vice Chairperson may serve consecutive years in the same role. 2 24-13971/333967 ORDINANCE NO. 4318 2.66.070 Secretary The Director of Community &Library Services, or his or her designee, shall serve in a non- voting capacity as Secretary to the Board and shall prepare and retain permanent minutes of the Board meetings approved by the Board per the City's Record Retention Policy. 2.66.080 Meetings The Board shall meet at least twice each calendar year, and more if deemed necessary by the Director of Community & Library Services. As a "Brown Act" Board, the Meetings shall be conducted consistent with the provisions of the Brown Act. Roberts' Rules of Order (current edition) shall govern the procedure of the meetings of the Board unless inconsistent with other provisions of this Chapter. As requires, the City Attorney and or his or her designee shall give legal advice to the Board regarding compliance with laws. 2.66.090 Quorum A. At any meeting of the Board, a simple majority of the current existing membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. B. In the event there is no quorum at a meeting,the Chair shall adjourn said meeting or shall adjourn to a date certain. 2.66.100 Funding All budget and expenses by the Board shall be managed in a predetermined account(s)by the City, subject to City purchasing and contracting policies and procedures. The Board and their staff liaison may determine and request an annual budget for the purchase of Children's Books to review. After review, all efforts will be made to sell or donate non-approved Children's Books to libraries outside the City of Huntington Beach. 2.66.110 Duties A. Review all Children's Books proposed for procurement by the City to determine by majority vote, in the Board's sole discretion, if such Children's Books meet the Community Standards of acceptance for the City of Huntington Beach to be placed in City Libraries. Make Recommendations for Children's Books that meet the Community Standards of acceptance to be purchased by the City, and/or to be accessible to Children without parental consent. The Board shall be provided a budget and ability to procure advance copies of Children's Books or Children's Books reviews as required for Board review. Any Children's Book may be nominated to be reviewed again after one year has passed from a previous decision by the Board. 3 24-13971/333967 ORDINANCE NO. 4318 B. The Director of Community&Library Services or his or her designee will submit a list of Children's Books intended for purchase at least 45 days before the date of any Board meeting. Any Board Member may nominate any number of Children's Books from the list for review. If a Children's Book is nominated for review, it shall not be purchased by the City for Library circulation unless first approved by the Board. Once nominated, a Children's Book must be reviewed within one year of nomination. If a Children's Book is not nominated for review within 90 days from the submittal of the intended purchase list or reviewed by the Board within one year of nomination, it will be considered approved for purchase by the Board. C. The Board may also recommend that Children's Books currently in circulation at City Libraries be subject to the same Board review process on a case-by case basis. Any Board Member may submit a recommendation form that a Children's Book currently in circulation be reviewed by the Board. Should the Board find that a Children's Book currently in circulation does not meet Community Standards for Children's access without parental notification, it shall be placed in the Adult Section and subject to parental and/or guardian consent before either Children obtain access or the book is checked out by anyone under the age of 18. D. All Board Members present must review the Children's Book(s) before it may be subject to a Board vote. E. The Board must vote whether a Children's Book meets the Community Standards before the Board may vote on procurement/placement. F. If a proposed Children's Book proposed by the Director for procurement and not yet placed in circulation is reviewed and then rejected by the Board, the Board must place findings in the record and complete the Library Materials Review Form, which shall be placed in the minutes by the Secretary in detail as to the reasons the Board determined the proposed Children's Book did not meet the Community Standards or is unfit for placement in the Library. _ • G. All decisions by the Board are final and non-appealable. H. A list of all Children's Books voted on by the Board, including the nomination and voting date, shall be displayed on the City's website on the Board's webpage. 4 24-13971/333967 ORDINANCE NO. 4318 SECTION 2. This ordinance shall become effective 30 days after its adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a - regular meeting thereof held on the day of , 2024. Mayor ATTEST: APPROVED A ORM: City Clerk ity ttorney REVIEWED ROVED: INITIATED AP ROVED: Ci Manager City Manager 5 24-13971/333967 SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION 3/19/2024 Meeting Wet ' From: Fikes.Cathy To: Aaenda Alerts Subject: FW:City Coundl Meeting 3/19/2024 Agenda Ili No.; (24-204) Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:40:09 AM' D From: K Carroll<kcrissie7@gmail:com> Sent:Sunday, March 17, 2024 12:46 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:City Council Meeting 3/19/2024 Greetings Mayor Van,Der Mark, Pro Tern Pat Burns,Councilmen McKeon and Strickland: Congratulations on the very successful results of the A& B Charter Amendments in the most recent elections!Thrilled to see the results!Thank you so much for bringing these items forward.You, truly mean it when you say you speak for the majority. And,Congratulations on being the popular • vote on County Central Committee 72nd Assembly District.The results represented all but two of my • votes. Most importantly,what my vote for Pat Burns for the County Central Committee. Disappointed; but,darn close! You have to feel proud though Pat, especially as you said when you first ran for council people were saying'who is Pat Burns'.You have made a huge impact in such a short period of time. I would like to briefly relay my thoughts on the following for the upcoming meeting agenda items: 24-204:Council Liaison-SUPPORT. 24-180: A81999 SUPPORT for all reasons outlined in communications shared'. 24-197: Request for Proposals for managed Library Services.SUPPORT. However,strongly oppose Michael Posey being anything close to involved in this. He was the one that initially proposed CCE and ultimately deceived the residents.Along with many other detrimental outcomes of the council's- actions during his term. He never supported the majority of residents as well as continuously attacked and clearly had a vendetta against Michael Gates. 24-209:Ardinance'4318-Parent Guardian Review Board.SUPPORT.Very comprehensive. I think we all need to reflect on what got us here in the first place. Graphic sexual books (blow jobs,sexual positions,cartoonish graphic sexual books being available to children and minors.These are grooming tools.There was no oversight.We need parent involvement because the system in the library did not work. 24-208:Withdrawal from League of California Cities.SUPPORT for all the reasons outlined in Casey McKeon's Memo. , And,finally I would like to ask that the City Council maintain decorum in the Chambers. Each person has an opportunity to talk. No one should be heckled or bullied. I know, first hand from attending the meetings.What you see on You Tube or the City Channel does not show the intensity of what you experience when attending the meeting in person. In person is much more amplified. It has gotten out of hand and frankly, I do not feel safe attending these meetings in person because of the mob hateful behavior and actions. I have seen others being verbally attacked while the meeting is going on. Please, institute a no tolerance policy for this type of behavior and have anyone who cannot adhere to the no tolerance policy or decorum policy removed. As always, best regards and thank you for all you do.You truly are making HB better for all of the majority. Best regards, Kris Carroll' .. _ . From: terrylaurenrosei)gmail,cam To: supolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF' Subject: city council meeting 031924 please include in tonight's agenda items. Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:25:26 AM Attachments: city council meeting 031924.docx Importance: High Please include my comments on each of the agenda items. If I need to send separate documents later, I will. Thank you. Terry Rose City Council Meeting Agenda 03-19-2024 Terry Rose, resident since 1983,homeowner I recently saw an unreleased as yet documentary at the Palm Springs Film Festival called Bad Faith about Christian Nationalism(the"moral" minority)whose mission is to destroy democracy as we know it today and establish a theocracy. I believe that it is quite possible that Tony Strickland,Gracey Van Der Mark,Casey McKeon&Pat Burns are all Christian Nationalists as I truly believe they are trying to destroy Huntington Beach,, are not interested in working for the good of the whole but only interested in serving themselves and driving our city into bankruptcy thus destroying it. From their campaign Lies to"no changes to our city charter"to their changing the protocol on who. becomes our mayor and when to paying their"buddy"millions for an oil spill the city was not responsible for and for not sharing with the public the loss of income to the Pacific Air Show or the city to the proposed expansion of the Air Show including building a runway on the beach to what they led by so-called moralist Gracey Van Der Mark,in particular,are doing to our public library to the out and out political speech by the pastor of the Calvery Chapal of Huntington Harbor,they have proven,at least to me,that they do not believe in our democracy but only in their personal agendas. I wish to go on record for the following:. File#:24-204 Version: 1 Council Committee Appointments and Liaison Reports: Oppose Gracey Van der Mark's amendment because it is prejudicial and clearly favors the members of her buddies with Moser&Bolton only being assigned to one committee and Kalmick being assigned to none.. File#:24-194 Adopt Resolution No.2024-08 revising and restating Resolution No.2016-01 related. to implementing Charter Section 805 and Municipal Code Chapter 5.90 regarding the number of permits issued for Safe and Sane Fireworks from fifteen(15)to sixteen(16) Oppose I would like to see Huntington Beach ban all fireworks in the city. The amount of illegal fireworks has more than tripled since the city approved the sale of"Safe and Sane Fireworks." File#24-197 24-197 Request authorization to issue a Request for Proposals for Managed Library Services for the Huntington Beach Public Library system: Oppose Too many unanswered questions: • Will the library staff lose their jobs or be forced to take a reduction in their salaries in order to keep their jobs? • If the private company decides they are not making enough money,will they just close the library completely? • Will there be fees for everything? • Who will make the final decision on what books the public has access to? • How much will this cost the city? • Is the company friends with the foursome? File#:24-209 Approve for introduction Ordinance No.4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material -- . Oppose This is taking away the rights of parents to make the decisions for their children and because each council member can select 3 people,this committee will be skewed in favor of Tony, Strickland,Gracey Van Der Mark,Casey McKeon&Pat Burns'choices. • What are the criteria to be on this committee? • Will members of this committee be paid? • Will this committee have the final say as to what books are in the library or will their suggestions be put to vote so that every citizen of Huntington Beach has a say so in the matter? - • Will teens be reduced to reading Dick&Jane? • Will all people regardless of their ethnicity and sexual identification be represented in the books that are available to young people? • Who decides what is pornographic? • Too many questions • Let the library be—let the parents decide File#:24-208 Item Submitted by Council Member Casey McKeon to withdraw from the League of California Cities Queston:Why? • In answer to expanding the Air Show,I suggest we expand the Surfing Championship which brings people from all over the world to Huntington Beach. We could add everything the air show wants to add,except for landing the plane on the beach,and continue our legend as Surf City USA vs Pacific Air Show City USA. Let the Pacific Air Show try to find another beach in Orange County—I doubt they will be able to accomplish that. • From: Fikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject FM Book banning Date: Thursday,March 14,2024 9:59:24 AM Original Message From:BOB DEATON<bobdeaton@aol.com> Sent:Tuesday,March 12,2024 12:36.PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Book banning Attn:City Council I've lived in Huntingon Beach since 1987 and raised my family here.One of the big attractions of this city was the wonderful children's library,and we became frequent visitors.We were appalled at the recent actions of the city council to restrict access to books that a faction of the council believed were inappropriate. My family has always supported the work of professional librarians to select what is right for the children's library.We are vehemently opposed to a gang of amateurs segregating and stigmatizing books like the classic"Everybody Poops". Seriously? Is this what we've come to?If parents don't want their children to read"Everybody Poops"or books about puberty or kids with two dads,they should go to the library with their sons and daughters instead of making it more difficult for everyone else.It makes no sense for a narrow-minded minority to be making the rules for the rest of us. Please reconsider your decision and return the operation of the library to the professional librarians. Bob Deaton: 19675 Seawind Cir Huntington Beach CA 92648 SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION ' 3/19/2024 Meeting Date: 24(24-209) Agenda Item No.; From: Fikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW:Ordinance No.4318 Date: Thursday,March 14,2024 3:31:21 PM From: D DAVENPORT<highc32@verizon.net> Sent:Thursday, March 14, 2024 2:20 PM' To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Ordinance No.4318 Adding Ordinance#4318 to Chapter 2.66 ( Community Parent—Guardian Review Board ) is a< good idea that is probably long over-due. I believe that the only people that would oppose community review of library materials are those with a political agenda. With that said I do see one area of the ordinance that could lead to potential problems. It seems to me that item "E "of section 2.66.110 could allow a minority of members to delay review of materials until the prescribed review period expires, allow the materials to be automatically approved under the requirements of item "B ". Perhaps this should be looked into. D. Davenport Huntington Beach Resident From: Cathev Ryder To: 5uoolementalcommCa surfcity-hb.org Subject: 3/19 Agenda Item 24 Date: Friday,March 15,2024 12:11:49 PM 3/19 Agenda Item 24 Mayor,Mayor Pro Tern and Council members, HB Voter and Homeowner for 39 years Here a few questions about Agenda Item 24 This board will ONLY be able to review the purchase of new books not the current collection? Children are identified as anyone under 18, not sure how many 13 to 17 year olds consider themselves to be children? No books, even any science books,with the words, sex,breast,penis or vagina will be purchased? No books with flirting,hand holding,hugging or kissing, even on hand, cheek or forehead • will be purchased? Books will only be reviewed 2 times each year so new books will only be purchased 2 times per year? All decisions are final and unable to be appealed even after 10, 20, 30 years from now? Will the titles of rejected books be made available to the public? If the library becomes a private entity,will this community board continue to exist or will their recommendations even be followed by a private,for profit,company? CJ Ryder From: Laura Janssen To: 5uoolementalcommAsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-197 Date: Friday,March 15,2024 6:14:42 PM Council members, I strongly oppose privatization of the Huntington Beach Public Library. It doesn't seem appropriate for a private company to make money off a municipal entity. Privatization will continue to water down the integrity of our fine library. This is a bad precedent to set, in the name of cost savings, and total council control over our library, that has been running smoothly without controversy up to now. I also strongly oppose Agenda Item 29-209 and the introduction of Ordinance No. 4318. I can only hope when the council swings back to a more moderate majority, the Ordinance will backfire and will allow for more liberal minded members to the review board and welcome back books that will so blindly be banned in the name of decency under the current council. A child's own parent or guardian should hold the sole responsibility for what books that child is exposed to, not some ginned-up review board. And, by the way, the internet is full,of unsavory and sexual content, do you really think the library is the only place a child can find that content? My brother and his friends managed to get their hands on Playboy magazines in the 1960s, long before the internet. The curiosity of a child is much stronger than the restrictions placed on them by adults. I'm honestly not sure sure who you are actually protecting,. not the children, they will find a way. Or, is it just the lure of power that propels these shortsighted actions. Laura Janssen • SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION 3/19/2024 Meeting Date. 24 (24-209) Agenda Item No.L From: Jordan Hall To: suoolementalcomm(a surfcity-hb.orq subject: Opposition of Item(s)22 and 24 Date: Friday,March 15,2024 7:12:39 PM As a longtime homeowner and resident of Huntington Beach, I strongly oppose Item 22 and Item 24. Please, please stop trying to alter our wonderful libraries and let our librarians do their jobs. Sincerely, Jordan Hall From: Scott Brewsaugh To: suoolementalcommAsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: The library Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 9:01:21 AM Hello esteemed city council members, Pm writing to say that I oppose any sort of privation of the library, and any sort of book ban. From: Mary Camarillo To: sunolementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFFl Subject Board Meeting Agenda Items 22 and 24 Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 10:21:57 AM Dear City Council Members I'm a local author, a thirty-year Huntington Beach resident and homeowner, and a former library volunteer.Please do not approve agenda items 22 and 24 on Tuesday,March 19, 2024. The public library is by defmition for the public and should not be privatized or outsourced to the East Coast hedge fund under your consideration or to any private entity.As a community service,the mission of the library should not be based on cost. One of our founding fathers,, Benjamin Franklin, opened the first public library and was proud of his free lending library concept, saying "these Libraries have improved the general Conversation of Americans."' .The city council has already tampered enough with our library. Setting up this 21-member Community-Parent Guardian Review Board to approve children's books as defined in agenda item 24 is ludicrous. • What is the source for the defmitions in this ordinance of"community standards," "sexual content," and "sexual reference?" • How can a 21-member committee that meets "at least twice each year"possibly review the 9,000 books purchased annually for the children's section of the library? • To give this review board the power of making "all decisions final and non-appealable" is ridiculous and illegal(despite City Attorney Gates'apparent approval) especially since no qualifications other than being selected by a council member are required. Equally hypocritical is the art of the plan that states "After review, all efforts will be made to. sell or donate non-approved Childrens'Books to libraries outside of the City of Huntington Beach."' • If the review board truly deems certain books unapprovable,why would they pass them on to another library? • Why would these books not simply be added to the adult section in our library? Please do not approve agenda items 22 and 24 on Tuesday,March 19,2024. Thank you for taking the time to read this email. I would appreciate a response. Mary Camarillo Visit Mary's website and sign up for her newsletter "Life With Riley" From: berreorincessCtaol.com To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF);suaolementalcommesurfdty-hb.orq Subject Leave Our Libraries Alone! Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 11:18:00 AM Enough with messing with our public libraries! They need to stay public and never be privatized. There is not a single reason to do this and ruin the libraries here. We have many services the library is used for besides general reading. There is the seed library that has been great for so many residents. There are many that use it for genealogy purposes and generally has a free offering of being able to use certain genealogy websites for researching. If libraries are privatized what happens to these things? What about those that use the library to study and for help in researching for school papers? It seems they will have to go to another city instead if this happens. Toss in the fact that you will spend money on books for your committee to review and if they don't like it then off the books go to another city's library? How in the world does that make sense to spend money on 21 books like that and then say the books are not good for us but they are ok for another city? This is hypocritical of you 4 (Burns, Strickland, Van Der Mark, and McKeon). Its sad that those of you that don't even use a library are the ones trashing them, lying. about what is in them and wanting to ruin them. Shame on you 4 as many of us residents know you will vote for this in the end. Anna Plewa From: TERESA GHIONE To: suoolementalcomm(6)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-197 Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 11:46:30 AM Oppose privatization of the Huntington Beach Public Library I oppose privatization of the HBPL. Since when does a committee knows what is best for my child to read. That is the responsibility of the parents to decide. Thank you Teresa Ghione From: Karla Tucker To: supolementalcomrresurfcity-hb.orq • Subject: Comments on agenda items for March 19,2024 HB City Council Meeting Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 11:56:40 AM Council Members, • Agenda Item 24-197 Who requested this agenda item? Why was this agenda item requested? I have been utilizing our city library services for almost 35 years. I have found all of their programs and services to be excellent. I brought both my children to the Central Park library as toddlers for early reader programs, as elementary-aged children for summer reading programs, and as young adults for research and study programs. Staff were always kind, helpful and enthusiastic. I love reading and often check-out books in person or request books on-line for pick-up. Staff are always efficient and friendly. Why do we need a change? I would be afraid services would only decline when run by non-community staff. Agenda Item 24-209 As a concerned parent and former elementary school teacher, I am firmly opposed to this ordinance. Parents should be making reading decisions for their own children only. Our library staff do an excellent job of providing age-appropriate materials for the children's and young-adult library sections. Parents and community members should not be allowed to place their personal opinions on the book choices of others. All council members should be required to view the academy award-nominated short documentary titled The ABCs of Book Banning,. The children's voices in this film, should speak to us all. Agenda Item 24-208 Why is this being requested? We should be working together with other cities, not. isolating, ourselves. Isolation breeds divisiveness and fear of others. We need to, pursue community alliances and work together for all Huntington Beach residents.. Respectfully, Karla Tucker From: mtfbwvCa)socal.rr.com To: suoolementalcommCmsurfcity-hb.orq Subject Our Public Library Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 1:02:23 PM Dear City Council Members, You were voted into office to serve the people of our city--not to take away our rights. Our Public Library is PUBLIC. We do not want it to be PRIVATIZED.It is my right as a parent to decide what my child can or cannot read--not the government's. You are taking a huge step against Democracy.Don't do this! Respectfully, Norma Mazure From: ekvbabehb To: suoolementalcommesurfdty-hb.orq Subject: Opposition to Items 22 and 24 on 3/19 CC agenda Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 1:54:37 PM I am a resident and citizen residing in Huntington Beach, since moving to California in 1992. I am a mother to three children,2 teens and a tween. I strongly oppose both Items,22 and 24, on the agenda for 3/19 meeting. I am confident that trained librarians are much more qualified to review children's literature than random and politically skewed individuals and corporations. It has been stated time and time again by particular politically inclined group of parents that we do not co-parent with the government and I agree! My children, and ALL CHILDREN, should have access to materials reviewed by trained professionals, not government NOR private entities whose views are horrinly misguided at best and dangerous at worst. If the concern or fear that YOUR children may look at materials YOU deem undesirable,then that is a private conversation between YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN. YOU attend the library with YOUR child and YOU REVIEW their selections. You do not get to parent mine! Secondly, Huntington Beach Public Library should remain as it is stated in its name - PUBLIC. NOT PRIVATELY OWNED BY A CORPORATION that is selected by restrictive and misguided city council. Again,I STRONGLY OPPOSE ITEM 22 AND ITEM 24 ON 3/19 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. ENOUGH ALREADY! Sent from AOL on Android From: Carolyn Grandy To: suoolementalcommCa surfcity-hb.org Subject Please vote this way Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 4:03:46 PM Dear City Commissioner: I strongly oppose item 22-managed Library services. I strongly oppose item 24-parent review board for children's library. I absolutely love our library and appreciate books and information offered for ALL citizens. For a small group of citizens to decide what is best for me to read or information to share is. not acceptable. These decisions to privatize will change the life we have appreciated living here in Huntington Beach. I appreciate your taking my opinion seriously. Regards, Carolyn Grandy From: Dricegrandv(agmail.conl To: suoolementalcommCa)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Library Privatization&Control Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 4:53:18 PM Dear City Commissioner: "I strongly oppose" item 22 — Managed Library Services Item 24 — Parent Review Board for Childrens Library Our Huntington Beach Library system is by far and away the best Library that my Family has ever been associated. For close to 40 years we have enjoyed all of it's many services. Our city has done a great job in maintaining all of the libraries and all of the many things that it does for our communities. To privatize and control the library takes away the ability and control of the average HB citizen to keep our library the way it is today. As a parent, I choose what my children are allowed to read and enjoy. I do not wish a small group of people to make these decisions.. Thanks, Price Grandy pricegrandy@gmail.com From: Di Mario To: suoolementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.org Subject: Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material Date: Saturday,March 16,2024 6:13:58 PM Dear Huntington Beach City Council &City Council Leaders, In reading this process, many questions are left unanswered for the citizens of Huntington Beach. A few general questions: 1) What budget will be made available to purchase the "questionable" books by the 21- person committee? If the city is in such dire financial straits, is it wise to spend so much money on (21) sets per book? 2) What analysis has been conducted to understand the qty of books, time commitment, and feasibility of the 21-person committee to review any "questionable" books in timely manner? 3) Wouldn't it be more practical to have this committee be filled with experts from our city, such as librarians, child psychologists, lawyers, judges, teachers, college professors, who would make their determination based on factual, expert evidence vs. personal beliefs? 