HomeMy WebLinkAboutSelect a Candidate for Appointment to Vacated City Council �U� i'� o, 2000 Main Street,
Otel� ;•{,9pp�j,. Huntington Beach,CA
92648
City of Huntington Beach APPROVED 5-0-1
c� For (McKEON—ABSENT)
File#: 25-204 MEETING DATE: 3/18/2025
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Jennifer Carey, Deputy City Manager
Subject:
Select a Candidate for Appointment to Vacated City Council Seat
Statement of Issue:
On March 11, 2025, Councilman Tony Strickland resigned his City Council seat to accept the position
of Senator for California District 36. Pursuant to Section 312 of the Huntington Beach Charter,
unscheduled vacancies on the City Council are to be filled by an appointment of the City Council
within 60 days.
Financial Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with appointing a candidate to fill the vacant City Council seat.
Recommended Action:
Select a candidate for appointment to the vacated City Council seat.
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
On March 11, 2025, Councilman Tony Strickland was sworn in as a California Senator for District 36.
As a result, Strickland resigned from his Huntington Beach City Council seat, leaving an unscheduled
City Council vacancy. Per Section 312 of the Huntington Beach Charter, unscheduled vacancies on
the City Council are to be filled by an appointment of the City Council within 60 days. Further, the
Charter stipulates that if the City Council fails to fill the vacancy within the specified timeframe, a
special election must be held to fill the vacated role.
City Manager Travis Hopkins met with remaining City Council Members individually to gather their
recommendations on potential replacements. While additional individuals may be recommended by
City Council, the following Huntington Beach residents were suggested:
• Valentina Bankhead
City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 2 Printed on 3/12/2025
powered by Legistar m
35
File#: 25-204 MEETING DATE: 3/18/2025
• Ken Babineau
• Andrew Gruel
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections
15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change
in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the
CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for.
resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable -Administrative Item
City of Huntington Beach Page 2 of 2 Printed on 3/12/2025
powered by LegistarTM
36
From: McKeon.Casey
To: Carol Daug
Cc: suoolementalcomm aC isurfcity-hb.orq
Subject Re:agenda item-#10
Date: Friday,March 14,2025 3:44:24 PM
Thank you Carol.
Tony was elected in 2022,not when Moser ran in 2024.
Casey McKeon
Mayor Pro Tempore
City Council
For Appointments: (714) 536 - 5553
Cell: (714) 794 - 5322
Casey.McKeon@surfcity-hb.org
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
2000 Main Street,Huntington Beach,
CA 92648
On Mar 14,2025, at 10:34 AM, Carol Daus<caroldaus@gmail.com>wrote:
Some peopre rho rece yed this''` essage don tofteriget email from caro[daus gr�ait com eam why this is:
important 5S
Dear Council Members,��
Due to the polarized and contentious atmosphere in our city, it makes sense to replace Tony
Strickland's position with somebody who speaks for other voices in the community. At this
point,many(myself included)feel there is nobody in our city government representing their
interests due to the.7-0 MAGA council and committees and commissions filled with their
political appointees.
It's for this reason I propose that you select the individual who received the next highest
number of votes last November, in other words fourth place. Please consider appointing
Natalie Moser. (Natalie Moser received 39,700+votes in 2024---more than she did in her
previous election when she won!) Natalie has the civic government experience a pP EMENTAL
community support needed to bring HB citizens together to help make Huntington eacn a
stronger city. COMMUNICATION
Meeting;Date: 3/18/2025
Agenda atem:No. 10 (25-204)
From: drvnersoneearthlink.net
To: CITY COUNCIL ONCL.CM0 STAFF);suoolementalcommesurfcity-hb.orq -
Subject: Supplemental Communications-multiple items including agenda item 10
Date: Monday,March 17,2025 1:08:13 PM
Someepeoplewho received this message don't ofterfrge errraiPfrom ynerson@eartrttfnC rtet Learn why this,is
important
The hypocrisy of this city council really knows no bounds.
