HUNTINGTON BEACH CIVIC CENTER (Orange County Tribune photo).
The conservative majority on the Huntington Beach City Council continued to place its stamp on Surf City with a torrent of actions as its meeting stretched until the early morning hours of Wednesday.
On votes that were typically 4-3 (Mayor Tony Strickland, Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark and Councilmembers Pat Burns and Casey McKeon prevailing over opposition from Councilmembers Natalie Moser, Dan Kalmick and Rhonda Bolton) the council not only voted to dissolve the Human Relations Committee and Mobile Home Advisory Board – as reported here earlier – but also the Jet Noise Commission and the Smart Cities and Technology Council Committee and Environmental and Sustainability Board.
They included:
- Changing the election cycle for city clerk and treasurer from presidential election years (2024, 2028) to gubernatorial years (2026, 2030);
- Eliminating some qualifications to be eligible to serve as city clerk;
- Taking over control of city elections from the County of Orange;
- Allowing the Olympic flag to be flown on city property.
In each case, the council Ad Hoc committee that recommended those charter amendments was composed of members of the majority.
The council adjourned at 1:16 a.m. Wednesday. The next council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 5.