4) What is next in this campaign? Will we now remove any art exhibits of"sexual nature" from city buildings, including the Huntington Beach Art Center? Will we need to form another 21-person committee to review the art being displayed in the gallery? Ultimately, it is my belief that this is a wasteful exercise in city spending to address a problem that does not exist esp. considering the proliferation of online access that children, youth, and young adults can utilize. This committee and library book campaign will do nothing to prevent any potential problems with online access. Only parents of children, youth, and young adults can reasonably manage the access of books and online activities at no cost to the city. Thank you, E DiMario From: Carol Daus To: supolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF) Subject: In Opposition to 24-209 Ordinance No.4318-Community-Parent Guardian Review Board Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 8:23:15 AM Dear City Council Members, I strongly oppose agenda item 24-209 (Ordinance No. 4318),the formation of the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material. The wording of this ordinance is preposterous. An untrained review board appointed by politicians should not have a primary role in deciding what books are suitable for children and teens in our top-ranked library. Biased volunteers should not be tasked with this job,which I'm sure is a labor violation. Our professional librarians are the best individuals to handle the acquisition and curation of our collection. The most harmful policy of this ordinance is: "All- decisions by the Board are final and unappealable"! Furthermore,what is your definition of "community standards?" Approximately 14,000 members of the LGBTQ+reside in Huntington Beach. Would this group prohibit the acquisition of LGBTQ+Young Adult books, even though they are best sellers? As a library volunteer, I have spent hours with journalists during the past year who paged through books in our children's and former teen library stacks, and nobody discovered sexually explicit material. (I guess that's why potty training and menstruation books are the only ones that have been relocated to the adult location,which is quite disturbing).Mayor Van Der Mark told me last June in a public townhall that there are hundreds of pornographic books in the children's library. If you believe that,Mayor Van Der Mark,why don't you give us a list of those books as you promised last summer? It's because they don't exist. This is all a political stunt. Vote NO on 24-209 (Ordinance No. 4318)1 Sincerely, Carol Daus HB resident for 28 years From: Bob Banzett To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF;suoolementalcommesurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Opposed to Item 24-Library"Guardian"Board Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 9:43:05 AM I am strongly opposed to the idea of a board of untrained and politicized"guardians" controlling library purchases. The majority of this board will be appointed by the majority members of City Council. Therefore,book acquisitions will be chosen by the people in power at the moment-the library is there to serve all of us. I prefer to have trained and experienced librarians in charge. Currently, "book banning" is a fad of the right wing, and we have a right wing majority on Council, so we will all be subjected to right wing fears of sexuality and diversity. But I don't want the left wing banning politically unpopular books in the future, either. Restricting access to books and information is an important means to control the population—look at Soviet Russia,Putin's Russia, Communist North Korea,Fascist Germany.All well known 'book ban' proponents. The proposed ordinance in Item 22 even contains totalitarian language"All decisions by the Board are final and non-appealable." Frankly,I find it ironic that so-called conservatives wish more government intrusion into the freedom of choice in the library. I note that Mayor VanDerMark has been seen wearing a T- shirt proclaiming that she 'does not co-parent with the government' -yet when she becomes part of the government, one of her first acts is to co-parent, asserting her governmental power to restrict what everyone else's children can read. There are books inappropriate for little kids. Librarians know that. My observation is that little kids go to the library with their parents,who are there to `parent' them. Does the government need to co-parent them when they have actual parents? True,many teens go to the library without their parents. But those teens know, often better than their parents, how to use the internet to get whatever material they want. I would much rather have them read librarian-curated material on the puzzling questions of puberty, gender, etc., instead of searching the web and reading truly crazy unfiltered ideas. Please abandon this bad idea. Robert B Banzett PhD HB Citizen From: Nancy Curtis To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF);suoolementalcomm(a)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Items 22&24 Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 9:45:07 AM City Council Members, I oppose agenda items 22 and 24. On 3/19/2023 you will be addressing two agenda items regarding privatizing the HB Library system.I understand that the Council states,it is not privatizing the Library it is just privatizing the management. To approve these items. I would like the council to respond to a few questions. Do you agree this would be a privatized library within the shell of our Public Library building? Do the Friends of HB Public Library with their 900 members and hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations and thousands of hours of volunteer hours carry any weight in your decision to privatize our Library services? Does the Council believe that it represents the diversity of the citizens of HB? A private company could end up controlled by a very few people depending on how the contract is put together by the city council. How will the citizens of HB be able to continue to influence the services provided by their library once the management is privatized? Nancy Curtis HB resident From: Kristina Mahan To: suoolementalcommCa surfcip'-hb.orq Subject Council meeting Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 11:10:52 AM Dear city council, I am a long time HB resident. Leave our libraries alone! I do not support the proposed changes just as I did not support the unnecessary parent review board. I can offer an agenda item that will actually help our community.How about you address the horrible and dangerous traffic conditions in front of HBHS (and I'm assuming our other schools as well) at the morning drop-off time?Get rid of the huge grass median and add a protected lane for cyclists and a lane for parents dropping off.All the e-bikes and bicycles navigating between parents pulling over and pulling out is so dangerous! Also time the signals better so people turning left from Yorktown on to Main don't get stuck for 20 minutes because there's never a break in the cars. We can seriously do better. Thank you, Kristina Mahan From: Sue Welfringer To: suoolementalcommc surfcity-hb.arg Subject: Opposing:Ordinance#4318 for Introduction:Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for procurement of children's library materials" Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 11:36:46 AM March 17, 2024 Attn: Mayor Van Der Mark, Mayor Pro Tem Pat Burns, and HB Council Members: Creating a politically appointed committee to review books is a ridiculous, unnecessary idea and I oppose this ordinance. • I imagine the city council will receive scores of letters from the community concerned about your intent to privatize our public libraries. Like all the letters received over the past year,the vast majority will be begging you to LEAVE THE LIBRARY AND LIBRARIANS ALONE.Sadly, I don't expect you to listen to our concerns. Privatizing our public libraries is wrong.Wrong. Wrong. Is it possible that if you turn over the library to a private company,you hope to protect yourselves from potential 1st Amendment Rights lawsuits when our library shelves are emptied from any publications that make you uncomfortable? Speaking of uncomfortable, I have a concern with how you expect a committee to define and restrict books with sexual content. I shared this example in my letter to you last month. Recently,an 8th grader and I read a compellingYA novel by award-winning children's author Gary Paulsen,titled NightJohn.The novel is classified by the publisher for audiences in the 10- 13-year-old range.The main character,Sarny, is a child born into slavery, and dreading when her"troubles"start because she knows she will be selected as a breeder and possibly chained in the breeding shed like what happened to another girl.As intended by the author, this this scene made me uncomfortable.The student and I paused to take in the meaning of it all. It is okay to be uncomfortable in the safe space of literature. Breeding shed???Does this make you uncomfortable?I hope so. But it is not simply that we are reading a scene describing child rape that makes us want to vomit. It's Learning that not too long ago,white Americans thought"breeding sheds"were okay! It appears to me that since this is sexual content you do not want an 8th grader to learn about this. Do we need to be 18 years old to learn about our shameful history of breeding sheds? NightJohn is only one of thousands of stories in any library collection that includes some reference to"sexual content"while telling deeply important stories. When you take passages out of context you are missing the true intent of the author.Worse,you are miscalculating how the storybuilds empathy,compassion, and relevant human connections for the young reader (and the adult who might read it with them.) I need to know: Is NightJohn the type of book now denied to young readers ages 10-13?If this is true, I am sad for you and even sadder for our young readers looking for ways to learn about themselves and how they fit in the world through children's literature.Shame on you for denying books because a scene makes you uncomfortable. Creating a politically appointed committee to review books is a ridiculous, unnecessary idea and I oppose this ordinance. Sue Welfringer 27 year resident and volunteer Current: Teacher/Mentor Fusion Academy HB Current Member Friends of the Library &20+year member volunteer with the Friends of the Children's Library/Former Taste of HB Chair/Writing & Illustrating Contest for Kids Pre-T/High School Current Member—Golden West College Patrons Former: Sales Manager Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel Former: Manager, HB Downtown Business Improvement District Additional HB volunteerism included board member of Promotion Resources in Drug Education (Every 15 Minutes) HB Chamber of Commerce, Sand Dollars/Miss HB, PTA/PTOs, Girl Scouts, PCH CleanUp with Visit HB -to name a few. From: Katie Estes To: supolementalcommCa)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: OPPOSE privatization of PUBLIC library Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 12:01:44 PM Dear HB city council members, I vehemently OPPOSE the privatization of our PUBLIC libraries.It is one of the first public institutions in our nation founded by Benjamin Franklin.There is absolutely no reason to privatize,and it is opposed by every organization involved in library science and institution of higher learning in our country.Keep your conservative politics out of PUBLIC institutions in our city. I also continue to oppose the completely unscientific,biased,racist,and homophobic censoring of books in our library by a`committee'that has not been identified,that does not have a publicly available rule book by which to choose`inappropriate'books.I should be able to decide what is appropriate for myself and my children,not some random person chosen in a way that hasn't been disclosed,using criteria that are not publicly available. I can't wait to vote out certain members of this city council as soon as possible and can only hope we can restore a shred of decency to this city. Kathleen Estes,PhD HB resident From: Kim Cruz To: suoolementalcommC)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Library services Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 12:15:38 PM I am HB resident.I do not want library privatization and I do not want a parent review board. Kim Cruz Sent from my iPhone From: MARILYN Boehm To: suoolementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: OPPOSITION TO 24-209 Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 2:27:35 PM I cannot more adamantly oppose this proposal for a community-parent review board of library materials. Why do we need to rely on others when we already have outstanding library professionals with advanced degrees in library science? We do NOT, that's why. I fear that the people selected by the four right-wing members of our Council to be on this committee will ultimately ban books they find to be inappropriate. Based on WHAT? As a 25 year member of our City, I do NOT want to see the beginnings of a book ban. Whether they call it that or not, if those appointed community review board members don't like a proposed book to be in our library, that constitutes a book ban. Book bans were a huge part of the rise of Nazism. Why? Because knowledge is power. Keep the populace ignorant and keep them powerless against dictators. This is a frightening direction for our City to take, and it must stop HERE and NOW. Marilyn Boehm, HB From: Erin Anderson To: suoolementalcommCa surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Library Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 3:34:40 PM To City Council, I oppose the privatization of the library for innumerable reasons,ranging from private equity has no business in civic service to ensuring Huntington Beach's award winning library is preserved. I oppose the creation of a board to vet library books.The librarians are trained and educated on collecting books for years.Imposing"community standards"in place of constitutional rights,not to mention the Right to Read in our own city code,is ludicrous and insulting. I have no doubt the majority will steam forward with their plans despite public opposition.Their actions are bankrupting our city,as well as further dividing our citizens.They shame city hall with their culture war antics instead of doing the real work of governing. Sincerely, Erin Spivey Huntington Beach resident Sent from my iphone,please excuse any typos From: Michele Burgess To: supoIementalcommAsurfdty-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF) Subject Comment for March 19,2024,City Council Meeting Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 6:48:29 PM To the City Council and City Attorney: Here we go again. In the wake of Measures A and B passing, the Council majority and City Attorney are once more claiming to have a definitive mandate, and in the process are making local , national , and international news for all the wrong reasons. Do the math. YOU DO NOT HAVE A MANDATE. A total of 132,435 ballots were mailed to HB voters. As of March 15 , Yes on A received 32,477, or 24. 5% of the registered voters in this city. Yes on B received 34, 775 , or 26.25%. The real winner is voter apathy. If you had not wasted nearly half a million taxpayer dollars putting these controversial measures on the primary ballot, turnout would have been much higher in November and the vote could very well have been much different. Now you' re attacking the library again. Not enough that you' re wasting librarians' time and taxpayer dollars removing children's and teens' books from the shelves, but you' re considering issuing a RFP to have the library run by a private company "to save money. " where was that concern when you spent so much on ABC? our award-winning library has been very well run for decades, we don't need ultra-conservative politicians messing it up. Stop looking for solutions to problems that don't exist. Then we have the hand-picked parental review committee, with no appeals for rejected books. what is this obsession with other people's personal sex lives and body parts? A photo of industrious Gracey shows her at a large desk, surrounded by piles of children's books, their pages marked with numerous Post-Its indicating words, pictures, and subject matter that offend her delicate sensibilities. However, she has no qualms about enlarging those pages to poster size and displaying them in the City Council lobby for any and all to see, or showing them on the CC meeting public video. Might that be offensive to people of any age who don't want to see them and wouldn't be checking out those books at the library? Moser calls for transparency on censoring and moving library books, Strickland and van Der Mark say transparency will be implemented as the policies are implemented. Left unsaid: In the meantime, opaque is the way to go. when questioned about the use of the wikipedia definition of obscenity, Burns asks, "can't we just rely on the expertise of librarians?" well yes, we can, and that' s what we've been doing since before you all were born. Gates emphatically declares the process legal , even though it appears not to be, according to what Moser read from the city Code. Perhaps we need a second opinion from an unbiased attorney. or perhaps the ACLU would like to weigh in on this matter. The platform you were elected on has been completed ignored as you cater to a narrow group of MAGA and evangelical voters. Basically, you lied about what you intended to do. Gracey whines to reporters , "we' re living in a state that's not welcoming to us ; conservative values are not really welcomed. we just want a safe space for people who share our values. " unfortunately, that is intended to always be at the expense of others. If you want to ban books, move to Florida, you'll be ok there. If you want to hate on immigrants, move to Texas. If you' re a homophobe, move to Saudia Arabia where someone can be stoned to death for being gay. Just leave the rest of us alone to enjoy our lives in what used to be a beautiful , peaceful beach city. Good luck attracting tourists or conventions with all the hate, lunacy, and performative nonsense being widely publicized. I smell recall in the air. Hopefully, the toxic clown show will be canceled and the circus will leave town — the sooner the better. Michele Burgess HB resident since 1961 (when only the Main Street library existed) From: Judv Morris To: suoolementalcomm(alsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Ordinance#4318 Library Book Review Board Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 7:13:15 PM I am not in favor of establishing a Parent/Guardian Review Board for children's books.This should continue to be a function of librarians,who have the education and experience needed to manage our libraries.Librarians should simply be allowed to do their jobs. It is unfortunate that Ms.Moser's proposal to exercise transparency with regard to the library issue was voted down by the council,even after hearing from so many residents during the last city council meeting who supported Ms. Moser's proposal. It seems that the"need for"a review board has already been decided,and the City is moving forward with its development.I did not see a definition for Community Standards in the proposed ordinance.In the interest of full transparency and disclosure to the community,I believe Community Standards should be clearly defined and included as part of the ordinance. Sincerely, Judy Morris Sent from my iPad From: Anna Martirosvan To: suoolementalcommasurfcity-hb.orq Subject: No Privatization at Huntington Beach Public Library Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 7:44:25 PM Dear Huntington Beach City Council: I STRONGLY oppose: Item 22-Managed Library Services Item 24-Parent Review Board for Children's Library Please do not attempt to change the Huntington Beach Public Library. Sincerely, Anna From: midae hill To: Supolementalcomm( surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Agenda 19-March Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 8:48:11 PM Dear City Council Members, I am not able to attend the council meeting of Tuesday, 19-March. However, as a resident of Huntington Beach for more than 30 years, having children who attended HBCSD&graduated HBUHSD, I can attest to the wonderful opportunities that were afforded my children by our city library system. While living within walking distance of the Banning branch, my children were frequent visitors. In later years,they spent a good deal of time at HB Central Library both for pleasure reading, homework and community resources. As adults,we recently attended a film festival and the raptor talk and bird walk organized through the library. This is wholly unique to our HB community. I strongly oppose 2 items on the agenda for 19-March as unnecessary actions against the fabric that makes Huntington Beach an exceptional and distinct place to raise a family. I oppose item 24-197 Request Authorization to issue a Request for Proposals for Managed Library Services for the Huntington Beach Public Library system. I oppose item 24-209 Approval for Introduction Ordinance No.4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for the Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material. I find no redeeming purpose to support either of these 2 agenda items. I urge a vote of NO for both items. Respectfully, Midge A. Hill • 19872 Carmania Lane Est. 1992 Virus-free.www.avg.com - . From: Paula Shawa To: suoolementalcommC)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: No on Agenda Item 24/City Council Mtg.March 19 Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 8:58:55 PM No on empowering a non-professional, extremely large group of private citizens to decide what books the library can order. And to make the director of the library subservient to this committee? How humiliating. Checking reading material from a library is optional. No one is forcing anyone to read anything and it's a parent's business—and no one else's—to guide what their children read. The proposed formation of this committee represents censorship by the city council and is a violation of free speech. Paula Shawa, HB resident 20+years From: Patricia Larkin To: suoolementalcommC@surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Input on Agenda Items 22 and 24 for 3/19/2024 City Council Meeting Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 9:52:56 PM This is Patricia Larkin and I am a long-time resident of Huntington Beach.I want to give input on agenda Items 22 and 24 for the March 19th meeting. Agenda Item 22: I am strongly opposed to any request or proposal to outsource our exemplary Huntington Beach Public Library to an East Coast Hedge Fund. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS ACTION. Agenda Item 24: I am strongly opposed to any ordinance that would implement rules for a "Community-Parent Guardian Review Board" for selecting books for the Children's Library. Our librarians are educated for this purpose and are making excellent choices regarding the books in our children's library. Our librarians are the best-informed personnel for this task. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS ACTION. Patricia Larkin Concerned Huntington Beach Resident From: Laura Ehrlich To: suoolementalcommiusurfcity-hb.org Subject: I am a concerned,citizen regarding library changes Date: Sunday,March 17,2024 10:44:12 PM Dear City Commissioner, I am a 55 year old Huntington Beach resident that loves the library.For 18 years,I have taken my children to the library,monthly,allowing them to pick out dozens of books to bring home each month.Both of my children absolutely love reading,and I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this without our library. I more than strongly oppose item 22-managed Library services. I also adamantly oppose item 24-parent review board for children's library. Please allow our library to operate as it is now.Children need to be able to pick out their own books,and librarians _ need to be allowed to do their jobs.Politics,have nothing to do with the library. Please do not set our city back in time. We love Huntington Beach and want to continue living here.This type of decision-making does not make us want to stay. Laura Ehrlich HB resident Sent from my iPhone From: kvooellCalsocal.rr.com To: suoDlementalcommAsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: City Council Meeting 3/19/2024 Agenda Items 24-197 and 24-209 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:04:30 AM City Council My name is Faith Vogel, a longtime resident of Huntington Beach. I served on the Library Board and the Community and Library Services from 2007 to 2023. If there is one thing, I learned in my years of service is that the citizens of Huntington Beach love and support their library. I am writing to urge a no vote on items 24-197 and 24-209 to be presented at the March 19, 2024, meeting. Our Libraries are special place to the citizens of Huntington Beach. They are doing an excellent job. Libraries are a small part of the city budget.There is no need to consider contracting out their services which would make them less available to our citizens. The City Council should reflect the feelings of the people of Huntington Beach and continue to support not obstruct the Library Mission In view of the major impact on library users proposed by the resolutions it is necessary for the City Council to let this agenda item fail Thank you,for your consideration. Faith Vogel From: Scott Wilson To: suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Privatization of Huntington Bch Library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 11:12:45 AM The mere suggestion of privatization of our libraries is a cash grab. Lack of transparency as to your missions is causing the people to roil,you're not a good example for the public& future of Huntington Bch. No on privization of the Huntington Beach libraries. We do not need 24 people reading children's books deciding what they can&cannot put on the shelves of our libraries,you are the monsters under the bed,shame on you! Regards, Scott M.Wilson Sent from my IPhone. From: Juana Mueller To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF);suoolementalcommCa)surfcity-hb.orq Cc: Juana Mueller Subject: 3/19/24 Council Agenda Date: Monday,March 18,2024 11:34:58 AM Dear Huntington Beach City Council, Item 22: WHOA! HOLD the horses!! Outsource the management of our Library System? WHY? TO WHOM? This is outrageous. What are you trying to do to our City? Our Library System is not broken. It is a basic pillar of our community. It has a committed base of volunteers to help manage and run the many programs that are offered through our library. It is a beloved place for gaining knowledge, for coming together, for joy of learning, for being introduced to life's possibilities, and so much more. WHY GUT THIS and give it to some OUTSIDE ENTITY that has no knowledge OR commitment to OUR CITY?? STOP! This is a bridge too far!! Item 24: Do not approve ordinance NO.4318 - (my comments above apply) Item 25: Why are we considering isolating our City from the League of CA Cities? Isolation from what goes on in other CA cities is not healthy for our City. Do not approve. From: Fikes.Cathy To: Aaenda Alerts Subject: FW:The Library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:26:33 AM From:Scott Brewsaugh <scottbrewsaugh@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, March 16, 2024 9:01 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:The Library Hello esteemed city council members, I'm writing to say that I oppose any sort of privation of the library,and any sort of book ban. From: Ekes,Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW:Next meeting Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:27:21 AM From: Nancy Bramet<nevonwb@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, March 16, 2024 9:59 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Next meeting City Council... PLEASE,stop trying to fix what isn't broken. I believe the library runs just fine as is... no need to change that. IF you must have a "Community Parent Guardian Review Board".Then you MUST include some members of the LGBTQ community on that board as well, it needs to be well rounded not just white,christian parents that are afraid of everything that they don't understand and don't want to understand. Otherwise it is NOT representative of ALL parents in our community. Let's be clear I am not for this community, I believe it to be a complete waste of resources but if it goes thru then it MUST have a group that represents everyone. Not understanding why you want to put together a board when you said we didn't have the resources for them anymore and gutted several boards that were in fact useful. We disagree on that as well but then council you really don't seem to listen to it appears to me most of the citizens in HB. AND BIG NOOOOOO to leaving the League of California Cities. You all complain about homelessness then when a bill come thru that directly helps with that you don't like it. UNBELIEVABLE!! Also for the Gas Tax... OK... people this is for our roads,WHICH WE NEED!!! I don't like taxes either but I am smart enough to know that taxes pay for things we ACTUALLY need, like police,fire department, roads, bridges etc. I would far rather my tax dollars go to that than the city always suing the state for not doing low income housing,which we actually need. I still don't understand your argument on that. I have asked and your response if you truly believe your reason doesn't hold water. If you can build all this new housing that isn't low income,then you could have built low income housing. Our library is fine, LEAVE IT ALONE!!! There is no reason to privatize it... even if the "great attorney" has lost all the law suits which he said he would win (I am not an attorney and I realized that was a major long shot even if it was a good attorney) our taxes paid major$$$ on that. We are throwing good money at bad on these law suits...the council seems to think they are above it. YOU ARE NOT! If you don't like living in the state of California or Huntington Beach then leave it like your friend Tito did. I am not being nice here but I find most of you just exhausting. You honestly don't seem to have an idea here what you are doing or you have your own personal agenda which is even worse. You are to work for ALL the people of HB... make it better,safe. All you are doing is trying to change our city and what has made it great. STOP IT!!! Here is something to do, work on our homeless and helping them. That is not an easy problem but well worth finding a solution for. And do a better job of balancing the budget... although I know that is hard with all the lawsuits we have lost. But learn when to fight and when to just do what is actually right. Not putting in low income housing was wrong''i'' Giving in to the AirShow people was wrong.. and then hiring them on a 10 year contract are you kidding me. They are using our beach,they should be paying us for that privilege. I hope you all have read this completely because I know it isn't nice. But you know,you have made the last few years not great for me, because you seem to what to change everything that HB is. I am begging you please STOP IT!! Regards, Nancy Bramet From: Fikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW:Vote NO on items#22 and#24 at the March 19,2024 city council meeting. Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:34:38 AM From: Dan Jamieson<danjamieson4@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, March 16,2024 5:37 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Vote NO on items#22 and#24 at the March 19, 2024 city council meeting. Dear HB City Council: Please leave our library alone. Vote NO on items#22 and#24 at the March 19,2024 city council meeting. Item 22, "Request authorization to issue a Request for Proposals for Managed Library Services for the Huntington Beach Public Library system," would put control of our beloved library into the hands of a private equity group.The PE group will squeeze library staff and cut services in order to turn a profit and show "cost savings" from their contract with the city. This would be a false economy.Library patrons and volunteers will be negatively impacted, and the city will lose control of our library.If you truly want local control,vote NO on Item 22. Item 24,to approve " Ordinance No. 4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material" is the ordinance to ban books in our library. Residents clearly do not want a review board telling the library what books and other materials it cannot purchase.Vote NO on Item 24. Dan Jamieson Roxanne McMillen Huntington Beach ### From: Fikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: RN:City Council Meeting 3/19/2024 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:40:09 AM From: K Carroll <kcrissie7@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 17, 2024 12:46 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:City Council Meeting 3/19/2024 Greetings Mayor Van Der Mark, Pro Tern Pat Burns, Councilmen McKeon and Strickland: Congratulations on the very successful results of the A& B Charter Amendments in the most recent elections! Thrilled to see the results!Thank you so much for bringing these items forward.You truly mean it when you say you speak for the majority. And,Congratulations on being the popular vote on County Central Committee 72nd Assembly District.The results represented all but two of my votes. Most importantly,what my vote for Pat Burns for the County Central Committee. Disappointed; but, darn close! You have to feel proud though Pat, especially as you said when you first ran for council people were saying 'who is Pat Burns'.You have made a huge impact in such a short period of time. I would like to briefly relay my thoughts on the following for the upcoming meeting agenda items: 24-204:Council Liaison-SUPPORT. 24-180: AB1999 SUPPORT for all reasons outlined in communications shared: 24-197: Request for Proposals for managed Library Services.SUPPORT. However,strongly oppose Michael Posey being anything close to involved in this. He was the one that initially proposed CCE and ultimately deceived the residents.Along with many other detrimental outcomes of the council's actions during his term. He never supported the majority of residents as well as continuously attacked and clearly had a vendetta against Michael Gates. 24-209: Ordinance 4318- Parent Guardian Review Board.SUPPORT.Very comprehensive. I think we all need to reflect on what got us here in the first place. Graphic sexual books (blow jobs,sexual positions,cartoonish graphic sexual books being available to children and minors.These are grooming tools.There was no oversight.We need parent involvement because the system in the library did not work. 24-208:Withdrawal from League of California Cities.SUPPORT for all the reasons outlined in Casey McKeon's Memo. And,finally I would like to ask that the City Council maintain decorum in the Chambers. Each person has an opportunity to talk. No one should be heckled or bullied. I know, first hand from attending the meetings.What you see on You Tube or the City Channel does not show the intensity of what you experience when attending the meeting in person. In person is much more amplified. It has gotten out of hand and frankly, I do not feel safe attending these meetings in person because of the mob hateful behavior and actions. I have seen others being verbally attacked while the meeting is going on. Please, institute a no tolerance policy for this type of behavior and have anyone who cannot adhere to the no tolerance policy or decorum policy removed. As always, best regards and thank you for all you do.You truly are making HB better for all of the majority. Best regards, Kris Carroll From: Fikes.Cathy To: ,4aenda Alerts Subject: FW:Item 22,24-197 Managed Library Services,Item 24,24-209 Community Parent Guardian Review Board Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:40:57 AM From: Lena Marie Kamae<lakamae@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 17,2024 2:48 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Item 22, 24-197 Managed Library Services, Item 24, 24-209 Community Parent Guardian Review Board Hello, Item 22, 24-197 Managed Library Services: We strongly oppose privatizing the Huntington Beach Public Library. We believe it is not in the best interest of the residents of Huntington Beach to outsource these services.What happens to the wonderful library staff?What about the Friends of the Library Bookstore and the amazing volunteers.We visit the Huntington Beach library once to twice a week. It is the best library we've ever seen.The services offered there encompass all ages. Item 24, 24-209 Community Parent Guardian Review Board We strongly oppose the Community Parent Guardian Review Board for the Procurement of library books.A public library is for everyone, not for someone to pick and choose what you are allowed to enjoy. Lena Kamae From: Pikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW:Agenda 19-March Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:46:35 AM From: midge hill<undertheson35@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 17, 2024 8:49 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Agenda 19-March Dear City Council Members, I am not able to attend the council meeting of Tuesday, 19-March. However, as a resident of Huntington Beach for more than 30 years,having children who attended HBCSD& graduated HBUHSD,I can attest to the wonderful opportunities that were afforded my children by our city library system. While living within walking distance of the Banning branch,my children were frequent visitors. In later years,they spent a good deal of time at HB Central Library both for pleasure reading,homework and community resources. As adults,we recently attended a film festival and the raptor talk and bird walk organized through the library. This is wholly unique to our HB community. I strongly oppose 2 items on the agenda for 19-March as unnecessary actions against the fabric that makes Huntington Beach an exceptional and distinct place to raise a family. I oppose item 24-197 Request Authorization to issue a Request for Proposals for Managed Library Services for the Huntington Beach Public Library system. I oppose item 24-209 Approval for Introduction Ordinance No. 4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for the Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material. I find no redeeming purpose to support either of these 2 agenda items. I urge a vote of NO for both items. Respectfully, Midge A.Hill 19872 Carmania Lane Est. 1992 Virus-free.wuwv.avg.com From: Fikes.Cathy To: genda Alerts Subject: FW:Input regarding Agenda Items 22 and 24 for the 3/19/2024 City Council meeting Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:46:49 AM From: Patricia Larkin<patglarkin@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 17,2024 10:02 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Input regarding Agenda Items 22 and 24 for the 3/19/2024 City Council meeting City Council Members, This is Patricia Larkin and I am a long-time resident of Huntington Beach. I want to give input on two agenda items for the March 19th City Council meeting. Agenda Item 22: I am strongly opposed to any request or proposal to outsource our exemplary Huntington Beach Public Library to an East Coast Hedge Fund. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS ACTION. Agenda Item 24: I am also strongly opposed to any ordinance that would implement rules for a "Community-Parent Guardian Review Board"for selecting books for the Children's Library. Our librarians are educated for this purpose and are making excellent choices regarding the books in our children's library.They are the best-informed personnel for this task. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS PROPOSED ACTION. Patricia Larkin Concerned Huntington Beach Citizen. From: Fikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alert Subject: FW:City Council Meeting Agenda for March 19,2024 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 11:35:08 AM From: Larry Slonim <laryslonim@aol.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 9:25 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:City Council Meeting Agenda for March 19, 2024 To All Members of the Huntington Beach City Council: We have been very concerned about the 4-3 vote by the City Council to put Charter Amendments A, B & C on the ballot for the Primary Election, and have been following to vote tally closely. As of Sunday, March 17th, with about 46% of the voters registered in the City of HB voting, the tallies for A & B have be trending Yes and the tally for C has been trending No. We strongly agree with the constituents voting No on C, primarily because it gave the mayor, ANY mayor, the authority to cancel and change Council Meetings at his or her sole discretion. While the four new councilmembers represent a majority vote advantage, it's clear to us that they often decide to vote as a block, with very minimal debate or deliberation of dissenting opinions, whether coming from the other 3 councilmembers (Kalmick, Moser and Bolton), and/or from public comments made relative to agenda items listed to be discussed at the Council Meetings. This is totally contrary to and blatantly hypocritical of one of the main reasons, if not the KEY reason, they chose to run for city office in the first place, back in 2022. Since taking office, fairness, precedence and decorum has suffered badly as a result, and continues to get worse. Integrity and trust in the Council and the City Attorney has been terribly compromised. We strongly urge the four new councilmembers to attempt to modify the course they are currently on. Lastly, we think that the current Administrative Agenda items 23 and 24, scheduled or the meeting of March 19th, be DEFERRED until the first meeting in April, to provide time for a more reasonable understanding and evaluation by the public and the other council members of the details contained within them. • Respectfully, Larry and Susan Slonim From: Fikes,Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: RN:HB City Council Meeting 3/19/24 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 12:28:35 PM Original Message From:Leslie Selder<rls1d5862@gmail.com> Sent:Monday,March 18,2024 12:18 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:HB City Council Meeting 3/19/24 Agenda Item 22: Where is the logic in the idea of outsourcing HB City Library Services to a private company owned by a hedge fund?This will result in subpar services when we are used to quite the opposite.Our city librarians&other staff are superlative;they provide information&guidance that are invaluable to patrons.Do not replace them with some "library services company"that has no clue about our stellar Huntington Beach libraries. Agenda Item 24: I strongly object to the proposed ordinance that would establish a"Community-Parent Review Board"for Children's Library books.This is no less than an attempt to wrest control from educated,experienced librarians& hand it to an inexperienced board made up of community members who are not impartial.It is censorship,and we are better than that. Sent from my iPhone From: Laura Rue To: suoolementalcommAsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24197 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 12:02:20 PM Oppose privatization of the Huntington Beach Public Library I have been going to the Huntington Beach Library since I was a little kid. It has always been a place of joy and wonderful memories, both as a child and as an adult. I oppose the privatization of the Library. The librarians are a wonderful resource of information for all things related to books, and for the resources available to the patrons. We should not move out of the public library system. Libraries are where people of all ages find resources and comfort, as well as access to books, and digital library resources. Library offerings should not be limited, and ultimately,parents should be reviewing what their children are checking out,not a group of strangers or some panel or committee that makes wide sweeping choices for an entire community. Our librarians are necessary and our libraries, and all branches deserve the support of the community,not trying to have a for-profit business try to run our beloved library as a business. Laura Ruetz From: Leslie Selder To: suoolementalcommasun`dty-hb.orq Subject: City Council Meeting 3/19/24 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 12:08:41 PM Agenda Item 22: Where is the logic in the idea of outsourcing HB city library services to a private company owned by a hedge fund? This will result in subpar services when we are used to quite the opposite.Our city librarians&other staff are superlative;they provide information&guidance that are invaluable to patrons.Do not replace them with some "library services"company with no clue about our stellar Huntington Beach libraries. Agenda Item 24: I strongly object to the proposed ordinance that would establish a"Community-Parent Review Board"for Children's library books.This is no less than an attempt to wrest control from educated,experienced librarians& hand it to an inexperienced board made up of community members who are not impartial.It is censorship,and we are better than that. Sent from my iPhone From: Pat Goodman To: suoolementalcommesurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO AFF9 Subject: Please oppose Agenda Items 22 and 24 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 12:53:28 PM Agenda Item 22 Please table/strike/oppose I'm sure that the staff will prepare an excellent RFP for Managed Library Services for the Huntington Beach Public Library system. They will also be able to rate each submission and provide a cost benefit analysis for your final decision. It would be very helpful to state the reason for pursuing this issue, and what precipitated this action. Please offer the public reasons why you are requesting this use of staff time, and how this benefits the public. I believe such an exercise is unnecessary and does not serve the public interest. Huntington Beach offers excellent library services to the community, and has great support from volunteers and the community Agenda Item 24: Please table this item and rethink how best to communicate age appropriate, and topical reading lists to parents. The document presented raises many questions. 2.66.030 Purpose The board shall review children's books (below age 18) new purchases and may request review of books already in circulation for compliance with community standards and sexual content. What are the criteria to review a children's book? A board member requesting a review is not criteria. The board is not required to read every recommended new book for alignment with community standards and sexual content? Board members will suggest items for review. This is very troubling. How are board members to determine which books come under review? Is it a personal opinion about an author? Do they do a search for certain words and phrases in a text? You must come up with specific criteria to determine what book qualifies for a review. Par. 1 How does the review board access the books to be reviewed prior to the city purchasing it? I found the troubling answer in section 2.660.100. The city will purchase these books under review and either try to sell or donate them (maybe to the Friends of HBPL) or to less discerning libraries. Does this make sense that the city would purchase a potentially banned book? Why not borrow it from another library system? 2.660.080 Will the city attorney provide a briefing on the law related to the duties and criteria of this board including the Supreme Court definition of pornography prior to them initiating their review? 2.660.100 A. Any children's book may be nominated to be reviewed again after one year has passed since the prior review. How does this policy align with paragraph G. that all decisions of the board are final and non- appealable? There appears to be some typos/grammatical errors. Please run the document through spell/grammar check. Conclusions: There is a level of trust that each board member will read the book under review. The risk is that a board member will not act independently and in the best interest of the community it serves. A board member ought not rely on the reviews of outside groups of a publication to base their vote but be able to form their opinion based on the clear guidelines offered by the city in order to achieve consistency, impartiality, and avoid lawsuits. From the time of a book's submittal to the time of purchase (for those not reviewed or rejected) is one year. This board adds to the bureaucracy and diminishes efficiency of city library operations. With this new board that exempts the one board rule for citizens to serve on only one board, it seems that the city is painting itself into a corner. The only way out is to table this item and think about how best the city might advise parents/guardians about questionable children's reading materials that may appear on the shelves of HBPL. (Is this a role the city wants to take on?) Perhaps trusted organizations like faith communities, medical providers, service organizations and nonprofits, could circulate recommended reading lists for children and parents. I'm sure there are better ways to get this information out to parents than setting up a bureaucratic board that arbitrarily selects books for review that may run afoul of the law. Thank you for your consideration. Pat Goodman Huntington Beach, CA From: Trav l'�t7 To: CITY COUNCIL aNCL.CMG STAFF);suoolementalcommesurfcity-hb.orq Subject: "Community Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children"s Library Materials." Date: Monday,March 18,2024 2:06:47 PM Dear City Council Members, I am writing to express my disapproval of the "Community Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials." I do not believe that this City Council appointed group will have my, my children's or my grandchildren's best interests in mind when they meet. I expect a group focused upon banning any books that do not meet their personal agendas. We all pay for and use our libraries. We are entitled to a wide variety of content selected by trained librarians. If any person or family disagrees with some content, they are free to not check it out. If a person or family is uncomfortable at a library run by trained librarians, they can choose not to go there. Sincerely, Tracy Luth From: Tricia Larson To: suoplementalcomm4surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-197 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 3:51:06 PM I strongly oppose the privatization of the Huntington Beach Public Library system.Parents and not a private entity should decide which books their children read.As my children grew up in Huntington Beach and used the public library as a means of obtaining literature for both enjoyment and research,I never considered that they would ever be told what books they could read or not read by anyone else than their father and me. Please keep our libraries public and let our public librarians choose the books that are available to all in our community. Sent from my iPhone From: Cooper Carrasco To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);supolementalcommesurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Re:library review board Date: Monday,March 18,2024 4:17:05 PM Attachments: imaae.onq Hello Council it is Cooper Carrasco, HB resident. Here is my opinion on a particular rule related to the board and I'd be curious to hear the explanation for it. 90 days seems too long for the library to wait for the book to be presumed approved.' Why require the list 45 days before the board meeting but then give them 90 days to nominate? At the most, presumed approval should line up with the 45 day minimum window. To clarify, whenever the library wants to buy a new children's book, they will have to wait 90 days by default? How can they presume the book is okay to purchase if there are still 7 days left of the 90 day nomination-eligible period? If I'm reading it correctly, this is like a guilty until proven innocent system. What would be even better would be if a board member had to nominate 7-14 days after the list is sent, so as to not hold up the acquisition process. And maybe I'm misreading this...? Library staff wants to buy a book, so they submit it to the list, they wait for the list to be submitted (presuming they will hold off on sending the list until 45 days prior to meeting) then they wait for 90 days to give the board a chance to nominate. Why risk going ahead with acquisition if it can be flagged in that 90 day window? Why have a meeting with 45 days left to nominate books in the most recent list? Also the review should take place at the next meeting. I'm so confused by the design of the ordinance that I think I'm missing something so I welcome any response. - B. The Director of Coliutinnity&Library Servicesor his or her designee will ettlitnitaliat of Chit lren'sBooks ntended;for purchase at least+ daya'before the date of any,Board meeting. Any Board Member may nominate any number:of Chiidren's Books from the list`for review; If a ,Children's Book is nominated for review,'it shalt not be purchased by the City for Library `,circulation°:unless Nast:approved by,°the:Board. Nee:;nominated, a Cluldren'n:Book must be reviewed within one,year of nomination. If a children's look:is not nominated for review within 90 days from the subm ttai of tha intended purchase list,or reviewed by the Board within one year of nomination,it will be considered approved:for purchase bYthe Board. From: Elizabeth SanFlioao To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFFS;suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Community Parent/Guardian Review Board for Review of Children's Library Materials—Oppose Date: Monday,March 18,2024 4:39:29 PM I am a Huntington Beach resident for over forty years and a homeowner. I am opposed overall to a Community Parent/Guardian Review Board for Review of Children's Library Materials. Recommendations of professional librarians for purchasing books for the library should not be subject to review by non-professionals. Further,this ordinance has been drafted to indicate that the decisions of non-professionals are not appealable. This is un-American. Our systems include the right of appeal.Please re-write this ordinance to describe an appropriate appeal process. Thank you for your consideration. Elizabeth San Filippo From: Fikes.Cathy To: Mende Alerts Subject: FW:3/19/24 City Council Comments Date: Monday,March 18,2024 2:06:22 PM From:Chris Varga<christopher.j.varga@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 1:29 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:3/19/24 City Council Comments Agenda Item 22 (24-197)—I do not support this request for proposals for outside companies running our libraries. I support keeping the city run library system as is. Don't waste time and money with this proposal. Agenda Item 24 (24-209)—I do not support the proposed community review board for books. Let our city librarians do their job! Agenda Item 25 (24-208)—I do not support pulling out of the League of Cities. We need to work together and not isolate. Chris Varga Huntington Beach From: Fikes,Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: RN:Huntington Beach Library Privatization Date: Monday,March 18,2024 3:35:44 PM From:Colin Bill <colinbilll@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 3:18 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Huntington Beach Library Privatization To the Governing Council of Huntington Beach, I become aware of your decision to move forward with voting on essentially privatizing the Huntington Beach Public Library with LS&S or similar for profit company.After researching these types of companies and what they'll offer our community and those who patronage the library, I've found that they will not service the current and future patrons anywhere near what the current library staff is providing the community. From what I understand,the library hours will be cut or infrequent, collections will be significantly cut and tailored to a privatized agenda (breach of the first amendment, restricting freedom of speech and press),and limitations of library run programs which provide our children with a safe space that provides programing based on community feedback and request. The company,whichever HB City decides to contract,will cut corners to save on costs to maximize their profits while the community and more importantly our children suffer from limited and heavily controlled collection of books. I've also been aware of the council's crusade to tarnish and damage the library's functionality and creditability.Apparently the Council believes they and their attorney are more suitable and educated to couriate the library's collection rather than the librarians who have a degree in library management and book selection.The council needs to back off and let the professionals run library. • The Council should focus more on balancing their financial spending and not try and clean up their unruly spending by cutting community service funds. Or maybe the librarian's should start doing that since the Council rather oversee the library. Get your act together, leave the library alone and keep the filthy companies out of it. Respectfully, Colin Bill Huntington Beach Library Patron From: Pikes.Cathy To: agenda Alert@ Subject: FW:Library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 3:49:05 PM • From:Trudy J. Le Clair, Ed.D. <tjleclair@aol.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 3:41 PM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Library Attention City Council: I am NOT in favor of a private entity taking over our libraries. The current system is not broken. It does NOT need to be fixed. I am NOT in favor of banning books. The librarians are doing a good job reviewing and recommending books for our population. Besides our tech savvy population (younger citizens) that you seem to be targeting can find much more questionable information online than in the books of our library. I am wondering why you are fixated on these issues when YOU SHOULD be concerned with the homeless crisis in our city. Trudy 3 . .Le Clair, Ed. D. Le Clair and Bradley Enterprises 7171 Warner Avenue #B-307 Huntington Beach, CA 92647 Be mindful of what you toss away. Be careful what you push away, and think hard before you walk away. From: Tikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: RN:Library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 4:34:49 PM From:Claudette Varanko<claudettern@hotmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 4:16 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Library As a resident of HB, I am shocked that the city council, in a thinly veiled attempt, is trying to take away my freedom to read what I want. What a terribly bad idea to give control of the library to a for profit entity who will then decide what we can or can not read and eventually force our wonderful librarians out of a job. One that they love and educate for. STOP this action. We will not let this happen. Claudette Varanko Get Outlook for iOS From: Fikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject FW: NO!NO!NO!on Item 22 and Item 24 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 5:16:52 PM From: Marge Nielsen <sendmarge@hotmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 5:15 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: NO! NO! NO! on Item 22 and Item 24 I am vehemently against • Item 22- Managed Library Services • Item 24- Parent Review Board For Children's Library There is nothing wrong with HB libraries. Focus on our real problems, such as homelessness. Margaret Nielsen Huntington Landmark 20 year resident HB From: Pikes.Cathy To: Agenda Alerts Subject: RN:Item#24-197 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 6:05:27 PM From: Kelly palfreyman troutman <kptman@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 5:42 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Item#24-197 Dear HB City Council, I oppose these actions. The library is a public good and should NOT be privatized. I have frequented the HB library for 15 years and taken all 4 of my children to it because it offers such amazing resources. I have volunteered my time and money to support this amazing library. The librarians have always done a wonderful job and do not need anyone else doing it for them. I can barely walk in the library and not get choked up now that the teen section has been eliminated. Please stop this nonsense and keep the library for EVERYONE, especially the most vulnerable members of our community. No one is making anyone check out inappropriate material. Materials are already sorted into sections where they belong based on guidelines set forth by the ALA. Unshelving a book designed to help children learn potty training because it may be considered to be "sexual" is absurd. Stop sexualizing biology and taking jobs away from those trained to do them and giving them to your friends. It's absoluting disgusting what is going on. I've been to multiple City Council meetings where this matter is addressed and you 4 are NOT even listening to the majority of voices in your constituency. Please stop harming the library and the HB community at large. I spent time last month with legislators in Sacramento and HB is becoming a joke. It's not too late to do the right thing. It's not too late to listen. It's not too late to change course and do what is best for the community. Thank you! From: Matt Ehrlich To: suoolementalcommCa surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Managed library service Date: Monday,March 18,2024 5:54:29 PM Dear city council As a resident of Huntington Beach for over 20 years,I very strongly oppose any changes to our current Library operation or oversight. Specifically,I strongly oppose item 22 managed library services,and item 24,the parent review board for children's library. Privatizing our beloved Huntington Beach library system is a threat to freedom,freedom of choice,and the wonderful education available to our residence through the library.I am concerned that the city would pay more only to receive fewer services for residence. I do not wish our cities Library to be privatized. Matt Ehrlich From: steohanie stichka To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF;suoolementalcommCfsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 7:06:17 PM Dear City Council Members, I don't need to tell you that the citizens of Huntington Beach are upset about the council majority's recent attacks and proposed changes to our libraries. The library is one of the few cherished landmarks left in our city-it is not broken nor does it need to be fixed. No mention of"relocating"books were discussed during your campaigns,no mention of privatizing(sorry, "outsourcing")was ever brought up. You were not elected because of these issues and I don't believe you would have been elected had your constituents known of your intentions. If the intent of outsourcing the library is to save money,the first thing you should do is abolish the planned book committee- it is a colossal waste of time, energy and money we apparently do not have. Who is going to pay for the thousands of books that will need to be purchased? Not to mention the process is extremely flawed and makes no sense whatsoever. The library uses very little city funds yet services the entire city-the proposal to outsource is short-sighted and will destroy the library making it more costly in the long run. Look at any other city that outsources and you will see their libraries are in disarray. You are punishing the entire city because this city council majority made egregious fiscal errors, including a hush-hush airshow settlement and a city attorney suing anybody and everybody. Should you move forward with this proposal,the current city council majority will be responsible for its destruction and that will be your legacy. Regards, . The Stichka family From: Pamela Edwards To: 5uonlementalcommOsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: March 19,2024 HB City Council Meeting,Agenda Items 22 and 24 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 7:18:17 PM HB City Council, Do you even realize what an amazing library system you have in HB? As a non-resident, who has been a library patron for over 30 years, I ask you to not destroy this "jewel" HB is fortunate to have. These sweeping changes you plan on making to the HB Library will have a catastrophic effect on HB and surrounding communities. You are gutting a beloved library system in Orange County. Please stop! From: Penal/Huang To: suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Comment on item 22 and 23 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 7:25:34 PM Hello, I am a 15 year resident of Huntington Beach and I am saddened by changes and proposed changes to the city's Public Library system.I was annoyed by the reallocation of children's material but at least it was not a ban. With having a group to assess what books actually come into the library rather than our own librarians,who are well versed with not only the community but on the world of books around us,this is basically a form of a ban.I completely oppose this.As a mom of two young kids,we go to the children's area every 4 to 6 weeks. I should be the decider of what books my kids will pick out from the library,not some kind of board that will have OBVIOUS BIASES based on the current city council appointments.It is a waste of time and money. Are we doing this because majority of residents complained?? Where was the vote on this? Aside from a few people on the city council,what and why prompted this change? Same issue with privatizing library operations.What will happen to our library staff? Why fix something if it's not broken? Are we really saving money here? I would really love to see documentation on the reasons of why this is a good idea and why it is even being proposed. It's really sad to see money wasted on measure like A,B,and C if it ends up requiring us to save money or save costs on public libraries. I had always thought that city positions should be non partisan.Even if you hold opinions leaning one way or the other,that's fine,but the decisions and proposals made by city council should be non-partisan and provide benefit to the community as a whole.For example,fix the roads,make the parks better,invest in community events,and LIBRARIES.But the recent measures and changes to the library are CLEARLY NOT non-partisan. So disappointing. Thanks From: Sharon To: suooIementalcommesurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-209 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 7:49:59 PM Regarding Ordinance No. 4318 As a resident of Huntington Beach for 27 years and a volunteer and user of the HB public library system for the same amount of time, I am continually amazed how a city government can be overrun by a few, following their own agenda and promoting their own views, claiming to be a champion of our children, yet taking each parent's responsibility for raising their children in their own way out of their hands and into the hands of other parents. Allowing a parent-guardian group, appointed by partisan politicians, to dictate what other parents can do is appalling. To add to this, the ordinance proposed is just the latest version of what seems to be ad hoc discussions. It is fraught with inconsistencies, such as: • a community standard definition that we are seeing for the first time and no one has agreed to; • no description of qualifications needed to be a member of this Board; • term-limits equal to the council member who appointed them, so they are clearly partisan too; originally posted as a 4-year term; • timelines that cross over each other; • not specifically listing that these meetings are to be public and subject to public comment, as stated in the Brown Act; • in October, this was originally about procuring new books and now it can review any book requested in the current collection; • using a one-year review timeline, effectively banning the book for that year, even if eventually the book is approved I could go on....does anyone read/edit these documents before they are made public? Who would ever want to be part of this Board after reading this document? There is no mention if this is a paid or volunteer position, yet they are being asked to do the work of paid and educated librarians. I would insist on being paid! Please reject this document and reconsider this action. Sharon Hathaway From: Lisa Shook To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFFZ suoolementalcomm(@surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Item 22-Managed Library Services Item 24-Parent review board for children"s library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 7:50:56 PM As I write this, I wonder why I am wasting my time. For myself and others who oppose both items, our arguments are falling on deaf ears. City council, you have already decided your vote, regardless of what your constituents feel. Many of us will remember in November and vote accordingly. When my daughter was 13 or 14 she came home with a bible and an interest to attend a church youth event.As we are agnostic, at first I was not thrilled that she was deviating from how we raised her but instead of forbidding it or shrugging it off, I encouraged her to attend and had several conversations about what this meant to her. Would you do the same if your similar aged child came home with a book that featured a transgender or gay character? Would you welcome it as a chance to have a frank and honest discussion or would you default to accusing librarians of sexualizing your child? This is the real world. There are people that live different lives and love in different ways. We all want to protect our children but ignorance is not protection. Parents already know how to supervise our children. We don't need your parent review board to help us. Lisa Shook Huntington Beach CA From: Scott Malabarbq To: CITY COUNCIL(,INCh.CMO STAFF);suoDlementalcomm(@surfcity-hb.orq Subject: in opposition to agenda items 24-197,24-209,and 24-208 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 8:08:15 PM Dear City Council, Thank you as always to Councilmembers Kalmick,Moser, and Bolton for your unfailing integrity and dedication. I oppose 24-197,request to issue an RFP for managed library services. Outsourcing library management does not solve any problem Huntington Beach has. Our public library system has been run for decades by professionals who know what they are doing and are deeply committed to our community, and this request certainly did not come from them. The contractor stated they would provide the same level of services that exists today and at a substantial annual cost savings for the City. Nothing is free. There are no magic efficiencies to be gained by turning the library over to a private enterprise-- if there were, library staff would have already identified them last year when they were asked to come up with a plan for budget cuts. Any cost savings to the city can only be achieved by reducing the service level. What's more, a private library services company exists.only to make a profit. So what we'll lose isn't just the the difference between HBPL's current cost and the contractor's bid-- it's that plus every cent they can extract to make their shareholders even richer. On paper,the company will no doubt claim to demonstrate the same level of service. However,they'll cut costs with actions like replacing the entire library staff with lower-paid and less-qualified contract workers, canceling programs, and increasing fees. It's clear from the majority's actions since taking office that this request is not sincere. It's being done to wrest away more control over the library and,most likely,to somehow funnel more city money to the majority's friends and family. HBPL has been an excellent institution and source of pride to HB residents for over one hundred years.Handing control of it to profit-driven outsiders will do nothing but harm. I oppose 24-209, children's library material review board ordinance. Here it is! The book ban. Some passages of note: "Community Standards" means the Board's determinations regarding whether books are acceptable for Children's access, including books that may contain Sexual Content or Sexual References. Under this vague and ungrammatical definition, "Community Standards" does not apply only to the determination of sexual content. This board