HUNTINGTON BEACH Central Library as seen from the Central Park. One of the best libraries in the county, it’s become the center of controversy (OC Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano
Orange County Tribune

After hours of public comments on both sides of the issues, the Huntington Beach City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution “affirming that the public library will not be sold and that books will not be banned.”

The resolution that comes a week before the June 10 election on Measures A and B, voter-initiated initiatives which would eliminate the “parent-community review board” for books and require that privatization of the library system would have to be approved by voters.

That resolution was put forth by council members Chad Williams, Don Kennedy and Butch Twining. The vote was 7-0.
Although the last day of voting is next Tuesday, residents have been casting ballots for several weeks by mail and at drop-off centers.

Controversy over issues related to the library have been in the news for weeks. City council members have accused the “Friends of the Library” of possible violations of charitable and campaign finance laws.

Later the council voted to ask the city attorney to investigate the possibility of a violation by the Ocean View School District Board of Trustees which endorsed a “yes vote” on Measures A and B.

Also on Tuesday night the council approved the 2025-2026 budget which requires the appropriation and transfer of $4.8 million from reserves to be balanced.

Added was an administrative fire captain and to increase the city’s ambulance service from 14 to 24 hours. A proposal to add a second administrative fire captain was voted down 5-2.