Housing, invocation actions approved by split council

HUNTINGTON BEACH CIVIC CENTER (Orange County Tribune photo).

Approval of a new policy limiting the display of flags on city property to only government flags – and the POW/MIA banner – were not the only controversial decisions made by the Huntington Beach City Council on Tuesday night.

As with the flag policy, taken by many to mean a ban on the rainbow “gay pride” flag, the majority in favor was Mayor Tony Strickland, Mayor Pro Tem Gracey VanDer Mark and Councilmembers Pat Burns and Casey McKeon, with Councilmembers Rhonda Bolton, Dan Kalmick and Natalie Moser opposed on these actions:

• directing the city attorney to take legal action to challenge several state housing mandates, including lot splits and accessory housing units;
• directing the city manager to work with the city attorney to return with a policy on invocations at council meetings to create and maintain a list of religious leaders or associates, evaluate them and create a rotation system for religious leaders for invocations.

The council meeting – begun with three hours of heated public comments – lasted until adjournment at 11:39 p.m.