can reject books for whatever reason they want. If a Children's Book is nominated for review, it shall not be purchased by the City for Library circulation unless first approved by the Board. This section doesn't say "shall not be filed in the Children's section" --these books will not be purchased at all. They are banned. The community of Huntington Beach has,with a consistent and solid majority, shown up and written to the council to oppose this action. Of the minority in support,many were tricked into believing that librarians actually hand out pornography to children. This board does not represent our community.And this effort was never sincere or in good faith -- it has always been self-serving, deceptive, and indifferent to the harm it will cause. I oppose 24-208,withdrawal from the League of California Cities. I wasn't familiar with the League of California Cities before seeing this item on the agenda, but the tone of the proposal was enough to alert me.Proposition 1 was a complex piece of legislation that generated many opinions from many points of view--the League is not trying to "knowingly harm our cities"just because someone there doesn't agree with you about the best ways to handle homelessness,mental illness, and substance abuse. If HB leaves then not only do we lose any benefits the League provides, but we lose our voice there. I'm sure you'll vote this through anyway, but before now I hadn't heard of the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act. It is indeed deceptive as well as undemocratic --now I'll be sure to vote against it, so thanks for that. Sincerely, Scott Malabarba HB resident From: Michael Keane To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);suoolementalcommesurfcity-hb.orq Subject: I strongly oppose Item 22&Item 24 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 8:12:37 PM To whom it may concern, My name is Michael Keane. I have been a resident of Huntington Beach my entire life and a library patron as long as I can recall. I'm emailing to voice my disapproval for Item 22— "Managed Library Services" and Item 24- "Parent Review Board For Children's Library,"for reasons I hope are already evident through the emails of other residents. Item 22-"Managed Library Services" I understand, as many do, the preliminary nature of Item 22 in seeking a Request for Proposals, however,the dominance of Library Systems and Services LLC as a national player in this field, with its demonstrable investment in Southern California, combined with the presence of former Huntington Beach mayor Michael Posey as regional sales executive for the company makes it difficult to imagine a conclusion to this process that does not eventually place Library Systems and Services in operational control of our public library. In my opinion, such a conclusion would be ill-advised and detrimental. Of great interest to our city council, what I presume to be financial savings for the city, privatization under LS&S has in the past proven less valuable for other cities than initially expected. An article published in the Fullerton Observer, March 8th 2022, by retired Children's Services librarian Janine Jacobs consolidated several examples where other cities encountered problems justifying their contracts with LS&S. Santa Clarita and Calabasas public libraries in particular found that leaving their contracts would, in the first year at least, actually save money.Also noted were the decisions of San Juan City Library in Texas and the Oregon State Library to leave their contracts with LS&S due to the company's lack of financial transparency, something I imagine is paramount for determining how much of the city's budget is spent on the city versus how much profits a Maryland-based private equity company and its investors. Further deleterious effects are more obvious on the front-end. LS&S standardizes library catalogues across all its branches in order to save money, ignoring the individuality of each community and, as reported in Escondido's case, decimates existing collections in the process. LS&S seems to accomplish most of its ostensible savings through how it treats library staff, especially new-hires, cutting pay and lowering qualifications for employment.These two factors result in higher turnover and could disincentive the retention of long-term staff, threatening to expunge the institutional knowledge and experience that would otherwise benefit our library into the future. Any one of these privatization byproducts would degrade the quality of our magnificent library, and in my opinion, contradict the city's goal of providing exceptional service.At the very least, I would hope that you carefully consider the American Library Association's "Checklist for Considering Privatization," but it is my belief that any private company looking to manage our library would improve neither the library nor our city, and warrants no further investment of the city staff's time and resources to entertain proposals. Item 24-"Parent Review Board For Children's Library" As far as I can tell, the intent to curate a catalogue of books deemed acceptable to children and teenagers seems to originate with a specific moral and communalistic imperative, of making the content in our library further reflect the values of the community. From a certain perspective, I understand the intent, but the closer I look at the item in question,the more that intent seems to break down, namely because the item focuses not on allowing patrons and parents to self-determine their selections, but on limiting the selections they can make based on the determination of a twenty-one-person board appointed by city council.To place such authority in the hands of this review board, whose qualifications are as yet unclear to me, sounds like a bureaucratizing move at best, and at worst, like an attempt to empower the few over the many. It is my understanding this review board would not simply choose which books would be accessible to patrons under the age of eighteen, but would determine which future books make it into our library at all. How is this board supposed to be a better arbiter for the community than each individual community member?As for the merit of a librarian's role in determining library content in comparison to this review board, I think the truth is obvious. Disregarding the fact that a librarian has a Masters degree in their field, which is a pretty big disregard, the call for establishing this review board isn't to benefit an underserved portion of library patrons. It's to limit library offerings as determined by twenty-one adults who, despite the title of this item, are not the parents of every single youth that makes use of the library. And of course,this doesn't even begin to explore the qualifications of a book for acceptance or rejection.This is something that shouldn't be left vague, as last year's resolution demonstrated when, in the attempt to remove sexual content from the Children's Library, a procession of vague definitions for"sexual content" resulted in a confused sorting process with such embarrassing results as the transfer of a potty-training book from the Children's Library to the Adult section.Albeit,that particular case was momentary, but the situation speaks for itself and, in my opinion, only cements that attempting to further micro-manage what our librarians and day-to-day library patrons can already manage for themselves is unnecessary and shouldn't be pursued. Thank you for your time. - Michael Keane From: Aaron Soto To: suoplementalcommCa surfcity-hb.orq Subject: NO to HBPL Privatization&New Parental Oversight Date: Monday,March 18,2024 8:15:17 PM I strongly oppose all efforts to privatize our wonderful library,including via managed services.I also strongly oppose the proposed parental review board. In summary,I strongly oppose Item 22 and Item 24 put forth to the Council Agenda. Best, -Aaron Soto Long-time FIB resident,homeowner,and business owner From: lynn davis To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);suoolementalcomm(a surfcity-hb.orq Subject: HuntingtonLibrary Date: Monday,March 18,2024 8:27:20 PM "I STRONGLY OPPOSE" Item 22-Managed Library Services and Item 24-Parent Review Board for Children's Library The library is run in a very professional and efficient manner. Many people use the services provided and the staff very knowledgeable and helpful. We need to keep the library and the people the way it is now. Thank you. Lynn Davis From: alexys To: suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq Subject: do not limit books-do not privatize Date: Monday,March 18,2024 8:37:46 PM The actions of the city council make me ashamed to call myself a Huntington beach resident. please do the right thing and do not establish any committee dedicated to limiting the books in the library and keep it public for all From: Nancy Nielsen-Mirza To: suoolementalcomm(alsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: No!To Item 22 and Item 24!!!! Date: Monday,March 18,2024 8:55:00 PM What's wrong with you people? Our library and librarians are great.Please focus on real city problems like EVERYONE agrees -homelessness. Geez. NO on Item 22and Item 24. Nancy 12 year HB/SB resident 2 kids in the school system From: Brandon To: suoolementalcommCalsurfcity-hb,orq Subject: Concerns Regarding the City Council Agenda on March 19th,2024 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 9:01:49 PM Huntington Beach City Council 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Dear Huntington Beach council members, I'm writing today to express a degree of concern in regard to items on the agenda for this city council meeting. Privatization of our library I oppose the privatization of our current library system, as our current infrastructure and experienced personnel are adequate for our needs. The time, expense, and complexity of gutting an existing library system would be much better spent fixing the current broken fountain at the entrance to Central Library. Community Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials This is nothing short of a book banning committee and an attempt to grab national headlines. This political grandstanding does nothing for our city but divide and infuriate. I am a father to two elementary school age children who attend public school in our city, and it is my place as a parent to censor the materials my children access. I trust the work of our established librarians and as a parent, I explore the library with my children. I have yet to see anything I consider inappropriate in the children's section, and I actively monitor the media that they consume. This committee is unnecessary censorship for political points. We all wish to improve our great city and I thank you for your time. 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From: Lee Marie Sanchez To: suoolementalcomm(a)surfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF) Subject: HB CITY COUNCIL"OUR LIBRARIES Date: Monday,March 18,2024 9:08:32 PM Dear Members of the HB City Council N We have an incredible Huntington Beach Library. Our librarians and our support staff are all top notch. Let them do their jobs. You have made unwise financial decisions and, continuing to do so, you now need to find other revenue, such as looking at for-profit managers of our system. We do not need to tell our librarians how to select books. This is what they spent years in graduate school learning and have more experience than any majority of the Council's hand-picked people could do. Again, a waste of time and the public's money because of your bungling city finances. My family has lived in Huntington Beach now for over 52 years participating in a myriad of community events and activities, always trusting our libraries to provide us with truly wonderful service. We now find ourselves embarrassed by recent decisions of our Council. With hope for better governance, Rev. Lee Marie Sanchez (retired) From: Molly Ftmeralct To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);suoolementalcomm(ahsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Concerns Regarding Local Library Management and Policy Changes Date: Monday,March 18,2024 9:12:23 PM Dear Members of the City Council, As a concerned parent and dedicated library patron,I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed consideration of transferring the management and staffing of our local library system to a private company.Additionally, I wish to address recent policy changes that have caused inconvenience and dissatisfaction among many community members, including myself. First and foremost, our local library is not just a repository of books and resources; it is a vital community institution that serves as a cornerstone of education, literacy, and intellectual freedom. The current highly-qualified personnel who work tirelessly to maintain and improve our library system are dedicated public servants who understand the unique needs and preferences of our diverse community.Handing over the management to a private company driven by profit motives risks undermining the core values and principles that our library stands for. Privatization often leads to reduced access, diminished quality of service, and loss of accountability to the public. We cannot afford to compromise on the quality and accessibility of our library services, especially when it comes to essential resources for education,research, and community engagement. Our local library should remain a public trust, accountable to the residents it serves,rather than being subject to the profit-driven interests of a private entity. Furthermore,I am deeply disappointed by the recent implementation of policies that have resulted in the relocation of certain human anatomy books out of the children's section.While I understand the importance of age-appropriate content, such decisions should be made with careful consideration and consultation with parents and educators. Restricting access to educational materials based on arbitrary or religious criteria not only undermines the principle of intellectual freedom but also hampers the ability of children to learn and explore subjects essential to their understanding of themselves and world around them. As parents, it is our responsibility to guide and supervise our children's reading choices. However,we should not support policies that censor or restrict access to information based on subjective interpretations or misplaced concerns. Instead, we should promote open dialogue, critical thinking, and a respect for diverse perspectives within our community. In conclusion,I urge you to reject any proposals to privatize our local library system and to reconsider recent policy changes that undermine its mission and values. Our library belongs to the people, and it is our collective responsibility to safeguard its integrity and ensure that it remains a beacon of knowledge, learning, and inclusivity for generations to come. Thank you for your attention to these important matters. Sincerely, Molly Fitzgerald 18734 Elmwood Ln Huntington Beach (747) 333-6166 From: Michelle Hall To: suoolementalcommCa surfcity-hb.orq Cc: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF) Subject: Voice against Privatization of Library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 9:18:48 PM Good evening, I wish to voice my opinion against the privatization of the library management.As it stands, I am already very concerned with the direction the council has taken the library in removing harmless and educational books from the children's section of the library and fear that any private management company, particularly Library Systems &Services will continue in this downward spiral towards lunacy. As a doctor, I became interested in the human body at a young age and depended on the library to find books that would educate me on biological functions, including reproductive health. Now as the mother to two young children, I encourage them to speak openly about people and their bodies, to use proper anatomical words and to be curious. I would wish for my children to continue to have access to books that spark their interest and imagination, no matter what the subject and not to be limited by a group of conservative hysterics that are offended by textbooks. To this day, I have trusted and appreciated the Huntington Beach Library and its variety of books for children and young adults.The selection currently available touches on subjects of health, diversity and equality. If the council moves towards hiring a private management company I would fear for the current staff at the library and the limitations the new management company will impose.The library should continue to be an access to everyone to a world of education and to subjects of all interests. I do not support the privatization of the library management. Thank you for your time. Dr Michelle Hall, MD. From: Buffie Channel To: suoplementalcomm(alsurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF) Subject: AGAINST--Agenda Item#22/24-197,Item#24/24-209 and Item 25/24-208 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 9:27:40 PM To City Council Members: Regarding Item 22/24-197:NO Here are some quotes about libraries. I hope you read them and ponder why you are making it your mission to decimate our libraries and attack our librarians. The profiteering of library services is a solution for weak leaders and weak readers. --Buffie Channel,HB Taxpayer The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library. —Albert Einstein Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. —Mark Twain If you have a garden and a library,you have everything you need. —Marcus Tullius Cicero Yo, que me figuraba el Paraiso/Bajo la especie de una biblioteca. I have always imagined Paradise as a kind of library. —Jorge Luis Borges, from Dreamtigers You see,I don't believe that libraries should be drab places where people sit in silence,that has been the main reason for our policy of employing wild animals as librarians. —Graham Chapman The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man. —T.S.Eliot I ransack public libraries, and find them full of sunk treasure. —Virginia Woolf Whatever the cost of our libraries,the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation. —Walter Cronkite Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.Libraries change lives for the better. —Sidney Sheldon A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life. —Henry Ward Beecher A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people.It is a never failing spring in the desert. —Andrew Carnegie Google can bring you back 100,000 answers.A librarian can bring you back the right one. —Neil Gaiman When in doubt, go to the library. —J.K. Rowling, from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Without libraries what have we?We have no past and no future. Just ask Ray Bradbury. —Kami Garcia&Margaret Stohl, from Beautiful Creatures A library is a miracle.A place where you can learn just about anything,for free.A place where your mind can come alive. —Josh Hanagarne,from The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength,and the Power of Family • One can never have too many librarian friends. —Jennifer Chiaverini, from The Wedding Quilt Good librarians are natural intelligence operatives. They possess all of the skills and characteristics required for that work: curiosity,wide-ranging knowledge,good memories, organization and analytical aptitude,and discretion. —Marilyn Johnson,from This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All When the going gets tough,the tough get a librarian. —Joan Bauer, from Best Foot Forward I don't think I'll be able to help you find that. —No librarian, ever. Perhaps you should listen to scholars, scientists,teachers, authors, and respected intellectuals- -if you won't listen to the citizens who you claim to represent and who are your bosses. My tax dollars for the past 35 years have paid for the books,the contents,the upkeep,the programs and the stellar reputations of the libraries in the city of Huntington Beach. The fact that you want to privatize library services is a slap in the face of the taxpayers,the children of this city, and all patrons of our renowned libraries! Here is what we know(and you can save your unhinged and unprofessional replies -telling me how you have lived in HB longer than me or how the building will still belong to the city because we know the truth) -Yes,the building and the books will still be the property of the city. HOWEVER,YOU WILL FIRE THE LIBRARIANS OR ONLY ALLOW THEM TO KEEP THEIR JOBS WITHOUT THEIR PENSIONS or BENEFITS,FOR A MUCH REDUCED PAY, WITHOUT THEIR AUTHORITY TO MANAGE BOOKS AND SERVICES. So save us your lies. Your semantics and mumbo jumbo about what is really happening may work on your low information supporters, but it won't work on US! -The company Library Systems and Services is the ONLY company that is privatizing library services across the country-AND WE KNOW THAT MIKE POSEY IS ON THE BOARD! So your lies about putting this out for a study or a "bid" is smoke and mirrors since you are being lobbied by Posey. LSS is known to decimate library programs,push out experienced librarians and staff, and reduce book choices to best sellers and mainstream mediocre vanilla content. -Most of the cities that have opted for this takeover have regretted it or are suing their city councils for blatant negligent profiteering. -LIbrary services and programs will be eliminated with a FOR-PROFIT corporate model. • Say goodbye to the beloved Seed Library • Say goodbye to the Gift Shop • Say goodbye to Storytime (award winning in the county) • Say goodbye to historical tours • Say goodbye to the Friends of the Library and their donations • Say goodbye to the 1000 citizen volunteers because who wants to volunteer when a corporation has fired everyone and decimated the programs • Say goodbye to the Art displays upstairs and future expanded art installations • Say goodbye to the Fountains • Say goodbye to the coffee cafe • Say goodbye to the Teen Center(well that's already gone) • Say goodbye to the LIbby e-books • Say goodbye to the kids summer reading programs • Say goodbye to Beanstack(do you even know what that is?I doubt it) • Say goodbye to Lego KidsClub • Say goodbye to Toddler and Big Kids Craft Storytime • Say goodbye to Crafter's Corner because that will definitely be chopped because that might cut into their profits • Say goodbye to the Tween STEAM Team (that's definitely on the chopping block) • Say goodbye to the program called Life Skills for Teens (because why do teens need life • skills, or puberty books, or a place to hang out at the library?) If you are looking to LIBRARIANS and their salaries and pensions to make up for your short falls and poor governing and giveaways to your rich Air Show buddies and inevitable losses in court-you are simply ineffective representatives and you underestimate the value that the community places on our libraries, access to books, and our esteemed librarians and the services that ONLY they can provide because they are educated and trained far beyond the incredibly insulting offer that LSS will make to them to retain their jobs.. Regarding agenda item 24 (24-209):N. Rarely have I seen such a sophomoric and immature proposal riddled with unworkable procedures and a flagrant disregard for the First Amendment,parents and their judgement, and a total lack of understanding of how anything works in a library! It's alarming and ignorant and ripe for a lawsuit. Regarding Agenda Item 25: (24-208):Na And regarding the proposal to leave the League of Cities organization-no surprise there.Any organization that may scrutinize this council and is against privatizing library services is naturally on this Council Majority's chopping block. (Casey- save your canned and insulting "Bless your Heart" response,mmm kay?) This City Council majority continues to show a complete lack of care for the concerns of the tax paying residents of this city. Hands off our libraries and our librarians! I'll leave you with one last quote. One that exposes your plans of underestimating our citizenry. Libraries are full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons. —Sarah J.Maas,from Throne of Glass Sincerely, Buffie Channel 35 year resident and homeowner From: Paula Schaefer To: CITY COUNCIL QNCL,CMO STAFF);suoolementalcommCa)surfcity-hb.org Subject: 3/19/2024 Agenda Item 24 DO NOT APPROVE ORDINANCE NO 4318 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 9:29:40 PM Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern, and Council Members: As a voter and a HB resident and taxpayer, I encourage you to drop the entire idea of the Parent-Guardian Review Board, and return to the City's librarians the appropriate authority to make informed decisions regarding book collections for children and teenagers. However, I believe that you will continue to attempt to form this Board and therefore, I urge you do not approve Ordinance No. 4318, as written. After reviewing it,there are significant problems with the structure of the Board and numerous questions as to how it would operate. I raise the following questions: 2.66.020 Definitions The definition of"Children" is limited solely to age and librarians would consider there to be at least several groups included within all persons under the age of 18 years old. The definitions of"Sexual Content" and "Sexual Reference" should be limited to humans. If not,these definitions will include sexual content that discusses behavior of animals, insects, and plants. Surely,you do not want the Board to review all books contained within those • subject areas, do you? There is no definition of parent or guardian. 2.66.030 Purpose Regarding the second paragraph here, isn't the "recataloging" process for current circulation already complete? 2.66.040 Composition This does not explain who can be appointed. Can a stepparent be appointed?What about a • grandparent?What about parents of adult children? Or is this only to be parents of school-age children? Do the parents have to be HB residents? Do the children have to be HB residents? What about a parent with shared custody but the children go to school in a different city? 2.66.100 Funding Why would the non-approved Children's Books be sold or given away?Why wouldn't these books simply be "recataloged" to the Adult section of the library? If these non-approved books are given away, wouldn't that be a gift of public funds? 2.66.110 Duties A.The last sentence of Section A is confusing and seems to contradict Section G, which says that the decisions of the Board are final and non-appealable. Which is it? B. Section B states a book can be considered approved for purchase if it is NOT nominated for review or reviewed within one year of nomination. Doesn't this contradict Sections D and E below? C. Section C states that a book currently in circulation can be reviewed and if not approved, this book can be placed in the Adult Section. Hasn't the "recataloging" process been completed already?So, is this Board authorized to re-do that process?Also, doesn't this contradict paragraph 2.66.100? D. Section D contradicts the last sentence in Section B discussing the process whereby books can be considered for purchase. E. Section E contradicts the last sentence in Section B discussing the process whereby books can be considered for purchase. G. Section G states that the Board's decisions are final and are non-appealable? Really? Is there any other Board or Commission under the City Council's authority whose decisions cannot be appealed? If so, why are you willing to give away this authority? Based on my reading of this proposed Ordinance, I can only suggest that the City Council rescind its decision to form this Board. As presented here, this Board is unworkable. Paula Schaefer, HB resident From: Ariana Marauez To: suoolementalcommt@surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Regarding Privatization of Huntington Beach Library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 9:44:05 PM To Whom it May Concern, As a resident of Huntington Beach,I wish to make known that I strongly oppose Item 22 Managed Library Services and Item 24 Parent Review Board. The beauty and necessity of the public library system is that it provides an accessible and inclusive environment for all populations.Moving forward with the proposed changes would minimize the effectiveness of these pillars in the community. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Best, Ariana Marquez Resident From: 5.5.42 - To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL,CM0 STAFF)suoDlementalcomm(alsurfdty-hb.orq Subject: Item 22,Item 24 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:09:53 PM Dear City Council, I strongly oppose items 22 and 24 for the March 19th, 2024 agenda. As a long time resident of Huntington Beach, the public library has been an invaluable resource that has been extremely well run. These changes are completely unnecessary and are a disservice to the residents of Huntington Beach. The patrons of the public library should have the freedom and choice to decide for themselves and their families what is appropriate, not notoriety seeking politicians. Freedom and choice are fundamental to this country, I expect my city council to represent these values. Scott Bauer From: Jason Halt To: supplementalcommCa surfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF Subject: Voice against Privatization of Library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:14:55 PM To whom it may concern, Having grown up in Huntington Beach,the HB library system was vital to cultivating my love of reading and exposing me to thoughts and concepts that were vital to my becoming a responsible adult. It is the access to books that allow kids to go on an adventure, develop compassion for others, understand other cultures and families, and grow empathy towards others. And today, I bring my daughter and son to the library to experience the activities of the Children's Library and check out books on a variety of topics including learning about other cultures, caring for the environment, introduction to LGBTQ+families and a variety of other topics. My children will become more understanding, inquisitive, compassionate, and empathetic for reading these books (which is not a negative thing). By privatizing the Huntington Beach library staff and book selection, I fear that Orange County kids will not be allowed to experience the world around them through these books, keeping them cocooned from the real outside world. Restricting books,not ordering new books on relevant global topics or limiting their access will stunt the growth of children and young adults to the real world, and without this exposure,they will get a rude awakening and likely struggle to accept that there are those that practice different religions, hold different beliefs or understand global events. I also fear with privatization of the library that service could be cut to help the private entities' bottom line. Will the best children's story time in Orange County be on the chopping block to save a buck? Will my daughter no longer participate in craft time because the private company doesn't want to shell out for more glue or colored paper? As someone who spent a large chunk of his formative years in Huntington Beach and has a large part of my heart still there, I urge you to keep the library as it is with no restrictions to what children can have access to or check out(return to the system prior to the "relocation" of certain books related to the human body) and not privatize the HB library staff. People come from all over Orange County to participate with the HB library system and if the system changes out of fear of knowledge or to save money on a line in the city's budget, it will not be a loss just for Huntington Beach, but for Orange County as a whole. Jason Hall Resident from 1982-2018 and biggest fan of the library staff From: Jheaan Ehrlich To: supolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq Subject Concern over our public library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:30:06 PM Dear City Commissioner: I strongly oppose item 22-managed Library services. I strongly oppose item 24-parent review board for children's library. I absolutely love our library and appreciate books and information offered for ALL citizens. For a small group of citizens to decide what is best for me to read or information to share is not acceptable. These decisions to privatize will change the life we have appreciated living here in Huntington Beach. I appreciate your taking my opinion seriously. Regards, Megan Ehrlich From: Melanie Tioleco-Chenq To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);supolementalcommesurfcity-hb,orq Subject: DO NOT PRIVATIZE OUR LIBRARIES Date: Monday,March 18,2024 10:34:19 PM Hello City Council Members, I'll keep this brief because I've had a long day at work. Please DO NOT PRIVATIZE LIBRARIES. HBPL has a rich tradition--it is a great place where people can read, check out books, use library resources for FREE. I have lived in HB for over twenty years, I have brought my children to storytimes at many of HB libraries when they were little. We are avid readers and library patrons. And, as a pediatrician, I have recommended HB library story times to my patient families for years. Making our public library PRIVATE would tear apart our current library system. I oppose 24-197. And, as many HB citizens and I have stated over and over and over again, I oppose book bans in our library. We do not need a citizen group of 21 people who have not been trained in library sciences to choose what I allow my own children to read. I oppose 24-209. These two agenda items are nothing more that a power grab to control our library and library systems. Please don't talk about saving HB citizens money when you sent $7million to your friends at the Air show. It's just not sincere or truthful. --Melanie Tioleco-Cheng From: Morgen Ehrlich To: 5uoplementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq Subject: HB Public Library Privatization and Control Date: Monday,March 18,2024 11:10:26 PM Dear City Commissioner: I strongly oppose item 22-managed Library services. I strongly oppose item 24-parent review board for children's library. I am a senior in high school and live in Huntington Beach. I have been going to the library since I learned to read. I have grown up with the kind, helpful, and welcoming community of people that run it. I am the person that I am today because of my love and passion for reading and learning. I have never once had a problem with the library's content. The opinions of a few people should not determine what the entire community can read. Parents can decide for themselves what their children should read. I love the library and its programs and do not want to see a private company interfere with how it runs. It is a very special place for me and I would be incredibly sad if it changed as drastically as these measures entail. I have been taught by my parents to stand up for what I believe in, and that is what I'm doing now. I want to do my duty as a citizen and share my voice, and I hope you'll consider my perspective. Regards, Morgen Ehrlich From: Morgen Ehrlich(Student FVHS1 To: supglementalcommOsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Items 22 and 24:HB Library Date: Monday,March 18,2024 11:12:03 PM Dear City Commissioner: I strongly oppose item 22-managed Library services. I strongly oppose item 24-parent review board for children's library. I am a senior in high school and live in Huntington Beach. I have been going to the library since I learned to read. I have grown up with the kind, helpful, and welcoming community of people that run it. I am the person that I am today because of my love and passion for reading and learning. I have never once had a problem with the library's content. The opinions of a few people should not determine what the entire community can read. Parents can decide for themselves what their children should read. I love the library and its programs and do not want to see a private company interfere with how it runs. It is a very special place for me and I would be incredibly sad if it changed as drastically as these measures entail. I have been taught by my parents to stand up for what I believe in, and that is what I'm doing now. I want to do my duty as a citizen and share my voice, and I hope you'll consider my perspective. Regards, Morgen Ehrlich From: Lindsay K To: suoolementalcommla)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Ordinance No.4318-21 People Supplanting Parents Date: Monday,March 18,2024 11:35:16 PM Dear City Council, My name is Lindsay Klick. I am the mother of two school aged children, have been an HB resident for 20 years, and have worked as a professional Children's Librarian in Orange County for the past 13 years. I am writing to highlight the many ways Ordinance No. 4318 "Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials" is unworkable and/or ill-advised. It would be funny if it weren't such a shame. 