You gave away millions of taxpayers' dollars to the Pacific Air Show for unsubstantiated
damages that the city was not even responsible for. You pretend that the settlement you
"negotiated"and championed has no legal impact, despite the clause that both parties
want the courts to enforce it. You hid the settlement from the public and ended up
paying a settlement of over$180,000,when you could have settled earlier for
substantially less cost or avoided all the costs by simply releasing the settlement.
You initiated the citizens book review committee and,when citizens qualified a measure
to repeal it,you chose the most expensive options available to you to validate the
signatures and to hold the required election. You fail to mention that you could have
accepted the petitioners request for zero cost or saved over a million dollars by putting
the measures on the next general election. Then you have the audacity to blame the
citizens for the expense and justify that it's not a problem because the city has"one-
time" money it can use. I guess you've never heard of opportunity cost-i.e.,the other
uses that"one-time" money could have been put to that can no longer be supported.
You try to privatize our libraries, ostensibly to save money, by attacking one of the most --
efficiently run libraries in the entire state with one of the smallest percentages of the
city's budget. When looking for cost savings and efficiencies, it's usually the largest
budget items that offer the most potential for savings.
You try to get around the requirements of 1992 Measure C by claiming that the contract
for the Symphony of Flowers is a license, not a lease, but the legal definition of license
says that the licensee does not have exclusive access to the property. Yet,the contract
allows the promoter to put walls around the installation,which effectively makes their
use exclusive, and therefore not a license, but a lease-something specifically forbidden
by the city charter without a municipal election approving that use.
You railed repeatedly about the fact that Rhonda Bolton was appointed to fill a vacant
city council seat, even though there was an extensive search and evaluation process
that considered over 100 applicants. Yet on tonight's agenda you propose to appoint
one of three candidates without ever soliciting applicants for the position or holding any
public hearings on the process. SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
Meeting Date: 3/18/2025
Agenda (tent No.,: 10 (25-204)
From: cornetto45aearthlink.net
To: suoulementalcommCalsurfcity-hb.orq
Subject: item 10,25-204
Date: Tuesday,March 18,2025 7:16:22 AM
I am disappointed that the process to replace Tony Strickland did not consider an open and
transparent process with many applicants.The closed process clearly can not have found the
most qualified person;it only found a person with the right political connections.
However, if the city council were to appoint a person for a temporary time, and then hold an
election—it would be defensible for the city council to appoint just about anyone to fill the
spot until an election was held
Since the city will be holding a special election. it will cost very little to add a city charter
amendment that only addresses the election to replace a temporary appointment. The recent
ballot measures failed because of other material in the measure. Having talked with people
on both sides in HB, I think that such a measure would be well received.
Charlie Jackson
A 23 year resident of Huntington Beach
Text from recent Measure C, about replacing members(basically the same as an earlier
measure)
Section 312.VACANCIES, FORFEITURES AND REPLACEMENT.
(a)Vacancies.A vacancy in the City Council or in any other office designated as elective by this
Charter,from whatever cause arising,shall be filled by appointment by the City Council with at
least four affirmative votes.
(b) Forfeiture. If a member of the City Council is absent from all regular meetings of the City
Council for a period of thirty consecutive days from and after the last regular City Council
meeting attended by such member, unless by permission of the City Council expressed in its
official minutes,the office shall become vacant. If an elected City officer pleads guilty or no
contest to or is convicted of a felony or any crime of moral turpitude, or ceases to be an elector
of the City,the office shall become vacant.The City Council shall declare the existence of
such vacancy.Any elective officer of the City who shall accept or retain any other elective
public office, except as provided in this Charter,shall be deemed thereby to have vacated the
office under the City Government.
