COUNCILMEMBER Rhonda Bolton (OC Tribune photo).

By Daniella Moreau/Orange County Tribune

Mask and vaccine mandates are now banned in the city after a split council adopted the resolution at the Huntington Beach City Council meeting Tuesday night.

The council voted 4-3, with Mayor Tony Strickland, Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark, and Councilmembers Pat Burns and Casey McKeon in favor of prohibiting masks and vaccine mandates in the city.

In opposition were council members Natalie Moser, Dan Kalmick, and Rhonda Bolton.

“This resolution is in response to 2020 and how the state addled the pandemic,” said Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark. “I believe as a city we need to stand up for our residents and businesses.” 

Acknowledging that there are no mandates on masks and vaccinations at present, she said, “This resolution is a pre-emptive measure to protect our residents from suffering from the same abuses of power they had to endure from the draconian and tyrannical measures imposed by the State of California.”

Councilmember Dan Kalmick commented, “This will, I believe, go into some sort of archive at some point as a failure in public policy.”

Councilmember Natalie Moser termed the resolution an act of  “political theatre.”

“It’s really demeaning to the city and the policy that we make on a regular basis,” said Moser.

The resolution would prohibit the city from imposing requirements for masks or vaccine mandates within its jurisdiction, except if someone tested positive for COVID-19. Also, businesses would have the right to impose masks or proof of vaccination requirements.

Additionally, the council voted unanimously to pass the new e-bike laws in an emergency ordinance, which goes into effect immediately.

The meeting included 31 people who signed up for public comment, with many commenting on the proposed charter amendments regarding election.

The council will meet on Thursday in a special meeting to discuss proposed charter amendments on city elections, which California State Attorney General Rob Bonta has warned may be illegal.

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 17.