2.66.010 Established In which the City Council creates a "Community Parent-Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library Materials"to supplant the work of professional librarians with 21 volunteers appointed by the Council. 2.66.020 Definitions In this section "Children's Books" are defined as works intended for anyone under 18. If we can agree that children's books are for children, maybe the 21-parent review board is an unnecessary waste of time? "Community Standards" is defined as "the Board's determinations regarding whether books are acceptable for Children's access, including books that may contain Sexual Content or Sexual References." Hold on, community standards is whatever the majority on the board (which is handpicked by the Council) says it is?Where does the "community" part come in? Librarians use statistics and hundreds of daily personal interactions with patrons to determine what the "community" wants. So who is more in touch with "community standards'? "Sexual Content" is everything from hugging to kissing to dating to anatomy to reproductive health. Sorry teens, I mean "large children", your books are pretty much all off limits. 2.66.030 Purpose "The Board shall serve as a decision-making authority to the City to ensure that books that Children (both small and large children because 6 year olds and 16 year olds are the same) have access to in the City Libraries meet the City's Community Standards (21 people or.1% of the community)for material acceptable for Children's access." HB parents, you don't know what you're doing so they're bringing in surrogate decision makers for you. 2.66.040 Composition A. 21-parent guardians are picked by the City Council with each member picking 3 for the Board. We get 12 people scandalized by puberty and 9 people who don't understand why this is necessary but want to help. B. The normal rule where citizens can't serve on more than one Board doesn't count here because: a.There's lots of people on this board. b. It might be hard to get people to serve. (The application was briefly/accidentally online and I applied.Then it disappeared. Hmm...) c.The duties are limited. (Except the whole part where they review every possible children's book purchase two times per year). 2.66.080 Meetings This 21-person group is going to meet twice a year. Because it is a "Brown Act" Board, we can watch. How long will this meeting take? Perhaps weeks (See: 2.66.110 Duties). 2.66.100 Funding The City will pay for the group to access to advanced reader copies or reviews. How many books is this? (Hint:The library purchases thousands of children's books annually.)Any books not approved will be sold to other libraries outside HB (urn, no,those libraries have contracts with distributors they purchase through) whose children are presumably more wizened and world-weary than our city's youngsters or whose parents are better able to determine their own children's reading without the hand-holding of government Boards. 2.66.100 Duties A.This is the part where the 21-person volunteer committee reviews ALL CHILDREN'S BOOKS PROPOSED FOR PROCUREMENT in the span of two meetings per year. (Just a little aside, as a children's librarian I review anywhere between 100-400 titles and purchase about 75 books for my small library branch every other week.The idea that this volunteer group will review every proposed children's purchase twice a year is hysterical. And impossible.And anyone who knows anything about libraries should get this.)Also, will HB's children be getting to read the new hot Dog Man or Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6 months after all the other kids in Orange County because they had to wait for the 21-person committee to approve them? It would seem so. B. Lots of confusing timeline stuff about submitting a list of books intended for purchase 45- days before the twice yearly meetings and the board getting to pick any of those books for review and that can take a year to happen which just makes me think, will these poor HB kids ever get their books? C. Oh, they can also go back and review books already in the library and if the "children's books' aren't to the Board's standards, poof, they are magically adult books now. And they can't ever be children's books again. No take-backsies. D. Everybody has to be there to review the books before a vote. (Does this mean everyone is watching everyone else read books for hours?And when have you ever had 21 people all show up to anything?) E. "The Board must vote on whether a Children's Book (Ha! This says it's for children right there!) meets the Community Standards before the Board may vote on procurement/placement." (Now they get to vote whether it gets purchased at all even IF it meets their own standards?) F. If the Director wants to buy something and the Board says "no" the Board fills out the Library Materials Review Form. (Anyone can already do this now.)Then they put that form in the meeting minutes and say why it didn't meet "Community Standards" or is "unfit" for placement in the Library. G. Don't argue with the Board's decision, it's final. H. All the censorship will be documented fully and "displayed on the City's website on the Board's webpage." What a Farce, Lindsay Klick, HB Resident, Mother and Librarian • From: Celeste Rvbicki To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFFS;suooIementalcomm(alsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Against agenda Items 22 and 24 Date: Monday,March 18,2024 11:44:29 PM Please leave our libraries alone. Mayor VanDerMark has an axe to grind with free speech and freedom of information but has not made a credible case that any real problem lies on the shelves of our beloved libraries. I've written before about the negative impacts: Public libraries offer broader accessibility to diverse communities,providing free resources, educational programs, and a communal space for everyone. I'm concerned you're going to put cost-savings and profit margins above services to our community. IF we're talking about Library Systems and Services here are a few issues that I found reported by libraries that have left LS&S or rejected the company's off to manage their library: • Savings not as expected.Escondido's contract has the city paying for all technology, software, and maintenance costs as well as being billed for the cost plus 5%handling fee for materials. Santa Clarita Public Library in California found the net cost to operate the library in-house at the same staffing level as LS&S would save the city approximately$400,000 the first year after leaving LS&S. Calabasas Library saved$68,000 the first year after leaving LS&S. •Reductions of service. Some libraries have less service and more reduction of hours due to staff cutbacks resulting from the loss of professional staff. •Loss of local connection to the community. LS&S has been reported to substitute a remote reference service for local reference librarians.Also,with their standardized high volume buying there is a minimal collection of Spanish language materials. •Library Programming is controlled by LS&S. It is no longer up to staff to determine what best serves the local population's needs and interests. •Negative Effect on library staffing.LS&S Staff serves at the pleasure of LS&S. They replace unionized workers with nonunion employees and often cut wages. This can cause the loss of experienced staff and result in a high turnover rate. •Negative effects on the library collection. When LS&S takes over,they get control of the library collection and they do the ordering. LS&S saves money by narrowing the library collection and focusing on best sellers. This can result in the loss of ability to adapt to the needs and interests of local patrons. •Lack of transparency of finances. San Juan City Library in Texas left LS&S stating that LS&S would not divulge its profit margin. The Oregon State Library reported LS&S spent 28%of money from Jackson County on"other" but would not identify what constituted "other." •Lack of willingness to talk in a public setting was given as one reason Prince William County,Maryland rejected LS&S. It is in the best interest of our city and our community to keep the library public and to dismantle any censorship/book banning board and let the licensed librarians do their jobs. Thank you, Celeste From: Arianne Murray To: suoolementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Library Privatization and Book Organization Date: Monday,March 18,2024 11:58:54 PM Hello, I am writing ahead of the 3/19 city council meeting to implore you not to outsource library services,something currently restricted under California law.Our library services work well and there is no logical reason to further waste our tax dollars and attempt to incur frivolous lawsuits with the state government for political theater. Additionally,the creation of a review board approving children's books is ridiculous.Allow parents to decide what books are appropriate for their children to read. Instead of goading the state government and attempting to establish government rule over what should be individual choice,the council should focus on managing the budget appropriately.These ridiculous,and often illegal, proposals tarnish our city's reputation and waste millions of dollars that should be used to better our city. Brianne Murray From: Alma Mirza To: SuoalementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.org Subject: I Strongly Oppose Item 22&Item 24 Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 1:18:19 AM Hello, I am a current San Diego State University student who lived and grew up with the Huntington Beach Public Library.From volunteering to participating in the reading events,HBPL is a second home. As a passionate Huntington Beach local I strongly oppose Item 22-Managed Library Services and Item 24-Parent Review Board for Children's Library. Thank you, Alina Mirza From: diannef22vahoo.com To: suoolementalcommsurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF) Subject: Oppose Agenda Item#24 Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 1:18:23 AM Dear Mayor and Councilmembers, Please reject Item #24. A parent has every right to restrict what their child reads or looks at, but they do not have a right to restrict what someone else's child reads or looks at. At its core, the Community Review Board's mission is to restrict access to books that most parents do not object to. However, I understand that this Council does not believe in protecting individual rights and will be moving forward with these book restrictions. If that is the case, I certainly hope you will do a better job setting up the parameters than what is written in Ordinance 4318. Many of the definitions have no standards and leave everything up to the interpretation of amateurs whose only requirement to be appointed is that they have either born children or are the guardian of child. How are the books to be evaluated by the committee if the books cannot be purchased by the city if they are deemed unacceptable? How will the committee members be compensated for the hours upon hours it will take to read all the materials the library generally purchases in a year? Will we just stop purchasing books because the committee can't read fast enough? If the books are allowed to be purchased for evaluation (as many as 21 copies each?), is it fiscally responsible to spend as much as $500,000 per year for books that will be donated to other city's libraries? How generous to subsidize other cities and give away our money! How can we have a Board made up of appointed amateurs be the final word with no appeal process? That seems very autocratic. Please take the time to at least make this ordinance make sense. We shouldn't have to wait for a year or more for new books to be placed in the library. We shouldn't be giving our books away to cities with more enlightened library policies. We should have actual definitions of what sexual content means. We should have an actual definition of what the HB Community Standard is. Thank you, Dianne James From: Lucia To: suoolementalcommCa surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Re:NO to HBPL Privatization&New Parental Oversight Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 5:45:56 AM >I strongly oppose all efforts to privatize our wonderful library,including via managed services.I also strongly oppose the proposed parental review board. >In summary,I strongly oppose Item 22 and Item 24 put forth to the Council Agenda. >Best, >-Aaron Soto >Long-time HB resident,homeowner,and business owner From: Tim Channel To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CM0 STAFF);suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.arq Subject: Opposed to Agenda Items 24-197,24-208,and 24-209(3/19/2024) Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 6:14:24 AM City Council Members, I am a 34 year resident and homeowner in Huntington Beach and I am writing to voice my opposition to Agenda Items 24-197,24-208, and 24-209.Ever since the slate majority has come into office,they have done NOTHING but HURT our city. It is obvious that Van Der Mark, Burns, Strickland, and McKeon are more interested in furthering their own political agendas at the expense of the citizens of Huntington Beach. Grandstanding your conservativeness,hoping others of your kind will notice how extreme you are, and heap their praises on you? Is your goal is to go down in history as the master book banning, library destroying,worst city council in the country then you are definitely on the right track. At the expense of the rest of us. OPPOSED TO: 24-197 Request authorization to issue a Request for Proposals for Managed Library Services for the Huntington Beach Public Library system If you want to talk about obscenity at the library,THIS is it. Why would you want to privatize our award winning library except that you think you can?Did the librarians fail to live up to your conservative ideals? Give me one reason why this could possibly be good for the citizens of our city. What non-problem are you trying to fix this time? OPPOSED TO: 24-208 Item Submitted by Council Member McKeon - Withdrawal from the League of California Cities Here we go again with the"we hate California"nonsense. If you hate it so much here, why didn't you pick a city in another state to cause your mischief in? Somewhere where they might actually like it, because great many of your Huntington Beach constituents definitely do not. OPPOSED TO: 24-209 Approve for introduction Ordinance No. 4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material What is your obsession with banning children's books?And stop trying to fool us by with the "no books have been banned"nonsense. We aren't that stupid. Some of us even graduated from high school. Oh, and Bless your Little Hearts, Tim Channel Huntington Beach From: terrylaurenroseCa)omail.conl To: suoolementalcommsurfcitv-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF) Subject: city council meeting 031924 please include in tonight's agenda items. Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:25:26 AM Attachments: city council meeting 031924.doa Importance: High Please include my comments on each of the agenda items. If I need to send separate documents later, I will. Thank you. Terry Rose City Council Meeting Agenda 03-19-2024 Terry Rose, resident since 1983, homeowner I recently saw an unreleased as yet documentary at the Palm Springs Film Festival called Bad Faith about Christian Nationalism(the"moral" minority)whose mission is to destroy democracy as we know it today and establish a theocracy. I believe that it is quite possible that Tony Strickland,Gracey Van Der Mark,Casey McKeon &Pat Burns are all Christian Nationalists as I truly believe they are trying to destroy Huntington Beach, are not interested in working for the good of the whole but only interested in serving themselves and driving our city into bankruptcy thus destroying it. From their campaign lies to"no changes to our city charter"to their changing the protocol on who becomes our mayor and when to paying their"buddy" millions for an oil spill the city was not responsible for and for not sharing with the public the loss of income to the Pacific Air Show or the city to the proposed expansion of the Air Show including building a runway on the beach to what they led by so-called moralist Gracey Van Der Mark,in particular,are doing to our public library to the out and out political speech by the pastor of the Calvery Chapat of Huntington Harbor,they have proven,at least to me,that they do not believe in our democracy but only in their personal agendas. I wish to go on record for the following: File#:24-204 Version: 1 Council Committee Appointments and Liaison Reports Oppose Gracey Van der Mark's amendment because it is prejudicial and clearly favors the members of her buddies with Moser&Bolton only being assigned to one committee and Kalmick being assigned to none. File#:24-194 Adopt Resolution No.2024-08 revising and restating Resolution No.2016-01 related to implementing Charter Section 805 and Municipal Code Chapter 5.90 regarding the number of permits issued for Safe and Sane Fireworks from fifteen(15)to sixteen(16) Oppose I would like to see Huntington Beach ban all fireworks in the city. The amount of illegal fireworks has more than tripled since the city approved the sale of"Safe and Sane Fireworks." File#24-197 24-197 Request authorization to issue a Request for Proposals for Managed Library Services for the Huntington Beach Public Library system Oppose Too many unanswered questions: • Will the library staff lose their jobs or be forced to take a reduction in their salaries in order to keep their jobs? • If the private company decides they are not making enough money,will they just close the library completely? • Will there be fees for everything? • Who will make the final decision on what books the public has access to? • How much will this cost the city? • Is the company friends with the foursome? File#:24-209 Approve for introduction Ordinance No.4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material Oppose This is taking away the rights of parents to make the decisions for their children and because each council member can select 3 people,this committee will be skewed in favor of Tony Strickland,Gracey Van Der Mark,Casey McKeon&Pat Burns'choices. • What are the criteria to be on this committee? • Will members of this committee be paid? • Will this committee have the final say as to what books are in the library or will their suggestions be put to vote so that every citizen of Huntington Beach has a say so in the matter? • Will teens be reduced to reading Dick&Jane? • Will all people regardless of their ethnicity and sexual identification be represented in the books that are available to young people? • Who decides what is pornographic? • Too many questions • Let the library be—let the parents decide File#:24-208 Item Submitted by Council Member Casey McKeon to withdraw from the League of California Cities Queston:Why? In answer to expanding the Air Show, I suggest we expand the Surfing Championship which brings people from all over the world to Huntington Beach. We could add everything the air show wants to add,except for landing the plane on the beach,and continue our legend as Surf City USA vs Pacific Air Show City USA. Let the Pacific Air Show try to find another beach in Orange County-I doubt they will be able to accomplish that. From: Levin.Shannon To: suoolementalcommPsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: FW:Opposition to Agenda Items 24-209 and 24-197 Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:38:25 AM From:Annie<hbannie8600@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 7:32 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Opposition to Agenda Items 24-209 and 24-197 Agenda Item 24-209: I believe the proposed ordinance in the form presented is unnecessary and myopic. I trust in qualified and trained librarians who have the pulse on HB residents' needs to make the best decisions on the selection of books that serve the HB public. Agenda Item 24-197: I want to take the opportunity to underscore that libraries serve the public interest and are one of our most valuable community resources. A for-profit company's interests do not lie in the enrichment, education, and engagement of HB residents. Rather,private companies are obligated to their shareholders. For all this talk of"local control", I find it notable City Council is exploring an option that is contradictory to the very notion of local control. Stay away from our libraries. Thank you. AN HB Resident& Mobilized Voter From: Levin.Shannon To: sunolementalconirn surfcity-hb.orq Subject: RN: Letter to the council Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:38:53 AM From:Christina Milucky<ccarey1977@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18,2024 7:56 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Letter to the council To whom it may concern, March 18, 2024 I have lived in Huntington Beach for most of my life, and was, up until these last few years, a proud resident. One of my favorite places throughout my childhood was the time spent wandering the stacks of the Huntington Beach Library. I grew up in the library and it was the foundation of becoming a bibliophile. I have always loved books and the smell of the library and those who worked there created an environment for learning and loving books. As a bibliophile and a resident of this city, I am asking that the city council and any other organizations affiliated with the council, to maintain the work of what a city council is meant to do and utilize our tax dollars to improving our city. Parents need to be the ones who decide what their children read. I do not know you personally, but I am sure you do not want anyone you don't know censoring your reading. It is unbelievable that the city is going to such lengths to justify their own agendas and continue to rationalize this agenda through the privatization of the library. I ask that you allow our library to be free of the interference of council [and/or council committees] and to give the citizens the right to choose what they feel is appropriate for themselves and their children. Libraries should be places where people can learn, dream, and grow their imaginations. Libraries should be considered neutral ground where anyone can be free to seek out their own interests regardless of the topic. I do not believe that it is appropriate for any entity to rule over the library, and with the agendas we have seen in recent elections, it feels like we are returning to an era of censorship when everything and anything was under fire. Please do not believe that you, the council or its committee members are above the average citizen, who can make their own decisions and choices on what they read. Please hear me when I say that the potential privatization and other changes to our library make it almost impossible to be a proud citizen of this city. If you believe our city to be one that promotes freedoms, then these potential changes, take that freedom away from the average citizen. I truly hope that one day I can be proud of this city once again. Sincerely, CMM Christina M. Milucky From: Levin.Shannon To: suoolementalcomm(a)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: FW:Agenda Item 24 Approval of Community Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children"s Library Material Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:39:04 AM From:Jeanne Farrens<jeannefarrens@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 8:03 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Agenda Item 24 Approval of Community Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material Dear Mayor and City Council, I am writing to oppose Item 24 on the March 19, 2024 agenda. I oppose the approval of the Community Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material. Besides opposing the book review process itself,which although approved by the four member council majority,was opposed by the vast majority of Huntington Beach citizens who came to comment on the proposal over several council meetings and a further majority who emailed the council, I am in complete opposition to allowing an untrained citiizen's review board with nothing more to guide them than their own opinions and prejudices to determine what books not only should be placed in a separate section unavailable to minors but to decide on which books should even be purchased.That being said,there is a further, perhaps more compelling reason to oppose the proposal. What the review board is being asked to do is very clearly impossible.The math simply just doesn't add up.As evidence I here include a posting by Surf City Sentinel,who has done the math much better than I ever could. "Last fiscal year in 2022-23,the library purchased 4,752 titles for the children's collection, and another 1,536 titles for the young adult collection. There's no way the book banning board can look at every single title, so let's assume that 10%of the children's titles and 50%of the young adult titles might need to be reviewed by the board.Young adult titles are much more likely to be reviewed than children's titles because young adults experience young adult things like puberty and sex. Since the board will be stacked with political appointees pushing the MAGA extremist agenda of the council majority, my assumed percentages may turn out to be way too low. But let's stick with 10%and 50%for this post. If 10a/o of children's titles need to be read by the board,that's 472 titles. If 50% of young adult titles need to be read,that's another 768 titles for a total of 1,240 titles PER YEAR that will need to be read by the board. The ordinance creating the board says it will meet at least twice per year,which would mean 620 titles to be read per meeting,which isn't humanly possible. If the board were to meet quarterly, that would mean 310 titles to be read per meeting,which also isn't humanly possible. If the board were to meet monthly,that would mean 104 titles to be read per meeting,which also isn't humanly possible for volunteers with busy private lives. If the board were to meet bi-weekly,which is probably the most frequently it could meet, that would mean 52 titles to be read per meeting,which still isn't humanly possible for volunteers with busy private lives. But title count alone doesn't determine how much reading time is required, so let's make some assumptions regarding average pages per book. • Children's books can range from 20 pages or so for picture books, up to 300 pages or so for Harry Potter type books.Young adult books can range from 150-300 pages. I'm going to assume an average of 200 pages per book. If the board were to meet bi-weekly to read 52 titles per month at an average of 200 pages per title,that's 10,400 pages per meeting or 742 pages per day over two weeks. I doubt that is humanly possible, and if somebody were to attempt it,their eyes would be ruined. So, the establishing ordinance's requirement that members have to actually read every book that gets nominated for evaluation CANNOT BE MET. But wait,the plan is even more absurd,when you factor in purchasing a copy of each title to be evaluated for each of the 21 board members.Those 1,240 annual titles work out to 26,040 copies that need to be purchased EVERY YEAR. Let's further assume that the average price of a title is$20.That works out to an annual book banning budget of$520,800 EVERY YEAR.And this is money that is being THROWN AWAY, because the library has no need for 21 copies of practically anything, and none of the titles banned from collection acquisition could be used in any way. Where is that money going to come from?Cannibalizing library services?" Yes, all of this is not only impossible. IT'S INSANE!!! And it's doomed to fail.And our highly praised, award winning 115 year old Huntington Beach Public Library is doomed as well. Jeanne Farrens From: Levin.Shannon To: suoplementalcommCa)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: RN:Huntington Beach Library Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:39:27 AM Original Message From:Angela Huang<radiomode@gmail.com> Sent:Monday,March 18,2024 8:31 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Huntington Beach Library Huntington Beach City Council Members, As a Huntington Beach resident,I strongly oppose the following items: Item 22—managed library services Item 24—parent review board for children's library The library has been a wonderful resource for the city as is and there is no reason to even consider having it managed by a private company. There is also no reason to have anyone review books for the children's library.It is not an issue and has never been an issue. Angela Huang From: Levin.Shannon To: SuoolementalcommCa surfcity-hb.orq Subject: FW:No!To Item 22 and Item 24!!!! Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:40:08 AM From: Nancy Nielsen-Mirza<surfcitycalling@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 8:51 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: No!To Item 22 and Item 24!!!! What's wrong with you people? Our library and librarians are great. Please focus on real city problems like EVERYONE agrees-homelessness. Geez. NO on Item 22and Item 24. Nancy 12 year HB/SB resident 2 kids in the school system From: Levin.Shannon To: suonlementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: FW: Privatizing library and Council appointment of book monitors Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:40:18 AM From:Annilise Flanagan-Frankl <anniliseff@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 9:06 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Privatizing library and Council appointment of book monitors As an HB resident, educator,school psychologist and mother, I am in opposition to privatization of the public library.The words PUBLIC LIBRARY means our taxes pay for the library and belongs to the community not a for-profit entity. Second, I am totally against non-professionals, with agendas, determining what my grandchildren should be allowed to read.What is decided by parents is the key to developing independent,creative thinkers-that means keep your hands off the library and the books within. Annilise M. Flanagan-Frankl, M.A. CounselingPsychologist Nationally Certified School Psychologist Remember - the past is over, the future is a mystery,and today is a gift. That is why it is called the PRESENT. Make today count. Call: 847-226-3119 From: Levin.Shannon To: suDDlementalcommOsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: FW:March 19,2024 HB City Council Meeting,Agenda Items 22 and 24 Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:41:06 AM From: Pamela Edwards<arteabooksage@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 10:23 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: March 19, 2024 HB City Council Meeting,Agenda Items 22 and 24 HB City Council, As a non-resident of HB,what draws me to HB is the beautiful HB Central Library. This dynamic library is the reason my family and I come to HB. Not the beach but the library! The sweeping changes being made to the library are destroying this great institution. Please stop before the HB Library is gutted. My family and I have been HB Library patrons for 30 years. If you continue on this path you will no longer have this'jewel' as it's known and loved today. The HB Central Library draws people from all over Orange County. Do you want to lose visitors from surrounding communities that bring money into your community? Keep making these changes and you will have destroyed what makes the HB Central Library unique and special. From: Jennifer Brannon To: suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.org;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF) Subject: Our Library Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 7:52:51 AM Dear Council Members, I'm writing to encourage you to preserve and celebrate our local library and maintain it completely under local control.I'm a Huntington Beach resident,my husband and I raised our daughter here and I am also a teacher.I was raised with a fabulous local library and unfettered access to books.I read voraciously and have been saddened with the onset of social media to see children read fewer novels. Books transported me to other worlds and gave me a window into other lives and experiences.Never did I want to become a different person just because I read a character in a book.When I encountered content or vocabulary I didn't understand,I simply asked my parents and I felt safe to as they created that relationship with me.I kept my parents value of allowing my daughter access to any book she wanted and she in turn felt safe to ask me questions. Books are the best example of self-directed learning and self-directed learning leads to people who want to be lifelong learners.In my case,reading gorgeous novels and poetry led me to study creative writing.In my husband's case,his love of the writings of Marcus Aurelius led him to studying him more deeply in an expansive thesis.In our daughter's case,reading philosophical and religious texts have led her to a deeper relationship with her faith.What each of us had was a teacher or librarian to guide,question and support us as we literally gobbled up what interested us. I'm a special education teacher.My students struggle deeply with reading and it's extremely hard to keep them engaged while still working on basic decoding.This is why I always read novels to my students.Nothing else makes them want to learn to read like escaping and delighting into a good book.We read"Matilda"and"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"and I adore seeing all of them attach to the characters and be able to compare and contrast them. One day,a boy returned from an absence and was giving me lots of attitude during the reading block.Finally he confessed that he was upset that we read the book while we were gone and he missed what had happened.I have seen kids make two grade levels of growth in one year just because they fell in love with books and it ignited their learning.Last year we took students on a walking field trip to the library.One boy said to me incredulously,"I've never been to a library before.I didn't know all of this was here."We must keep that wonder just that way for our kids and for us. The danger to our children is not books,it's the tool that parents buy and put into the hands of their children with little to no supervision.The reality is that is where kids regularly encounter graphic content and are left vulnerable to manipulation.The best way we have of preserving innocence in our kids is by helping to shape a love of reading books.That is exactly where librarians who know books intimately come in and are able to use that expertise to spark a love of reading for our kids and further it.Please don't replace that incredible resource by privatizing or outsourcing our amazing library.Please turn your energy into empowering the library as the incredible resource it is for our community. Sincerely, Jennifer Brannon From: Levin.Shannon To: suoolementalcommaa surfcity-hb.orq Subject: FW:City Council Meeting Agenda for March 19,2024(revised the morning of 3/19/24) Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 8:47:14 AM From: Larry Slonim <laryslonim@aol.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:28 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Re: City Council Meeting Agenda for March 19, 2024 (revised the morning of 3/19/24) To All Members of the Huntington Beach City Council: (Please note my latest revisions are to supersede my earlier email dated 3/18/24 in bold black text) We have been very concerned about the 4-3 vote by the City Council to put Charter Amendments A, B & C on the ballot for the Primary Election, and have been following to vote tally closely. As of Sunday, March 17th, with about 46% of the voters registered in the City of HB voting, the tallies for A & B have be trending Yes and the tally for C has been trending No. We strongly agree with the constituents voting No on C, primarily because it gave the mayor, ANY mayor, the authority to cancel and change Council Meetings at his or her sole discretion. While the four new councilmembers (Strickland, Van Der Mark, Burns and Mckeon) regularly exercise a majority vote advantage, it's clear to me and my wife that they often decide to vote as a block too hastily, with superficial debate or consideration of dissenting opinions, whether coming from the other 3 councilmembers (Kalmick, Moser and Bolton), and/or from public comments made that are relevant to Council's agenda items. This is totally contrary to and blatantly hypocritical of one of the main reasons, if not the KEY reason, they claimed and continue to claim that the prior City Council was not responsive to the concerns of all its residents. Since the four new councilmembers have taken office, deference, respect, honesty and trust has suffered badly and continues to get worse. Any reliance in them and the City Attorney to responsibly steer our city has been greatly compromised. We strongly urge the four of them to modify the course they are currently on. Lastly, we think that the current Administrative item 23 (24-195) Approval of FY 2023/24 Revised Budget, and Ordinance for Introduction item 24 (24-209) Ordinance No. 4318, scheduled for the meeting of March 19th, be DEFERRED until the first meeting in April, to provide proper time for a more reasonable understanding and evaluation by the public and the other council members of the details and potential impacts contained within them. A glaring case in point is that it's now been established beyond any reasonable doubt that having "more secure" municipal elections, regardless of their purported costs, will not produce safer elections than have been won in 2022 and with the likely approval of Charter Amendments A & B in 2024. City run elections would clearly be an added burden to the City's proposed revised budget and are NOT needed! Certainly not at the expense of selling off our public library system to fund them, or by cutting other, more needed city services! Our four new councilmembers have to SEE that, and truly appreciate that reality. Otherwise, the legacy they create for our city will very, very grim. Respectfully, Larry and Susan Slonim From: Mary Ann Celinder To: suonlementalcommCa)surfcity-hb.org Subject: HB libraries Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 8:52:27 AM What benefits are there to the public for changing the library control? If it is run for profit,we will see a cut in services, quality of the workforce and a reduction of the number of books purchased annually. The Four already tried to shut down our branch, surely it will be on the block if this passes. This is an overstep. Onec council should now be able to screw up the city so quickly with your temporary power. The Four are an embarrassment. Moving perfectly great books for the children's section was already way out of control, especially without providing any guidelines to the librarians. What's in it for the city council members who are putting this forward? Campaign contributions? What is next,privatizing the police and fire dept? NO! Mary Ann Celinder Celinder's Glass Design 21341 Fleet Lane Huntington Beach Ca 92646 studio 714 962 8361 ce11 714 504 8361 www.customleadedgJass.com From: Erin Johnston To: suoolementalcomm(5)surfcity-hb.org;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF) Subject: March 19,2024 Council Meeting Date: Tuesday,March 19,2024 8:56:22 AM Good morning, I am a 14-year resident of Huntington Beach with two children in our elementary schools. We are daily users of our library and could not be more impressed with the library services. Our city residents share this sentiment, as noted in the "2023 Quality of Life Community Survey": - "Particularly high satisfaction with water reliability, fire protection and paramedic services, special events, library services, and 911 emergency response". Given such high satisfaction with the library services as they currently exist,I am writing to advocate against the Agenda Items below. Agenda Item 24 Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material During the 2023 Strategic Plan Workshop, held on June 8, 2023, City Council identified 8 goals and priorities for the Fiscal Year 2023-2027 Strategic Plan: 1)High Performing Organization; 2)Fiscal Stability; 3)Public Engagement; 4)Public Safety; 5)Homelessness; 6) Infrastructure Investment; 7)Housing; and 8)Economic Development. This Agenda Item does not address any of these stated goals or priorities. It should therefore wait until the next priority-setting session to avoid diverting city and community resources from our goals and priorities as established in the Strategic Plan. Agenda Item 22 for Managed Library Services Given the high resident satisfaction with our current library services, I propose we analyze other areas within the Budget for cost reductions before looking to change library operations. In the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan workshop, the following were listed as opportunities to boost our fiscal stability: - Undertake a new cost of service (fee) study and cost allocation plan - Update Developer Impact Fees to ensure new development is paying its fair share - Implement centralized contract management system - Develop a long-term vehicle replacement plan - Review General Fund reserve levels using the Government Finance Officers Association Risk Analysis Template - Consider options for new revenues - Restart Transient Occupancy Tax(TOT),Utility User We should review those as priority over library services. In addition,we should rationalize our city headcount, as it has grown 2%since the 2021-2022 Budget Year(+22 headcount) while the city population has decreased 3%in this timeframe (-5,311 residents). Regards, Erin Johnston Moore, Tania From: _ SUSAN DINKMEYER <sihdinkmeyer@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 9:04 AM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-197 Oppose privatization of the Huntington Beach Public Library Dear Huntington Beach City Council, Please NO NOT privatize our HB Library!! It is operating just fine with the professional library personnel now in place. And please DO NOT appoint a committee to ban books in our library. Please DO work on the issues that really exist-solving the homeless crisis in our city and repairing and maintaining our aging infrastructure. Respectfully, Susan Dinkmeyer Huntington Beach resident since 1988 1 Moore, Tapia From:. Paula <plucas@biopath.org> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 10:04 AM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF);supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Item 22 and Item 24 Attachments: Memo regarding the public library.docx To the City Council, Please read.my attached memo in regards to Item 22 and Item 24. Thank you, Paula Lucas Memo: Concerns Regarding the Privatization of Public Libraries, ,To: City Council !From: Paula Lucas Date:03/19/2024 Subject: Potential.Risks of Privatizing Public Libraries As discussions about the future of our public library system continue, it is essential to address the potential consequences of privatization.While there may be arguments in favor of privatization, it is crucial to consider the broader implications and the impact it may have on our community. Below are some key concerns regarding the privatization of public libraries: 1.t Accessibility: Public libraries are vital institutions that provide free access to information, resources, and educational opportunities for all members of society, regardless of their socio-economic background. Privatization could lead to restricted access, increased fees, or limitations on who can use library services, potentially excluding marginalized or low- income individuals and families. 2.i Mission Drift': Public libraries have a mission to serve the public good and promote literacy, learning, and community engagement. Privatization may prioritize profit over fulfilling this mission, leading to a shift in focus towards commercial interests rather than serving the diverse needs of the community. 3. ;Loss of Public Control: Once a public asset is privatized, it becomes subject to the goals and priorities of the private entity or corporation that owns it:This could result in decisions being made based on financial considerations rather than the best interests of the community.Additionally, accountability and transparency may diminish when operations are no longer subject to public oversight. 4. Job Insecurity; Privatization often leads to job losses or reduced wages and benefits for library staff.This can have a detrimental impact on employees who are dedicated to serving the public and may result in a loss of institutional knowledge and expertise. 5.! ,Erosion of Democratic Values: Public libraries play a crucial role in fostering democracy by providing access to information, supporting intellectual freedom, and facilitating public discourse. Privatization could undermine these democratic values by limiting access to information, censoring materials, or prioritizing content based on commercial interests. 1 In conclusion,while there may be arguments for exploring alternative models of funding and governance for public libraries, it is essential to proceed with caution and prioritize the long-term interests of the community. Instead of privatization, we should focus on finding innovative solutions to ensure that public libraries remain accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all residents. Thank you for considering these concerns as we continue to deliberate on the future of our public library system. Sincerely, . Paula Lucas 2 Memo: Concerns Regarding the Privatization of Public Libraries To: City Council From: Paula Lucas Date: 03/19/2024 Subject:Potential Risks of Privatizing Public Libraries As discussions about the future of our public library system continue, it is essential to address the. potential consequences of privatization.While there may be arguments in favor of privatization, it is crucial to consider the broader implications and the impact it may have on our community. Below are some key concerns regarding the privatization of public libraries: 1. , Accessibility: Public libraries are vital institutions that provide free access to information, resources, and educational opportunities for all members of society, regardless of their socio-economic background. Privatization could lead to restricted access, increased fees, or limitations on who can use library services, potentially excluding marginalized or low-income individuals and families. 2. Mission Drift: Public libraries have a mission to serve the public good and promote literacy, learning, and community engagement. Privatization may prioritize profit over fulfilling this mission, leading to a shift in. focus towards commercial interests rather than serving the diverse needs of the community. 3. Loss of Public Control: Once a public asset is privatized, it becomes subject to the goals and priorities of the private entity or corporation that owns it.This could result in decisions being made based on financial considerations rather than the best interests of the community.Additionally, accountability and transparency may diminish when operations are no longer subject to public oversight. 4. Job insecurity: Privatization often leads to job losses or reduced wages and benefits for library staff.This can have a detrimental impact on employees who are dedicated to serving the public and may result in a loss of institutional knowledge and expertise. 5. Erosion of Democratic Values: Public libraries play a crucial role in fostering democracy by providing access to information, supporting intellectual freedom, and facilitating public discourse. Privatization could undermine these democratic values by limiting access to information, censoring materials, or prioritizing content based on commercial interests. In conclusion,while there may be arguments for exploring alternative models of funding and governance for public libraries, it is essential to proceed with caution and prioritize the long-term interests of the community. Instead of privatization,we should focus on finding innovative solutions to ensure that public libraries remain accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all residents. Thank you for considering these concerns as we continue to deliberate on the future of our public library system. Sincerely, Paula Lucas Moore, Tania From: c20rj@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:38 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Library I strongly oppose item 22 and 24. Please leave our library system alone!!! 1 Moore, Tania From: Anissa Zamaro <anissazamaro@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 2:35 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org; CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: NO TO PRIVATIZATION!! To whom it may concern, I absolutely with all my being strongly oppose both item 22-managed Library services and item 24-parent review board for children's Library. Libraries are some of the last places the public can go for free,to get knowledge,access services and just exist in a space for free.That is why they are called public Libraries,they are for anyone to visit and use, no matter where you come from or what you make. If this goes forward and the Huntington Beach PUBLIC Library is privatized,then this will no longer be the case.Who knows how long before devopers and equity firms come in to snatch it up or cut services or access or turn it into yet another condo or apartment building.The city and therefore the taxpayers need to remain in control of the library. I work for a Library in another city where I order books for our patrons.The books I order are ones that patrons request because they are not already in our Library collection. I will admit that some of the subjects, positions,themes,or even political views of the books requested are not ones I agree with or align with my views but I never deny someone access to what they want to read. It is not up to me to decide what they are or not allowed to read.As it should be everywhere. It is up to each individual person, as guaranteed to us in our constitution.So there should be no community-parent guardian review board telling parents what books are acceptable for them to share with their own children. Parents can choose for themselves what books they want their children to read. If some don't like certain books then they don't have to check them out, no one is forcing them to share it with their children,that is the beauty of freedom.So they can't be telling other parents that they can't have certain books available to them. Librarians go to school for many years and have degrees,they know what is best and we should trust them to make decisions on books,that is what they are educated in afterall, not community members and parents who only want to push their personal beliefs on others. I hope the city council makes the right decision. Thank you, Anissa Zamaro 1 Moore, Tania From: Gail Schwartz <teacheslstudents@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 3:27 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Do not privatize libraries!! I oppose.Item 22 and Item 24 on tonight's (March 19, 2024) Agenda for the City Council. Gail Schwartz 8736 Anchorage Drive Huntington Beach,CA 92646 714-466-0507 . • 1 Moore, Tania From:. Harry McLachlan<mclachlanharry621@yahoo.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 4:40 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Agenda Item 24- Library Book Review Committee Huntington Beach Special City Council Meeting March 19, 2024 Agenda Item 24, No: 24-209 My name is Harry McLachlan. I am a resident of Huntington Beach. I am here in opposition to agenda item 24, the poorly written and ill-defined Ordinance No. 4318. At the very least, please table this item so that the following concerns may be thoroughly and intelligently addressed: Defining "Children" as under the age of 18 totally ignores the age groups of early, middle, and late adolescence. 16 and 17 year olds are certainly not considered to be children. Hence, your definition of"Children's Books" is ridiculous. "Community Standards" is purposely ill-defined and vague.Which community? Calvary Chapel's? The community of homeless regularly camped out on the grounds surrounding our library? "Sexual Content" is ANY content of a sexual nature? Books on menstruation, adolescence, and science (yes, how the birds and bees do it is explained verbally and graphically in books!). "Sexual Reference"? How was that not already covered in "Sexual Content"? Seems the authors are in some need of therapy regarding their obsession with sex! All this is to be decided by a board of 21 community amateurs requiring no qualifications other than city residency? And even that is not listed as a baseline requirement to serve on this board. These inexperienced novices will be expected to determine an annual budget going in blind, as well as reviewing in excess of 6,000 books per year while being required to meet.only twice a year? Please define the word "review"? Read? Browse? Peruse? Leaf through? Then make a decision on which books pass muster based on some haphazard personal opinion?.Decide for parents which "children's" books are appropriate for THEIR kids to read? All Board decisions are final and unappealable? Fertile ground for lawsuits. How about a public list of board members and how they all voted on these books? 1 More work needs to be done on this agenda item. Please vote no. 2 Moore, Tania From: Lucy Lu <mslucylibrarian@gmail.com> -Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 4:43 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Keep HBPL free from privatization &library materials free from censorship The library is a unique place where people from all backgrounds, including and not limited to ethnicity, religion,socio- economic status, sexual orientation, can participate in reading and learning without judgement and prejudice from others, and without the need to spend any money. Everyone is free to fully use the facility and its resources. One of the reasons the library is so cherished by so many people is because the librarians and the library staff work hard to build an environment of inclusivity and diversity. From book selections to programming,the library staff use their professional judgment and training to bring the most relevant and trustworthy resources to the.community. To disregard their professional expertise is to disregard the integrity of the library. The library belongs to everyone. It should remain free of bigotry, discrimination,and financial profiteering. It's a public good that should be staffed with government employees and not profit-making companies. Keep Huntington Beach Public Library free from privatization and keep library materials free from censorship. Lucy Lu - 3/19/2024 • 1. Moore, Tania From: Princess Amanita <princessamanita@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 5:46 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material To the Members of the Board, I'm writing to you about the shocking and misguided proposal to create a censorship bureaucracy, misleadingly called a "review board,"for your wonderful public library system. While I'm not a resident:of your community, I have a special relationship to it through my work as an author. In March 2020, moments before California shut down all public gatherings due to COVID, I was invited to Huntington Beach to speak to your community about my book,The 57 Bus, which had been chosen for Huntington Beach Reads One Book(HBReads). I remember those appearances fondly, not only because they were the last ones I would do for more than a year, but also because of the warm reception I received and the thoughtful engagement from community members of all ages. Imagine my shock and consternation when I learned that the same city that engaged so warmly and thoughtfully with my book was now considering creating a censorship committee that would have the power to override the professional judgment of its own librarians and reject books whose content they object to. I have some familiarity with censorship of this kind, since the same book that your community read,The 57 Bus, has been banned and challenged in states like Texas, Florida,and half a dozen others.The objection to my book,which is based on reporting I did for the New York Times Magazine, is often coached in terms of protecting children from sexual content, despite the fact that the book has s no sex in it at all, not even kissing.The complete lack of anything titillating in the book has not stopped book banners and other enemies of freedom from labeling it as"pornography," however.Why? Because one of the book's main characters is a transgender teenager. Too often, "sexual content" is a dog whistle for anything that pertains to LGBTQ identities. I shudder to think how a committee of the kind you envision might use its power to limit access to books of all kinds, particularly those that represent marginalized groups and points of view.The decision about what books to have on the shelves is best made by the librarians who were hired for that purpose, not by political appointees with their own dubious agendas. Every citizen has the right to decide for themselves which books to read and which ones to skip. No one else should have that power. Sincerely, Dashka Slater www.dashkaslater.com www.accountablebook.com Instagram: @PrincessAmanita Look for my latest release: Accountable:The True Story of a Racist Social.Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed (FSG) * Winner of the 2024 J.Anthony Lukas Book Prize *Winner of the 2024 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Prize * Winner of a 2024 CALIBA Golden Poppy Award * Winner of a 2024.SCBWI Golden Kite Honor * Finalist for the.2024 California Book Award 1 Moore, Tania From: scarlett gonzalez <scarlettgonzalez0l @gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:04 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Huntington Beach Library Remain Public Good Evening City of Huntington Beach Council, To whom it may concern as a resident I am opposed privatizing and controlling our Library in Huntington Beach.We as a city deserve to have this as a public service to all children's, college students, etc. It seems wrong and unfair to move forward with privatizing public property to create a business tactic. I strongly urge you to reconsider and I completely oppose the actions below that may follow: • Item 22-Managed Library Services Item:24-Parent Review Board for Children's Library Kind Regards, Scarlett.Gonzalez HB Resident • (323)704-6061 scarlettgonzalez0l@gmail.com 1 Moore, Tania From: Robert Trujillo <INFO@robdontstop.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 9:18 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: ordinance No.4318 Hello, my name is Rob and I'm a kids book author and illustrator from Oakland California. I've spent some time in Huntington Beach though as I have family and friends that live in the city.The reason I'm writing is to message you about book bans. I have worked on over 12 children's books and two of them have been banned. "One of a Kind, Like Me" and "Sam!" Neither picture book has any mention of sex in them. However because they both discuss gender they were taken off the shelves.As a creator this is troubling to me for two reasons. First: Reflection.There are children who even at this young age live in families with queer people or gender fluid people. They need to be able to see themselves and their families represented in children's media to feel like they belong in society. Second: Kids who do not live with kids or with family members who are queer or gender fluid need to meet them in a safe way. One of the safest ways is in books so they may learn about them and walk away feeling informed, not scared. When we remove books about children and families who fall into any category that is a minority or marginalized in society we are limiting many children's knowledge and understanding about their community. We're telling them that they do not matter, and they do not need to exist.That is what happened to me as a child as a person who has mixed heritage. I'm writing to ask that you reject the proposed ordinance No.4318. Let professionals who read thousands of books be the judge of what is appropriate for children to read.These professionals are librarians and we need to trust them. If families feel certain books are not right for them,that's totally fine. But they should not be able to decide what all families need.Thank you. -Rob Current statistics about the representation of kids books with characters who are a person of color, queer, etc are here. Robert Liu-Trujillo Keep up with me, here's all my links https://linktr.ee/RobLiuTrujillo He, him, his i Moore, Tania From: Charlie Jane Anders <charlieanders2@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 10:24 AM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Comment on Ordinance#4318 To whom it may concern: I am an award-winning author of young adult and adult fiction,and a huge supporter of public libraries. I am writing to urge you to reconsider Ordinance#4318, relating to the "Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material." I am in awe of the incredible work that librarians do in curating and sharing books for readers of all ages, but especially young readers. I hate to think of librarians and public libraries being overburdened with an onerous form of oversight that will attempt to second-guess their judgment and create new hoops for them to jump through. Librarians work best when they're able to do their jobs without any interference: I'm also very aware that structures like the one you're proposing often target all books with LGBTQIA+characters and themes, leading to censorship and lack of access.As an LGBTQIA+person myself and an author of books for young readers, I've seen so many times that books can be a lifeline for young people who are finding their own identities. Depriving young gay, lesbian,trans and queer people of access to stories that reflect their own experiences is unbelievably cruel, and will only lead to greater harm. Please reconsider this ordinance, and trust librarians to help young people find stories that will nurture and support them. All best, Charlie Jane Anders 1 Moore, Tania From: Robert Trujillo <INFO@robdontstop.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 10:31 AM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Re: ordinance No.4318 Apologies, here is the link to the current statistics for books published and the larger publishing industry. On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 9:18 PM Robert Trujillo<INFO@robdontstop.com>wrote: Hello, my name is Rob and I'm a kids book author and illustrator from Oakland California. I've spent some time in Huntington Beach though as I have family and friends that live in the city.The reason I'm writing is to message you about book bans. I have worked on over 12 children's books and two of them have been banned. "One of a Kind, Like Me" and "Sam!" Neither picture book has any mention of sex in them. However because they both discuss gender they were taken off the shelves.As a creator this is troubling to me for two reasons. First: Reflection.There are children who even at this young age live in families with queer people or gender fluid people.They need to be able to see themselves and their families represented in children's media to feel like they belong in society. Second: Kids who do not live with kids or with family members who are queer or gender fluid need to meet them in a safe way. One of the safest ways is in books so they may learn about them and walk away feeling informed, not scared. When we remove books about children and families who fall into any category that is a minority or marginalized in society we are limiting many children's knowledge and understanding about their community. We're telling them that they do not matter, and they do not need to exist.That is what happened to me as a child as a person who has mixed heritage. I'm writing to ask that you reject the proposed ordinance No.4318. Let professionals who read thousands of books be the judge of what is appropriate for children to read.These professionals are librarians and we need to trust them. If families feel certain books are not right for them, that's totally fine. But they should not be able to decide what all families need.Thank you. -Rob Current statistics about the representation of kids books with characters who are a person of color, queer, etc are here. Robert Liu-Trujillo Keep up with me, here's all my links https://linktr.ee/RobLiuTrujillo He, him, his Robert Liu-Trujillo Keep up with me, here's all my links https://linktr.ee/RobLiuTrujillo He, him, his i Moore, Tania From: Mallory O'Meara <mallory.omeara@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 10:36 AM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Community-Parent Guardian Review Board Hello - I'm writing as a California resident,voter, and award winning, bestselling author. My latest children's book was recognized as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, and my literary podcast, Reading Glasses, has a reach of hundreds of thousands of listeners. I'm deeply concerned about the creation of a Community-Parent Guardian Review board. As an author, libraries are essential to my work. A censorship committee that can police access to books and trample upon First Amendment rights is, frankly, horrifying to see. No committee that has a negative impact on libraries is on the right side of history. This board looks as if it is designed to stifle diverse literature, especially books featuring LGBTQ+ stories. Removing access to these books disproportionately affects marginalized communities by denying them access to essential resources and information. These actions are not only shameful, but they are also deeply harmful to the community these libraries are tasked with serving. The creation of this board would undoubtedly lead to serious damage to the people of Huntington. I urge you to keep Huntington libraries as bastions of public learning, inclusivity, and most importantly, places of freedom. Thank you for your consideration. --- Mallory O'Meara www.malloryomeara.com 1 Moore, Tania From:. Lara Starr <lara@larastarr.