(c) Replacement. In the event it the City Council shall fail to fill a vacancy by appointment
within sixty days after such office shall become vacant,the City Council shall forthwith cause
an election to be held to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the City
Council fills the vacancy by appointment, such appointee shall hold office until an election to
fill the remainder of the unexpired term at the next general municipal election.Should the
appointment occur after the filing deadline for the next general municipal election,the seat
shall be deemed vacant upon the certification of the general municipal election, and the
From: Powell dorig
To: suoolementalcommla)surfcity-hb.orq;Vigliotta.Mike
Cc: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);city.manager( surfcity-hb.orq;Vialiotta.Mike
Subject: 25-204 Table Appointment of Vacant City Council Seat and Request Appreciations
Date: Tuesday,March 18,2025 8:32:20 AM
I am asking that the City Council table the selection to fill the vacant city council seat and put
out a request for applications. That was the procedure followed for the last city council
vacancy and the city received one hundred applications to choose from.
If the City Council chooses not to follow this suggestion,Andrew Gruel's name should be
withdrawn from consideration because he was selected in violation of the Brown Act §5495.2
(b).
On Saturday, March 1st,the Huntington Beach City Council and City Clerk attended an
unannounced meeting,where former City Attorney Michael Gates announced that Andrew
Gruel would be replacing Tony,Strickland on the City Council. This announcement was made
in front of the official city seal,which constitutes a violation of regulations. (Video below.)
During the meeting,Andrew Gruel was called up to the stage and warmly greeted by the
Councilmembers.At the time, it was widely known that Tony Strickland would be leaving for
the state senate.Importantly, a quorum of the City Council was present,making this gathering
a violation of the Brown Act, specifically §5495.2 (b). -
March 3, 2025, at a press conference,Mayor Bruns stated that he did not know who would be
asked to fill the position—an obvious falsehood. Given these circumstances,Andrew Gruel's
name should be removed from consideration for the replacement appointment.
Doris Powell
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1141973660571016?s=yWDuG2&fs=e&mibextid=Nif5oz
Moore, Tania
From: James E <jamesloveshb@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 8:23 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org; McKeon, Casey
Subject: Agenda Item 10 (25-204) Casey McKeon Quote
You don't often get email from jamesloveshb@gmail.com.Learn why this is important
Hello Council,
As you decide on who will be our next City Councillor, I would like to quote your own colleague
Councilmember Casey McKeon, who in 2021 said:
"It is incumbent on the current Council to Honor The Vote by letting the voters decide on who should
be appointed to Council to fill [the] vacancy. We all preach democracy, equality and fairness and the
truly democratic procedure would be to honor the vote and appoint the individual that received the
next highest votes in the [November] election."
By your own words, Casey, you have affirmed that the proper democratic procedure is to respect the
outcomes of the most recent election. I hope you give the voters what they asked for by nominating
Natalie Moser, the runner up, to fill the vacant seat. Any other action on this item would be an affront
to your constituents and a conscious subversion of democratic integrity.
Thank you,
James
Moore, Tania
From: K- <kkelly@cluemail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 10:00 AM
To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: New Council Member - Special Election in June
Some people who received this message don't often get email from kkelly@cluemail.com.Learn why this is important
To the Huntington Beach City Council,
Because it seems to matter to you, I'll start with my"credentials"- I am a business owner in HB (since
1984), I own multiple properties (residential and business), I have taught in the OVSD, I have taught in the
private sector in Huntington Beach as well. I was a girl scout leader for 2 of my children's troops, a den
leader for one son and scoutmaster for another, both in Pacifica District. And I have lived full time in
Huntington Beach since 2000, homeschooling and raising 4 children- all now adults. I have also
volunteered in so many ways and capacities, too many to list. I did list some "credentials" because while
I understand that some people think HB voices should matter over others, I recognize the students I
taught, the scouts I lead, the employees who work for me, do not all*LIVE* in HB, yet, they are active
community members who may not get to vote in our elections, they should get a voice in our city
workings.
Which, ironically, with all my"credentials" I do not have a voice anymore.
