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Item Submitted by Councilman Chad Williams, Councilman Don K (2)
pNTiNGT 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach,CA F City of Huntington Beach 92648 APPROVED 7-0 \CF;48/Vo,.;.�Fo � File #: 25-454 MEETING DATE: 6/3/2025 Subiect: Item Submitted by Councilman Chad Williams, Councilman Don Kennedy, and Councilman Butch Twining -Affirmation for Public Library and Assets Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-45, "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Affirming that the Public Library Will Not Be Sold and that Books Will Not Be Banned." Attachment(s): 1. Councilman Williams, Councilman Kennedy, Councilman Twining Memo 2. Resolution No. 2025-45 City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 1 Printed on 5/29/2025 powered by LegistarTM 714 `001,--- --Apoi tA CITY OF $ s' HUNTINGTON BEACH ` os GFeoUNT ;`;!''� City Council Meeting - Council Member Items Report To: CITY COUNCIL From: CHAD WILLIAMS, COUNCILMAN DON KENNEDY, COUNCILMAN BUTCH TWINING, COUNCILMAN Date: JUNE 3, 2025 Subject: AFFIRMATION FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ASSETS ISSUE STATEMENT We would like to affirm by City Council Resolution that the Huntington Beach Public Library (HBPL) will not be sold and books will not be banned. HBPL is a long-standing public institution. It is funded by our taxpayers and is valued among our residents. Recently, the public has expressed concerns regarding the future of the HBPL and library materials. City Council does not support banning books and books shall not be banned from the HBPL. The Huntington Beach Public Library shall not be sold. RECOMMENDED ACTION Adopt Resolution No. 2025-45 "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, Affirming that the Public Library Will Not Be Sold and that Books Will Not Be Banned." STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL Non Applicable -Administrative Item ATTACHMENT 1. Resolution No. 2025-45 2000 Main Street,Huntington Beach,CA 92648 I www.huntingtonbeachca.gov 715 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-45 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AFFIRMING THAT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL NOT BE SOLD AND THAT BOOKS WILL NOT BE BANNED WHEREAS, the Huntington Beach Public Library is a long-standing public institution funded by taxpayers and valued by the residents of Huntington Beach; and WHEREAS, the public has expressed concerns regarding the future of the library and the treatment of library materials, prompting the need for clarity from the City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does hereby resolve as follows: 1. The Huntington Beach Public Library shall not be sold. It will remain a publicly owned asset; and 2. Books shall not be banned from the Huntington Beach Public Library. PA$SED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a regular meeting thereof held on the 3rd day of June 2025. Mayor REVIEWED &APPROVED: APPROVED AS TO FORM: .o akLIL City Manager City Attorney • 1 25-16530/379770 Res. No. 2025-45 STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH ) I, LISA LANE BARNES, the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of the City of Huntington Beach, and ex-of iicio 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 resolution was passed and adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the members of said City Council ' at a Regular meeting thereof held on June 3, 2025 by the following vote: AYES: Twining, Kennedy, McKeon, Burns, Van Der Mark, Gruel, Williams NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, California F From: cornett o45(mearthlink.net To: Suoolementalcomm(a�surfcity-hb.orq Subject item 25-454 Date: Monday,June 2,2025 8:37:48 AM Dear City Council We know that the HBCC won't sell the library or its books. However,based on what some city council members have said,they will allow the library to be "operated or managed by a private contractor"(text from Measure B). To be"operated or managed by a private contractor",means, in other words, "Outsource"or "Privatize". Don't be fooled by promises that the HBCC will not sell the library. They will outsource the library operations as soon as they can. Charlie Jackson 24 year HB resident Cutting out extra text No public library owned or operated by the City...,[or]any service provided by the Huntington Beach Public Library....,be operated or managed by a private contractor...unless: (3)it is authorized by the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the total membership of the City Council and by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the electors voting on such proposition at a general or special election at which such proposition is submitted Full text of the measure No public library owned or operated by the City as of March 19,2024,or hereafter owned or operated by the City,shall be sold,leased,exchanged or otherwise transferred or disposed of,nor shall any service provided by the Huntington Beach Public Library as of March 19,2024,be operated or managed by a private contractor that employs library staff to achieve cost savings and/or any proposal that would change the wholesale management of any Huntington Beach library unless:(1) such service was outsourced to a private organization or operated pursuant to a managed services agreement with a private entity during any period from January 1,2018 through March 19,2024;(2). the City declares a fiscal emergency pursuant to Article XIIIC,Section 2(b)of the California Constitution;or(3)it is authorized by