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 12:24 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Re: Ordinance No.4318 - Protect the Right to Read To the Hungtingon Beach City Council Re:Ordinance No.4318 As a mother, reader and author, I implore you to NOT impanel a non-professional board that will decide what books young patrons of the Huntington Beach County Library can access. Trained librarians are sufficiently skilled and can be relied upon to select books that serve the needs of all of the young readers in their community.That includes all kids and their families. It's not hyperbolic to say that lives depend upon it. LGBTQ and other marginalized kids need to see themselves in books and to have their lives and lived experiences celebrated and validated.Their peers need to read about LGBTQ and other marginalized communities in a way that is respectful, inclusive,and promotes understanding. Kids who aren't supported and validated by their communities are at increased risk for mental health issues, including suicide and bullying. Kids who are taught either explicitly or by omission that kids who are not like them are less worthy of being seen are at risk of becoming bullies. Or worse. The families if Huntington Beach are counting on you. Do the right thing. Sincerely, Lara Starr 1 Moore, Tania From: Gennifer Choldenko <gennifer@choldenko.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 2:58 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: The importance of children's librarians Hi,I'm.a Newbery Honor winning,NYT bestselling children's book author who would like to speak out on behalf of children's librarians. Children's librarians have considerable experience and training in kindling the love of reading in children. They have helped countless kids grow into avid readers. And avid readers are strong successful students and thoughtful, compassionate human beings. Books are not one size fits all. Children's librarians work tirelessly to discover the right book for each child. Parents have every right to decide the books they want their children to read.But a parent doesn't have the right to make such decisions for someone else's children.Please do not let parents of a small handful of kids make decisions for the entire community.Please allow children's librarians to do the work they were trained to do.. Thank you, Gennifer Choldenko 1 Moore, Tania From: Katryn Bury <katrynbury@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 4:04 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Opposition to proposed ordinance No.4318 Hello, I am writing to express my concern about an ordinance that would see countless books censored from the library. My name is Katryn. I'm a California resident, and a librarian. I'm also the mother of a middle grade reader, and the author of Drew Leclair Gets a Clue has been challeneged in three states so far for containing queer characters. I'll tell you a bit about my background, and why this issue matters to me-and then I'd like to talk about trust and qualifications. When I was young,there was a complete lack of books'that reflected who I was-yes, I am white, but I was also a chronically ill; queer,fat kid with ADD.When I didn't see myself reflected in books, I could only come to one conclusion: I didn't fit the mold, and I needed to change to fit it. Coming to that conclusion was, in huge part, because of what the world was telling me. My school, my classmates.To my parents, I was perfect. But the world disagreed. Today,there are ban attempts on books that relay experiences and show children a mirror that might possibly reflect them. Books that could make them feel empowered and acccepted. I can't ignore that so many of these books target BIPOC and queer stories, seeking to erase that expereince at best, and-at worst-paint those experiences as inappropriate or even harmful. What I want to ask, is what are the qualifications of this parent/guardian review board?As a parent, my main qualification is clear:to review and discuss the books and media my child consumes. Only mine- not everyone else's.As a librarian (and former educator).I went to school and was trained as a professional in age appropriate book selection. This is my-profession,this is my qualification. I don't know how to trust a review board that doesn't have an education in book selection,or a background in child and teen development. I don't see how a parent can be qualified to make decisions for any child but their own.And I don't know how to trust a review board that has repeatedly defined gay parents,or same-sex hugging as"obscene" and "pornographic." I will mention here that my book,Drew Leclair Gets a Clue, has been cited as"pornographic" and "obscene" by several similar review boards. My character, Drew, has"crushes on boys and girls," and is grossed out by kissing.There is no kissing in this book about middle schoolers. Meaning that the "obscenity" is this character's existance, not sexual content. I don't want to send the message to kids that who they are is up for debate. I don't want to send the message that they are broken, or unwanted,or that their experiences are somehow wrong or need hiding. I want children to be themselves.And I hope this city does too. Best, Katryn 111 Moore, Tania From: Ted Ross <tedross_0077@msn.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 2:03 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Huntington Beach FY22-23 Davis Farr Audit Results: Significant Risks Identified Huntington Beach City Council & Huntington Beach City Clerk, References: a) Agenda for City Council/Public Financing Authority- Regular Meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 2024; Item#24- 195 Year-End Audit Results for the FY 2022/23 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget Update,and Fiscal Year 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget Adjustment b) Item#24-195 :Attachment 2 Other Auditor Issued Reports I've discovered that the Davis Farr Audit report dated 12/21/2023 identified Significant Risks Identified: • Implementation of GASB Statement No. 96 Subscription-Based Information Technology Agreements •Compliance with Federal grant requirements These items were not discussed at the referenced City Council meeting and seem to have been omitted without regard to public disclosure .This omission cast doubts on the ACFR for FY 22-23 budget reporting without explaining to the public what corrective measures have been taken and to what degree these actions, if taken, mitigate the significant risks pointed out by the Davis Farr audit. I request corrective action and risk assessments be publicly disclosed in corrective minutes of the next City Council meeting, along with any necessary amendments to the FY22-23 ACFR. Ted Ross Huntington Beach Resident 1 Moore, Tania From:. BBU Publishing <jefa@bbupublishing.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2024 3:21 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Save your library(ies)! Attachments: AABB letter for HBPL- CVM.pdf Hello, As part of a collective effort from the individuals that contribute to the literacy of our human children, I join my fellow California kidlit authors in the plea to save the state's public libraries. Please read my attached PDF letter.Thank you for considering our requests,which we send on behalf of young and coming generations. -AABB 1 California, USA, March 2024 Hello, ladies, gentlemen and others who are proposing the private review board for the Huntington Beach, CA, public library, I'm not saying you shouldn't filter what children read. There's no need to go to the other extreme and just let them have everything. Balance is the naturally healthy state of things. That's one of the many reasons why "librarian" is a profession and not just a task. Making sure that you prevent children from exposing them to any material that is not age-appropriate or that could damage their mental or emotional health is a very important job that librarians, teachers and parents have to take seriously. But banning books from being in public Libraries is not the only way, and it's definitely not the best way,to achieve that. Public libraries with very limited books will not survive. The Digital Public Library of America (dp.la, which by the way provides digital access to banned books) tells us that it all started in 1731, when Benjamin Franklin, his Junto members, and other donors turned their private book clubs into the Library Company. By 1790, the nation's first public library was created in Franklin, MA. Their purpose: to expand education and harbor as many volumes as possible to make them available for free to their community. Not everyone can purchase books, said Captain Obvious. Having civilians with censorship intentions decide what goes into a public library is the entry wound that kills the libraries forever, and the robots win. Think about it, seriously: you're pushing for less and less physical books available to the majority of humans who want to educate themselves with the knowledge and experience that others before and among them have shared in timeless paper objects but can't afford to buy them. On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence is already trained to write like 173,000 authors. All books are going online (both from authors and from robots), where it's very hard to make things disappear or "unfindable". Whoever wants to read that book, will find it online. Book banning for libraries won't make the books disappear, but the public libraries will, along with the jobs and vast resources of education they provide for their communities. I'd like to ask you to please reconsider your book banning proposal in Ordinance #4318. Think about what your real, primary purpose is, and the long-term consequences of this decision plus the impact it will have on your city. This plea is done on behalf of the well being of future generations. I hope you consider it. Thank you for reading. C.V. Monterrubio — a concerned California children's book author Moore, Tania From: Lisa Moore Ramee <lisray@stanford.edu> Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2024 9:40 AM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: An Author Against Book Bans Dear Huntington Beach Library, Some of my fondest memories as a child are the times spent riding my bike to the library and checking out as many books as I could manage. Books were my best friends. A place to visit and revisit and spend endless hours with. But as a Black child I didn't have the opportunity to read books that featured main characters that looked like me, and for a long time I thought Black girls couldn't be beautiful, or adventurous, or be smart, or have crushes, or have friendship stories. Thankfully times have changed, and now there are books with characters from all sorts of backgrounds (whether that be racial/ethnic; gender; sexual orientation; social/economic class). The fact that there are a few individuals that want to control and censor libraries and keep books out of young people's hands that quite literally save lives isn't only upsetting, it's criminal. I hope Huntington Beach will find the courage to say no to censorship and bias. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Sincerely, Lisa Moore Ramee 1 Moore, Tania From: Noelle Sickels <noellesickels@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 4:17 PM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) Cc: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Library proposals Dear City Council: I am a published historical novelist,and as such, I have used libraries, both public and private, all over the United States. I would urge you not to privatize the library services in Huntington Beach. I would also urge you to abandon the idea of a parent review board. Both these ideas have very real potential to limit access to information,a fundamental need for citizens in a democracy,to say nothing of curious and leisure readers. I love libraries. I have since childhood.And I value professional librarians,who are, I believe, unsung cultural heroes. Please don't endanger the unfettered existence of these. Noelle Sickels 1 Moore, Tania From: Anna Gracia <authorannagracia@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 10:27 AM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Ordinance No.4318 To the Huntington Beach Board, As a former educator, parent, author,and longtime California resident, I am appalled by the proposal of ordinance 4318 and the suppression of free speech under the guise of"protecting children." Children are whole people in and of themselves, deserving of the right to grow and learn. We, as a community, demand that our teachers and librarians be educated and certificated in child development specifically for the purpose of best shepherding these children through the childhood and adolescence--how can we then turn around and strip them of that very task by deferring to the preference of a few individual parents, whose values and beliefs may or may not align with the rest of the community at large or existing medical data? Books--especially those deemed "controversial"--are often only given that label by those who wish to deny the presence of certain types of people (LGBT+, BIPOC, etc.), or think that removing information on a certain topic will somehow make that topic cease to exist. Kids will still continue to identify as LGBT+and get pregnant, regardless of whether or not they can read about it in a library--the difference is the safety of those kids. Studies have shown, time and again,that unsupported LGBT+youth face the highest rates of homelessness and suicide among teens. It has also shown that areas with the least amount of sex education tend to have the highest rates of teen pregnancy and STIs. Education is empowerment and if we deprive them of that education, how can we ever expect them to grow? How can we expect them to develop critical thinking skills if everything they consume is a mirror of their current world? How can we let kids without the opportunity to travel explore the world? Is this just to be one more divide between the lives of rich kids and poor kids? Our kids are already facing a future that sees them battling climate change, never-ending war, and the dismantling of the public education system. Are you really going to take away their books too? Don't we all have better and more worthy causes to spend time and money on, than policing what other people read? Public libraries are for the public. And censoring what they can or cannot have access to is not freedom, nor is it in the public's best interest.The few do not speak for the rest of us. ORDINANCE 4318 IS A TRAVESTY. Signed, Anna Gracia X - - Anna Gracia I Author anna-aracia.corn Contemporary stories about messy girls in the real world 1 Moore, Tania From: Jesse Bluma <pointeviven@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2024 8:17 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Council Agenda Item 24-197 The Huntington Beach Public Library is essential for the sanctity and harmony of the community. Stop the government overreach. The library provides books for ALL members of the community. Let individuals decide what they choose to read for themselves and their families. Sincerely, Jesse Bluma 1 Moore, Tania From: Cynthia Gomez <gomezcentral@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2024 7:14 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Stark opposition to your creation of a "review board" Greetings, My name is Cynthia Gomez and I am an author and proud 39-year California resident.There is no legitimate reason to create this review board. This proposed action is merely one in a pernicious trend that you are in a position to oppose.The term "sexual content" is a dog whistle for anything that pertains to LGBTQ identities. It is not in any way about protecting children. Please allow librarians to do their job, and do not allow a group of loud, narrow-minded individuals to determine what children will read. Thank you, Cynthia 1 Moore, Tania From: Danielle Davis <danielledaviswrites@me.com> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2024 11:44 AM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Huntington Beach Library Dear City Council, I am a children's book writer in Los Angeles. I am a library patron and librarian supporter. I have been an English teacher in many venues. I always want what is best for children. I believe that librarians have children's best interests in mind and heart as well. Especially children who are underserved or not reflected in so much of our culture.Those kids needs books.They need books that reflect their lives, experiences, and identities and those of their families and communities. Providing books is the purview of librarians,trained professionals in terms of books and readers.And in my view, books that contain characters who are LGBTQ are vital. For little kids to see parents who are in same-sex or otherwise queer relationships and for teens to see people their age or older in them as well.To know they are not alone.This is not indoctrination. It is simply honoring and reflecting the lived reality of children in our world—a world where LGBTQ folks should have the same rights as anyone else,the same acceptance,the same shared values'around protecting children from harm, uplifting them,and creating a society that makes them safe to be who they are. To me, as an author for children educator and citizen, book banning and censorship appear deeply unAmerican. Whereas libraries are deeply American. Reading and entertaining a plethora ideas.These are shared values. Since the 1700 and 1800s, including through efforts of Benjamin Franklin, libraries have been places for equal access to information,to literature,to stories.The late 1800 and early 1900s found children's rooms popping up, spaces for reading to children and for them to read on their own.These spaces are, in my mind, crucial and should remain free. "It is well to remember that no one person or library was responsible for the formation of the Children's Librarians Section. It was not the result of a program. It grew quite naturally out of the recognition on the part of leading librarians all over the country of the claims of children as part of the reading public of their libraries and the desire of a small and scattered group of special workers to unite in considering books and children...The story of library after library opening its doors to children, offering them free opportunity to read, to borrow books on their own responsibility, without regard to age or mental capabilities, is in its way one of the most gracious and humane acts of faith in this great and fumbling democracy." From this article in 1963 by children's librarian Francis Clarke Savers. Thank you for your consideration on this matter. Warmly, Danielle Davis is well to remember that no one person or library was responsible children as part of the reading public of their libraries i Moore, Tania From: R.O. Kwon <reese.kwon@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2024 4:05 AM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: About book bans Hello! I'm an author who grew up in Cerritos and still has a lot of family and friends in Orange County. I'm writing about the proposed private review board that would have power to accept or reject new titles based on their content, but specifically"sexual content." The umbrella term of"sexual content" is a dog whistle for anything that pertains to LGBTQ identities, and is used as a bludgeon against authors from that community.This micromanagement of the book buying for a public library impedes the librarians' ability to do their job correctly, unfairly limits what books the community has access to, and takes the decision of what to read out of readers' hands. Please don't join the fascists. Please stay on the side of books, libraries, and librarians. Yours, R.O. Kwon 1 Moore, Tania From:. Laura G. <laura.y.gao@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 6:33 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Critical letter about Ordinance 4318 Community-Parent Guardian Review Board To the members of the board of Huntington Beach, Three years.ago, I spoke to a room of teenagers at Huntington Beach Public Library over Zoom about my newest book, Messy Roots. Every teenager there related to its themes of immigration, being a part of different cultures,or the beauty of being able to love whoever you want. These teens inquired about and discussed these topics in such mature and profound ways, I was struck with appreciation and wonder. Never once did I question whether they needed guardianship over what they consumed. If anything,they taught me more than my books had taught them. However,this proposed book review board threatens all of that. Data has shown time-after-time that book reviews based on "sexual content" unfairly targets LGBTQ+books. In a country in which our queer youth are already facing unjust laws and high rates of suicide and depression,this board is another step towards that direction. Not long ago, responsible parents would check through the stack of books their kids discovered amongst the endless rows of library shelves. My mom would crinkle her nose before placing the book neatly back into its shelf,saying, "This book is better suited for someone else." And that was okay. Because within time,.I'd grow mature enough to decide for myself.And until then, countless more kids could enjoy it instead. But today, parents seem to have forgotten this was an option. Instead, it's easier to simply ban the book completely. Huntington Beach has allowed a small group of parents to weaponize their opinions against professionals with experience, degrees,and a Code of Ethics that serve all members of the community. Not just the most vocal. Do we let a cohort of parents dictate what artifacts should be displayed in our National museums?Or which medicines are available in our public hospitals?Then in what world should they supersede librarians and restrict access to books for the entire community? As a queer,first-generation immigrant author who now calls California her home, I can truly say without every single one of the books I devoured with my mother at our local library, I would not be the person I am today. I've heard the same words uttered from teens who have read my own books.Teens I've met personally at virtual visits to the.Huntington Beach Public Library.Teens who will lose the most from decisions made by this book review board. My mother could've been the perfect candidate for this board.She refused to let me watch High School Musical until I was old enough to attend Prom, despite the fact the leads never even kiss until the sequel. But how would she have known?She never cared to watch it. Like many parents who never read a page before deeming a book too sexual,too "woke",or too anti-American for their innocent little children: Except my mother couldn't have banned Disney from airing the movie to every other household in our neighborhood. Nor would it have been fair to. 1 I implore the city of Huntington Beach to consider the same. Thank you, Laura Gao Author and illustrator 2 Laura Gao a (she/they) www.lauragao.com I @heylauragao 'L 3 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:40 PM To: Moore, Tania Subject: FW: Opposition to Agenda Items 24-209 and 24-197 From:Annie<hbannie8600@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, March 20, 2024 7:54 AM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Re: Opposition to Agenda Items 24-209 and 24-197 Council Members, I listened to the discussion in connection with the following topics I originally wrote about at home last night. I have not been civically involved but the library issue has mobilized me as a voter. Thank you all and to the staff for staying late last night in connection with city business. The lack of prudent evaluation and explanation to the public on decisions made, as well as the underwhelming employment of critical thinking skills displayed by Van Der Mark, McKeon, Strickland, and Burns on the topics covered below was absolutely disgraceful and cringeworthy and I'm grateful it is on video so that I can share it with others in our community. It was notable that not one of the four really asked any questions but rushed to an immediate decision and consistently denied their heavily impacted constituents (who took time out of their busy evening to attend or to write) the reasoning behind their decisions. Any reasoning was superficial at best. I got the impression there was no conviction behind the decisions (otherwise it would be easy to explain and defend) and reflected an absolute disregard for the greater community they serve. McKeon: I do not believe any misinformation was sowed about the privatization issue. In fact, the lack of information provided by leaders of our community led the community to conduct their own comprehensive research. And it showed that community members did more research on the topic of privatization and spoke more effectively on their positions than you did. Van Der Mark: Your hypocrisy was glaringly evident last night. If your intention is to truly be a good steward of taxpayer money, then don't squander taxpayer resources and time on unnecessary and unclear ordinances and support measures on the ballot during the primaries, especially one which has the potential to increase costs for our city and open our community to unnecessary litigation. The issue with the review board on children's books (other than the poor and myopic way it is written) is that it is imposing strangers' values on other people's children -they very thing you advocate against. Strickland: Shame (that's right, shame) on you for your unprofessionalism and obvious contempt for the public. It is unacceptable to insist on forcibly removing members of the public the way you did last i night because they used their first amendment right to profess their disappointment. I do agree that decorum, respect, and lack of disruption during meetings is important. I find it equally important for a City Council member to arrive to a meeting prepared to adequately evaluate and explain the reasoning behind decisions important to the over 100 residents that came to speak and over 600 that emailed but you did not have an iota of respect to the public you serve to do even that. This was an important topic for the people of HB and you either didn't care or failed to grasp that. Either way, the situation could have been handled more professionally and the autocratic attitude and lack of grace you demonstrated last night given the circumstances is absolutely shameful. Thank you Moser, Bolton, and Kalmick for the thoughtful questions, reasoning, research, and professionalism last night. The attempt to find middle ground was commendable. Irrespective of the viewpoints on the matters discussed, I was left disturbed by what I witnessed yesterday in how four Council Members approached such important decisions in a robotic, obstinate, and thoughtless manner. Thank you for supporting institutions in our community that enrich, educate, and engage. Without these, we become the fools that are easily fascinated. AN On Monday, March 18, 2024, Annie<hbannie8600@gmail.com>wrote: Agenda Item 24-209: I believe the proposed ordinance in the form presented is unnecessary and myopic. I trust in qualified and trained librarians who have the pulse on HB residents' needs to make the best decisions on the selection of books that serve the HB public. Agenda Item 24-197: I want to take the opportunity to underscore that libraries serve the public interest and are one of our most valuable community resources. A for-profit company's interests do not lie in the enrichment, education, and engagement of HB residents. Rather, private companies are obligated to their shareholders. For all this talk of "local control", I find it notable City Council is exploring an option that is contradictory to the very notion of local control. Stay away from our libraries. Thank you. AN HB Resident & Mobilized Voter 2 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:38 PM To: Moore,Tania Subject: FW: Out sourcing the library From:Carol Mims<thecarolsue@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19,2024 7:59 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Out sourcing the library What has the world come to or is it just the City of Huntington Beach.The library should be funded and run by the City. It should not be a money making institution. It should be free to any citizen of Huntington Beach to read any book they want. No books should be purged because a few people have decided no one should be allowed to read it.This is a right of our country!! Please keep the library as it is! Carol Mims 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:37 PM To: Moore, Tania Subject: FW: Privatizing OUR Library Original Message From:onewildart<onewildart@aol.