Over 40 years, we have engaged with HB City Hall, multiple times-that's what happens when you are a
business owner/employee/community participant- and I have never felt less represented than I do with
this "non-partisan" council who is obsessed with culture wars, looking for fodder to help fun their next
bigger election.
Honestly, there are too many problems and issues with this council for one email, so I will focus on the
replacement of Tony Strickland's position.
When Council Member Ortiz quit,there was a push from several of you who are now on the dias, to
replace him with the runner up, now Council Member Van der Mark. I personally disagreed to that
method, because from the time of the election until the appointment, feelings of who would have been
voted for, change-which is why I do not advocate that former Council Member Natalie Moser (runner up
from this past election) automatically be given the seat. Instead- since the at the last Council Meeting it
was established that there should be a special election on June 10th regarding the library, we should use
that time to elect the new Council Member... literally, THAT would be the most democratic thing to do.
"The idea of a special election is oftentimes the best scenario when it comes to a representative
democracy because it's the people who get the option to elect somebody" -quoted from Chapman
University professor and elections expert Mike Moodian in 2021 (AND we are already having a special
election on June 10th)
Alas, as this current council does not seem interested in hearing from their constituents (again, that
could be a whole other email)they plan instead to appoint and vote in a new Council Member tonight.
i
Which, for those elected to represent*ALL*of Huntington Beach, none of you seem to want to listen to
us.
Contrasting this current situation to Council Member Ortiz' replacement-that council held a special
meeting the day after Council Member Ortiz quit to publicly discuss how they should fill the vacancy,
where is this council's transparency?!!The Community Gossip Boards has had more discussion on this
issue.With the past situation,the past council had a special meeting agenda when they held 2*DAYS* of
interviews, over 200 people applied (182 applicants were visible-this time? None are public), last time,
the council meet with over 100 applicants! (This is typically what most cities do).
Sadly,the reality is that this current council is rushing in a new council member without ANY
transparency or public oversight-this is NOT democracy nor is this council non-partisan.
I STRONGLY recommend that the council hold off on any appointments and move for the position to be
added to the special elections ballot(we are paying close to a million dollars for it-why it couldn't have
waited until November?We know the answer).And, let's be honest, even if the most liberal of candidates
were to be elected by the democratic process, this council would outnumber them and continue to work
as a majority... but, adding this to the special election at least gives the constituents in this city a vote on
who represents them. Nepotism and hidden agendas need to stop.
in disbelief,
-K
•
Moore, Tania
From: Valentina Bankhead <valentinabankhead@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 7:05 PM
To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org
Subject: 3/18/25 Agenda Item 10. 25-204
You don't often get email from valentinabankhead@gmail.com. Learn why this is important
Valentina Bankhead Huntington Beach resident.
I am deeply honored to have the privilege to be a part of the 3 suggested council member choices to join
the Huntington Beach City Council that Tony Strickland has recently vacated due to his newly elected
position as our State Senator in District 36.
If I am appointed for the highly contested position, I would want to fully engage &focus solely on city
issues &the protection to the constituency that I would represent. This community deserves a council
member that can collaboratively work together with you &also help them achieve the best possible
solutions to our city needs. I would love to have this opportunity, but moving forward at this time, I have
to humbly decline.
As my current job has me extremely busy, a job I fully love, with amazing Patriot owners, I would be
unable to give my full 110% concentration to this community and the council. As I am truly blessed to
have this opportunity,
I do know how hard you all work to maintain the city's integrity, the city's budget&the collective
responsibility you hold for the safety and restoration of our beautiful small-town beach home.
I know you will carefully appoint the best possible person to fill the seat.
In the meantime, I am available to assist in other capacities, on a part-time basis, to ensure that the
council remains strong and continues on the same path forward that the conservative members before
us have set forth.
Thank you and God bless Huntington Beach.
Valentina Bankhead
714-363-1188
ValentinaBankheadagmail.com
i