the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the total membership of the City Council and by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the electors voting on such proposition at a general or special election at which such proposition is submitted SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION Meeting Date: 6-3-2025 ,Agenda Item No. 26 (25-454) From: Carol Daus To: suoolementalcommCla surfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF) Subject: Resolution 25-454 Date: Monday,June 2,2025 2:30:09 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from caroldaus©gmail.ec m.Learn why this is important Dear Council Members, Your Agenda Item 25,pertaining to Resolution 25-454, is just another example of polarizing political theater. It's incredibly insincere since you have actively endorsed NO on Measures A and B. This resolution reminds me of your decision to install a MAGA plaque at the library. 1)If you're utilizing a book review board of random strangers, with no professional librarians, to determine which books are acquired or kept, it's book banning.Any First Amendment/civil rights attorney will tell you that. Giving total and non-appealable authority to a group of untrained book judges (with their only qualification being age 18 and up), would be considered book banning. In addition, the state of California will sue because this would be illegal in California. That means our city would face another costly lawsuit. 2)No one has ever said the library is being sold. But outsourcing is a whole different story. Bringing in a for-profit corporation with outside investors to manage library operations, including staffing, book collection and programming does not involve "selling the library" but it essentially would destroy our efficiently run public library. A city council that cares about the will of its citizens would let them have a say in such an important matter. That's all Measure B is about.Huntington Beach taxpayers should be able to decide whether they want their taxes funneled to out-of-state investors and former Council Member Mike Posey's sales commission! Voting Yes on Measures A and B prevents book banning and outsourcing of our public library. Thank you, Carol Daus Huntington Beach resident From: Natalie Moser To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);supolementalcomm(a)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Supplemental Comment on Agenda Item#26—Resolution Regarding Library and Book Bans Date: Monday,June 2,2025 4:45:36 PM i — .. , ,—— Some people who received this message don't often get emailfrom nataiiemoser76@gmail.corrt.Learn why tits's ' irpportant "' ., Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers, I submit this comment regarding Agenda Item #26, specifically Resolution No. 2025-45, which claims the Huntington Beach Public Library "will not be sold" and that"books will not be banned." Let's speak plainly: This is political posturing. The introduction of this non-binding resolution—one week before the June 10 special election—is an attempt to influence voters and cast doubt on the need for Measures A and B. While some may argue that this is merely an "informational" item, the timing, language, and messaging surrounding this resolution make the intent to sway the outcome of the election clear. In fact, Government Code Section 54964 prohibits the use of public funds—including staff time—for the purpose of advocating for or against a ballot measure. This resolution required City Attorney resources and public staff time to draft and place on the agenda. Given its clear political intent and proximity to the election, Item #26 violates the law.Any claim that this is neutral or educational falls apart when the resolution mirrors the language and talking points used in public"Vote No" campaign materials. This Council—including many of the same members who passed Ordinance No. 4318—is now trying to deflect from its own actions. That ordinance created a 21-member "Community Parent-Guardian Review Board"with the authority to review, restrict, and reclassify books based on "sexual content" or"sexual references".—vaguely defined terms open to broad interpretation and ideological bias. The ordinance applies to all books accessible to anyone under 18, not just young children. It provides no meaningful appeal process. This is not community oversight. It is structural censorship. While Councilmembers Chad Williams, Butch Twining, and Don Kennedy were not seated at the time the ordinance passed, all expressed public support for it. And Councilmember Andrew Gruel, since appointed, has made clear on social media that he favors both the ordinance and its effects. And let's not forget: the public was right to be concerned about the privatization of our public library. Though the resolution now insists the library "shall not be sold," the Council previously pursued a contract with for-profit operator LS&S to take over its operations. That effort was dropped only after community outrage—not because of council initiative. Natalie Moser Former Huntington Beach City Council Member From: diannef22(a)vahoo.com To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF)suoolementalcomm(@surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Oppose Item#26 Date: Monday,June 2,2025 4:59:22 PM Councilmembers Williams, Kennedy, and Twining are being extremely deceitful. The Council voted unanimously to move forward with a special election which is exactly what has created all the controversy in Huntington Beach with regard to the library. While it is true that you are not considering selling the library, you left out that you may consider outsourcing the management of the library while retaining all the expenses and liability for owning the building. Maintenance expenses as the building ages will increase for the City while you may choose to allow a private company to reap profits by reducing access to materials and services that we have come to expect in our library. The definition of a book ban according to Encyclopedia Brittanica is "book banning, the practice of prohibiting or restricting the reading of certain book"which is exactly what you will be doing if the Book Review Committee is not repealed. Stop playing games. Diane James From: EllenJacobs To: suoolementalcommasurfcity-hb.orq Subject: PUBLIC LIBRARY Date: Tuesday,June 3,2025 11:45:17 AM [You don't often get email from ejacobs@socal.rr.com.Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LeamAboutSenderldentificatiou] Please admit to the hypocrisy that A and B are trying to correct. Cleanup your act and represent the citizens of your community. Sent from my iPad From: McKeon,Casey To: Mary Ann Celinder Cc: suaolementalcomm(alsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Re:Library Date: Monday,June 2,2025 8:22:48 PM Thank you for your email Mary Ann. 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 Jun 2,2025, at 7:41 PM,Mary Ann Celinder<macelinder@gmail.com>wrote: Happy Pride Month! Did that make you recoil or smile? Credit to Gov. Pritzker for the following : "When we see someone who doesn't look like us, or sound like us, or act like us, or love like us, or live like us—the first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either fear or judgment or both. That's evolution. We survived as a species by being suspicious of things we aren't familiar with." "In order to be kind, we have to shut down that animal instinct and force our brain to travel a different pathway. Empathy and compassion are evolved states of being. They require the mental capacity to step past our most primal urges," From: Isabella Ford To: CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF);suoolementalcommOsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: Do you think you are perfect? Date: Tuesday,June 3,2025 8:17:08 AM Dear city council members, Had you ever made a mistake? How did you fix that mistake? Take•a step back and think about what freedom in America means. "United we stand, divided we fall" You are amplifying and encouraging division in a city that was the best city (in my opinion as we purposely chose it to be our home in 1995). You have the power to unite or continue to divide. I believe you can teach an old dog new tricks and that is only too late when you're gone. Start with voting and choosing YES on measures A and B. Isabella Ford 714-308-0660 From: Sue Welfringer To: sunolementalcommCa)surfcity-hb.orq Subject: Oppose Agenda Item#26-25-454 Date: Tuesday,June 3,2025 8:35:00 AM Dear Mayor and City Council, If you are being truthful and transparent about your resolution, "Affirming that the Public Library Will Not Be Sold and that Books Will Not Be Banned"you need to add the following: ....however,we can outsource the management of the library to a For-Profit company at will, and the community cannot stop us.Also,our untrained, politically appointed committee has full and unappealable authority to determine what books are included the collection, ultimately reducing the scope of materials to reflect our narrow world views. Am I wrong? You accuse those who support YES on A&B as misleading the community.Time to look in the mirror. It is appalling to know that you use our tax dollars to push your personal agendas.Talk about government over-reach. But,then again,that is what this council has been doing for two and a half years. I have never regretted four votes more. I am a registered Republican, and you do not represent me or my values. Regards, Sue Welfringer HB Resident since 1997 Switzer, Donna From: Stacey Shell <stacey.shell@outlook.com> Sent: Wednesday,June 4, 2025 4:43 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Subject: Public Comments for Agenda Items 25-454 and 25-463 You don't often get email from stacey.shell@outlook.com.Learn why this is important Dear City Clerk, Please include mycomments for theJune 3 2025, CityCouncil meeting. g Dear Mayor Burns and Members of the City Council, I strongly support adopting Resolution 2025-45 tonight.We must lock in no library sales or bans with unwavering resolve! This resolution backs our 2024 book safety plan under Resolution 2023-41, and I proudly stand with our community to prioritize children's safety. Your consistent focus on protection is a commendable achievement that demands recognition. I firmly endorse authorizing a letter opposing AB 84. Huntington Beach thrives with charter schools under the Charter Schools Act of 1992, Education Code Section 47600, which guarantees parental choice in education.AB 84, amended May 5, 2025, claims to enhance accountability with an Education Inspector General and audits for all local educational agencies to prevent fraud.Yet, its restrictions on nonclassroom-based charters and excessive audit costs will lead to closures, blatantly undermining parental choice laws. I demand clarity on Governor Newsom's intent- his agenda likely seeks to control educational narratives, curb charter growth, and reallocate funds amid the state's $12 billion budget deficit! I insist on local control to safeguard our children's educational options and urge the Council to act decisively with this opposition. Sincerely, Stacey Shell Huntington Beach, CA 1