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:44 PM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Privatizing OUR Library Dear Council Members, Here we are back at it again....you trying to ban books in the guise of making things....what? More controlled, less available, lining the pockets of corporations, and requiring the city of HB to maintain it. How does this serve our city? I am so incensed that this is what you feel our wonderful community deserves. We love our libraries...the feeling that it is OURS and we are welcome and it belongs to everyone. It functions beautifully. This is another instance of fixing something that isn't broke. Please have the decency to answer this question out loud in a council meeting with the public present.And LISTEN to all the reasons it isn't needed. A 48 year resident, Trudy Roe Sent from my iPad 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:37 PM To: Moore, Tania Subject: FW: Tuesday, March 19th City Council Meeting please record From:Jill Thrasher<jthrasher09@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19, 2024 4:59 PM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Tuesday, March 19th City Council Meeting please record Dear Mayor Van Der Mark and Council Members, Thank you for taking the time to read this message, as due to work commitments, I cannot attend the meeting this evening. Your constant attention to changing the Huntington Public Library is unwarranted. It seems you are determined to ruin one of the greatest assets of our city. I spent Sunday at the library and saw the destruction of the teen section. I guess only children need a place to be their peers but not teenagers. Teenagers used to have a safe place with books for their demographics. Now, not so. The teen section was not enough because now you want to privatize the library and hire an outside contractor to manage a well run library. People come from all over Orange County to use our library, listen to story times, and view our unique historic buildings. Our story time theater at Central Library was so ingenious that other libraries mimicked it. When I was in library school, students aspiring to be children's librarians would go to Huntington Beach to learn from our libraries. In addition, our collection of materials surpasses many libraries in Orange County which has been successfully maintained by our current staff. The budget has also been maintained for years. There is nothing broken within the library system. Bringing an outside contractor is not necessary. I guess it is necessary if you want to lesson our standing in the library community. A contractor is going to say one price for its service and then come up with more ways to charge the city. Contractor are out for money in their pockets. You do not know for sure it will save on penny for the city. A contractor will give you estimates and bids but they are always up for change and increases when problems arise. I know for some of you this note will go in the garbage because you want to further your political career on the back of the city of Huntington Beach. The more outrageous the more newsworthy for some of you. You will step on our city to move up in the political field at costs. I hope you will really reconsider this idea and work on our homeless problem, potholes, downtown crime and improving our parks. Please leave the library alone, your books are moved to where you wanted them, and start focusing on city issues that are broken. Sincerely, Jill Thrasher Library Director Sherman Library & Gardnens 2 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:35 PM To: Moore, Tania Subject: FW: I oppose privatizing library!! From:Gail Schwartz<teacheslstudents@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19,2024 3:28 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: I oppose privatizing library!! I oppose Item 22 and Item 24 on tonight's (March 19, 2024) Agenda for the City Council. Gail Schwartz 8736 Anchorage Drive Huntington Beach,CA 92646 714-466-0507 • Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:34 PM To: Moore,Tania Subject: FW: Preserve the public library From:The Raschke's<melrodraschke@verizon.net> Sent Tuesday, March 19, 2024 2:43 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Preserve the public library Dear City Council Members, • We are writing to express our profound concern regarding the proposal to privatize our beloved public library. As a long standing cornerstone of our community for over a century, the library has played an invaluable role in enriching the lives of countless residents. However, we fear that the privatization would jeopardize the integrity and accessibility of this essential institution. First and foremost, it is crucial to recognize the exemplary track record of our public library over the years. Through its commitment to fostering literacy, promoting life long learning, and providing equitable access to information, the library has consistently served as a beacon of enlightenment and empowerment for individuals of all background. To consider privatization is to disregard the legacy of progress and service that the library has faithfully upheld for generations. Furthermore, the prepossessed privatization appears to be motivated by ulterior motivates, including an attempt to undermine the rights of library staff. The presences of a union within the library is not merely a bureaucratic detail; it represents the collective voice of dedicated workers who tirelessly. serve our community. Any efforts to privatize the library must not be allowed to serve as a pretext for union-busting tactics that undermine the rights and livelihoods of these essential workers. Equally troubling is the suggestion that a private committee would assume the authority to dictate which books are made available to the public. The freedom to explore diverse perspectives and ideas lies at the heart of intellectual freedom, and any attempts to restrict or censor this fundamental right must vehemently opposed. Privatization would inevitably introduce profit-driven agendas that prioritize commercial interests over the principles of intellectual freedom and public service. Moreover, the lack of accountability and transparency inherent in privatization poses a significant threat to democratic principles. Granting unchecked decision-making authority to a private entity with no avenue for appeals effectively silences the voices of community members and disregards their input on matters that directly impact their lives. Such a scenario undermines the democratic process and erodes public trust in governments. In conclusion, we urge you to reconsider the proposed to privatize our public library and instead reaffirm your commitment to preserving it as a publicly-owned and operation institution. Let us honor the legacy of community service and intellectual freedom that the library represents by privatization and upholding the values of equity democracy, and public accountability. i Thank you for your attention to this critical issue, Melvina and Rodney Raschke • 2 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:33 PM To: Moore, Tania Subject: FW: Do Not Privatize the HB Public Library From:Glenda Mercado<g7lenda@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19, 2024 2:26 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Do Not Privatize the HB Public Library Hello. I have been an HB resident for 38 years and value our current library system. I oppose the privatization of the library. I know that the library will still be open to residents after privatization. However, I oppose outside entities making decisions on what we can and cannot read. Rather than allocating funds for the airshow,these monies should be allocated to the public library,which benefits our future generations. Respectfully, Glenda Mercado 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:31 PM To: Moore,Tania Subject: FW: Items for Approval for HB City Council Meeting on March 19, 2024 From:Tom Dillman<furio95@yahoo.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19, 2024 2:01 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Items for Approval for HB City Council Meeting on March 19,2024 I'm in favor of passing the following items on tonight's Agenda: 22. 24-197 Request authorization to issue a Request for Proposals for Managed Library Services for the Huntington Beach Public Library system 24. 24-209 Approve for introduction Ordinance No. 4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material 25. 24-208 Item Submitted by Council Member McKeon - Withdrawal, from the League of California Cities Sincerely, Tom Dillman Huntington Beach homeowner 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:29 PM To: Moore,Tania Subject: FW: City council agenda From:Jacqueline Waters<jacqueline.r.waters@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19, 2024 1:00 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:City council agenda To whom it may concern, I,AS A RESIDENT OF HUNTINGTON BEACH STRONGLY OPPOSE MANAGED LIBRARY SERVICES • ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM 22 • ITEM 24-197 Very Respectfully, SGT Jacqueline Waters Huntington Beach,CA 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:28 PM To: Moore, Tania Subject: FW: Library Agenda 3/19/24 From: Derek Kosko<dkosko@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:16 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Library Agenda 3/19/24 Hello City Council Members, I am a life-long HB resident, and I strongly opposed Items 22 and 24 on tonight's agenda. It is clear that these proposals are motivated by political posturing and not what is best for the city. Privatization of the library system and restriction of reading materials disenfranchises the public by restricting knowledge.An uneducated voter base is undemocratic. Also, restricting books for the safety of children?Come on.That's, like, straight out of the fascist handbook. Be better than that. -Derek Kosko 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:26 PM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: BOOK BANNING COMMITTEE Ordinance HB City Council 3-19-24 Original Message From: Donald Slaven<eyes9@verizon.net> Sent:Tuesday, March 19, 2024 10:15 AM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: BOOK BANNING COMMITTEE Ordinance HB City Council 3-19-24 Mayor, and City Council Members: Reject the proposed draft ordinance to establish a Book-Banning Committee that will destroy the long history of the Huntington Beach PUBLIC Library providing freedom of access to information. The actions by these 4 extremist Council Members continue to embarrass the citizens of Huntington Beach nationwide. This"Guardian Review Board" is not qualified, nor willing to select books that will offer the wide diversity of information of modern society. It is indeed HYPOCRITICAL that 4 Council members profess the usual slogan of Conservative Values-- "Getting the Government off the Backs of Citizens," now continue this Authoritarian takeover of Huntington Beach government in all aspects of citizen life& liberty. Donald Slaven 225 Alabama St. HB 92648 714 642-5361 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:25 PM To: Moore,Tania Subject: FW:Your agenda 3/19/2024 From: Kim Bennett<kbennett371@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19,2024 9:25 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Your agenda 3/19/2024 As a resident of Huntington Beach since the late 70s I've never felt the need to write the council until these past 2 years. I don't believe the current council majority was elected to dismantle the library. I cant find any campaign promise that included that? Moving books to unreachable areas and forming a hand picked committee to decide what can be shelved is a book ban. Privatizing management of the library is equivalent to selling the library. What is your goal here?? Stop looking for solutions to made up problems that don't exist and work on the things you were elected to do. Good grief Kim 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 11:25 AM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: Committee of Citizens to Evaluate Prospective Library Books From:Julie Rivera<rivera94@aol.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 19,2024 9:36 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Committee of Citizens to Evaluate Prospective Library Books Dear Sirs: I have lived in the Harbour for 50 years. When I first moved here, I was teaching high school English in Los Angeles County. I won't bore you with my acolytes suffice it to say that I hold an Masters' Degree in English from Whittier College. I was also a Literature Reader for the Educational Testing Service for over ten years. After my early retirement from high school teaching, I was a Lecturer in English at California State University, Long Beach. Literature is my specialty, having written my Master's thesis on Shakespeare. I am well aware that perhaps there are titles that students should not read. They are relegated to courses at colleges and universities. However, it depends on the evaluaters. Are they aware of the. intellectual and maturity levels of students in K-12 grades? Are they familiar with the texts? Do they have a political agenda? And finally, who will choose such evaluators? Will any teachers be part of these.committees? I regret that I was unable to attend the recent Council meeting. I am semi-disabled and have mobility issues. Please feel free to contact me at: 562-592-2776 or 714-376-1936 (cellphone) Julie Rivera 16103.St. Croix Circle Huntington Beach, CA 92649 1 Moore, Tania From: Laura G. <laura.y.gao@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 6:33 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Critical letter about Ordinance 4318 Community-Parent Guardian Review Board To the members of the board of Huntington Beach, Three years ago, I spoke to a room of teenagers at Huntington Beach Public Library over Zoom about my newest book, Messy Roots. Every teenager there related to its themes of immigration, being a part of different cultures, or the beauty of being able to love whoever you want. These teens inquired about and discussed these topics in such mature and profound ways, I was struck with appreciation and wonder. Never once did I question whether they needed guardianship over what they consumed. If anything,they taught me more than my books had taught them. However,this proposed book review board threatens all of that. Data has shown time-after-time that book reviews based on "sexual content" unfairly targets LGBTQ+ books. In a country in which our queer youth are already facing unjust laws and high rates of suicide and depression,this board is another step towards that direction. Not long ago, responsible parents would check through the stack of books their kids discovered amongst the endless rows of library shelves. My mom would crinkle her nose before placing the book neatly back into its shelf,saying, "This book is better suited for someone else." And that was okay. Because within time, I'd grow mature enough to decide for myself.And until then, countless more kids could enjoy it instead. But today, parents seem to have forgotten this was an option. Instead, it's easier to simply ban the book completely. Huntington Beach has allowed a small group of parents to weaponize their opinions against professionals with experience, degrees, and a Code of Ethics that serve all members of the community. Not just the most vocal. Do we let a cohort of parents dictate what artifacts should be displayed in our National museums?Or which medicines are available in our public hospitals?Then in what world should they supersede librarians and restrict access to books for the entire community? As a queer,first-generation immigrant author who now calls California her home, I can truly say without every single one of the books I devoured with my mother at our local library, I would not be the person I am today. I've heard the same words uttered from teens who have read my own books.Teens I've met personally at virtual visits to the Huntington Beach Public Library.Teens who will lose the most from decisions made by this book review board. My mother could've been the perfect candidate for this board.She refused to let me watch High School Musical until I was old enough to attend Prom, despite the fact the leads never even kiss until the sequel. But how would she have known?She never cared to watch it. Like many parents who never read a page before deeming a book too sexual,too "woke",or too anti-American for their innocent little children. Except my mother couldn't have banned Disney from airing the movie to every other household in our neighborhood. Nor would it have been fair to. 1 I implore the city of Huntington Beach to consider the same. Thank you, Laura Gao Author and illustrator 2 Laura Gao 6 cshe/they) ❑x www.lauragao.com `theylauragao 111 Moore, Tania From: Estanislau, Robin Sent: Wednesday,April 3, 2024 1:31 PM To: Moore,Tania; Switzer, Donna Subject: FW: Slow Down—Do Your Due Diligence on the Library Takeover Sorry if this is a duplicate. From:Shammy Dingus<shammyd@mac.com> Sent:Wednesday,April 3, 2024 11:57 AM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Cc:Walker, Renee<Renee.Walker@surfcity-hb.org>; Estanislau, Robin <Robin.Estanislau@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Slow Down - Do Your Due Diligence on the Library Takeover Dear Council Members, The FACTS show that a takeover of our library by a private, for-profit company, IS A VERY BAD IDEA. The council seems to be in a big hurry to decimate resident's services in an effort to cover up the reckless spending they approved over the last year — entering into a $7 million contract for airshows, hugely increasing the legal department's budget, and arbitrarily choosing to spend $400,000 simply to place its (purely political) ballot measures on the Primary ballot rather than the General election, where more voters vote and they likely would have failed. As I understand it, under the proposed takeover of the city's library system (which has been called the "jewel of the city") the city will still own the buildings, and the city would still be required to provide maintenance for all the aging buildings and other infrastructure, plus utilities, and security. But LS&S, the presumptive new operator, will take over control of the library's entire book collection, deciding which books to purchase or discard — rehire or replace ALL the personnel under their terms, and decide which programs to continue to provide. Huntington Beach has many unique programs which do not fit the LS&S business model. Our. Library System is already managed extraordinarily well! Over the last 9 years, from 2014 to 2023, the TOTAL cost for our libraries has only increased by 1 $100,000. That's a total of only 2% over NINE YEARS! That's pretty amazing for an award-winning library system! On the other hand, LS&S contracts increase their fees by at least 2.5% annually. That means our library expense will increase by over $100,000 EVERY YEAR! Let that sink in. In a few years, the library budget may require even more money than it does today - and the city will no longer be able to make cuts in it, if needed, because it will be under contract with fixed payments. In exchange for giving up control over all these people and assets, the city hopes to save up to $1 million dollars. But that's never going to happen. Not even close. If you had done your due diligence, you would have discovered that already, and picked some other area to make your cuts. For example, the city would lose the money currently donated by The Friends of the Library — which equals $250,000 PER YEAR. We would also lose donations from Friends of the Children's Library, equaling $50,000 PER YEAR. These 501(c)3 organizations are legally prohibited from giving their donations to a for-profit company. So you're starting out with a $300,000 LOSS as soon as you sign a contract to privatize the library's operations. In addition, the city would lose the grant money it currently receives and depends on. One example is the $92,000 Literacy Grant. So if the city adopts an outsourcing approach, we start off by losing nearly $400,000 we currently depend on to support the library. People from the FOIL have reached out to personnel at other LS&S libraries to see what happened there. Escondido sued the company to get out of their contract because the LS&S contract became too expensive, and LS&S refused to provide them with the transparency they needed. In another city, Santa Clarita, after they left LS&S they actually SAVED $400,000 the following year! That's because LS&S derives most of its savings by the dramatic changes they make over the first couple of years, after which services and patron satisfaction continue to decline while LS&S profits increase. 2 And what about the hundreds of volunteers who currently provide 33,000 hours (worth over a million dollars annually)? If they stop, which most of those I spoke to said they would, they will need to be replaced, at an additional cost — or library services will suffer even more. Another overlooked expense will be the refunding of pension contributions for all of the library staff who are not yet vested — which amounts to 8% of payroll, for up to 5 years of employment! I spent over a decade as the President/CEO of a publicly-held NASDAQ corporation. I know a bit about RFPs and outsourcing. Outsourcing is generally best used only for well-defined tasks, not complex major functions. It works well for things like maintenance, or order fulfillment — but should never include turning over management control of a key function that provides a wide variety of services. But if the council majority still thinks that the turnover of our library system to a private, for-profit company makes sense, then a DETAILED PLAN should be put together BEFORE THE RFP is distributed. The planning process should involve a committee of citizens and experts as well as staff who can identify the most likely implementation problems, staging of the implementation, and suggest practices and policies to be included in the RFP. We should NOT simply rely on the vendor's chosen performance indicators. The development of a detailed plan that precedes the issuance of the RFP is the most important part of the process. It's very difficult to negotiate significant changes in a contract that differs from the RFP. For example, it's unclear whether LS&S has the infrastructure or staff needed to implement their system in H.B. No other city in Orange County uses their services. Both Fullerton and Mission Viejo rejected proposals from LS&S. Meeting with, and evaluating their staff (or at least requiring a qualification statement addressing. their existing LOCAL infrastructure) in the RFP is essential. Furthermore, LS&S's standard contract is usually for a minimum of ten years. We need to make sure that OUR contract with them has an escape clause that allows us to review, and possibly modify or cancel the contract every year, or 2 years. That needs to be in the RFP. 3 The council needs to SLOW DOWN. Do your due diligence — form an advisory committee with the required skill set, and complete a proper PLAN — before the RFP goes out. Not doing this would be stunningly irresponsible. C "Shammy" Dingus shammyd@mac.com 4 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Wednesday,April 3, 2024 11:23 AM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: HB Library From:wulrich@aol.com<wulrich@aol.com> Sent:Tuesday,April 2, 2024 6:49 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: HB Library Please leave the HB Library organization alone. NO to community book banning in the name of "protecting" our children. No Public Community Parent Book Review board our Librarians are doing this job property. 21 randomly selected people are a better board that what we have had for years? No privatization. This will not fix anything, no problem exists We have a great system and paying a private profit based organization. There are so many holes in this process and "solution" your fab four should be ashamed and embarrassed with the way the city is now being run. There is little public input and you provide little if any information related to your process for making decisions. The current library process is just fine and has a successful history. I can only dream that you will learn from the public comments - Please do your homework and listen to the people who that their time to give you their input. Question -should we privatize out city government? Bet that would waste a ton of money - but sounds interesting :) Maybe a recall is coming up??? 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Wednesday,April 3, 2024 11:26 AM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: Really, making the library PRIVATE? From:Camille Esmerelda<chrohare@hotmail.com> Sent:Wednesday,April 3,2024 11:14 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Really, making the library PRIVATE? It appears only a "few" council people want this to happen, not us citizens of HB. Don't say this is to save taxpayer money, it's a PRIVATE firm which means someone will be benefiting from this venture and current staff will lose jobs—I'm sure they won't be "rehired". Plus, it seems that this is a way to ban more books,just as a few new "private" citizens who know nothing about selecting books are doing. Keep our library and excellently TRAINED staff who know what they are doing. 1 Moore,Tania From: Chris Varga <christopher.j.varga@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday,April 2, 2024 1:07 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Comment for City Council Mtg 4/2/24 Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame, Shame, Shame,Shame,Shame, Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame,Shame, Shame, Shame, Shame,Shame,Shame, You're going to have to put up with our sh*t until you are gone for our city. We're not going anywhere. You'll probably figure out a way to do away with Public Comments as you continue to reduce the time citizens and speak, plus you do no listen to the majority. It's like talking to a blank wall. Agenda Item#7(24-219)-NO on privatizing our PUBLIC library. NO to Parent-Guardian Review Board.Stop this waste of time. Let our public librarians do their jobs! Chris Varga Huntington Beach 1 Moore, Tania From: cherivatkinson@aol.com Sent: Tuesday,April 2, 2024 9:58 AM To: citycouncil@surfcity-hb.org;supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: I vote No on Privitization of the Library/No on a Selected volunteers to review books in the Library Dear HB City Council, I am writing to indicate a No Vote on the Privitization of the Library and No on the use of selected volunteers, to remove or redistribute books in the HB Libraries. The HB Library system has been working well, and I trust the librarians, and the opinion of Friends of the Library, who perform their duties professionally and without an agenda. The HB City Council has more importan issues,to address at this time. Cheri Atkinson LCSW Huntington Beach Resident 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Tuesday,April 2, 2024 2:09 PM ' To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: Ordinance 4318 Original Message From:Sharon<sharon.m.daniels@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday,April 2,2024 12:16 PM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Ordinance 4318 Goodafternoon. I wish to voice my opposition to.Ordinance 4318.As a citizen of Huntington Beach for 12 years I am against an ordinance amending our city code to add a Community Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children's Library materials. It is an unwise, unnecessary,and corporate use of tax dollars. Knowledgeable librarians and the caring and professional services they provide to our children and families is exactly what draw community members to our- public- library--emphasis on public. Sincerely, Sharon Daniels, Huntington Beach 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Tuesday,April 2, 2024 2:11 PM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW:Agenda item#7 Please NO. From: lisa radvansky<lisarad123@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday,April 2, 2024 1:50 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Agenda item#7 Please NO. Please reference agenda item#7- Adopt Ordinance No.4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community- Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material. I am wondering why the current city council is lately raising negative attention to our amazing library system and staff. This has been a welcoming and important part of our lives since moving here in 2001. It is a wonderful resource for its residents and open door:literacy is worth every penny. Please take supposed cost cutting somewhere else and not rush it through to a privatized outsource we don't know or need. Thank-you, Lisa Mosley Resident and Business owner 1 • Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Tuesday,April 2, 2024 10:16 AM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: City.Council@surfcity-hb.org Dear HB City Council: Please vote NO on item 7 at the April 2, 2024 city council meeting. From: Dan Jamieson-<danjamieson4@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday,April 2,2024 9:35 AM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: City.Council@surfcity-hb.org Dear HB City Council: Please vote NO on item 7 at the April 2,2024 city council meeting. Dear HB City Council: Please vote NO on item 7 at the April 2, 2024 city council meeting. The item, Proposed Ordinance No.4318 adding Chapter 2.66 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children's Library Material, is the ordinance to ban books in our library..Residents do not want politically appointed members of a board to review books for our library system.We employ professional library staff to do this important work.Vote NO. Sincerely, Dan Jamieson Roxanne McMillen Huntington Beach 1 Moore, Tania From:. Fikes, Cathy Sent: Tuesday,April 2, 2024 4:15 PM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: Council Meeting of 4/2/2024, Item 24-219 From:gelliottl@socal.rr.com<gelliottl@socal.rr.com> Sent:Tuesday,April 2, 2024 3:39 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Council Meeting of 4/2/2024, Item 24-219 Approval of this Ordinance will prove to be legally indefensible, administratively unworkable, a waste of taxpayer funds, and above all an insult to the intelligence and discretion of the constituency you were elected to serve. C. Elliott(Resident of HB since 1980) 1 Moore, Tania From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 4:16 PM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: NO Community-Parent Guardian Review Board From:Amy Black<amyjblack5@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday,April 2, 2024 3:59 PM To: McKeon, Casey<Casey.McKeon@surfcity-hb.org> Cc:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Re: NO Community-Parent Guardian Review Board Sure, here are some anti-freedom things the city council has done/supported: Flag ordinance Voter ID requirements Dissolved Human Relations Committee Rewrote Declaration on Human Dignity Removed ability for inter-faith invocation No visibility into the air show settlement Fighting to expand housing in our city Running our budget into a deficit I noticed on your election profile that you're a lifelong HB resident who wants to focus on solving the local issues. I'm curious when that focus switched to identity politics and an anti-progress agenda? I'm a 2nd generation HB resident, homeowner, parent, and love this city. Putting political differences aside, I want to make our city a great place to live and raise a family. But everything that has been done in the last few years (see non-exhaustive list above)with the current city council is driving us in the wrong direction. Ultimately, it's your job to prove you stand for freedom because all your policies and public comments have indicated you/the city council do not. It's not small government and fiscal responsibility, it's invasive and fiscal irresponsibility. There are so many other things the city could be focused on that would have real impact on our residents: Fixing/cleaning the bathrooms at the beach Putting more restrictions on short term rentals and vacant homes(this could be tax revenue!) Enacting safety policies on e-bikes How do you see that your policies are making Huntington Beach and more free and fair place? Thanks in advance. Amy On Apr 2, 2024, at 2:45 PM, McKeon, Casey<Casev.McKeon@surfcity-hb.org>wrote: Can you provide details on what you mean by"anti-freedom agenda"? 1 Thank you in advance. Casey McKeon City Council Member City of Huntington Beach 714-536-5553 On Apr 2, 2024, at 1:34 PM,Amy Black<amvjblack5@gmail.com>wrote: Hi Casey, Thank you for your response. Appreciate you explaining the machinations of this proposed censorship committee. My concern is not related to the committee process, but rather what the process means for our children and community at large. Given the current "anti-freedom" agenda the current council is currently so hell bent on pursuing, I have little faith that the books selected for review will be anything other than books that don't align with the small-minded and misinformed views of the council and whomever they select as part of the committee. Is there an issue with allowing parents to decided which books a child may see and read? My understanding and expectation that it is the responsibility and right of parents to determine what their children should be exposed to - not some censorship board that knows nothing about me, my family or children. Is there an issue with allowing children to seek knowledge and understanding about the world around them, even if you don't agree with it? Is there an issue with wasting taxpayers money on needless processes and eventual litigation for this wasteful committee?What's wrong with the existing process? I have never run into an offensive book at our libraries. For a council that seems to value freedom and free speech so much, it's quite a disappointment to see them taking every step they can to silence dissent and control what information their residents do and do not have access to. Thank you, Amy Black Concerned HB resident and parent 2 On Apr 2, 2024, at 10:35 AM, McKeon,Casey<Casev.McKeon@surfcity- hb.org>wrote: Thank you for your email Amy. The ordinance states that the Director will present a list of Children's books to be procured to the committee and then if a committee member pulls a book from that list to be further reviewed, all committee members will be provided a copy of the pulled book to review and then vote on. If no books are pulled to be reviewed,then those books on the list will be deemed approved. Is there an issue with installing safety protocols to protect children from sexually explicit and obscene material without parental consent? Is there an issue with taxpaying residents whose tax dollars pay for the public library being involved in the library process? I hope that answers your question. Thank you again for your email. Casey McKeon City Council Member City of Huntington Beach 714-536-5553 On Apr 2, 2024, at 8:25 AM,Amy Black <amyjblack5@gmail.com>wrote: To HB City Council, As a parent I am disheartened and disappointed by the recent acts of the city council. Our Huntington Beach libraries and librarians are one of the things that make our city so great! The fact that we are going down this road to police books is ridiculous. I didn't realize we were living in Nazi Germany. If you don't like the contents of a book,you don't have to read it or allow your children to read it.That's your choice as an individual, but you and this proposed review board 3 don't get to dictate what I can and can't do as a person or parent. I strongly disagree with this proposal to enact a community-parent guardian review board. Rather than promoting progress and inclusivity, it's taking us backwards. Please vote NO!!!! Thank you, Amy Black Huntington Beach resident and parent 4 Switzer, Donna. From:. Fikes, Cathy Sent: Friday,April 5, 2024 8:57 AM To: . Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: Libray Issues From:Jim Proctor<jamesrproctor@yahoo.com> Sent:Wednesday,April 3,2024 4:31 PM To:CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject: Libray Issues Dear Council: How much time and money are you going to spend banning a few books?This has been going on for months. There are existing procedures in place to have books Ms. Van Der Mark finds objectionable removed. All of this other stuff is Culture War Grandstanding. Where will that get you or us?This is not governance. If you want to protect children work on gun control. Best regards, Jim Proctor 1 Switzer, Donna From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Friday,April 5, 2024 9:20 AM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: Ordinance No 4318 From:;Bryan Bazalar<bbazalar90@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday,April 3, 2024 10:42 PM To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL. CMO STAFF)<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Ordinance No 4318 Greetings City Council, - My name is Bryan Bazalar and I am a Librarian with the Burbank Public Library. I read about the recent passing of Ordinance No 4318 and plans to privatize the Library.These actions are shameful and a disgrace to intellectual freedom. I respectfully request that you listen to your credentialled Librarians and the concerned citizens of your community and undo the harm you have already done.Thank you. 1